Tanka Origins
digital publication
Tanka Origins
Final Edition Page 1 of 2
Editor's Introduction
If anyone finds any errata or omissions, please feel free to contact me directly at tankaanya@gmail.com
Publication certificates for the Editor's Choice tanka "only", will be emailed shortly, to print out.
For this Tanka Origins Edition, again I received a multitude of fine submissions, So many that it's increasingly difficult to select which ones to publish, but the ones I’ve selected, in my opinion, are what I believe to be the finest English examples of the tanka genre.
Having said this, I also have to say this is the final edition of Tanka Origins as it has gone into overdrive. With each edition and so many email submissions coming to my inbox, it is a daunting task to select only 25 tanka. Even though I cannot continue, a sincere thank you to those who made Tanka Origins a success.
All rights revert to the author upon publication, and if your tanka is reprinted anywhere, Tanka Origins must be cited as the first place of publication. On another note, please know that I am always open to workshopping anyone's tanka in a private email.
Editor’s Choices
thunder
sounding nature’s passion
and mine
the tingle of your touch
adds lightning to my soul
Terrie Jacks
USA
One of my Editor’s Choices is this stellar tanka written by Terrie Jacks from the USA. I immediately liked it upon first reading. In line 1, Terrie simply stated the word “thunder”, a word used in many other tanka. However, in this tanka, it flowed right into the second line which definitely and creatively deepened the concept. Line 3 matched the two syllables in line 1 which gave it a flowing rhythm. Then came the dramatic closure and juxtaposition that makes this tanka as special as any court tanka written. Nice work Terrie!
thunder
sounding nature’s passion
and mine
the tingle of your touch
adds lightning to my soul
Terrie Jacks
USA
______
the ifs
and if only’s
my thoughts
are ferried off
by the march wind
Marilyn Fleming
USA
This Editor’s Choice tanka is by Marilyn Fleming who consistently composes fine tanka. Her subject material is something everyone can relate to probably more than once in their own lifetime, and these are the very most successful and memorable type of tanka written. A perfectly crafted piece with an excellent verb choice of “ferried” which sets it apart and makes it worth reading over and again. Thank you Marilyn for submitting this one to Tanka Origins.
the ifs
and if only’s
my thoughts
are ferried off
by the march wind
Marilyn Fleming
USA
______
in quarantine
after crossing borders
my thoughts
now flow to Anne Frank
more than ever before
Lakshmi Iyer
India
During these times I’ve read and passed on many “pandemic related” tanka, but this Editor’s Choice written
by Lakshmi from India caught my attention. It’s neither optimistic or pessimistic, rather it’s emphatic to this modern day world crisis situation while alluding to a past situation. Her reference and comparsion of being quarantined to Anne Frank’s isolation is unique and noteable. Thanks to Lakshmi for allowing readers to see this world virus from her personal perspective.
in quarantine
after crossing borders
my thoughts
now flow to Anne Frank
more than ever before
Lakshmi Iyer
India
______
she appeases
him much more than I
ever will—
my green eyes suck colour
from her rosy cheeks
Anne Curran
NZ
Here is a poignant Editor’s Choice tanka written by Anne Curran from New Zealand. It leaves much up to the reader to decide who “she” is and why “she” appeases “him” more. Could it be a lover or a mother, a sibling, or someone else? The real clincher comes in the last two lines which is an interesting example of the element of surprise. An intriguing and expressive tanka Anne, thank you for sharing this one of yours!
she appeases
him much more than I
ever will—
my green eyes suck colour
from her rosy cheeks
Anne Curran
NZ
______
expressing
my feelings of loss
pointless
trying to lasso
a butterfly
Richard Kakol
Australia
This Editor's Choice is a supburb tanka, and a very well written succinct piece by Richard Kakol of Australia. Succinct yes, but not incomplete. I often talk about submissions that are short poems” rather than "tanka", and this one serves as a good example of the difference. Richard’s content is melodic with its s, l, s, l, l format, it has a “twist in content'' from the upper lines to the last two lines, and also has a middle line “pivot” connecting human nature and mother-nature together. A special thank you to Richard for this fine example of the “tanka genre”.
