While not the best-known Japanese poetic form, it is an important one that has connections to tanka, haiku, and more.
The somonka form emphasizes the use of sensory imagery and the relationship between the two tanka stanzas. It is a collaborative effort between two poets, making it a unique and interactive form of poetry.
Somonka Poetic Form Definition
A somonka poem, as noted above, consists of two tanka. The first tanka presents a thought or emotion, and the second one responds to or completes the first.
The two tanka stanzas are usually linked thematically and often explore themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
Elements of a Somonka
Here are the most basic elements of a tanka. But it’s important to keep in mind that not every poem is going to contain all of these features. Often, contemporary poetry utilizes examples of traditional poetic forms that are more experimental.
- Total of 10 lines
- Consists of two, five-line tanka
- Usually written by two different poets
- Unrhymed
- Usually has a title
- Often addresses themes like love and nature
- The second tanka is often a response to the first
Somonka Poem Subject Matter
Somonka poems typically explore themes of love, nature, and spirituality. The form emphasizes the use of sensory imagery to evoke emotional and sensory responses in the reader.
The two tanka stanzas in a somonka poem are thematically linked and present a collaborative effort between two poets. The first tanka stanza often presents a feeling or emotion, while the second stanza responds to or completes the first stanza.
Somonka poems can be romantic or spiritual in nature, and they often capture the fleeting and ephemeral moments of life. They are characterized by their brevity and simplicity, and the form places a strong emphasis on the relationship between the two stanzas.
Example of a Somonka
Tied up, it loosens
This is a traditional somonka from the 1st century and was composed by Mikata No Sami and his wife.
Tied up, it loosens,
untied, it’s too long
my love’s hair —
nowadays I can’t see it —
has she combed it together?
Everyone now says
my hair is too long
and I should tie it up —
but the hair you gazed upon
I’ll leave in tangles
The statement and response format of this poem comes through very clearly in the transition between the two sections. The first poet, the man, writes about his “love’s hair,” and then she responds, saying that she’s going to leave her hair in “tangles.”
History of Somonka Poems
The somonka poetry form has its roots in Japan and is believed to have originated during the Heian period (794-1185 AD) when poetry was an important part of court culture.
During this period, waka poetry, including tanka, was a popular form of expression among aristocrats and poets. The somonka form evolved as a collaborative effort between two poets, who would alternate writing the tanka stanzas in response to each other.
Somonka poems were often exchanged between lovers as a way to express their emotions and feelings. They were also used in religious and spiritual contexts as a way to express devotion and worship.
The somonka form eventually fell out of favor in Japan, but it was rediscovered and popularized in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
Other Important Japanese Literary Forms
Here are a few other important Japanese literary forms that are connected to the somonka:
- Haiku: The haiku is a form of poetry that consists of three lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5. Haiku often evoke a particular moment in nature and aim to capture its essence.
- Tanka: this is another Japanese literary form that consists of five lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. Tanka often explore themes of love, nature, and spirituality and have been popular in Japan for centuries.
- Renga: this is a collaborative form of poetry in which several poets take turns writing alternating stanzas. Renga often explore a variety of themes and can be quite long.
- Choka: this is an early form of Japanese poetry that predates both tanka and haiku. Choka consists of alternating lines of 5 and 7 syllables, with a final line of 7 syllables.
- Haibun: A combination of prose and haiku poetry, often used to describe a personal experience or journey.
FAQs
Somonka and tanka poems both have a syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7, but the main difference is that somonka is a collaborative effort between two poets who write alternating tanka stanzas, while tanka is a single five-line poem. In a somonka poem, the two tanka stanzas are thematically linked and work together to evoke a particular emotion or sensation.
Somonka poetry is typically written by two poets collaborating to create a single poem. Traditionally, somonka poems were often exchanged between lovers or friends as a way to express their emotions and feelings. However, modern poets also write somonka poems as a way to explore themes of love, nature, and spirituality in a collaborative and interactive way.
Yes, somonka poetry can be written in languages other than Japanese. While the somonka form originated in Japan, it has been adapted by poets around the world and translated into various languages. As long as the poem follows the syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7 and has two alternating tanka stanzas that are thematically linked, it can be considered a somonka poem.
The tone of a typical somonka poem can vary depending on the theme and the poets who write it. However, somonka poems often have a tone of introspection and reflection as they explore themes of love, nature, and spirituality. They can be romantic, spiritual, or even melancholic, but they often capture the fleeting and ephemeral moments of life in a simple and elegant way.