Death Tanka Poems | Examples

These Death Tanka poems are examples of Tanka poems about Death. These are the best examples of Tanka Death poems written by international poets.


Premium MemberEye Spy

baby is crying
the three year old is “why-ing”
daddy fell off his pulpit
one eye spied red-blooded male
thought it okay to take life


Premium MemberOur Claim to Fame

Starlight is defamed
comets swallow their own tails
time folds entropy
shadows not now reflected
all applause rendered to void

In the vanishing
I stand stripped of flesh and bone
naked to atone
as a soul in reckoning
for what I've become, not done

Premium MemberTruly Realize Why

When I someday die,
I'll no longer wonder why
Life flashes in eyes.
I'll then truly realize
Why it was all meant for me.

Premium Memberbetter way to live


busy folk walking
its in hospital I lie
I hear staff talking
softly accommodating
spend my last moments waiting

give a man my heart
when his own stops and wont start
better way to live 
this is what I want to give
take cells blood every last part

truth everyone dies
she cant see- give her my eyes
donation is wise
take vocal chords to help chat
brain just for a democrat

Premium MemberTanka Triptych

though Mom's memory
is slow she smiles at photo
taken many years 
ago when life was simple
with no confusion chaos 

Mom's hospice nurses
are thorough even small things
are giant matters
as life's boundaries implode:
sleep, dress, eat, nap, sleep, repeat

long term memories~
through it all she still recalls
her little girl (that's me)
(her jewel) I'm by her side
as she finds eternity


Premium MemberOF FOOD AND WARRING: A TANKA QUINTET

OF FOOD AND WARRING
(A TANKA QUIENTET)

Juxtaposed bombs fall…
Food’s down, starvation rising…
Death…collateral…
Thus, war’s new reaping of death:
Food uprooted and destroyed:-

Food’s an enemy,
Seeking to eat, deadly:
Starvation killing:-
Thus, be war’s new strategy:
Piled skin covered skeletons:-

Ironically, 
All this is merely Breaking News!
War’s politicking:
Pontificating power;
Not nourishing peace and love:-

May these fruitful thoughts 
Excite your hunger for peace
And its divine love:-
Not living in peace is bad. 
Not seeking to is much worse:-

Let’s not be sorry,
Rather, in our awareness,
Let’s get rid of war:-
Where there’s no peace, wherever,
There can’t be peace anywhere:-

Pass Away - Haiku - Tanka


The dead that now know
God's move in ~predestined~ wind
Sift through the free grass.

You must be longer
in there than I am this staid.
Above you, to leave
Where distant dogs bark, since then
My fallen soul buries rest.
© Paige Hind  Create an image from this poem.

He, so helpless on death

He, so fond of dress--
What not and what must he wear,
Alas failed to stress
Till last but one breath of air
That his shroud was far from fair.
____________________
Tanka |22.07.2025| irony, death

Premium MemberOf A Confused Nightmare Dream

Of A Confused Nightmare Dream
(A Thought Provoking Tanka Trio)

Is sleeping dreamless,
Short-lived life’s resurrection,
Or death’s fantasy?
Can living fake its own death
In confusing nightmare dreams?

I thought I was dead.
Do the dead have dreams of life
Or just it’s nightmares?
Irrespective of it all,
It all seems so confusing:-

In life’s awareness,
Sleep can be as confusing,
As “the living dead”:
Is it possible for a dead mind
To have living thoughts like these?

Premium MemberTHE ABSURDITY OF WARRING FOR PEACE

Evilly absurd,
Bombing lives doesn’t win peace;
Just wishful power:-
War and peace are antonyms.
You can’t make them synonyms:-

War can not bring peace,
Just collateral damage,
And high death rates:-
Peace comes with labors of love,
Nourished by God’s healing grace:-

War only knows hate,
Bombing homes, schools, and churches,
Filled with peaceful lives:-
When will this world ever be
A world rooted in love’s peace?!

G

Never invited
Lost in the bottle from you
I didn't cause this
You told lies to my landlord
The neighbors warned me of you

Premium MemberHer Voice Resonates

Her voice resonates
Strongly in my delighted ear;
My soul smiles -
As if she'd not died years ago
And been shut away in a wall ...

Premium MemberEtched on Stone

     Geologist George 
     chose inscription to be etched 
     on stone of his tomb
     'Here lies Earth scientist on
     quest of under ground.'

     Sincere researcher
     wished to continue his work 
     even after death,
     opting opportunity 
     to  complete research undone.

     His earnest desire 
    was to pursue his quest
    in after life phase
    on care free excavation 
    peacefully under soil.
fun

Premium MemberScratched

making marriage vows
           forever they declared
                     their love would last
until they scratched   to death
   their seven-year itch

Premium MemberAll Talk

Hawaii fireworks
still deadly and maim for life
like annual debates
Hawaiian language council 
argues o'er Kona coffee
© Hilo Poet  Create an image from this poem.

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad