OK, misleading title. We are NOT writing brief tributes to Lawrence Welk. We are focusing on another short form of Japanese poetry, the TANKA!
Tanka consist of five units (often treated as separate lines when romanized or translated) usually with the following pattern of on:
- 5-7-5-7-7.
The 5-7-5 is called the kami-no-ku (上の句 "upper phrase"?),
The 7-7 is called the shimo-no-ku (下の句 "lower phrase"?).
Traditionally tanka has had no concept of rhyme (certain arrangements of rhymes, even accidental, were considered dire faults in a poem, or even of line.
Much like the Haiku and Senryu the brevity concentrates the beauty of the piece with sometimes amazing results. THINK TANKA!
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lake reflects beauty
a bridge to frame the distance
to the rising sun
pagoda stands towering
above the water proudly
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| the challenge of youth in the hands of warrior baring his power two to fly into lesson kept aloft hoping pants hold |