expressing
my feelings of loss
pointless
trying to lasso
a butterfly
Richard Kakol
Australia
______
meandering
clouds weave in and out
my storm-tossed head
as self-doubs nible
the last bits of me
Rashmi VeSa
India
This is an outstanding tanka submitted by Rashmi VeSA from India, that has everything. A perfect short, long, short, long, long songful melody, a nature plus a human element, metaphor, excellent word choices, it just has everything! As most of you know, I very rarely don't make a minor suggestion or two, but not this time. Very impressive Rashmi!
meandering
clouds weave in and out
my storm-tossed head
as self-doubs nible
the last bits of me
Rashmi VeSa
India
______
the stone
beneath my breastbone
melts at last—
on the cusp of morning
the singing starts anew
Jenny Ward Angyal
USA
This tanka with its "internal rhyme"is by Jenny Ward Angyal from the USA. Half of the success of any tanka is up to the reader, and this tanka needs to be read more than once in order to fully grasp the breadth of its meaning which is left up to interpretation. In lines one and two what is meant by “the stone/beneath the breastbone”? I interpreted it as “a cold heart” that in line 3 melts because of morning birdsong, or perhaps it was the author’s heart singing because of a lover that stayed the night...
the stone
beneath my breastbone
melts at last—
on the cusp of morning
the singing starts anew
Jenny Ward Angyal
USA
______
trying to find
my future girlfriend
in a vast sea…
this dream of hollow masks
and broken mirrors
Jacob Salzar
USA
This is a modern day tanka by Jacob Salzar from the USA. I agree with Jacob when he says “I think using the adjective "broken" could imply how fragmented some parts of society seem to be”. His reference also to “hollow masks” is to me a juxtaposition of how difficult it must be to meet a “future new girlfriend” in these times. Thanks Jacob for your tanka!
trying to find
my future girlfriend
in a vast sea…
this dream of hollow masks
and broken mirrors
Jacob Salzar
USA
______
fallen stars
all the time we spent
looking for
what was lost between us
and what still remains
Agus Maulana Sunjaya
Indonesia
This tanka is by Agus Maulana Sunjaya from Indonesia. It has a strong entry line and pause. Agus then carries on with the next 4 lines that connect and flow nicely into each other to form a complete thought pattern. Placing the “what was lost” and “what still remains” together in the final lines, makes this tanka work well and leaves the reader wondering why... thank you Agus!
fallen stars
all the time we spent
looking for
what was lost between us
and what still remains
Agus Maulana Sunjaya
Indonesia
______
naptime
my cat and I close our eyes
to the world
opening them only to confirm
each other’s presence
John J Han
USA
This is quite a delightful tanka written by John J Han from the USA. There are many different kinds of love, and the love of a pet is one of my personal favorite types. I can see this scenario so clearly and if you read it metaphorically, it could just as easily even be subtly applied to secret lovers. Thanks John for allowing readers the privilege of reading this one!
naptime
my cat and I close our eyes
to the world
opening them only to confirm
each other’s presence
John J Han
USA
______
bridge crossing
I still memorize
the shadows
of large koi swimming
amid stepping stones
David He
China
Another excellent tanka by David He from China. Memorizing the shadows of koi amid the stepping stones is such a wonderful visual. We are not only allowed to see this image for the first time, but for many times thereafter. In addition, not only can I see these shadows from the bridge, I am taken right down amid those stepping stones to a time when the bridge probably wasn’t even there. Thanks David!
bridge crossing
I still memorize
the shadows
of large koi swimming
amid stepping stones
David He
China
______
a summer night concert in Schönbrunn garden—
how the moon veils
her hands barely touching
the strings of a harp
Steliana Cristina Voice
Romania
A beautiful tanka composed by Steliana Cristina Voicu of Romania. She sets the stage in lines 1 and 2 taking us right into Schönbrunn garden. In the middle line, her use of the word “moon” rather than “moonlight”is a plus that enhances the verb “veils”; it’s not just the light but the moon itself that finishes off the beauty of this tanka with t lines 4 and 5 “her hands barely touching the strings of a harp”. Lovely tanka Steliana!
