Haikus and Tankas: “The [Brief] Poetry of Sensation”

for many, talking

is often a great pleasure

as limitless words

commute back and forth between

diverse types of cultured folk

Japanese writers

viewed things slightly differently, 

prioritizing

brevity and short stanzas

in their poetry and prose

in light of all this,

Haikus became prominent:

Five-Seven-Five beats

square-dancing intimately

on three sharp and crispy lines

these Haikus served as

introductions to Tankas;

an additional 

seven-seven beat couplet 

meant for clearing mysteries

resulting Tankas

were compiled to form Rengas:

amalgamations-

myriads of poets’ voices 

flooding myriads of verses

It has been agreed

that Haikus, and Tankas too,

express empathy

and emotion in details

no other style can capture

This entire post 

is in itself sustained by

carefully placed beats

of five-seven-five-seven-

-seven screaming syllables

for what better way 

to show the tough discipline 

than by using it?

words can mean as much or as

little as you want them to

Use them wisely.

References

• Blyth, R. H. (1964). A history of Haiku. Japan: The Hokuseido Press.
• Blyth, R. H. (1952). Haiku. Japan: The Hokuseido Press.
• Emrich, J. A quick start to writing Tanka. Tanka Online. Retrieved from <http://www.tankaonline.com/Quick%20Start%20Guide.htm>
• Henderson, H. G. (1958). An introduction to Haiku: An anthology of poems and poets from Bashō to Shiki. New York: Doubleday & Company.
• Higginson, W. J. (1985). The Haiku handbook: How to write, share, and teach Haiku. Tokyo: Kodansha International.