Atlas Poetica 14: Poetry of Place in Contemporary Tanka

Tanka in sequences provide building blocks for larger works ranging from short pairs to lengthy excursions of hundreds of tanka, kyoka, gogyoshi, or waka by one or more authors. In particular, the sequence of five tanka has proven popular. The poetic pentaptych, like the visual artform for which it is named, can be intuitive or highly planned, and like tanka itself, provide flexibility and strength that make for powerful statements. Tanka sequences can even be published together as meta-sets, further extending the possibilities. Poets from around the world presents numerous possibilities that expand the tanka form.