desperate pilgrims
risked medieval roads and thieves
hoping to be saved
worst thief was catholic church
selling salvation for gold
Canterbury Tales
Not sure if church commentary is appropriate for a tanka but the true church of Christ should always be re-forming ourselves according to scripture.
a poem in my pocket 
Oct 06, 2019 @ 11:51:15
“By the time of his death, Basho had created more than one thousand verse-poems and had trained more than 2,000 students. One hundred years later, he was declared the saint of haiku by the Shinto religious headquarters and 13 years later by the imperial court when he became and become the most famous poet in Japan.”
http://www.webexhibits.org/poetry/explore_famous_haiku_background.html
If a religion can bestow poetic honors, and by omission, dishonors regarding a form of poetry, than I say, Turn-about is fair play, and the poetic form can bestow honor and dishonor/reformation/criticism upon religion and government, as well. On the other hand, I would hope the reformer has something to add, as well as detract. Basho added much to the spirituality of Japan and to peoples beyond the oceans. He did so with beauty and wit. Was he ever critical? I do not know, not having read all his works. Not that we must all be Basho, but we would all love to have his readership.
Oct 06, 2019 @ 15:03:22
To do so with beauty and wit…yes!
Oct 05, 2019 @ 23:04:13
Church commentary tanka?, Why not? What did Jesus say about the pharisees? Were his words not a cry for reformation? You’re in good company.
Oct 06, 2019 @ 09:01:40
Thank you so much!