In this episode we round off our tanka series with something a little different – kyōka.

Kyōka are often described as the “wild poems” of the tanka world – witty, playful, and full of wry social commentary. Think of them as to tanka what senryū are to haiku.

👉 What you’ll hear in this episode:

• A short introduction to kyōka and their place in Japanese poetry
• Examples from the Japanese, translated into English
• Contemporary kyōka written originally in English
• A light-hearted discussion about humour in poetry

📚 Don’t forget – our latest haibun journal Tendrils is out now. Link in the show notes if you’d like to grab a copy (print or PDF).

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🖊️ Submissions:

Check our submissions diary for current calls. We’d love to read your work in future episodes.

Thank you for listening – and most importantly, keep writing.

Welcome to Poetry Pea! In this episode, Patricia shares practical tips and writing exercises on how to write superior tanka poetry. Building on last week’s look at the ten styles of poetry, today we dive into Teika’s principles, examples of great tanka, and step-by-step challenges to help you improve your craft.

Whether you’re brand new to tanka, already writing haiku and senryū, or preparing to submit your work to poetry journals, this podcast will give you inspiration, structure, and confidence in your writing.

📌 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What makes a tanka “superior”
• Common mistakes to avoid when writing tanka
• Teika’s timeless advice on style, rhythm, and language
• Practical exercises (including a 15-day tanka challenge)
• How to get ready for submissions in October

Episode Show notes

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✨ Today we’re diving into the world of Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241) — one of Japan’s most influential poets, teachers, and literary critics. If you’re curious about tanka poetry, this is a perfect place to start.

In this podcast we’ll explore:

• Teika’s ten styles of waka and why they still matter
• His core ideal of ushin (“conviction of feeling”)
• The four fundamental styles every poet should try and 6 to have a go at once they are mastered

Along the way, I’ll share classic examples of waka and tanka, plus some modern tanka poems to show how Teika’s ideas resonate today.

📺 Don’t miss the latest video prompt, edited this month by the brilliant Neena Singh — a chance to spark your own writing and join in the conversation.

🔗 Check the show notes for sources, translations, and links to related podcasts. poetrypea.com

If you enjoy learning about Japanese poetry, tanka, haiku, and poetics, do give this video a like, leave a comment with your favourite poem or style, and subscribe for more deep dives into poetry and prompts every week.

show notes