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Poetry Prompt: The Tanka’s Turn

By Kortney Garrison 13 Comments

The Big WaveAt 11 my daughter has entered the golden age of children’s literature–middle grade fiction! We’ve read through Narnia numerous times, laughed and cried through Wonder, thrilled at the magical Prairie Thief, and delighted in stacks of picture books in between.

This year we’ve started sharing books not just as read-alouds, but also as read alongs. When she reads and enjoys a book, she passes it on to me. We are smack dab in the middle of the Wrinkle in Time Quintet. She is usually a whole book ahead of me, anxiously waiting for me to catch up.

The Big Wave

This spring we read The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck. This refreshing novel is much lighter than The Good Earth–less pessimistic, more hopeful. The story centers on a pair of boys who live in a Japanese coastal village. And, yes, a big wave figures prominently in the story! But that doesn’t ruin the suspense. The surprise comes in how the boys respond to the devastation.

Our Turn

The best children’s literature tends to offer a surprise—a turn of the plot early on that sets up something new to explore as the story continues to unfold.

Tanka poetry (much shorter than a story!) still manages to introduce a turn, which happens in the last two lines and leaves the reader with something surprising to explore.

This week, let’s really play with the tanka’s turn. Can you write a poem in 31 syllables that takes the reader in an unexpected direction?

And if this quick exploration of children’s literature leaves you wanting more, each second Friday Megan Willome hosts Children’s Book Club! Up next in June is The Day the Crayons Quit.

Featured Poem

Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Here’s a poem we enjoyed from Monica Sharman, based on the Shōin Room:

Translucent entrance.
Segmented golden art points:
see this space for you?
Alcove and tatami wait.
Outside, bare feet hesitate.

—Monica Sharman

Photo by Martyn Fletcher, Creative Commons, via Flickr. Post by Kortney Garrison.

__________

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Kortney Garrison
Kortney Garrison
Kortney Garrison is a writer, home educator, and Community Director at Read-Aloud Revival.
Kortney Garrison
Latest posts by Kortney Garrison (see all)
  • Poetry Prompt: Fireworks, Sparkles & Speckles - July 2, 2018
  • Writing Prompt: Science Fiction and Ecopoetry - June 25, 2018
  • Poetry Prompt: Science Fiction with Ray Bradbury - June 18, 2018

Filed Under: Blog, Poems, poetry, poetry prompt, poetry teaching resources, Tanka, writer's group resources

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About Kortney Garrison

Kortney Garrison is a writer, home educator, and Community Director at Read-Aloud Revival.

Comments

  1. Rick Maxson says

    May 21, 2018 at 11:26 am

    With sun comes the breeze,
    from an evening far away,
    and a single star
    to this morning’s empty beach.
    Hurry home to me, my love.

    Reply
    • Kortney Garrison says

      May 24, 2018 at 11:55 am

      Really enjoying the way the images move and play in this tanka: the traveling breeze, the far away star, the empty home.

      Reply
  2. Laura Lynn Brown says

    May 21, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    Bowls taken up, emptied, washed.
    Litterbox cleaned and bagged.
    Carrier tucked in closet.
    Can of moist food still in fridge,
    one serving gone.

    Reply
    • L.L. Barkat says

      May 21, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      So tenderly sad. Very sorry about this, Laura.

      Reply
    • Kortney Garrison says

      May 24, 2018 at 11:57 am

      This tanka beautifully embodies how time has it’s way with us and those we love. Peace keep you, dear one.

      Reply
  3. Megan Willome says

    May 21, 2018 at 1:24 pm

    Kortney, the only time I ever did any tanka was in fifth grade, as part of a big poetry unit, and I don’t think it was covered as thoroughly as you have been doing here. It’s the turn that was left out.

    And thanks for the shout-out about the next Children’s Book Club. It’s a fun story with surprising depth on the subject of color.

    Reply
    • Kortney Garrison says

      May 21, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      The book is waiting for me at the library! Can’t wait to dive in!

      Reply
  4. Rick Maxson says

    May 22, 2018 at 1:23 pm

    outside, a fine rain,
    the air still with mourning
    doves cooing, and I
    recalling the distant train
    that brought me here long ago.

    Reply
    • Kortney Garrison says

      May 24, 2018 at 11:59 am

      I keep returning to this perfect line break: mourning/doves. It holds so much!

      Reply
  5. Katie says

    May 23, 2018 at 1:38 pm

    Laura and Rick,
    Thank you for sharing these lovely, poignant tanka!

    Reply
    • Kortney Garrison says

      May 24, 2018 at 12:00 pm

      Poignant was the exact word I was thinking of too, Katie!

      Reply
  6. Kortney Garrison says

    May 27, 2018 at 9:31 am

    All day long she hears
    the old music, sees braided
    futures in broth, turns
    water, roots, and bones into
    the bodies of her children.

    Reply
    • Laura Lynn Brown says

      May 27, 2018 at 9:55 am

      That’s certainly a surprising turn!

      Reply

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