Syllable and Word-Count Poem: Tanka (Children)

Lilis Farida Isnawati, an English teacher from Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, analyzes a syllable and word count poem (Tanka). She starts by giving definition about Tanka and ends by commenting on the use of Tanka in language classroom.

 Children

By Yamanoue no Okura

Shirokane mo Kugane mo tama mo Nanisemu ni Masareru takara Koni shikame yamo

What are they to me Silver, or gold, or jewels? How could they ever Equal the greater treasure That is a child? They cannot

1.  Definition

     Tanka is included in syllable and word count poem. It is much older than Haiku. It has no concept of rhyme or line.  It consists of unit and phrases which is written in lines when translated into other languages. It has five lines whose pattern is usually 5-7-5-7-7.  The first line, 5-7-5, is called the upper phrase and the rest, 7-7, is the lower phrase.

     Tanka is used to express interest in life. It has a serious and deep emotion in facing significant event.

2.  Paraphrase

     This tanka tells about the feeling parents (father or mother) have toward their children. What do the children mean to their parents? Children are the same or more valuable than silver, gold or jewels for their parents. The parents think that children are the most valuable in their life, even greater than other treasures.

3.  Poetic devices

     a.  Rhyme: this poem does not have any rhyme.

     b.  Rhythm:

          -    What are they to me             :  trochaic dimeter

          -    Silver, or gold, or jewels?       :  trochaic , iambic, trochaic

          -    How could they ever              :  iambic, iambic, trochaic

          -    Equal the greater treasure     :  trochaic, iambic, trochaic, trochaic

          -    That is a child? They cannot  :  trochaic, iambic, iambic, trochaic

     c.  There is no alliteration, no onomatopoeia and no repetition in this poem.

     d.  Symbol: silver, gold, jewels, treasure. They symbolize something precious and valuable.

4.  Kinds of stanza

     This tanka is included in quintet because it consists of five lines.

5.  Style

     This poem uses both denotative and connotative words. The connotative words are  silver, gold, jewels, and treasure. The other words are connotative.

6.  Content:

     a.  Theme:  the theme of this poem is love for children.

     b.  Message: we should love and take care of our children because they are more precious than anything else we have in our life.