About the Society

About the Tanka Society of America

The Tanka Society of America aims to further the writing, reading, study, and appreciation of tanka poetry in English. The society was founded by Michael Dylan Welch, and he organized its inaugural meeting in Decatur, Illinois on April 14, 2000. Most of the society’s members live in the United States, but it welcomes members from anywhere in the world.
 

 

Activities

TSA is a nonprofit volunteer organization that relies on the creativity and energy of its members to carry out its activities, which include the following:

  • Publication of the triannual journal, Ribbons, featuring more than 200 original tanka in each issue, plus essays, translations, book reviews, and contest results.
  • Sponsorship of the annual Sanford Goldstein International Tanka Contest, judged anonymously by respected tanka poets. Results appear in Ribbons.
  • Publication of annual anthologies of tanka by members. Starting in 2016, copies are included free with membership dues. Prior copies are available for a nominal fee.
  • Sharing and discussion of tanka poetry and tanka-related news on our Facebook page.

For more information on these and other TSA activities, please contact any officer. If you might want to volunteer to help with any activity, or have a new activity to propose, please let us know.

 

Membership Benefits

If you join the Tanka Society of America, you’ll receive the following benefits each year:

  • Three issues of our journal, Ribbons.
  • Eligibility to submit poems to the members-only “Tanka Café” column in Ribbons.
  • Eligibility to submit poems to our membership anthology.
Please join today!