magician strolls sky
exotic garden of night
tenderness unfurls
bosom of moon blossoms bloom
nocturnal love glows in dark
This is my first attempt at writing a Tanka.
➟ Tanka – Brief History
Tanka (a poetic form with 5/7/5/7/7 syllables) poems are ideal dictions of intimate and deep emotions and act as secret letters expressing love, gratitude, self-reflection, or desire. Unlike haiku, Tanka lets ample visualization with the use of metaphors, personifications, and similes.
Tanka poems typically have a turn or pivot in the third line. An article about Tanka on poets.org quotes:
Like the sonnet, the tanka employs a turn, known as a pivotal image, which marks the transition from the examination of an image to the examination of the personal response. This turn is located within the third line, connecting the kami-no-ku, or upper poem, with the shimo-no-ku, or lower poem.
This turn from the upper part (haiku) and the lower part (last two lines) signals expansion or shift in the subject. In the early centuries, a human repleted with the attending emotions of affection or longing, using natural symbolism, sends a secretive message to his beloved. Later, the departed message (upper poem) returns with a response (lower poem). Traditionally, a tanka is written as a single unbroken line.
To Tamil readers, Tanka is a poetic form equivalent to Thoodhu (தூது) in Tamil literature.
➟ Tanka – Brief History
Tanka (a poetic form with 5/7/5/7/7 syllables) poems are ideal dictions of intimate and deep emotions and act as secret letters expressing love, gratitude, self-reflection, or desire. Unlike haiku, Tanka lets ample visualization with the use of metaphors, personifications, and similes.
Tanka poems typically have a turn or pivot in the third line. An article about Tanka on poets.org quotes:
Like the sonnet, the tanka employs a turn, known as a pivotal image, which marks the transition from the examination of an image to the examination of the personal response. This turn is located within the third line, connecting the kami-no-ku, or upper poem, with the shimo-no-ku, or lower poem.
This turn from the upper part (haiku) and the lower part (last two lines) signals expansion or shift in the subject. In the early centuries, a human repleted with the attending emotions of affection or longing, using natural symbolism, sends a secretive message to his beloved. Later, the departed message (upper poem) returns with a response (lower poem). Traditionally, a tanka is written as a single unbroken line.
To Tamil readers, Tanka is a poetic form equivalent to Thoodhu (தூது) in Tamil literature.
Credits & Footnote
Inspired by ‘Eugi’s Weekly Prompt’ – Magic.
Featured Image:
Photo from Wallpaper Cave.
Crazy Nerds 
A great first take. A fun penultimate line.
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Thank you, Jude. It’s gratifying that the first attempt turned out well.
Haha! I’m glad it captured your attention. I wanted the verse to be metaphorical with love.
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My pleasure. It was beautifully done.
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