This is another form of Japanese poetry. Like the Haiku, it also follows a syllabic pattern.

To write a Tanka you must follow the patterns; 5,7,5,7,7.

But there is a catch! The pattern is not a fixed pattern, therefore you can write it in any arrangement! Example:

5,5,7,7,7

7,5,7,5,7 and more....

The syllables are approximately 31 syllables all in all!

And one last thing. A tanka is all about love related things like falling in love and being heartbroken.