Thank
you to Diane at Random Noodling for hosting Poetry Friday this week!
* * * * *
In
my poetry presentations next week, I will be introducing elementary school
students to different types of poetry and then they will write their own winter-
or holiday-themed poems. This presentation is one of my favorites and
includes poems about different December holidays and the winter season. I look
forward to sharing these poems with the kids every year!
One
of the types of poetry we will be exploring next week is the Japanese tanka. A tanka is similar to a haiku
(but longer) and is also a poetic format that originated in Japan. Tanka poetry
follows a 5/7/5/7/7 syllable format
and was created to allow deeper emotional exploration than is possible within
the shorter 5/7/5 syllables of haiku poetry. Below is an example of a Christmas
tanka that I wrote to share with the children.
If
you enjoy writing haiku (which I LOVE!), try writing a tanka poem today. It is
a fun challenge and a great way to stretch your poetry-writing muscles!
I
hope you are enjoying all the fun festivities that December has to offer.
Have a beautiful holiday season, and Happy Writing!
Hi Becky! I LOVE tanka! It's great that you're introducing it to students. Best of luck on your presentation!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, BJ!
DeleteStarting a new year
ReplyDeleteis like taking a chisel
to a marble block --
day by day you shave slivers
of stone to shape a sculpture.
Happy New Year!
Tabatha, as usual you make writing beautiful poetry look effortless--although I know it is anything BUT! Thanks so much for sharing this!
DeleteTanka is fun to write. Have a great session with the kids--thanks for sharing your love of poetry.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane! :-)
DeleteSounds like you have a fun session planned for the students. Enjoyed your festive tanka. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jama!
DeleteI imagine that the tanka is more helpful to students writing this way, Becky, and it will be fun to read what they do after your presentation. I hope you'll share!
ReplyDeleteI plan to share soon! We had so much fun!
DeleteEnjoy yourself. I know the students will have fun and love writing their poems.
ReplyDeleteKoan
Thank you, Joan! <3
DeleteI'm writing haiku this month, but I do want to try writing some tanka. I love your Christmas one. I hope the students enjoy reading and writing them, too.
ReplyDeleteHaiku is still my favorite poetic format, but tanka is now a close second. :-)
DeleteTerrific example for your students--love all the details you've included in your tanka.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Buffy!
DeleteI'm imagining a cat as the speaker for your tanka!
ReplyDeleteThat is hilarious, Mary Lee, and puts a whole different spin on it!
DeleteI enjoyed your tanka and would love to hear how your class enjoyed writing them.
ReplyDeleteI will share soon, Janice. It went really well!
DeleteSounds like fun topics to use for poetry. I don't think I have ever written a tanka. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess