Famous Tanka Poems by Famous Poets
These are examples of famous Tanka poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous tanka poems. These examples illustrate what a famous tanka poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).
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by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
When to Tago's coast
I the way have gone, and see
Perfect whiteness laid
On Mount Fuji's lofty peak
By the drift of falling snow....Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Though we parted be;
If on Mount Inaba's peak
I should hear the sound
Of the pine trees growing there,
Back at once I'll make my way....Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
It is for thy sake
That I seek the fields in spring,
Gathering green herbs,
While my garment's hanging sleeves
Are with falling snow beflecked....Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
If the "Magpie Bridge"--
Bridge by flight of magpies spanned,--
White with frost I see:--
With a deep-laid frost made white:--
Late, I know, has grown the night....Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
When I look abroad
O'er the wide-stretched "Plain of Heaven,"
Is the moon the same
That on Mount Mikasa rose,
In the land of Kasuga?...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
In the mountain depths,
Treading through the crimson leaves,
Cries the wandering stag.
When I hear the lonely cry,
Sad,--how sad--the autumn is!...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
O'er the wide, wide sea,
Towards its many distant isles,
Rowing I set forth.
This, to all the world proclaim,
O ye boats of fisher-folk!...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Ah! the foot-drawn trail
Of the mountain-pheasant's tail
Drooped like down-curved branch!--
Through this long, long-dragging night
Must I keep my couch alone?...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Coarse the rush-mat roof
Sheltering the harvest-hut
Of the autumn rice-field;--
And my sleeves are growing wet
With the moisture dripping through....Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Spring, it seems, has passed,
And the summer come again;
For the silk-white robes,
So 'tis said, are spread to dry
On the "Mount of Heaven's Perfume."...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Truly, this is where
Travelers who go or come
Over parting ways,--
Friends or strangers,--all must meet;
'Tis the gate of "Meeting Hill."
...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Color of the flower
Has already passed away
While on trivial things
Vainly I have set my gaze,
In my journey through the world....Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Michinoku print
Of shinobu's tangled leaves!
For whose sake have I,
Like confused, begun to be?
Only yours! I can not change!
...Read more of this...
by
Ono no Komachi
The flowers and my love,
Passed away under the rain,
While I idly looked upon them:
Where is my yester-love?...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
Lowly hut is mine
South-east from the capital:--
Thus I choose to dwell;--
And the world in which I live
Men have named a "Mount of Gloom."...Read more of this...
by
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu
From Tsukuba's peak,
Falling waters have become
Mina's still, full flow:
So my love has grown to be;
Like the river's quiet deeps. ...Read more of this...
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