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Hey @anne-of-lothlorien , cool poem, and congrats on publication! It kind of of reminds me of one of my own titled “Boo Radley”.

As for the tanka, it’s a short Japanese style of poetry that’s defined by its use of syllables, as well as certain themes if you’re being strict about it. It has 5 lines, with the 1st and 3rd lines consisting of 5 syllables and the 2nd, 4th, and 5th lines consisting of 7 syllables. No rhyme or meter required. It’s similar to a traditional haiku, except a haiku is a tanka that’s missing its 4th and 5th lines.

I’ve found writing a tanka on an idea helps keep my free verse poetry on the same idea from getting too wordy or going off in too many directions. Here’s one of my own favorite tankas. The Story Embers editorial staff even thought it was good, but too short for publication, so alas, it sits unpublished for now:

October

By Cainon Leeds

A maple shivers

and tries to cover its mouth

when it coughs leaf blood.

But death’s bedside helplessness

leaves red stains on the sidewalk.