It's Not A Haiku!!!

It's A Senryū

By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred Published 4 years ago • 1 min read

Introduction

Vocal had two recent Haiku Challenges, but I don't think one of the winners was a Haiku , I think almost every one was a Senryū.

Up til very recently I thought a Haiku was just a Japanese poem with seventeen syllables in a 5-7-5 line form, until a photographer friend Lee Sei-Macfhearchair

told me what I had written was Senryū, not Haiku

Here are the definitions with example poems:

Haiku:

A type of short-form poetry originally from Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases that contain a kireji, or "cutting word",17 on (phonetic units similar to syllables) in a 5, 7, 5 pattern, and a kigo, or seasonal reference. Similar poems that do not adhere to these rules are generally classified as senryū.

Winter Is Leaving
Spring Is Now Coming Our Way
And Flowers Will Bloom

Senryū:

A Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction: three lines with 17 morae (or on, often translated as syllables). Senryū tend to be about human foibles while haiku tend to be about nature, and senryū are often cynical or darkly humorous while haiku are more serious.
Unlike haiku, senryū do not include a kireji (cutting word), and do not generally include a kigo, or season word.