Exploring Some Japanese Poetry Forms: Writing Haiku and Tanka

Straw Dog Writers Guild presents: Exploring Some Japanese Poetry Forms: Writing Haiku and Tanka with Eileen P. Kennedy on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 6:30 – 8:00pm.

Haiku and Tanka are traditional Japanese poetry forms. How do we go about developing our creative thoughts into these highly structured styles of poetry? In this short workshop, we’ll begin to answer this question. Through a brief talk, reading and discussion of some traditional and modern texts, and in-session writing, we’ll explore these classic forms of syllabic poetry. Participants may come away with a better understanding of the structure of these two types of poetry, how they differ from other forms, how constraints can enhance creativity, and how Haiku and/or Tanka may be crafted.

This workshop will be on Zoom. Registration required. Register HERE. Registrations are approved manually and it may take up to 48 hours for you to receive your email Zoom link. Your Zoom link will be re-sent to you on the day of the event so don’t worry if you lose it. Do not share your unique Zoom link with anyone. Anyone who has not gone through registration will not be admitted to the event. Please be sure to register no later than the day of the event.

Bio: Eileen P. Kennedy is a writer, poet and academic. She is the author of two collections of poetry: Banshees (Flutter Press, 2015), which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won Second Prize in Poetry from the Wordwrite Book Awards, and Touch My Head Softly (Finishing Line Press, 2021.) which Literary Titan has called “a collection of emotionally-charged poetry that explores life with observant poems.” Her poetry has appeared in more than 25 literary journals and anthologies. She taught writing for many years on the faculty of the City University of New York. She has been awarded writing residencies at the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, Air ‘Le Parc’ and the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. More at EileenPKennedy.com.