Under the Sakura Tree
Annie Dameron
Copyright 2011 by Annie Dameron
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Although haiku is the Japanese form of waka that is most familiar to Western readers, waka has many different variations.
Waka is the general term for Japanese poetry.
Onji literally means 'sound part'. Haiku is comprised of three lines of text with onji of 5-7-5. In English, 'onji' translates to 'syllables', though it isn't a precise translation.
Tanka, or “short poetry” is made up of 5-7-5-7-7.
Chōka or “long poetry” is made up of stanzas of alternating 5-7-5-7. The last stanza ends in 5-7-7. This form isn't used as much anymore.
Sedōka or “memorized poetry” has 5-7-7-5-7-7. This is also not used as much anymore.
Katauta or “poem fragment” is half a sedōka, or 5-7-7. This one is relatively rare by itself.
Then there is the renga, which is collaborative poetry. There is a minimum of 3-4 poets who participate, though there can be as many is 15 or even more. This group is called the ichiza; the moderator is the sōshō, or renga master, who is the most experienced of the group.
Renga can be of different lengths. Usually it's established at the beginning of how long the poem is, the number of verses, if the poem is seasonal, whether the moon or flowers are mentioned, which poets add which stanzas,etc.
The first line is 5-7-5 (usually started by the sōshō), the next is 7-7, and it alternates until the desired length is reached.
Dawn’s Glow
Cherry blossoms feel
Warm strokes of bright red sunrise.
Pulsing through their veins
Cherry Blossom in Pot
Chinese Watercolor
Haiku
(5-7-5)
Palette
Blue mixes with green
Royal purple clothes the world
The colors of life.
Mischief
These gray little cats
Stare at me with innocence!
Blanket lies in shreds!
Regrets
He watches his life
Slipping through the hourglass
Into the dark void.
Recess Time
The children at play
Both sides draw the battle lines.
Everyone loses.
Inner Flight
Oh why can't I fly
With the North Wind at my heels?
In my mind, I can.
Decisions
Love and life are one