Little Poems - Haiku - Tanka - Etc

Shosagoto

Shosagoto*

Dancing girl at the temple, with grace and control
in resonance with pitched chant, three-stringed shamisen*
accompanies the lyrics, tunes of the ancients
played out on Kabuki stage, hyoshigi* crack.
                              ~~Judi Van Gorder


Notes: ▶︎

4 Lines
Verse Form: Imayo  
*shosagoto are the dance pieces of the kabuki theater
*shamisen is a traditional 3 stringed, long-necked instrument similar to a lute
*hyoshigi are wooden blocks slapped together to make a dramatic cracking sound, a traditional, signature sound of the kabuki.

Disclaimer, I wrote this poem as an example of the Imayo for the contestants in Round 58. As a judge, I can't enter the poem into the competition.

For Round 58 Oriental Poetry Contest (no longer active)