Tanka

Tanka is the name of an ancient form of Japanese poetry.

Tanka are 31-syllable poems that have been the most popular form of poetry in Japan for at least 1300 years. As a form of poetry, tanka is older than haiku, and tanka poems evoke a moment or mark an occasion with concision and musicality.

There are five lines.

The first line has 5 syllables / the second has 7 / the third has 5 / the 4th and 5th have 7 each.

My friend, Barbara, is a writer / she is committed to writing a tanka every day / she does !

I learned about tankas when i visited Barbara's writing class / the teacher assigned the class to write a tanka / she specified certain topics to be included / challenge !

I committed to writing something for this blog every day.