Tanka Poetry

[Julie]

Tanka poems follow a set of rules. They all have five lines and each line follows a pattern: the first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, the third line has five syllables, the fourth line has seven syllables, and the fifth line has seven syllables

What is a Japanese tanka?

The tanka is a thirty-one-syllable poem, traditionally written in a single unbroken line. A form of "waka", Japanese song or verse, tanka translates as “short song,” and is better known in its five-line, 5/7/5/7/7 syllable count form.

image "long feather" ~ Julie

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Magpie lost his softened wing

long feather is found ~ syllable count ~ 5
magpie lost his softened wing ~ syllable count ~ 7
air currents hold tight ~ syllable count ~ 5
treasure lifted in safety ~ syllable count ~ 7
flying the perfected sound ~ syllable count ~ 7

Julie

edited Nov 2023

[Ametrine -(MHZ)]

Thank you, Julie :o)

[Julie]

Lifted

Aquatic release

Woman listens to sea's call

lifted beyond doubt

There is treasure to be found

you just have to look beyond

Julie

February 2026

[Julie]

a pleasure, just thought I'd go through the discussions to see where I'm called to add another poem

Ametrine -(MHZ) said:

Thank you, Julie :o)