Robbie and I are excited to present this year’s theme for the Sunflower Tanka Anthology:

Life’s Simple Pleasures

What are life’s simple pleasures? Maybe they personify those transient moments that spark joy or peace in your day? Whatever they are to you, life’s simple pleasures stand as a testament to the beauty found in the natural world, urging us to pause and appreciate life.

Simple pleasures differ from person to person. For some, it’s savoring a cup of tea or coffee, and for others, it’s daydreaming, or reading a book.

These moments may seem insignificant, but they hold the power to transform us. Above all, those moments remind us that happiness doesn’t have to be grand gestures; it all lies in the beauty of embracing each new day.

Robbie and I are looking for writing that captivates and moves us, whether from up-and-coming writers or established greats. We seek work that commands our attention whether by its intellectual wisdom, emotional integrity, or spiritual wholeness.

We like to publish tanka and tanka prose, from the traditional to the experimental. All poems must be your best & original work. Please submit your best: tanka, tanka prose, rensaku, tiaga, bussokuseki, or other experimental tanka forms only once per the submission period.

We recommend reading current and archived issues to familiarize yourself with the poetry we select for publication. We are not a paying market.

Furthermore, we welcome and encourage work from writers of every nationality, race, religion, sexuality, and gender. This includes writers with disabilities, writers who are not affiliated with an MFA program, and writers whose perspectives and experiences are often underrepresented in the literary world.

🌻 Read our submission process HERE

🌻 Learn the forms we accept for the anthology HERE

We’re looking forward to receiving your submissions. Please share this post on social media to help spread the news. Thank you!

We can’t wait to see what you create.

🌻Robbie & Colleen🌻 Contributing Co-editors

52 responses to “Submissions are OPEN!”

  1. You were right Colleen – I do love the theme, many thanks ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I knew you would love it, Paul. This will be an amazing collection!

      Like

    2. I delighted to know you like the theme, Paul

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Lots of possibilities Robbie ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Wonderful theme. I might dig through my archives for some appropriate poems.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Brad. Don’t use anything from your blog. It’s best to write when the inspiration hits you! 🌻

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Hi Brad, I look forward to reading your poems. It’s such an uplifting theme, writing the poems is almost a therapy.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. I will have to get to work after vacation. I’ve been writing some tanka sequences but they are much darker than simple pleasures!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. But why can’t simple pleasures be dark? Maybe dark humor is your thing! 🌻 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Haha, no, not these. I’ll write something for my sub!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. HI Luanne, it’s always good to write happy and uplifting poems. It’s a sort of mental health therapy. Hugs.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. That is true! Hugs back atcha, Robbie!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I love the theme, Colleen. I’ve already penned my first drafts. 🌻💛

    Liked by 1 person

    1. How exciting!! I’ve not even started yet, myself!! 🌻

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I like to start early so I can make improvements, as needed. We’re traveling to Blue Ridge next week, and staying at a friend’s cabin. Maybe, we’ll find a new place to live. 💕

        Liked by 1 person

        1. How exciting!! I’ve heard the Blue Ridge Mountains are stunning! Have a wonderful time. May this trip help you make a decision. 🥳 💜

          Liked by 1 person

          1. I’ve over the moon. It’s been a long time since we’ve been there. 🥰

            Liked by 1 person

    2. How wonderful, Eugi. South Africa is already in spring and the blossoms are coming out. It’s my favourite season and a good time for me to write simple pleasures poems.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I feel inspired to write poetry during spring and fall, my favorite times of the year.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Simple is good. I will put on my simple thinking cap and consider what really makes me happy, besides having the wonderful opportunity to be a part of The Sunflower Tanka!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Jules. We can’t wait to see what you write. 🌻

      Like

      1. I’m working on a Garland Tanka… for starters. :)

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Terrific Jules. I look forward to reading your poems. Have a great weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I think I’ll give this one a go!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, please fo, Liz. It’s a lovely anthology and has been well received. 🙏🏻🌻

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’ll have to shift from haiku to tanka mode! It’s been a while.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. You can do it with no problem! 🌻

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Thanks for the encouragement, Colleen!

            Liked by 1 person

  7. What a lovely theme! 🩷🌺

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so glad you like this theme, Kymber. 🌻

      Liked by 1 person

  8. […] All you Tanka writers out there should enter your work in the Sunflower Tanka Anthology! […]

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  9. I’m trying a rensaku. Do the lines have a syllable count like tanka do? The examples don’t show 5-7-5-7-7. I am unable to find much information online. Thanks for your help!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Also, the model in the submission call doesn’t have the syllable count of tanka.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Tanka is always 5/7/5/7/7 or short, long, short, long, long (but never more than 8 syllables on the long lines. 🌻

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I’ve been studying all the example and articles. These are all wonderful resources. Thank you so much.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. You’re so welcome, Barbara. 🌻

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    2. Barbara, rensaku is a series of tanka poems. Tanka has a syllable count of 5/7/5/7/7 or short, long, short, long, long. 🌻

      Liked by 1 person

        1. I hope you’ll find the time to join in some of the Tanka Tuesday challenges. That will fill in some of the blanks. 🌻

          Like

      1. Thank you! I was confused by some of the examples that don’t seem to follow those rules.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Yes! That’s why I added those examples. Your creativity matters. Use the tanka as the framework and get creative. Robbie and I will work with you and your poetry. 🌻

          Like

  10. You can write them as short/long/short/long/long just don’t go over 8 syllables for the long. 💛🌻

    Like

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