a summer night concert in Schönbrunn garden—
how the moon veils
her hands barely touching
the strings of a harp
Steliana Cristina Voice
Romania
______
across my chest
at dawn spiders spin
gossamer silk
these threads gathering
fragments of my heart
Marilyn Ashbaugh
USA
First of all, I must say this one written by Marilyn Ashbaugh in the USA, is a beautiful and delicate tanka indeed. The visual of “gossamer silk” spun across a person’s chest is stunning. An even more breathtaking visual is to see those threads gatheringg heart fragments. Of course, there is much much more depth to Maryilyn’s tanka than just beautiful visuals! What was the hidden meaning, was her heart broken into pieces, and why? Being able to write a little mystery into tanka, is a gift. Thanks Marilyn!
across my chest
at dawn spiders spin
gossamer silk
these threads gathering
fragments of my heart
Marilyn Ashbaugh
USA
______
the lone seagull
on a shore pine branch
how long it waits
as waves touch and go
as waves touch and go
Pravat Kumar Padhy
India
A very memorable tanka by Pravat Kumar Padhy from India. Suddenly, I am a seagull alone waiting, waiting, waiting on a shore pine branch”. Pravat’s repetition in the final two lines enhances the concept of the tanka greatly, and only a skilled tanka poet could create the feeling Pravat has given readers in this tanka. It's yet another stunning example of his usual fine work!
the lone seagull
on a shore pine branch
how long it waits
as waves touch and go
as waves touch and go
Pravat Kumar Padhy
India
______
the weight
of a thousand worries
wakes me. . .
what am I to do
with a day like this
Stacey Dye
USA
This tanka is by Stacey Dye in the USA, who has fastly become one of my most recent personal favorite female writers. Her writing is always in depth, spot-on for rhythm, content, and general readership relatability. We all have days like this, especially in troubled times when worries are at a peak. Thank goodness we have poetry to help us through the worries of each day. Keep up the good work Stacey, and thank you for your support of Tanka Origins!
the weight
of a thousand worries
wakes me. . .
what am I to do
with a day like this
Stacey Dye
USA
______
overheard
passing the lobby desk
directions
to my lover's floor
I push the button
Zane Parks
USA
I’m always intrigued by an unusual tanka like this one by Zane Parks, USA. It’s one of those ambiguous tanka that tweaks every readers’ imagination, or perhaps just leaves them in limbo. It could be applied in so many ways to so many instances by so many people. The possible interpretations for this tanka are numerous. What an interesting write bthanks to Zane!
overheard
passing the lobby desk
directions
to my lover's floor
I push the button
Zane Parks
USA
______
curled up
on my plush red couch
I pen poems…
love longing and loss
fill tear-stained pages
Marilyn Humbert
Australia
This tanka by Marilyn Humbert of Australia, steps right out of the Victorian era to me (which I love). The plush couch (I perceive red velvet), and the use of her word “pen” carries on with that feeling of nostalgia. The three “l”s, “love longing and loss” in line 4 truly wowed me! Thank you Marilyn for gracing the pages of Tanka Origins with your work!
curled up
on my plush red couch
I pen poems…
love longing and loss
fill tear-stained pages
Marilyn Humbert
Australia
______
from the forest edge
bordering a bright meadow
suppressing breaths
the calm movements of a bear
I lose all sense of time
Kiersta Recktenwald
USA
Here we have a tanka by Kiersta Recktenwald from the USA, and I too have experienced this myself having lived rurally and walked in the woods many times. With lilting birdsong, jackrabbits, squirrels,wildflowers, etc. it is literally breathtaking when one runs across a bear. Kiersta’s final line is a perfect close to this moment, and let’s us linger for a while. Thanks Kiersta for sharing your experience!
from the forest edge
bordering a bright meadow
suppressing breaths
the calm movements of a bear
I lose all sense of time
Kiersta Recktenwald
USA
______
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