Tanka Poetry Prompt: What’s a Tanka?

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Tanka Prompt Egret
This month, we’ll explore the ancient Japanese form called the tanka. This lesser known form might be thought of as haiku’s quiet older sibling.

What Makes a Tanka

Tanka was practiced in classical Japan as a form of linked verse. One poet would write a three-line poem of 17 syllables and give it to another poet. The second poet would add two more 7 syllable lines for a total of 5 lines and 31 syllables. The last two lines often provided a turn or counterpoint to the first three lines, much like the ending of a sonnet. The complete form, then, would look like:

5-7-5-7-7

You might recognize the 5-7-5 part of the tanka as the precursor to haiku!

Here’s a striking example of tanka, by Sadakichi Hartmann, from the early 20th century.

I.

Winter? Spring? Who knows?
White buds from the plumtrees wing
And mingle with the snows.
No blue skies these flowers bring,
Yet their fragrance augurs Spring.

—Sadakichi Hartmann

In the 17th century, Basho developed haiku and brought the 17 syllable part of the tanka form to its highest level. His poems focus on the natural world and the passage of time.

Our Turn

Maybe the best way to understand the tanka is to try it. Here are three haiku: two by Basho the master, and one by me the eager student. Because they are haiku, they already contain a “turn,” but we’ll use them as our foundation anyway.

I come weary,
In search of an inn—
Ah! these wisteria flowers!

–by Matsuo Basho, translated by William George Aston

The old pond, aye!
And the sound of a frog
leaping into the water.

–by Matsuo Basho, translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain

West Hill clouds hang low,
caught up in fir branches,
a veil between two worlds.

–by Kortney Garrison

Take one (or all!) of these haiku and add two more 7 syllable lines to the three already given. Open up a conversation across the centuries through your poetry. Think about taking the poem in another direction or deepening the given theme. If you’d like to offer a haiku that you’ve written, I’d love to add a few lines. Let’s practice poetry as collaboration.

Photo by Nathalie, Creative Commons, via Flickr. Poems are in the public domain. Post by Kortney Garrison.
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Comments

    • Kortney Garrison says

      Of course this makes me think of the movie Enchanted April. Might need to watch it again even though the calendar has flipped over to May! Thank you for sharing these lines, Lynn.

      Here’s mine:
      I come weary,
      In search of an inn–
      Ah, these wisteria flowers
      Mirroring the sky, blossoms
      Flicker like a thousand stars.

      Reply

    • Kortney Garrison says

      Love this! As if the pond keeps a strict one in/one out policy!

      Here’s mine:
      The old pond, aye!
      And the sound of a frog
      Leaping into the water,
      Her round belly full of eggs,
      Another generation.

      Reply

      • Katie says

        Like your interpretation of my pond tanka:)
        Your tanka is natural and simple yet deep.
        Thank you, Kortney

        Reply

  3. Katie says

    Kortney,
    How about a tanka to celebrate “Reading in the Wild’s” 1st Birthday?

    Read wild, self-select
    plan for your reading, show your
    preference, sharing
    recommendations, sublime
    dedicated reading time.

    Reply

  4. Rick Maxson says

    Nice introduction to the Tanka, Kortney.

    Also adding to Basho’s haiku:

    I come weary,
    In search of an inn—
    Ah! these wisteria flowers
    have captured evening’s colors
    and burnished them with moonlight!

    Reply

  7. Renee Bartovics says

    Here is mine!

    West Hill clouds hang low,
    caught up in fir branches,
    a veil between two worlds.
    Far below, on Red Bird Lane
    her steps falter, vailed in woe.

    Reply

      • Renee Bartovics says

        Actually- the word vail is archaic but a real word and I have used it properly, I think! What are your thoughts?!

        Reply

        • Katie says

          Renee,
          I think it’s a beautiful tanka, whichever way you spell vail/veil:)
          Thank you for sharing it!

          Reply

        • Kortney Garrison says

          I love the interplay that happens–often unawares–when we open ourselves to language, the depth of meaning and history words carry. And I’m honored to have your lines next to mine; I want to know more about this woman and her woe!

          Reply

          • Renee Bartovics says

            What a nice comment! I love this form of word interplay!!! And your words are an inspiration to Me! Thanks!

  8. lynn says

    Fun to read these!

    I’m thinking that “tanka” are usually written by one person and “tan renga” are collaborative, with one poet’s haiku and another’s response. So, maybe these are tan renga?

    Reply

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