Writing Wednesday: Poetry Part 3

 Writing Wednesday: Poetry Month part 3

Tanka

In keeping with my love for brief, my last poem of focus for Poetry Month is the tanka. This Japanese poem structure has 31 syllables and means “short song”. Think of it as a combination of a haiku and couplet because:

🇯🇵 line 1 has 5 syllables

🇯🇵 line 2 has 7 syllables 

🇯🇵 line 3 has 5 syllables (so far just like haiku!)

🇯🇵 line 4 has 7 syllables 

🇯🇵 line 5 has 7 syllables

Traditionally the entire poem flowed in one line, but don’t let the fear of a run-on sentence deter you from creating this poetic form. Just like haiku, it can be about nature. Just like a couplet, you can add rhyme and rhythm. 

Writing Task

Take the time to draft a tanka poem. It is a short verse that can help you play with word choice or analyze a part of nature or theme. 

When the tulips bloom,

I take a pause to reflect 

On its erect stem,

Vibrant shades of yellow and 

Red that inspire this verse.