Tanka

At the Poetry School the other night Alan Gay, a very good poet indeed, read a funny Tanka he'd written about a retired general advertising in a lonely hearts column.

Tanka is a Japanese five lined poem that has seven syllables in lines 2,4 and 5 and five in lines 1 and 3.

I liked the idea so much I've tried one, though I won't swear to my syllable count as my crazy brain cells find that hard to do, so feel free to correct me if I've miscounted.

And feel free to join in, I'd love to read yours.

Here's mine:

Milkman, own
teeth, seeks dairy lover
for early morning
fun. Be my gold top, but
please, no semi-skimmed.