TANKA

         Tanka is a Japanese fixed verse form.  It has 5 lines. The first and third have 5 syllables; the rest have 7.  (Tanka = 5-7-5-7-7.)  No pattern of rhyme or rhythm is required.  Most sources used by the blog editor say that tanka requires no title.  However, Russell Strauss, current PST president, says you should give your double tanka a title if you are entering one in contest #44 in the 2016 NFSPS competition. .

          Historically, tanka has been the basic form of Japanese poetry (as sijo has been basic to Korean), and as such the term is synonymous with waka, which more broadly denotes all traditional Japanese classical poetry forms. 

In format, tanka looks like haiku with a two-line extension, which gives the poet a little more room and time in which to set down his worthy message.  The subject matter is serious (as with sijo), but is not limited as traditional haiku, which concentrates on the four seasons. 

Tanka format usually breaks into two parts. The first three lines form one unit and the last two lines the other. This can be reversed: 2 and then 3. The middle line always serves as a “pivot,” which means it can be read as part of what is above and what is below.  An effective pivot can be difficult to achieve.  

 With practice, the poet becomes able to deliver a message that blends smoothly into a single thought or image. Keeping the above in mind, take a look at the examples.  Often tanka, like traditional haiku, is shown with no punctuation and no capital letters except proper nouns and the pronoun I.   We also find tanka published with standard English capitalization and punctuation.  Both are illustrated in the examples below.   

     (Sample with no caps or punct)

this cold winter night

the snow clings to the tree boughs

in the pale moonlight

the kisses of your soft lips

warm this aching heart of mine

                          Author unknown           

           (Sample with standard caps and punct)

Gone muscle tension

and hyperventilation.

Thinking on Buddha,

the troubles of this world seem

matters of little concern.   

F. Bruce, the Blogger
Contact her at florencebruce@att.net


NOTE:  Prose tanka is discussed under P (alpha in index).