Infographic: How to Write a Tanka

Last month, we spent time writing tanka poems, a form that originated in 7th century Japan and in many ways served as social poetry, with individuals writing chains of tanka known as renga, as well as lovers exchanging competitive morning-after poems. The 31-syllable poem is written in five non-rhyming lines in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern.

Join in and learn to write your own with our fun and handy infographic.

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Post and infographic by LW Lindquist.

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How to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.

“How to Write a Poem is a classroom must-have.”

—Callie Feyen, English Teacher, Maryland

BUY HOW TO WRITE A POEM NOW!

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Will Willingham

Director of Many Things; Senior Editor, Designer and Illustrator at Tweetspeak Poetry

I used to be a claims adjuster, helping people and insurance companies make sense of loss. Now, I train other folks with ladders and tape measures to go and do likewise. Sometimes, when I’m not scaling small buildings or crunching numbers with my bare hands, I read Keats upside down. My first novel, Adjustments, is available now.

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