Follow the 5 essential steps to write a captivating tanka poems
Learn to write tanka poems with our simple guide! Explore the structure, history, and techniques of this beautiful Japanese poem type.
Just think about the soft flutter of cherry blossoms, a quiet goodbye from a loved one, or the gentle sound of the autumn wind.
Do you want to capture these deep emotions in just 31 syllables?
Well! I’ve always loved spending time in nature and writing about it, but I struggled to find the right type of short poem. Then, I discovered tanka poetry!
For over a thousand years, Japanese poets have used this beautiful form.
While haiku is well-known, tanka is even older and allows for a deeper expression of feelings.
Want to learn how to turn your emotions into beautiful poetry?
In this guide, I’ll discuss everything about tanka poems, from their origin to how to write them, along with some examples to help you understand.
Let’s get started!
What is a tanka poem?
A tanka poem is a traditional Japanese form of poetry made up of five lines with a set syllable pattern: 5-7-5-7-7.
These 31 syllables are split into two parts: the “kami-no-ku” (upper part) and the “shimo-no-ku” (lower part).
The first three lines (5-7-5), known as the kami-no-ku, usually describe a scene or moment, like in a haiku.
The last two lines (7-7), the shimo-no-ku, add emotion or reflection to what’s being observed.
Like if I’m writing a poem, the kami-no-ku shows what I’m seeing, while the shimo-no-ku reveals how I feel about it.
Moreover, tanka poems traditionally flow without punctuation or rhyme. It helps to naturally connect ideas.
If we see the traditional form, it sticks to these rules.
But modern tanka poems often focus more on authentic expression than following strict syllable counts.
You can write about anything—from nature and love to everyday moments that move you.
The beauty of tanka lies in its simplicity and the emotions it can convey in just a few lines.
History of tanka poetry
The Tanka poem is one of Japan's oldest form of poetry, going back over 1,300 years to a collection called the Man'yōshū from the 8th century.
The name "tanka" was used to tell shorter poems (which have 5-7-5-7-7 syllables) apart from longer poems called chōka.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, shorter poems became more popular, and people began calling them "waka."
In the early 20th century, the poet Masaoka Shiki revived the term "tanka" to update Japanese poetry.
During the Meiji period, he and others promoted a bolder, more masculine style based on the Man'yōshū.
Over the years, the tanka tradition continued, especially during events like Utakai Hajime, where the emperor shares a tanka poem each New Year.
Today, poets like Machi Tawara have made tanka popular again with both professional and amateur writers, and it remains widely loved and published in Japanese media.
How to write a tanka poem?
Now that you know about tanka poems, you can easily start making your own!
Here are the steps to create a tanka poem:
1. Understanding the basic structure
A tanka poem consists of five unrhymed lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7, making a total of 31 syllables.
Unlike many Western poems, tanka poems don’t have titles or punctuation.
Think of it as one flowing thought divided into five smooth lines.
Example of syllable structure:
Autumn leaves falling (5)
Gently dance in morning breeze (7)
Red and gold swirling (5)
Memories of summers past (7)
Float away with each leaf's fall (7)
2. Choosing your subject matter
Traditional tanka is often centered on nature, love, and seasons, but modern tanka can cover any topic.
Start with something interesting and observable before moving into deeper emotions or reflections.
Good starting topics include
- Natural scenes
- Personal experiences
- Emotional moments
- Daily observations
- Relationships
- Seasonal changes
3. Creating the two-part structure
A tanka consists of two main parts:
1. The first three lines (kami-no-ku)
In kami-no-ku, you set the scene or describe something you see. Use clear details that appeal to the senses, like sights, sounds, or smells.
This helps create a clear picture in the reader’s mind and sets up the mood for your emotional thoughts in the next part.
2. The last two lines (shimo-no-ku)
In shimo-no-ku, you reflect on the scene or share how it makes you feel. These lines connect the description to a deeper meaning or a personal feeling.
By doing this, you can express emotions or insights that others might relate to, making the poem more meaningful.
Example showing this transition:
Raindrops on windows (scene)
Creating crystal rivers (scene)
Down the clouded glass (scene)
Like tears I couldn't shed when (reflection)
You said your last goodbye here (emotional response)
4. The art of the pivot
Around the third line, include a "pivot." This is where the poem shifts from describing a scene to expressing personal emotions or thoughts. This turn connects the two parts of the poem:
- The description in the first three lines
- The reflection or deeper meaning in the last two lines.
It adds depth and creates a bridge between what is seen and what is felt.
Example of a clear pivot:
Cherry blossoms fall
Pink petals carpet the ground
Spring wind scatters them (pivot)
Just like the scattered pieces
Of my once-certain future
5. Polishing your tanka
When polishing your tanka poem, start by;
- Writing your first thoughts without worrying about syllables
- Count the syllables and adjust them to fit the 5-7-5-7-7 pattern
- Read the poem aloud to make sure it flows smoothly
- Remove any extra words that aren't needed
- Focus on using strong verbs to make the poem more powerful
- Check if the pivot, or shift, feels natural between the lines.
- Make sure the ending leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Before Polish:
The old cat is sitting by the window looking out
At birds that are flying in the garden today
While thinking about life passing by
After Polish:
Old cat watches birds
Through dusty window panes now
Still and focused sharp
Time slips past like feathered wings
While she dreams of younger days
Some famous tanka poems
1. The Color of the Flowers Has Already Faded
Written by: Ono no Komachi.
“The color of this flower
The color of this flower
Has already faded away,
While in idle thoughts
My life goes by,
As I watch the long rains fall.”
Summary:
In this poem, Ono no Komachi, a renowned poet from Japan’s Heian era, reflects on the passing nature of beauty and life.
