Tanka Poetry Contest

For this contest you are challenged to write a Tanka poem. Tanka is a form of poetry that often follows a specific syllable count.

line 1 - 5 syllables
line 2 - 7 syllables
line 3 - 5 syllables
line 4 - 7 syllables
line 5 - 7 syllables

So it contains five unrhymed lines of five, seven, five, seven, and seven syllables. (5, 7, 5, 7, 7). This format is not required but a helpful guide. To approximate the Japanese model, some poets use approximately 20-22 syllables and a short-long-short-long-long structure or even just a free form structure using five lines.

An Example:

Peaceful solitude (5) intrinsic to our spirit (7) lost in pensive thought (5) standing on the edge of time (7) the road to nowhere special. (7) - by Cheri L. Ahner

Write about anything using this format. A tanka poem usually only has one stanza. But we are keeping the format open You can submit a traditional tanka poem or you can include additional stanzas. If you include additional stanzas they must follow the tanka format as specified above.

The winner takes away a $100 cash prize. All writers will receive feedback for their submission.

Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Thursday, July 25, 2019.

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