Haiku
A haiku is a compact poem of three lines divided into syllabic units of 5-7-5. It shares with the reader the experience or observations of a poet. It talks about a mood or a moment, by juxtaposing images. The poem is composed by using simple words. The haiku focuses on a single moment, usually giving a very brief description of some event or object belonging to nature. In a haiku there is a word related to a particular season. It is called a kigo in the Japanese language.
There are three lines in a Haiku. Line one - 5 syllables An old silent pond... Line two - 7 syllables A frog jumps into the pond, Line three - 5 syllable splash! Silence again.
3 classical examples in translation: (syllabification may be lost)
Autumn moonlight— Lightning flash— A summer river being crossed a worm digs silently what I thought were faces how pleasing into the chestnut. are plumes of pampas grass. with sandals in my hands! ~Basho Matsuo ~Basho Matsuo ~Yosa Buson
Tanka
Tanka are 31-syllable poems that have been a popular form of poetry in Japan for at least 1300 years. As a form of poetry, tanka is older than haiku, and tanka poems evoke a moment or mark an occasion with concision and musicality. In Japanese, tanka is often written in one straight line, but in English and other languages, they are usually divided into the five syllabic units: 5-7-5-7-7. Usually, each line consists of one image or idea. A tanka is lyrical in nature, and it provides room to the poet to share his feelings.
There are five lines in a Tanka poem. Line one - 5 syllables Beautiful mountains Line two - 7 syllables Rivers with cold, cold water. Line three - 5 syllable White cold snow on rocks Line four - 7 syllables Trees over the place with frost Line five - 7 syllables White sparkly snow everywhere.
2 classical examples in translation: (syllabification may be lost)
On the white sand I listen to songs Of the beach of a small isle of someone handsome In the Eastern Sea at the apex of night I, my face streaked with tears, the Milky Way overflows Am playing with a crab the stars boil over and fall ~ Ishikawa Takuboku ~Tada Chimako
~Haiku vs. Tanka~
Haiku Tanka
The total number of syllables in The total number of syllables in the poem is number of syllables the poem is seventeen thirty one the distribution of syllables in the 5-7-5 5-7-5-7-7 lines respectively
Origin Thirteen century Seventeen century
Concrete imagery without Poetic devices metaphors, similes and personification commentary
To look inward, concentrating on human Usual Tendency To look at the exterior world feelings
Perspective Objective Subjective
Versatile as change in time, a change in Concentrating factor Written in the present subject, a change in person, etc, Highly judgmental Judgmental Not considered judgmental
vocabulary mixed Elegant
Prompt: Since both the haiku and tanka are about capturing a moment in time, I suggest that you find an image in nature (a computer desktop, a photo from a family trip, a place you would like to visit someday) and explore that moment in time either from the objective viewpoint of the haiku or the subjective view of the tanka.