Definition :
Definition A Tanka poem is similar to a Haiku poem, but it contains five lines containing 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 moras or morae.
Tanka poems are usually about nature, seasons, love, sadness, or other strong emotions.
Tanka poems use similes, metaphors, and personification.
General Background :
General Background Tanka poems, which are also known as Waka, are traditional forms of lyric poetry in Japan for over 1,200 years now.
Tanka, which means “short poems,” normally do not have titles, unless they are in a sequence or string.
How to Write a Tanka Poem :
How to Write a Tanka Poem First, focus on a topic dealing with nature, seasons, love, sadness, or other strong emotions.
Next, brainstorm key words to express the topic you are focusing on.
After brainstorming key words, select words that you can use in phrases or short sentences, that will fit into the 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 morae (syllables).
An Example of a Tanka Poem :
An Example of a Tanka Poem Beautiful mountains
Rivers with cold, cold water.
White cold snow on rocks
Trees over the place with frost.
White sparkly snow everywhere.
By: Hennessey, 2004
How this Tanka was broken down… :
How this Tanka was broken down… Beautiful mountains (5)
Rivers with cold, cold water. (7)
White cold snow on rocks (5)
Trees over the place with frost. (7)
White sparkly snow everywhere. (7)