Meanwhile, I've been dabbling in this poetry form that has recently caught my attention: tanka. It's of Japanese origin and consists of five lines. Each line has a different syllable pattern, much like haiku. I like to think of tanka poems as extented haiku because of the similar patterns. While haiku lines run in syllables of 5/7/5, tanka lines form the pattern 5/7/5/7/7. After reading up on this form of poetry, I've created a few of my own. And thanks to the help of my poetry mentor who goes by the moniker "A Total View," I am starting to get a pretty good feel for it. Here are a couple of my latest attempts (some I have already revised countless times). Let me know what you think!
#1: A Knight He is Not
Splayed across my bed
is a man not of my dreams.
He smells of stale sweat
and hoards my soiled bed sheets.
I wish I never met him.
#2: Uncharted Territory
Unfamiliar
hills, verdant climbs and valleys,
have led me off course.
Fighting my way through the green,
I am cut by blades of grass.
Here are my most recent ones, so consider this an unveiling of sorts:
#3: Fortune Teller
“Will you read my palm?”
“Sure I will. Open your hand
and put it face up.
Now ball it into a fist.
Destiny is in your hand.”
#4: The Aftermath
She reads from a book,
but can’t focus on the tale.
She attempts once more;
the words have lost all meaning.
She stops, looks outside, and cries.
I'm curious what the responses will be to these... ;)
Until next time--I promise I won't stay away so long!!
