Tanka, an ancient form of Japanese poetry, has long been a medium for expressing deep emotional sentiments, especially love. Unlike the more widely known haiku, which follows a 5-7-5 syllable structure, tanka consists of five lines with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern, offering greater flexibility for expression. Rooted in over 1,300 years of history, tanka poems have been crafted by emperors, poets, and lovers alike, often used as a means of communication between the heart and soul. This article explores the 11 most popular tanka poems about love throughout history, providing not only excerpts but also insightful analysis of each poem’s emotional depth, symbolic imagery, and cultural significance.
The 11 Most Popular Tanka Poems About Love in History
1. “I Long for You” by Ono no Komachi (9th Century)
Ono no Komachi, one of the most revered poets of the Heian period, is known for her intense and poignant tanka about love and longing. She was often celebrated for her profound emotional expression, particularly in matters of love and separation.
I long for you,
but how can I reach you?
I sleep alone,
dreaming of your soft embrace—
a flame that cannot be touched.
This tanka expresses the yearning of a lover who is separated from their beloved. The poet invokes the imagery of sleep and dreams, a space where one can be together with the object of their affection, but in a way that is ephemeral and unattainable. The use of “a flame that cannot be touched” beautifully conveys the paradox of love—deep desire coupled with distance and unattainability. Komachi’s work illustrates the pain of longing, a theme that resonates with readers across time and cultures.
2. “A Cold, Windy Night” by Fujiwara no Teika (12th Century)
Fujiwara no Teika, another prominent poet from the Heian period, is recognized for his graceful and refined poetry, often drawing on nature to express the complexities of human emotion, particularly love.
A cold, windy night—
I hear the sound of the rain,
and think of you.
Though the world grows darker still,
I wait, wishing for your warmth.
Teika’s tanka conjures a sense of coldness and isolation, using the rain and wind as metaphors for emotional turmoil. The poet’s longing is palpable in the phrase “I wait, wishing for your warmth,” capturing the yearning for physical closeness in a harsh, unforgiving environment. The rain symbolizes both the external harshness and the inner sadness of the poet, while the desire for warmth implies the comfort and solace that love can provide in moments of emotional and physical chill.
3. “The Moon Over the Ocean” by Ki no Tsurayuki (9th Century)
As a significant figure in the development of Japanese literature, Ki no Tsurayuki was a key contributor to the compilation of the Kokinshu (the first imperial anthology of Japanese poetry). His works often conveyed deep emotions, including love, through elegant, subtle imagery.
The moon over the ocean,
its silver light reflects
on the water’s surface—
I wait for you here, alone,
my heart a wave that surges.
In this tanka, Tsurayuki uses the image of the moon over the ocean as a reflection of the poet’s feelings of solitude and longing. The moon’s light, often seen as a symbol of purity and eternal love in Japanese culture, mirrors the lover’s desire for connection. The metaphor of a “wave that surges” highlights the poet’s deep and uncontrollable emotions, contrasting the calm surface of the ocean with the tumultuous feelings below. The sea, with its vastness, reflects the poet’s sense of waiting and yearning for the beloved.
4. “An Unspoken Love” by Lady Ise (10th Century)
Lady Ise, a woman of the Heian court, is celebrated for her delicate yet powerful poetry. Her works often explore the tensions of courtly love, where emotions are deeply felt but not always expressed overtly.
An unspoken love—
hidden in the quiet night,
I hold it close.
Not a word passes my lips,
but my heart speaks in silence.
This tanka reflects the restrained nature of love in Heian courtly life, where formalities and decorum often prevented lovers from directly expressing their feelings. The “unspoken love” captures the intimacy that exists in silence and subtle gestures. The poet’s heart, unable to speak aloud, communicates through longing glances and quiet moments. Lady Ise’s use of silence as a language for love is emblematic of the era’s cultural emphasis on subtlety and restraint.
5. “The Cherry Blossoms” by Saigyo (12th Century)
Saigyo, a Buddhist monk and poet, is revered for his blending of nature and spirituality in his poetry. His tanka often reflect deep emotional experiences and the fleeting nature of life and love.
The cherry blossoms fall,
carried by the springtime breeze—
how like my love!
It blooms and fades too quickly,
yet remains in my heart still.
Saigyo uses the cherry blossoms, which are synonymous with the transient beauty of life, to symbolize the fleeting nature of love. The image of blossoms falling conveys the inevitability of loss and separation, but the poet’s heart continues to hold the memory. This tanka beautifully captures the bittersweetness of love—how it can be beautiful and short-lived yet leave a lasting impression in one’s heart, much like the impermanent but beautiful cherry blossoms.
