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Rated: ASR · Poetry · Philosophy · #538225
I would like to be like a bird. (English Tanka)
birds fly
I want to
birds die
so do I
then I fly

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Using the English Tanka form

To explain how to write the English Tanka, we have to take a look at the original form. The original is coming out of Japan. Tanka means short poem. The traditional Tanka has 31 syllables, divided in five lines.

Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Line 4: 7 syllables
Line 5: 7 syllables


The English form is shorter. To approach the same rhythm of the Japanese Tanka, you have to build the English Tanka in 13 syllables.

Line 1: 2 syllables
Line 2: 3 syllables
Line 3: 2 syllables
Line 4: 3 syllables
Line 5: 3 syllables
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