An introduction to the tanka - a National Poetry Month Poetry Friday post

[kellyrfineman]

Today, a brief introduction to the tanka, which I have in the past referred to as a haiku pulling a trailer

Comments

[jamarattigan]

There's really a poet called Okra? Love your definition of tanka. :)

[kellyrfineman]

There really isn't - it's Okura, and autocorrect changed it without me realizing. DRAT!

from Laura Purdie Salas

[lpsalas]

Jama, thank you for noticing that, too. I wondered if the poet was slimy. OK, seriously, thanks for the background on tanka--like Jama (see, great minds do think alike), I really enjoyed your definition!

Re: from Laura Purdie Salas

[kellyrfineman]

I hate when autocorrect messes without me noticing - it's Okura.

Tanka

[ext_2814700]

Thank you for spending time this week with tanka.
For me the fascinating thing about tanka isn't the syllable counts but the history of the form. Concubines used to write tanka to leave on the pillow of their benefactor. These are some of the earliest love poems written by women. These poems were collected into booklets--pillow books and the benefactor paid for the publication of books of this art. These pillow books were some of the earliest poetry books published of women's poetry.

Re: Tanka

[kellyrfineman]

So glad you stopped by to share that!

[ext_1476872]

First of all -- "haiku pulling a trailer." HAHAHA!!!

And secondly, adding your URL to my daily Poetry Month wanderings -- I'll be going back to read last week's posts!!

[kellyrfineman]

Thanks, Mary Lee!!