6. “The Autumn Rain” by Yosano Akiko (20th Century)
Yosano Akiko is one of the most prominent tanka poets of the Meiji era, known for her passionate, modern take on traditional forms. Her poetry often addresses themes of love, desire, and longing with intense emotional clarity.
The autumn rain falls,
each drop a reminder of
your tender touch—
though I am far away,
I feel you near my heart.
This tanka uses the autumn rain as a metaphor for both emotional and physical absence. The rain, often associated with sadness or melancholy, serves to remind the poet of the beloved’s touch, even in their absence. The phrase “I feel you near my heart” reflects the closeness that transcends physical separation. Yosano Akiko’s work is a striking example of how modern tanka can still evoke deep emotional resonance while adhering to the traditional form.
7. “The Summer Moon” by Izumi Shikibu (10th Century)
Izumi Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting at the Heian court, is known for her expressive and often passionate tanka. Her love poems explore the complexities of desire, love, and emotional depth.
The summer moon shines,
and in its silver light,
I see your face—
a vision that haunts my dreams,
and fills my heart with longing.
The moon is a recurring symbol in Japanese literature, often associated with beauty, love, and longing. In this tanka, the summer moon becomes a conduit for the poet’s love and desire. The “silver light” illuminates the beloved’s face, drawing a connection between the ephemeral nature of the moon and the poet’s deep, persistent longing. Izumi Shikibu’s ability to intertwine nature and personal feeling in this poem showcases her mastery in expressing the emotional intensity of love.
8. “The Falling Snow” by Yamabe no Akahito (8th Century)
Yamabe no Akahito, an early poet of the Nara period, is known for his evocative and nature-inspired tanka. His poems often reflect the serene beauty of the natural world while conveying deep emotional insight.
The falling snowflakes—
each one like a fleeting kiss,
soft and gentle,
but melting as they touch me—
like the love that fades too soon.
In this poem, the falling snowflakes represent both the fragility of love and its fleeting nature. The comparison between the kiss and the snowflake emphasizes the transient yet delicate beauty of love. The poet laments how love, though tender and sweet, can vanish as quickly as the snow melts. This poignant image evokes the idea that love, like snow, can be beautiful yet impermanent.
9. “The River’s Song” by Murasaki Shikibu (11th Century)
Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji, is another figure from the Heian period whose works explored love in its many forms. Her tanka frequently intertwines nature with personal emotion.
The river’s song flows—
it carries my heart to you,
across the distance.
Though I cannot reach you now,
my love will follow the stream.
Murasaki Shikibu uses the river’s song as a metaphor for the poet’s love, flowing continuously toward the beloved. Despite the physical separation, the poet believes that their love will reach the object of their affection, much like the river’s water that continues its journey. This tanka beautifully captures the theme of enduring love, one that transcends distance and time.
10. “The Willow Tree” by Narihira (9th Century)
Narihira, a well-known poet of the Heian period, often used natural imagery in his works. His tanka about love are often filled with a quiet longing, as in this well-known piece.
The willow tree weeps,
its branches hanging low,
just like my heart—
as I long to be with you,
and yet, I remain alone.
The willow tree, often a symbol of sorrow and melancholy, serves as a powerful metaphor for the poet’s emotional state. The image of the weeping tree emphasizes the depth of longing and heartache, while the poet’s sense of isolation is reflected in the “hanging low” branches. Narihira’s tanka expresses the emotional toll of unrequited love and the yearning for companionship.
11. “The Winter Wind” by Akiko Yosano (20th Century)
A second tanka by Yosano Akiko, this one reflects her modern perspective on love, especially love’s resilience in the face of challenges.
The winter wind howls,
but my love burns brighter still—
a fire within,
stronger than the cold outside,
it warms me through the night.
This tanka contrasts the harshness of the winter wind with the inner warmth of love, portraying love as a force that endures despite external challenges. The poet’s inner fire, metaphorically stronger than the winter wind, symbolizes the resilience of love, suggesting that even in the coldest times, love can offer comfort and strength.
Conclusion
Tanka poems have been a key form of expressing love for over a thousand years, capturing the full range of emotions from longing and desire to sorrow and fulfillment. These 11 poems, spanning from the 8th to the 20th centuries, showcase the timeless nature of love and its connection to nature, longing, and emotional depth. Whether through the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms or the enduring warmth of love against the winter wind, these tanka offer a profound glimpse into the hearts of the poets and the universal nature of love.
