Haiku & Tanka Poetry
English I
Mr. Dewalt
俳句
What Is Haiku Poetry?
A Haiku poem is a traditional Japanese three-line poem.
Contains five syllables in the first line; seven syllables in the second line; and five syllables in the third line.
A haiku poem typically presents a single vivid image, often of nature or the seasons.
A haiku poem is intended to evoke in the reader a specific emotional or spiritual response.
Haiku Poems
“Summer grasses growwhere the stalwart soldiersonce dreamed a long dream.”
-Matsuo Basho
“The blind musicianextending an old tin cupcollects a snowflake.”
-Nicholas Virgilio
“An old silent ponda frog jumps into the pond,splash! Silence again.”
-Matsuo Basho
What Is Tanka Poetry?
Another form of early Japanese poetry.
Again is typically written about nature.
Is crafted around a similar line pattern as the Haiku poem, except it has 2 additional lines.
The pattern is:
5 syllables7 syllables5 syllables7 syllables7 syllables
Tanka Poems
“Droplets fall softlyPuddle forms with water dropsPing and patter soundFresh scent of rain fills the airSpring arrives with great beauty.”
“Beautiful mountainsRivers with cold, cold water.White cold snow on rocksTrees over the place with frostWhite sparkly snow everywhere.”
“The leaves change colourWhen the fall winds start to blow,Yellow, orange and brownAre the colours of fall leaves,Slowly falling from the trees.”
Homework
Read page 436 from the textbook for class tomorrow!!
Project
Assignment details handed out in class.
Overall though, you are creating a book of poetry. It should be creative, colorful, and a representation of your understanding Haiku and Tanka poetry. 3 Haiku poems
2 Tanka poems
Corresponding image with each poem
Front cover containing an image of nature, and set up in MLA front page format!
Back cover which can be plainly a sheet of construction paper.
Your original poems!