Christina Wolfgram
An Interactive Arts Poem...Add Your Lines
Posted by Aug 02, 2011
Christina Wolfgram
A choka is a type of Japanese poem that is cousin to the haiku, using some of the same syllable restrictions.
Because of its short verses, the choka is easy to turn into a group poem. One person writes the first verse (with the syllable count of 5-7-5) and then each person after that writes two lines, the first with seven syllables, the second with five syllables. There is no limit to how long a choka can be – they can go on forever!
This summer, I’ve had an awesome experience interning with Americans for the Arts. At first, I was surprised at how dire the arts’ situation is – I felt ashamed that I had spent so many years in school growing with arts at hand and never taking the time to appreciate it.
I was inspired by the passion and dedication shown by those who spend every day working for arts advocacy.
So, I’ve decided to start a choka about the arts (who doesn’t love art about art, right?), and hope that you will take a minute out of your day to add a verse to it.
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