~oOo~
late hours of watch
under a paling half moon
heavy eyelids part
why are you not beside me?
nightingale~ sing to her heart
~oOo~
on the thinnest limb
lilting song of nightingale
half-moon waning pale
were not for my vacant heart
how sweet would be~ coming morn
~oOo~
this is all there is
being left behind again
nightingale’s echo
pale half-moon’s steady flight
takes away~ yet my shadow
Author notes
...
What is a Tanka?
The Tanka is a Japanese verse form, and its name is generally translated as "short poem" or "short song." It is an ancient form of syllabic Japanese poetry, popular in Japan since the 7th century (C.E.) or earlier.
History. The tanka developed during Japan's Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) as a poem to recognize an occasion (especially romantic). Women and men composed tanka. Often they wrote and sent the tanka to an actual or desired lover. Each line (or sound group) of a tanka can be a different one image or idea, with the resulting five lines flow together as a greater whole. Modern tanka expresses many emotions including heartache, longing, and loss.
Examples. A Tanka tends to be lyrical, whereas a Haiku can be comparatively fragmented. Also, a Tanka was historically written for emotional purposes, to redirect someone's heart, whereas a Haiku is subtler in its evocation of emotion. "It is not as if you can just glue two haiku together to get a tanka. Within the tanka there is a switch of time, place, person, thing, or voice in order to create a leap or define a new relationship."
The Tanka Verse Form
by Joan Zimmerman
Western Sequences and Narratives.
“Many western poets have written groups of Haiku exploring varies aspects of one subject or theme. One of the more successful early practitioners of the Haiku sequences in Europe was the Spanish poet Antonio Machado, 1930. Also Robert Hayden, 1972. By 1974 Haiku magazine devoted several pages to Haiku sequences, many of them narratives. Today virtually all of the English language magazines publish sequences of Haiku. And during the last decade or so, several Haiku sequences have appeared that consist of poems which can stand separately, but are linked to one another as much the same way as the stanzas in a renga”.
The Haiku Handbook, how to write, share, and teach Haiku,
William J. Higgenson
...
In a list
A contest entry
- ... Tanka ... by yukitosumi.
1500 points, ended April 14, 31 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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reading this again
I see the beatuy in your words, how each stanza although able to stand on it'sown adds to the preceeding tanla and opens the heart for the next poem
oh how wonderful
mornings sunrise filled the sky
your words flew to me -
Perfect you got the nightingale song to a T this is excellent congratulations on your trophy.. you earned it and deserve it. Thank you for sharing and I really enjoyed it.
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This is so lovely in its apparent simplicity, a beautiful protrayal of the nightingale's song and the moonlight coming together for an evening show.
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Lovely
I hadn't come across this type of poetry on SW before.This is a lovely offerning of fine thoughts in a poetry setting, very enjoyable read
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CONGRADULATIONS ON THE GREENIE
I have no words other then shivers,
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i am going to bookmark your page as it leaves me the instructions i have been looking for. thank you for sharing with me today and i wish you luck in this contest you have entered. viyanna rosemarie
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Delicately dramatic as the lonely nightingale sings on under the pale moon. A fine tanka.
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Such a poignant, sweet song of sorrow, of loss...Ahhh...but you cannot lose what you've already gained, my Friend...Beautiful & tender quilling, dear Scribe. Good fortune to you always, in ALL ways, Ron...
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a pleasure
Thank you lady for your lovely comment. It is always a pleasure to hear form you.
Be well in your new life.
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Ahhh, the Life IS new, dear Scribe...before, it was merely an (in)adequate existence. Kiss yer horse for me, Cowboy...I gots me a Cowgirl hat now. 
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These flowed wonderfully. Excellently constructed. Wonderful demonstration of the form. You conveyed your emotion and enviornment very well. Thank you for these!
Best,
Y and S
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use of the term
Thank you for stopping by to read this triplet.
I am honored by your use of the term “demonstration of the form”.
I may only offer you “cha” when next you return.
the minds fullness pours
an empty cup stands alone
taste nothingness Ah!
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ocha wa arigatou!
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Oh how many times I have felt this, that feeling of being left behind. Seems it is a deep fear of mine, one of if we don't get too close, it won't hurt when they have to leave. But that is only half living like a half moon. Lovely tanka as you always create leaving the reader with a wondering thought.
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hobbles on a horse
Fear is like the hobbles on horses’ feet, they may not run free.
Thank you for your lovely comment lady-O
SirPort
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