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Imayo


Tinker

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Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
Japanese Verse

Imayo, meaning "present style is a little more fluid than many Japanese forms. However, it seems that whenever I research a Japanese frame, it involves an alternating 5-7 or 7-5 syllabic structure. The Imayo of the 12th century is no exception. This form creates long lines broken by caesura separating 7 and 5 syllables in the line.

It is associated with song, (recitation in a high pitch) and originated with the common people in folk song. But by the Heian period it was embraced by the Imperial court. This folk art evolved with the influence of Imperial aristocrats and famous courtesans or Shirabyoshi dancers incorporated the Imayo into their performances. One type of Imayo is used in Kabuki, Japanese theatre.

The elements of the Imayo are:

  1. a 4 line poem.
  2. syllabic, written in 12 syllable lines broken by caesura after the 7th syllable.

    Boycott by Judi Van Gorder

    Monday's march of La Raza, Mexican flags wave,
    laborers walk off their jobs, intersections clogged,
    plain white T-shirts on brown skin, immigrants shout out,
    "We are Americans too!", some papered, some not.

    Note: Inspired by an organized march, referred to as La Raza, in protest of crack down, tightening the Mexican-US border in 2014, during the Obama administration.

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Kabuki Song

"Present style" Japanese tune, written in long lines,

each pause after seven beats, followed by five more.
Old frame from 12th century, popular today.
Try writing an Imayo, inform, entertain.
                               ~~Judi Van Gorder

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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