Haiku

A haiku is a compact poem of three lines. It shares with the reader the experience or observations of a poet. It talks about a mood
or a moment, by juxtaposing images. The poem is composed by using simple words. The haiku focuses on a single moment,
usually giving a very brief description of some event or object belonging to nature. In a haiku there is a word related to a particular
season. It is called a kigo in the Japanese language.

Tanka

Tanka are 31-syllable poems that have been a popular form of poetry in Japan for at least 1300 years. As a form of poetry, tanka is
older than haiku, and tanka poems evoke a moment or mark an occasion with concision and musicality. In Japanese, tanka is often
written in one straight line, but in English and other languages, they are usually divided into the five syllabic units: 5-7-5-7-7.
Usually, each line consists of one image or idea. A tanka is lyrical in nature, and it provides room to the poet to share his feelings.

Haiku Tanka

number of syllables The total number of syllables The total number of syllables in the
in the poem is seventeen poem is thirty one

the distribution of syllables in 5-7-5 5-7-5-7-7

the lines respectively

Origin Seventeenth century Thirteenth century

Poetic devices Concrete imagery without metaphors, similes and personification

commentary

Usual Tendency To look at the exterior world To look inward, concentrating on

human feelings

Perspective Objective Subjective

Concentrating factor Writt en in the present Versatile as change in time, a change in

subject, a change in person, etc,

Judgmental Highly judgmental Not considered judgmental

vocabulary mixed Elegant