My initial reaction to Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 229 #SynonymsOnly, where the words offered are dawn and twilight (to be replaced with synonyms), was to write a haiku.
morning light
anticipated
with sunset
Instead, I decided to write a chōka.
Anticipation
sailboats at anchor
in the waning evening light
long day on the lake
lapping of waves against hulls
sound of buoys rings
air of anticipation
to feel wind in morning’s light
light of setting sun
brings a night of quiet rest
morning light arrives
waves ripple in reflection
as the cycle continues
Chōka, a Japanese long poem written primarily from the 6th to the 14th century. Chōka have alternating lines of 5 and 7 syllables and an indefinite length (from 7 to 149 lines), ending with an added 7 syllable line. So, 5-7-5-7-5-7-…7, and a length allowing greater themes.
Chōka often were followed by one or more short poems called hanka, or “envoys,” summarizing, supplementing, or elaborating on, the contents of the main poem. Sometimes, a tanka would serve as an envoy, and that is what I have written here.
Man’yōshū (“Collection of a Myriad Leaves”) is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry (from some time after AD 759) and contains 4,536 waka (classical Japanese poetry). 265 of those are chōka (long poems). The 1940/1965 edition of The Man’yōshū: One Thousand Poems (a translation) is available for download as a PDF from Internet Archive and is some pretty interesting reading.
Image: sunset on the Niagara River at Lake Ontario, Youngstown, New York
(click image for larger view in new tab)
Thanks for these fine works, Ken; and thanks as well for the thematic lesson. Bravo!
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Merci!
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Thank you for the information. I enjoyed the longer poem and beautiful photo.
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Thank you, Merril.
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You’re welcome, Ken.
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Both image and verse (haiku & chōka) pull me into a lovely meditative calm. Thank you!
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And thank you!
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The 5-7-5 rhythm is so beautiful and perfect for anything containing water. (K)
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Thank you. I agree. Each line a moment of contemplation.
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Thank you for introducing me to the chōka. Brilliant writing, Ken.
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Thank you, Eugenia.
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You’re most welcome, Ken.
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This is lovely!
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🙂 Thank you.
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Welcome
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I feel that quiet anticipation as if I was on the shore watching.
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🙂 Thank you.
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You did a great job with the prompt! I like your choka!
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Thanks, Dwight. 🙂
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Ken, thank you! I love the chōka form. I’ve been toying with the idea of adding this form to our challenge. The longer form gives us more flexibility! Thanks for the amazing example. I downloaded “The Man’yōshū: One Thousand Poems,” as well! There is something about these poetry forms and their history that always gets me excited to write more poetry. Bravo! ❤
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Thank you, Colleen.
Yes, the Man’yōshū is an interesting read.
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I’ll upload this to my Kindle. You wouldn’t believe how many Japanese poetry books and PDF’s I’ve read in the last year or so!
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Thanks for introducing a new form, I enjoyed your take on the prompt. 🙂
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🙂 Thank you.
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🙂
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Beautiful image! This is the first I’ve heard of the choka form. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your poem.
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Thank you. Even with the syllable requirement, the form offers flexibility.
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