Poetry

Definition of Cinquain Poetry Type and Term

Cinquain Poetry Type has five lines.

Line 1 is one word (the title)
Line 2 is two words that describe the title.
Line 3 is three words that tell the action
Line 4 is four words that express the feeling
Line 5 is one word that recalls the title

American poet Adelaide Crapsey created the cinquain based on the Japanese haiku

Definition of Tanka
Tanka is a Japanese poetry type of five lines, the first and third composed of five syllables and the rest of seven. Tanka is the oldest type of poetry in Japan.
Example of Tanka
There are many examples of different types of poetry. An example of Tanka can be found in the poetic work of zzzz.
Example of Tanka
To live is to break
by
Ueda Miyoji
To live is to break
One's heart for the sake of love;
A couple of doves,
Beaks touching on their way,
Are stepping out in the sun.
Example of Tanka