JAPANES POETRY by ARTHUR WALEY

A TANKA TEACH-IN TO SONGS OF EXCELLENCE(uta)

Arthur Waley wrote this short book(109 pages) in 1918 ,in essence , as a 'do-it-yourself' guide to translating tanka from the original Japanese.In the 8th century their poets concluded their gifting was for 5 line poetry (not' longer songs') ,later in the 17 th century,condensing to the even shorter 3 line haiku.
Nothwithstanding, this book will delight all lovers of short-form poetry,containing some 59 tanka selections in part one from Manyo Shu cAD 785,) the 10000 Leaves Collection and 90+ tanka from the later Kokin(Ancient and Modern)of AD905 in part 2.
The learned introduction is worth the price of the alone.Buy and enjoy