Of Haikus and Tonkas

Alli and Chardy have been writing haikus and tonkas ever since they had a visiting teacher from Japan, Miss Ohi. (Chardy says Alli taught her all about haikus.) In case you're not familiar with the haiku, it consists of three lines, where the 1st and 3rd have 5 syllables and the 2nd has 7. Tonkas (which I had never even heard of) are supposed to have 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, words in each line.

Here is a sampling of their poetry:

They capture your mind
With colors and shafts of light
That is what dreams are.
--Alli

The riverbank sounds
Of many small animals
Resting in their homes.
--Chardy

A snowman is built
By laughing cheerful children
Too bad it will melt.
--Alli

Rain falls
very very gently.
Children cuddle.
The rain stopped.
They go play.
--Chardy