She uses the image of a flower losing its color to show her sorrow about time slipping away while her days are filled with unimportant thoughts.
Through this, she shares a deep sadness about aging and the quiet loss of life’s vibrant moments.
2. Tangles in My Hair
Written by: Yosano Akiko.
“Tangling in my hair,
the blossoms of the wisteria
begin to decay;
and my longing for you, like
the fragrance, everlasting.”
Summary:
In this poem, Yosano Akiko, a well-known Japanese poet from the Meiji period, uses wisteria flowers tangled in her hair to show the bittersweet side of love.
The flowers are beginning to decay, showing how time passes, but their fragrance lingers, just like her lasting feelings for someone she misses.
Akiko's purpose is to capture both the beauty of love and the sadness of its slow fading.
3. The Cuckoo’s Call
Written by: Ki no Tsurayuki.
“The cuckoo's
Calling cry this morning
Startled me, for
You left us
At just this time.”
Summary:
In this poem, Ki no Tsurayuki, a famous poet from Japan’s Heian period, describes how the call of a cuckoo bird surprises him one morning.
The sound reminds him of a time when someone important to him left, creating a strong sense of loss and longing.
Tsurayuki's purpose is to express how certain moments and sounds can bring back memories of loved ones and the sadness that comes with their absence.
4. On a Cold Night
Written by: Mibu no Tadamine.
“On a night so cold
I waited for you—hoping,
Praying, thinking
I would see you—now I know
Why the winter night is long.”
Summary:
In this poem, Mibu no Tadamine, a notable poet from the Heian period, reflects on a cold night spent waiting for someone special.
His hopes and prayers for their arrival highlight his deep longing, but he ultimately realizes that the night feels even longer because of his disappointment.
Tadamine’s purpose is to convey the feeling of loneliness that can come with waiting and how the coldness of winter mirrors his heartache.
5. A Lonely Autumn Evening
Written by: Emperor Kōkō.
“The autumn evening—
On the dew-laden branch tips
Of the maple trees,
I see the glistening tears
Of the nightfall.”
Summary:
In this poem, Emperor Kōkō shares his feelings on a lonely autumn evening as he looks at the dew on the branches of maple trees.
He compares the dew to glistening tears, showing his sadness as day turns to night.
The emperor wants to highlight the quiet beauty of nature while also expressing the loneliness and sadness that come with changing seasons.
6. Longing for the One I Love
Written by: Izumi Shikibu.
“Even if I now
met my love, this longing
would still remain—
like the thorny rose
that refuses to be tamed.”
Summary:
In this poem, Izumi Shikibu, a renowned poet from the Heian period, explores the feelings of love and longing.
She suggests that even if she were to meet the one she loves, her deep longing would persist, much like a thorny rose that cannot be controlled.
Shikibu’s purpose is to convey that true love often comes with an ache that remains, no matter the circumstances.
7. Cherry Blossoms in Spring
Written by: Saigyō Hōshi.
“In this mountain village,
Cherry blossoms fade away,
The spring too departs,
Yet the feelings in my heart
Will linger on forever.”
Summary:
In this poem, Saigyō Hōshi, a well-known poet from the Heian period, talks about cherry blossoms fading in a mountain village as spring comes to an end.
He notes that even though the flowers and the season are going away, his feelings will last forever.
Hōshi wants to show how nature connects to our emotions, highlighting that special feelings can remain even as time changes.
8. Winter Loneliness
Written by: Shunzei no Musume.
“When the snow piles up
High upon my lonely roof,
I shiver thinking
That I must spend another
Winter alone without you.”
Summary:
In this poem, Shunzei no Musume expresses her feelings of loneliness during winter as snow accumulates on her roof.
She shivers not just from the cold but from the sadness of facing another winter without the person she loves.
The poet wants to convey the deep ache of solitude that can be felt during the long, cold season when loved ones are absent.
9. On a Beach of Sadness
Written by: Ishikawa Takuboku
“On the white sand shore,
I pick up shells, one by one,
Holding each softly,
Thinking they were like the dreams
That I once held with such hope.”
Summary:
In this poem, Ishikawa Takuboku reflects on a beach where he picks up shells from the white sand.
As he holds each shell gently, he compares them to the dreams he once cherished with great hope.
Takuboku's purpose is to express a sense of loss and longing, highlighting how the beautiful moments and dreams of the past can feel fragile and distant.
10. Autumn Flowers
Written By: Masaoka Shiki.
"The bucket's water
poured out and gone,
drop by drop
dew drips like pearls
from the autumn flowers."
Summary:
In this poem, Masaoka Shiki looks at autumn flowers and describes how dew drops fall from them like pearls.
He mentions that the water from a bucket has poured out, highlighting the gentle dripping of dew.
Shiki wants to show the simple beauty of nature in autumn and how it reminds us of the passage of time as the season changes.
Need Help with Ideas? Use an AI Poem Generator!
If you're feeling stuck or need inspiration, try using an online poem generator.
This tool helps spark ideas, suggest themes, or even provide sample lines that can guide your creative process.
By using AI-generated prompts along with your own ideas, you can create beautiful tanka poems that express your feelings.
Related Guides:
- 12+ different types of poetry to explore
- Learn About the History, Types & Characteristics of Epic Poems with Examples
- Essential Rules of Writing a Blank Verse Poetry with Examples
Wrapping Up
Writing tanka poems helps you express deep feelings and capture fleeting moments in just 31 syllables.
This poetry form has a rich history in Japan. It encourages personal reflection and vivid imagery.
You can write about nature, relationships, or your own experiences.
Tanka’s beauty lies in its simplicity and emotional impact.
Now that you know the structure and techniques, let your creativity flow. Start writing your own tanka poems!
