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Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry The Epic Japanese Verse The choka (長歌 long poem) was the epic, story telling form of Japanese poetry from the 1st to the 13th century, known as the Waka period. Storytelling was rare in the Japanese language during the Waka period although it is found in the Man'yôshû and even the Kokinshú. Most often the Japanese poet would write epics in classical Chinese. Still, the occasional poet with a story to tell would tackle the choka, the earliest of which can be traced back to the 1st century. It describes a battle and is 149 lines long. Originally chokas were sung, but not in the Western sense of being sung. The oral tradition of the choka was to recite the words in a high pitch. The elements of the choka are: a narrative. syllabic. Composed of any number of couplets made up of alternating 5-7 onji (sound syllables) per line. In English we can only treat the onji as a syllable. unrhymed. concluded by a hanka, an envoy in the form of the waka, 31 onji or sound syllables in 5 lines with 5-7-5-7-7. "han" meaning repetition, the hanka is to summarize the choka. The word tanka is often substituted for hanka or waka (they are all rooted in the same 31 syllable, 5 line form, their root seems to make them interchangeable with only subtle differences to separate them.) Here is my attempt to provide a highly condensed version inspired by the history and features of the choka. Tale of Honor by Judi Van Gorder Kilimanjaro fresh snow crunches under foot narrow mountain path traveled by lone samurai seeker of vengeance returned from war, tracks his prey, young brother's killers. . . . at rise of the waning moon sneak thieves strike village novice boy challenged jackals dagger drawn thrust low youngster's entrails ripped and spilled cowards run to hills with sun high in winter sky sibling soldier stalks, prowling panther poised to kill disciplined, steadfast trained warrior against pack jackals ring soldier jab, snap, samurai honor blood on Kilimanjaro