Japanese Tankas under an Afghani Moon

Tanka poems are a form of Japanese poetry, similar to haiku.  The originators of the form wrote elegant haiku, tanka and renga poems on the subject of nature.  These, however, have almost an Irish limerick spin with a Japanese accent--LOL!

Haiku has 3 lines--1st line (5 syllables), 2nd line (7 syllables), 3rd line (5 syllables)

Add two more lines of 7 syllables each (those two lines are called "ageku") and you have a tanka.  Pair two tanka poems together and you have a renga.  

Now try writing a few of your own--on any topic you choose.  After awhile you will start thinking in 5 and 7-syllable thought-bytes!  (For inspiration, try googling Tanka or Renga poems).

I jotted these down last year (2011) while two of my three children were deployed to Afghanistan. 

The first two are based on my daughter's experiences, and the last, from my heart.

"Sunni Tali-boy"

"Choco chocolate!"

Soldier's pockets are empty.
Naughty boy throws rocks.
He has such excellent aim--
Soldier had to quickly duck.

"April in Afghanistan"

Allergies kicked up.
No flowers, no trees blooming.
That's Afghanistan
Ahhh Ahhh Afghanistan Ahhh
Choo Afghanistan Bless you.

 I wrote the following very early this AM --

Up at two thirty
God wakes me: "Come on, let's pray
for KK today."
Just thought I'd let you know that
You're embraced in mother's prayers--

Held within her heart
That's what Moms are for, you know.
Praying in the dark
Imagining her soldier
in Jesus' arms, safe, warm, loved.

Lesson Plan on writing Renga poems for Grades 4-12:  Have your students work in groups of 4.  Each student writes a Haiku on any topic they choose or which you assign.  Once finished, students pass their poems clockwise to the next student who adds an Ageku (see notes above) following the theme of the originator.  When finished, they pass their papers again clockwise and next add another haiku, again following the theme of that poem.  One more pass, for the final ageku to be added by the 4th student.  Then the poem goes back to the originator.  Each student has a completed Renga poem.  The originator may now check for correct syllabication and consistency of theme.

Evaluation:  Consistency of theme, accurate syllabication.  With intermediate grades, tying this language arts lesson into a science lab  or social studies lesson can be a wonderful alternative assessment by requiring that students include a certain number of facts learned in the poem.  In higher grades, the assignment can be made more sophisticated by requiring students to tighten their poetic voice by avoiding words such as linking verbs and indefinite pronouns.  

***This lesson was highly successful for me--from 4th grade to middle school gifted to high school seniors.

Copyright 2011 Katherine Harris Szerdy