Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Japanese Poetry

Poetry has been a major Japanese influence on the literature of many countries. Here are four types of ancient Japanese poetry:

Haiku: An unrhymed Japanese poem recording the essence of a moment. Nature is combined with human nature. It usually consists of three lines of 5/7/5, 17 syllables (kana) or less.

Senryu: A Japanese poem similar in structure to haiku, but more concerned with human nature, and is often humorous or satiric -- usually in three lines of 17 syllables (kana).

Tanka: An unrhymed Japanese poem consisting of five lines of 5/7/5/7/7, totaling 31 syllables (kana).

Kyoka: A poem in the tanka form but with the satirical, ironic, humorous aspects of senryu.

Here's my attempt at writing Japanese poetry:

The earth’s crust opens
The Roman God of fire
Erupt and release.
(Haiku)

Sound democracy
salacious majority
win big, lose nothing.
(Senryu)

On daddy’s lap
methodically, I ponder profusely:
time is running out
mother arrives
my visit ends abruptly.
(Tanka)

Appointed official
unwavering to the world
benevolent to your family
calculated in your approach
who’s pulling your strings?
(Kyoka)

I'm a novice, but hope to progress as a writer of Japanese poetry!