{"id":841,"date":"2015-04-10T14:21:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-10T19:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lyndalambert.com\/?p=841"},"modified":"2015-09-04T20:58:47","modified_gmt":"2015-09-05T01:58:47","slug":"tanka-writing-assignment-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/tanka-writing-assignment-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Tanka – Writing Assignment #12"},"content":{"rendered":"

April is National Poetry Month<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tanka Poem \u2013 Writing Assignment #12<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo: Zen Meditation Garden – designed and created by Bob and Lynda Lambert, Wurtemburg, PA<\/p>\n

Did you set a goal or intend to do a \u00a0special project for April?<\/p>\n

It’s National Poetry Month!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I chose to write a TANKA-a- Day\u00a0 during \u00a0April. This is a challenge to me because I never wrote a TANKA poem before this month.\u00a0 I wanted to try something new when I decided to choose the TANKA form. It dates back about 1200 years in Japan.\u00a0 \u00a0I had to dig into some research on the Japanese Poetry Form.\u00a0 This is what I will share with you today.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

What is a TANKA poem?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The TANKA poem originated in Japan.<\/p>\n

Typically, the topics of the TANKA are nature, seasons, romance, sadness, love, strong human emotions.<\/p>\n

Tanka poems do not have titles and they are not numbered!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In the Tanka, the writer uses personification, metaphor, and other allusions. The lyrical intensity of the Tanka gives a sense of a personal and intimate world<\/p>\n

There is no need for capitalization or punctuation in the Tanka.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I like this so much since I like to allow the reader to use her imagination\u00a0 by filling in thoughts as she reads through the poem.\u00a0 Fragmentation in this form of poem is highly desirable. It leaves the poem \u201copen\u201d and allows the reader to develop the poem in a creative way while reading it.\u00a0 Punctuation cuases a poem to have stops and stalls in it and is directional and didactic. The Tanka flows smoothly without this kind of direction by the writer.<\/p>\n

What does the TANKA look like?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It is a poem form that has 5 lines.<\/p>\n

Each of the 5 \u00a0lines has a specific syllable count. It will be 5,7,5,7, 7<\/p>\n

What else do I need to know to write a TANKA poem?<\/p>\n

The lines will be like this:<\/p>\n

_Line 1:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 5 \u00a0syllables – Line 1 would be one or two \u00a0concrete personal images. Keep it simple and write from personal experiences.<\/p>\n

_Line 2:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 7 syllables \u2013 Line 2 \u00a0write reflections on how you felt or what you were doing or thinking about in the first line\u2019s experiences.<\/p>\n

_Line 3:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 5 \u00a0syllables \u2013 Line 3 describes thoughts or feelings \u00a0\u00a0This is the PIVOT LINE of the poem! It refers back to lines 1 and 2; and ahead to lines 4 and 5.\u00a0 You may have to switch and move lines around to get this working in the poem\u2019s \u00a0format.<\/p>\n

_ Line 4:<\/strong><\/em> 7 syllables that combine all five lines of the poem\u2019s images and ideas<\/p>\n

_Line 5:<\/strong><\/em> \u00a07 syllables that continue to carry out your themes and imagery. \u00a0This final line is probably the most important line in the poem, and here is where you surprise your reader.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Here is a Tanka poem I wrote today. I had been outside in the early morning walking my dog. Rain had dampened the earth significantly before we departed on our walk. As we walked through the soft gray mists, rain once again started falling down on us. I put up my red umbrella, and my dog and I continued walking together.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

wet red umbrella<\/p>\n

cool morning rain and grey mists<\/p>\n

tiny lilac buds<\/p>\n

we step into soggy grass<\/p>\n

rain water soaks our bodies<\/p>\n

____________________<\/p>\n

Walking by Inner Vision Journal – \u00a0Writing Assignment #12<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Using the directions above, create your own Tanka poem!<\/p>\n

