TANKA TAKE HOME: 14th August 2024 - Claire Rosilda Norman- poet of the month

hosts: Firdaus Parvez, Kala Ramesh, Priti Aisola & Suraja Menon Roychowdhury

Introducing a new perspective to our Wednesday Feature!

August 14, 2024

poet of the month: Claire Rosilda Norman

wind rips leaves

that never fell before

I stand

at the kitchen door

and stare into darkness

I turn for home

full of regret

the sound of wind

across the marsh

wailing and wild

We had the pleasure of asking Claire a few questions, and she graciously took the time to answer them. Here is the second:

TTH: How do you develop a tanka? Please guide us through the stages of a poem.

Claire: First you need to give yourself the space and opportunity, set aside a time regularly to write every day. Even if what you write is rubbish, keep going, because forming a habit helps a great deal.

One habit of mine, during the summer at least, is to go and sit outside. Being outside helps me think and makes the whole process easier. There's nothing wrong with desk tanka, they are just harder to do well.

Sometimes I sit with my morning coffee, sometimes with a glass of wine at the end of day. I just look around, listen, see what captures my attention. This will be the first part of my tanka, a real experience.

There are hundreds of things I could write about but usually one thing will stand out. For instance, last night there was a bird singing in one of the trees. I couldn't see it, but the sound seemed to fill the whole garden. I thought about how it made me feel. Were there old memories that came to me, past evenings spent with those no longer here? Did the song make me feel lonely, or did it fill me up, like thinking about those I love and who love me? It depends a lot on mood and what's going on in my life. Sometimes I don't write anything. That's okay too.

The next day I look over what I've written and edit if it needs it. Editing is good. There is no such thing as a 'pure' tanka that evolves from the ether. Not in my opinion, at least. :)

Sometimes I alter things months or even years later. Sometimes I write one line and don't know what to add. It will come later, or not. I don't get anxious over my poetry. I do it because I enjoy it.

We asked Claire for her bio (she eventually admitted to...):

Claire: Hmm... what do I want to admit to?

I am a sixty something woman. My maths is not good, so whenever someone asks my age I have to do a quick calculation, hoping I have got the year right and it is past February. So mostly I just say sixty something.

I am English, I live within walking distance of the North Sea (about two hours walk). I love water in all its forms. I have a fascination for caves as well, though there are not many in this part of the world.

I have been married for a long time, with two children. Also two cats. They have all been a source of joy and inspiration.

Prompt for this week:

Claire's tanka may seem simple at first, but they are layered with deeper meaning. Each one tells a story that the reader must fill in, and that's the beauty of her writing—she draws you into her world. Her tanka are relatable, leaving a lasting impression. The first tanka might appear straightforward, but on a second read, you'll notice the upper verse: "wind rips leaves/that never fell before"; something unsettling has occurred, and the narrator stands at the kitchen door, staring into darkness. This darkness likely represents more than just the night; it hints at despair. The reader is invited to fill in and feel that emotion. The second tanka pairs inner turmoil with the "anguish" of the wind—a superb combination.

This week's prompt encourages you to step outside and take in the view, the sounds, the smells, maybe the textures and tastes. What do they fill in you? Write about it, and have fun!

Important: Since we're swamped with submissions, and our editors are only human, mistakes can happen. Please, please, remember to put your name, followed by your country, below each poem, even after revisions. It really helps our editors; they won't have to type it in, saving them from potential typos. Thanks a ton!

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And remember – tanka, because of those two extra lines, lends itself most beautifully when revealing a story. And tanka prose is storytelling.

Give these ideas some thought and share your tanka and tanka-prose with us here. Keep your senses open, observe things that happen around you and write. You can post tanka and tanka-prose outside these themes too.

An essay on how to write tanka: Tanka Flights here

PLEASE NOTE

1. Post only one poem at a time, only one per day.

2. Only 2 tanka and two tanka-prose per poet per prompt.

   Tanka art of course if you want to.

3. Share your best-polished pieces.

4. Please do not post something in a hurry or something you have just written. Let it

    simmer for a while.

5. Post your final edited version on top of your original verse.

6. Don't forget to give feedback on others' poems.

We are delighted to open the comment thread for you to share your unpublished tanka and tanka-prose (within 250 words) to be considered for inclusion in the haikuKATHA monthly magazine.

Please check out the LEARNING Archives.

New essays are up! https://www.trivenihaikai.in/post/learning-archive

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