Tanka – REVolving

Words inform us. They tell us who someone is and why we might want to know them. Words also clutter our daily landscape. I’m interested in the economy of language and in trying to say what I observe in a small scaled way. I’m a person who writes as a function of my work. I love mystery and spirituality; also a function of my work. I’m a month late in beginning my blog, based on my resolution this year and I’ve got a project in mind to write small verse everyday. Depending on how that goes I may add some visual projects, too.

Here it is February first and I’ve started small. I plan to write each day, until roughly the end of January, 2016. Basho and other writers of Haiku have interested me since high school. I’m also interested in the writing form of Tanka which I understand to be a precursor of Haiku. Tanka are similar in Haiku form of five syllable line then a seven syllable line and then a five syllable line, but Tanka add two seven syllable lines.at the end. Often they are a reflection or clarification of the first three lines. I’m interested in other forms of Japanese poetry, and may chose to write in some of them as well. If you are unfamiliar with these forms, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waka_(poetry), here is an introduction.

I’ve debated doing this in a journal or in blog form, and although I’m enthusiastic about this blog, like many new bloggers (I think) a bit nervous to put my writing out to the world. My hope is that writing “small” will interest people to read for a few moments a day. I hope to offer some small gift of my own creation to my readers. A goal of this project is that in writing small verse I can become more proficient at composing thoughts and saying with clarity what is in on my mind and in my heart.