still water
before the gentlest caress
of the wind
learning accompaniment
from listening to silence
for dVerse Poets’ Poetics โ Solitude (pubtended by Bjorn)
The pub is open! Come join us!
and Colleenโs 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 176, #PoetโsChoice
Thanks, Glenn. ๐
I find that solitude is a school of hope. It’s isolation that’s the problem.
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Thank you! ๐
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena.
No worries. Many beginners believe the syllable account defines the form. Happens in haiku, too.
The fact is: 57577 was a convenience of translation. The count refers to Mora, based on ona, a Japanese linguistic unit shorter than the English syllable.
Many Haikai in English, particularly tanka, tend to use the short-long-short variation, instead. I usually try to contrast two images in my tanka, with the last two lines forming a type of “commentary.”
Thanks for reading! ๐
Indeed. Thanks, Bjorn! ๐
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Thank you, Hank! ๐
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You’re welcome.
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I love the phrase: “listening to silence.” That bit of mindfulness is a lovely reminder. I’ve not seen the 37377 syllable count for Tanka, but why not? My research has taught me that these shorter syllables are closer to true Japanese. Would you use this shorter version in Tanka prose as well?
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Indeed, I would. Many English-language writers of Japanese Poetry avoid syllable-counting, as the English syllable is longer than the Japanese oni, a sound unit of Japanese language. Michael Dylan Welch, a haikai poet and creator of NaHaiWriMo, explains:
http://www.nahaiwrimo.com/home/why-no-5-7-5
I’ll write 57577 if it’s natural to the poem. Most times, I write short-long-short-long-long. Jeanne Emrich gives a primer on tanka here:
Thanks so much Frank. I’m writing a book of how to write the forms. I’m including citations to back up the data. Would you consider reading my final version before it goes to my editor? I respect your opinions. The last thing I want to do is give incorrect information. I’m not finished with the book yet because of the research. I would name you as a consultant, if that works. Email me and let me know if that is something you would be interested in. Thanks so much for the links. I believe I use the Jeanne Emrich data in my book. ๐
Thank you. I want this to be a book that people can use. You’ve just made my day! ๐
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Frank J. Tassone-American Haijin by Frank J. Tassone is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Frank J. Tassone 
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