I would love to read your poem \u2013 send it to me or post it in the comments below.<\/p>\n

Be sure to follow to the bottom of the page and sign up for my newest posts in your email box.<\/p>\n

Thanks for visiting today!<\/p>\n

____________________<\/p>\n

NOTICE: \u00a0Read my post, The Tanka Poem, Part 2 – for additional information on the poem form. \u00a0You can find it here: The Tanka Poem, Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Lynda McKinney Lambert. Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

wet red umbrella<\/p>\n Continue reading →<\/span><\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Tanka - Writing Assignment #12 - You can learn how to write a Japanese poem about nature.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trusting-god"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Blog15_WBIV_TankaPart1_ZenandSmokeTree1.jpg?fit=3648%2C2736&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4gbwn-dz","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4805,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/tanka-lesson-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":841,"position":0},"title":"“wet red umbrella,” A Tanka Lesson – Part #1","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"April 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, Pennsylvania author and artist, Lynda McKinney Lambert, intraduces the TANKA poem. This is a Japanese style of poem that is so beautiful. If you love nature, the seasons, and human emotions - this poem for is for YOU! This is PART ONE of her 2 blog posts on How\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ZenGardenGravelferns.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ZenGardenGravelferns.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ZenGardenGravelferns.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ZenGardenGravelferns.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ZenGardenGravelferns.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4794,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/stony-paths-disappear-tanka-part-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":841,"position":1},"title":"“stony paths disappear” – Tanka – Part 2","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"April 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Pennsylvania author and artist, Lynda McKinney Lambert, presents Part 2 of How to Write a Tanka. this is National Poetry Month - Lynda is writing a post every day in April. She posts 1 poem a day from her archives. In today's post, she explores some surprising information on writing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DSC09187.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DSC09187.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DSC09187.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DSC09187.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DSC09187.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1274,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/walking-by-inner-vision-a-personal-journal\/","url_meta":{"origin":841,"position":2},"title":"The Tanka Poem – Part 2","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"September 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"There are some western poets who do write in the traditional syllabic style, but they are few and far between, and not usually well represented in many of the more established journals","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Blog15_WBIV_TankaPart2-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6521,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/electricity-a-tanka-poem\/","url_meta":{"origin":841,"position":3},"title":"electricity – A Poem-a-Day #8","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"April 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Lynda McKinney Lambert, Pennsylvania poet, author, and artist, shares a tanka and gives links to more information of writing this Japanese form. Read, \"electricity,\" for the 8th day of National Poetry Month - today!","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo of night sky with mfull moon.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/18_FullMoonDecember5-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1093&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/18_FullMoonDecember5-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1093&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/18_FullMoonDecember5-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1093&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/18_FullMoonDecember5-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1093&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/18_FullMoonDecember5-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1093&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14897,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/from-the-professors-journal_cinnamon-ferns-hide_-a-tanka-poem\/","url_meta":{"origin":841,"position":4},"title":"Lynda’s Journal – – Poem – Cinnamon Ferns hide","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"December 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover the joy of writing a Japanese Tanka Poem.","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2023_Lynda_Dixie_Mitchell_2_June-8.jpg?fit=674%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2023_Lynda_Dixie_Mitchell_2_June-8.jpg?fit=674%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2023_Lynda_Dixie_Mitchell_2_June-8.jpg?fit=674%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4842,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/tanka-lesson-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":841,"position":5},"title":"More Tanka – Part 3","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"April 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"If you love Nature, the changing Seasons, and life, you will love the tanka form of poetry. Today, in Part 3 of Pennsylvania author and artist, Lynda McKinney Lambert's blog you can read more Japanese and American tanka. Lynda presents this beautiful form of writing and gives instructions to help\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/18_WoodsPath_3.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/18_WoodsPath_3.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/18_WoodsPath_3.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/18_WoodsPath_3.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/18_WoodsPath_3.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=841"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1290,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841\/revisions\/1290"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}