Comments on: Tanka: Old Photograph http://blog.gordaen.com/2008/03/09/tanka-old-photograph/ Ramblings about art, education, Linux and a lot more Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:14:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Robert Stone http://blog.gordaen.com/2008/03/09/tanka-old-photograph/#comment-97852 Robert Stone Mon, 12 May 2008 02:24:50 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2008/03/09/tanka-old-photograph/#comment-97852 Ian, I like this poem, whether it is a haiku plus two lines, a tanka, or a whatever. There is no such thing as "translating" poems or poetic forms from one language to another. We can only do something that has the same spirit and a similar structure and which inspires a like response. Robert Ian,

I like this poem, whether it is a haiku plus two lines, a tanka, or a whatever.

There is no such thing as “translating” poems or poetic forms from one language to another. We can only do something that has the same spirit and a similar structure and which inspires a like response.

Robert

]]> By: Ian Clifton http://blog.gordaen.com/2008/03/09/tanka-old-photograph/#comment-72451 Ian Clifton Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:58:21 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2008/03/09/tanka-old-photograph/#comment-72451 My referring to the first part as a "Haiku" was in reference to the syllabic form as opposed to it being a haiku (though Japanese focuses on moras), which is why I had the quotes, but perhaps that wasn't clear. You're right about Tanka being older; I was not aware that it was a thousand-year difference though. Haiku is from 1400-ish, if I remember correctly, so are Tanka from 400? I have not heard much of their age other than them being very old. As far as line breaks, I'm not sure there's any obligation at all. Many Japanese poems are written vertically, so our breaks are more to mirror the parts of the poem. In this case, the breaks are syllabic in origin and the blank line separates the kami-no-ku and shimo-no-ku (sp?). Thanks for stopping by and for the suggestion about Tanka Central, I'll check it out. My referring to the first part as a “Haiku” was in reference to the syllabic form as opposed to it being a haiku (though Japanese focuses on moras), which is why I had the quotes, but perhaps that wasn’t clear.

You’re right about Tanka being older; I was not aware that it was a thousand-year difference though. Haiku is from 1400-ish, if I remember correctly, so are Tanka from 400? I have not heard much of their age other than them being very old.

As far as line breaks, I’m not sure there’s any obligation at all. Many Japanese poems are written vertically, so our breaks are more to mirror the parts of the poem. In this case, the breaks are syllabic in origin and the blank line separates the kami-no-ku and shimo-no-ku (sp?).

Thanks for stopping by and for the suggestion about Tanka Central, I’ll check it out.

]]> By: ~K~ http://blog.gordaen.com/2008/03/09/tanka-old-photograph/#comment-72418 ~K~ Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:39:08 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2008/03/09/tanka-old-photograph/#comment-72418 Not quite. The English version is typically a set of five phrases on five lines, varying in length. It is not a 'haiku+2' -- tanka is a thousand years older than haiku and encompasses far more. There is no obligation to have a break at the end of line 3, the break could be anywhere. Likewise, there can be more than one break or no break at all. Much can be learned about tanka by visiting TankaCentral.com and following the links to the various journals and websites. Several of them can be read free online. Not quite. The English version is typically a set of five phrases on five lines, varying in length. It is not a ‘haiku+2′ — tanka is a thousand years older than haiku and encompasses far more. There is no obligation to have a break at the end of line 3, the break could be anywhere. Likewise, there can be more than one break or no break at all.

Much can be learned about tanka by visiting TankaCentral.com and following the links to the various journals and websites. Several of them can be read free online.

]]>