Tanka is quite simply a haiku with an added 14
syllable couplet which should give 'relish' to the poem. Originally, for many
centuries tanka was the norm in Japanese society and no social occassion was
considered complete until a tanka had been written to celebrate it. Many tanka
were written between lovers. Just like haiku, some poets choose to reduce the
number of syllables, I always use 5/7/5/7/7.
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1963 miners camp
near old miners camp
penny shines in morning sun
rusted pick at door
memories of times past
and yesterdays golden dreams. |
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2000 albatross
albatross at sea
sweeps low above dark wave tops
alone but not sad.
far from home and distant land
southern ocean voyager. |
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1970 homeward bound
free and homeward bound
good sea room and a fair breeze
southern cross shines bright.
phosphorescence lights bow wave
your heart and love guides me home. |
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2000 lake rotoiti
lake rotoiti
soft breeze swirls across surface
trout jumps at sandfly.
ducklings scamper to water
kea ambush blue camper van. |
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1999 blood
near the old castle
ancestors lie beneath me
shamrock in the snow.
I weep for my grandmother
in the land of her old ones. |
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© Mike Subritzky - The Flak Jacket Collection
