Tanka: Love the Glow of Life

You’re conceived in love.

Warm, growing in your mother.

You are born to light.

Reared in love, falling in love.

Basking in the glow of life.

I had a lot of fun studying exactly what a Tanka poem was and then I had even more fun trying to write one. My major problem is that I have spent so much time mastering writing in French poetry styles that it was hard to write a poem that didn’t rhyme. I saw no hard firm rule against writing a Tanka that rhymed but since I couldn’t find any examples I stuck t the major them of no rhyming schemes.

From what I understand a Tanka is the grandmother of poetry to the Haiku. It is comprised of 31 syllables and is written in the pattern of 5,7,5,7,7.

Other then that it was really difficult to switch from rhyming poetry to non rhyming poetry.

My inspiration is always my audience which I try to please everyday. I also want to learn about poetry for which I knew nothing before I began this adventure about a week ago. And I am enjoying the learning process. There is also this hope that I might educate, entertain or amuse my reader. And I also hope to inspire other to write Tanka poetry.

And I am always inspired by those brave enough to dare to love. I marvel at them each and everyday.

I don’t feel qualified to explain this type of poetry but will share a link that will provide you with a definition below.

Tanka Poems are ancient Japanese poetry. The have 31 syllables and are written as follows. The first line has five syllables. The second line has seven syllables. The third lines has five syllables. The fourth line has seven syllables. And finally the fifth line has seven syllables. In general I have not come across a Tanka that rhymes but I have also not seen a rule against it. They are usually written for special events such as births or deaths. But they can also be for something as simple as the change in the seasons.

They are a lot of fun to write but are rather short. You should try and write one for yourself as they are fetching.

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