Ishikawa Takuboku - Japanese Tanka Poem

The Tanka is a unique type of Japanese Waka poetry. This form was perfected at the beginning of the seventh century. Tanka is best seen in its original form from the Manyoshu anthology of poems produced in eighth century Japan. The poet's words are set into a 5-7-5-7-7 syllabic structure which is very evident in the poem below when read aloud.

Tokai no - kojima no iso no-shirasuna ni - Ware nakinurete - kani to tawamuru.
--Ishikawa Takuboku

Translation:
On the white sand of a rocky beach on a small island off the Tokai coast, Soaked in tears, I play with a crab.