Ben Huberman at the WordPress Daily Post says,
What’s better than a perfect bite? Two perfect bites.
If haiku is the sashimi of poetry, tanka is its heartier hand roll cousin.
Traditional tanka contain five lines instead of haiku’s three, and 31 syllables instead of 17. The structure is that of a haiku followed by two additional lines of seven syllables each: 5-7-5-7-7. (Many contemporary poets take liberties with the specifics, and you can, too.)
So as I post a haiku or a tanka (if I’m not too lazy) every Thursday, I thought I’d have a try at a whole weeks worth for the Weekly Writing Challenge.
I plan to use a season of flowers as my theme, one for each month from March to September.
White magnolia
chic supermodel of spring
delicate petals
such effortless elegance
gracing gardens of England
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_writing_challenge/full-tanka/
Lucid Gypsy 
This is so perfect, Gilly. Well done. 🙂
Oh my. I like this. I hadn’t known the difference between Haiku and Tanka. Gilly, you make this look so effortless. Excellent. ❤ ❤
The fragrance wafts heavenly this way…
I’ve written Haiku’s but never knew of Tanka. Your’s is great. Magnolias look and smell chic.
Wonderful challenge you’ve set yourself….and the image is scrummy
Vanilla ice-cream
Stiff linen petals open
Into a handful
Beautiful tanka Gilly, oh how I love them. 🙂
Well said Gilly! Like others I had forgotten the difference between Haiku and Tanka
Simply beautiful, Gilly!
So beautiful Gilly!
my comment: everything that has been said before me. ditto, ditto, ditto! and thanks for sharing 🙂
Superb opening to the Tanka!
‘White magnolia
chic supermodel of spring’
Hooks me in immediately. Beautiful!
Thank you, you’re very kind!