Call of the wild (Tanka)

[ken.brandli]

in twisted snow gums
the chill alpine wind descends
off bare mountain slopes
with black feathers aflutter
a raucous crow objecting



© K R Brandli 02/11/2014

[Stella]

Very wild indeed Ken especially with the crows shrieking...

[antoine]

This is cool Ken. Tanka is not an easy style to nail down but you did it here with aplomb. The crows protest at the wind makes for a great image altogether. Well penned Ken.

[ken.brandli]

Thanks folks. I call this a Tanka because it is Tanka in structure but it is not strictly Tanka because this form was traditionally a love poem. with the first three lines setting a scene and the last two switching back to capture a personal moment between the lovers. An explanation of the history and nature of the form:

Tanka’s economy and suitability for emotional expression made it ideal for intimate communication; lovers would often, after an evening spent together (often clandestinely), dash off a tanka to give to the other the next morning as a gift of gratitude.

In many ways, the tanka resembles the sonnet, certainly in terms of treatment of subject. 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.

[ken.brandli]

.....parting comment. My Tanka 'Wilderswill' is truer to the form.

[Stella]

Thank you Ken, for explaining this...

[eleanor prince]

I love the way you bring innovative imagery to this wonderful atmospheric scene

[antoine]

Thank you Ken, for explaining this...

Here, here... superb explanation

[Cindy]

I love the picture created. Very well done. I appreciate the explaination of the tanka too.