Gogyohka

[Tinker]

Gogyohka (五行歌), Japanese meaning five line poem, is just that, a five line poem without any other structural requirements.  The form is basically a tanka without the maximum 31 syllable count.  Wikipedia suggests the form has been used by Japanese poets as far back as 1910 but was not named until 1983 by poet Enta Kusakabe,  another dates it 1957.  The original poems were untitled like haiku and tanka however I am seeing titles on poems being called gogyohka.

The elements of the gogyohka are:

1. a pentastich, a five line poem.
2. meter at the discretion of the poet
3. composed of five phrases, one per line
4. unrhymed
5. untitled
6. composed with any subject or theme

       Gogyohka #1

       lights go low
       the rise and fall of violins surrounds us
       on the big screen the wild fields of Ireland
       blades of green populated by delicate lavender blooms
       a child’s voice sings
                  ~~ Judi Van Gorder