Category: Tanka

New Beginnings

by khorhmin, posted in Poem, Tanka

Here’s a Japanese poem to herald the beginning of 2015. May the year bring happiness and peace, not tears and suffering. May the spirit of humanity successfully rise above the afflictions of disasters, disease and war.

 

New Beginnings

Whispers in the wind
Bidding farewell and goodbye
Memories of days
People, places, occasions
New horizons beckoning

An original Tanka by
Khor Hui Min
1 Jan 2014

 

Heliconia photographed on Penang Hill on 10 May 2014
Heliconia photographed at Penang Hill on 10 May 2014

 

Poetic style

This poem was written in the style of a tanka. A tanka is a Japanese poem (also known as a waka or uta). A tanka poem is similar to a haiku poem, but has two additional lines.

A tanka has 5 lines and 31 syllables. The structure is as follows:

Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables
Line 4 – 7 syllables
Line 5 – 7 syllables

I’ve shown my poem with the number of syllables per line as below:

New Beginnings

(5) Whispers in the wind
(7) Bidding farewell and goodbye
(5) Memories of days
(7) People, places, occasions
(7) New horizons beckoning

 

To find out more about tanka poems, visit the Young Writers’ Website.

 

Perseverance

by khorhmin, posted in Poem, Tanka, Values

Here is a 5-line tanka for your reading pleasure. 🙂

Perseverance

Focus attention
On attainment of success
Determination
The goal is within your reach
Believe that you can achieve

 

An original tanka by
Khor Hui Min
31 July 2014

 

Poetic style

This poem was written in the style of a tanka. A tanka is a Japanese poem (also known as a waka or uta). A tanka poem is similar to a haiku poem, but has two additional lines.

A tanka has 5 lines and 31 syllables. The structure is as follows:

Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables
Line 4 – 7 syllables
Line 5 – 7 syllables

I’ve shown my poem with the number of syllables per line as below:

(5) Focus attention
(7) On attainment of success
(5) Determination
(7) The goal is within your reach
(7) Believe that you can achieve

To find out more about tanka poems, visit the Young Writers’ Website.

 

Sunlight

by khorhmin, posted in Poem, Tanka

The giver of life
Provider, nourishing plants
Lighting up the world
Always present, everywhere
Adore your warm golden glow

 

An original tanka by
Khor Hui Min
20 July 2014

 

Poetic style
This poem was written in the style of a tanka. A tanka is a Japanese poem (also known as a waka or uta). A tanka poem is similar to a haiku poem, but has two additional lines.

A tanka has 5 lines and 31 syllables. The structure is as follows:

Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables
Line 4 – 7 syllables
Line 5 – 7 syllables

 

I’ve shown my poem with the number of syllables per line as below:
(5)  The giver of life
(7)  Provider, nourishing plants
(5)  Lighting up the world
(7)  Always present, everywhere
(7)  Adore your warm golden glow

To find out more about tanka poems, visit the Young Writers’ Website.