Poetry Forms — Tanka

A Japanese form with five lines with 5,7,5,7,7,7 syllables. Unlike haiku they are not restricted to nature or season themes. Tanka are modern poems in this form while Waka are pre-20th century ones.

Example of a Tanka

No valid excuse
Can justify acts unjust
No wordy defence
Explains away such evil
To pollute the world we love
To strangle the surface life
Is just reckless suicide