senryu

Senryu is a form of Japanese short poetry closely related to haiku but distinct in focus and tone. It originated in the Edo period and is named after the poet Karai Senryu, who popularized satirical verse within haikai circles. Whereas haiku traditionally centers on nature and the seasons, senryu surveys human nature, behavior, and social life, often with humor, irony, or a sharp eye for detail.

Form and style: Senryu is typically written in three lines with a 5-7-5 mora pattern in Japanese. In English, poets frequently render it as 5-7-5 syllables, though mora counting can differ from syllable counting. Unlike haiku, senryu does not require a seasonal reference (kigo) or a cutting word (kireji). The emphasis is on human concerns, social quirks, or everyday scenes, often presented through juxtaposition or a twist.

Content and tone: The subjects include love, work, family, bureaucracy, and other facets of daily life. The tone can be humorous, satirical, ironic, or tender, but it generally aims to illuminate human behavior or social observation with economy and wit.

History and influence: Since its emergence, senryu has been published in journals, anthologies, and poetry collections, sometimes alongside haiku as part of broader haikai practice. In modern times, practitioners write senryu in Japanese, as well as in English and other languages, experimenting with form while preserving the concise, three-line, 5-7-5 approach or a looser equivalent.