A Tanka Picture Book

by Annette Rochelle Aben

Life is alive with poetry; all the sights, sounds and smells. Blend it all together in your mind and you will begin to sing songs in your heart. You deserve a reason to smile, to feel good while pondering the magic of your world. You are closer than you think. Open, A Tanka Picture Book! Consider the story each picture shares through its visual. Enjoy how each is enhanced with a tanka poem. Engage your senses while on a journey of passionate creativity. To feel the excitement found in even the simplest of sights is why A Tanka Picture Book was created. Tanka is a form of traditional Japanese lyric poetry that uses 31 syllables spread out over 5 lines, to convey its message. The word “tanka” translates to “short song.” The short songs of this book elevate what may be considered average, to a new level of appreciation by connecting imagination and emotion. Those wishing to be inspired, those seeking an uplifting read and those who are simply curious to see if they might enjoy poetry will love A Tanka Picture Book. You can add this happy, little book to your print or electronic libraries. Be sure to pick-up an extra copy for someone who can use a thoughtful gift.

38 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2017

Reviews

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 5 out of 5]

37 pages of pure reading pleasure, with images enhanced by short Japanese Tanka style poems that can be revisited time and again.

See my review also at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tanka-Pictur...

https://www.amazon.com/Tanka-Picture-...

https://www.amazon.ca/Tanka-Picture-B...

https://www.amazon.com.au/Tanka-Pictu...

[Robbie Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annette Rochelle Aben writes the most beautiful and heartfelt poetry, most frequently in the form of tanka and haiku verse. Annette bares her thoughts, feelings and soul to the world with her writing and enables you to experience her joy and delight at living with her.

One identifying feature of Annette’s poetry is that she appeals to all five of the senses. I frequently find that poems focus on the visual, what the writer sees, but not that many poets manage to capture the smell, sound and touch of life in quite the way Annette does.

One of the poems in this book that filled me with delight is this one:

We found paradise

Filled with rolling hills of green

Houses so cozy

Paths strewn with flowers fragrant

Watercolor painted skies

[Mary Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the absolute most beautiful book of poetry I've read yet! I'm creative, I write books, I do illustrations and paintings, but I've never written a Tanka poetry book. Sure - I can write rhyming prose but that's it! 31 syllables written perfectly and the perfect art to go with each piece. This book makes you think. We can all sit on a bench under a tree and contemplate the tree as we view it, yet what does the tree think looking down upon us? A tree thinks about its view? Fantasy, right? Not fantasy when you read the Tanka. Five shiny gold stars.