Walking by Inner Vision presents:

A Poem From Lynda’s Journal  –

 by Lynda McKinney Lambert

 

 

This poem will appear in my forthcoming book_Each Day Holds Some Small Joy: Little Nature Poems_ to be released in April 2024, for National Poetry Month.

 

Poem:

This poem is a Tanka.

 

 

Cinnamon Ferns hide

woven mossy habitat

house wren’s empty nest

camouflaged for protection

abandoned seasonal home

 

Backstory:

In 2015, I wanted to work on a special project in honor of National Poetry Month.

I chose to learn about the Tanka Poem and began to write some tanka in response to what I was learning. This was a surprising journey into the Tanka Poem, and it has led me to some interesting revelations.

To learn even more, I joined the Tanka Society of America.

Immediately, I made important discoveries since I wrote about tanka on this blog – April 10, 2015. Today, as I write again about tanka poems, the year 2023 is at its final week. What have I learned about tanka over the last eight years?

At that time, I subscribed to “Ribbons,” published by The Tanka Society of America, I was speechless when I saw the tanka poems featured there. They looked so different than what I thought a tanka must be like.

–

A TANKA POEM is like a Japanese DANCE

expressive, human emotion, movement, a dreamscape

–

My first encounter with “Ribbons” opened my eyes to the fact that the Tanka need not have a syllable count of 5-7-5-7-7 at all! In fact, almost none of the poems published have this restriction.

What is TANKA?

The TANKA poem originated in Japan over 1200 years ago.

Traditionally, Tanka themes are:

Nature     Seasons

Romance     Sadness

Love     Strong Human Emotions

A Tanka Poem usually reflects a single MOMENT.

Tanka poems do not have titles or numbers.

 Use personification, metaphor, and other allusions.

The lyrical intensity gives a sense of a personal, intimate world.

Capitalization and punctuation are not necessary. In fact, it can be a distraction to take the reader out of the moment in the poem. I saw this in the poems I read.

Tanka is a lyrical poem, and it is important for it to have a feeling of human emotions, awareness of being in a dream, or the author discussing personal relationships or desires.

Fragmentation is highly desirable.

Once you understand the structure of the Tanka Poem, you do not need to count the syllables and words – it is not necessary to have the 5-7-5-7-7 format and in fact, this poem is  much smoother if you do not restrain yourself and force your words into a particular  syllable count. 

 

 

 Note:

As you begin to consult literary magazines that focus on Tanka, or Haiku poetry forms, you soon see the poems published do not have the traditional generic description. Here is where we see the master class.

 

BONUS:

Rona Black has some great nature photos on her site.

Click here to   See photos by Rona Black

_

Using the information, I have given you, create your own Tanka poem!

I would love to read your poem – send it to me or post it in the comments below. If you scroll to

Lynda McKinney Lambert. Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Would you like to write a TANKA today?

Tell me what you think.

You may post your tanka in the Message on this blog if you would like to share it here.

 

©Lynda McKinney Lambert, December 16, 2023. All rights reserved.

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 My Newest Published Book is ready for purchase!

 

 

 

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 Perfect for Gifting this Year – NEW BOOK by Lynda!

 

 

 

Lynda McKinney Lambert

Author of Walking by Inner Vision: Stories & Poems;

first snow, a poetry chapbook; Star Signs: New and Selected Poems; and

Songs for the Pilgrimage, a collection of poems and stories.

 

www.lyndalambert.com

My Mission Statement:

I reveal what is lost, forgotten, and  unseen.

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,  the evidence of things not seen.”

<<<<<LMcL>>>>>