Tanka, like Haiku, is again a form of Japanese Lyric Poetry.
[As you know by now, :) ] A Haiku works with 17 syllables arranged in 3 lines of 5/7/5 syllables to each line, and evokes an aspect of nature and the seasons, with the last line holding the punch so to speak.
A few haiku here, in my previous post!
Tanka on the other hand gives the writer more space to work with – 31 syllables, arranged in 5 lines of 5/7/5/7/7 syllables each. Tanka is an older form of the lyric in Japanese… dating to 13 centuries ago, while Haiku is just about 3 centuries ago..
Tanka was mainly written between lovers, as society had accepted the fact that a man’s dallying with another woman, other than his wife was normal!! After the man departed early in the morning, he would send a Tanka to his lady love with his message of love..
I hope you enjoy these Tanka, and that you will try some of your own!
Morning After...
A fiery blush
warming your palm under my
face, on the pillow-
the morning after the night
before – in our crimson dawn.
20 April, 07
(Picture from : www.betweenthesheets.co.uk)
***
Death Smiles
[Tanka in Tandem]
Tall, vain, proud- but now slain, lies
Picture-perfect on
The coffin of her mistress,
Whose hand fed that vanity!
Death waits and smiles in
Irony – the beautiful rose
Tall and proud, now his
Prize: another soul to take
Away – unexpected Gift!
30 April, ‘07
(Pictures from : scholez18.blogspot.com ; www.guardian.co.uk)
***
A Note on the Lover's Bedside
[Tanka in Tandem]
Love, I leave you now-
your hair spread over pillows
soft ; your body in
wanton pleasure, covered by
satin sheets white: Oh! pure grace!
So that my heart – yet
again whetted by your thoughts;
my breath savouring
your promises, beckoning
delights; returning to you!
10 May, ‘07
(Picture from: www.dallas-sleep.com)
***
Me in You!
What's it about you
I love most, you ask and wait;
O Love, don't you know?
Not passion- not body sweet!
But me, in you, held captive!
16 September, 07
(Picture from : http://www.chiselstudio.com.au)
***
Breeze of Love
Thoughts of you blow a
Gentle breeze, running fingers
through my hair, your way!
Whispering, a feather touch
Vow; our love of yester eve!
16 September, 07
(Picture from : www.prlog.org)
***
