Haiku & Senryu

Haiku, in the classical Japanese sense, is a small poem comprised of 17 characters known as on (sometimes onji). These characters each represent one unit of sound, and each unit of sound has its own meaning which then contributes to the overall haiku. The 17 on are split into phrases of 5, 7, and 5, which is where the most commonly known notion of the haiku in the modern world comes from.

However, what this fails to take into account when writing haiku in English is the fact that syllables are not particularly comparable to on. Although syllables are one unit of sound the same way on are, syllables in English do not have full meanings of their own the way that on do. Because of this, English haiku has generally moved toward overall brevity, rather than sticking to a syllabic structure.

• A word about haiku by `MSJames
• Haiku Theory Part 1 by ~SOLARTS

Regarding subject matter, haiku generally focuses on elements of nature, while senryu (which has the same structure as haiku and is generally quite similar, when it comes to English) focuses more on human nature. These are both very broad statements, however, as haiku can often incorporate elements of human nature, and senryu can include natural elements as well. It is frequent to see a mixture of both elements within one poem, and because of this, it is not uncommon to see haiku and senryu displayed together in collections, rather than separately.

Meguriau
復ち返る出会いと別れ花の下

ochikaeru deai to wakare hana no shita.

Again and again we meet and part under the sakura blossoms. Senryu Series 111.

election day
choosing the devil
I know

2.

first date
her parents question
our future

3.

road trip
the kids unpack
a squabble

4.

massage therapy
another old knot
of heartbreak

5.

deep recession
I add more spice
to the ramen

6.

televangelist
available on Itunes
salvation

7.

job well done
from the boss...
blue moon

8.

18th birthday
a postcard
from the army

9.

cemetery
even here
the poor section

10.

midnight diner
everyone feeds
the jukebox

11.

haunted house
we let the youngest
go first

Tanka

Tanka is another form of poetry built using on, and in many ways it resembles haiku and senryu insomuch as tanka will generally begin by focusing on an image and then turn to the emotion or thought of the speaker, or vice versa. Tanka are traditionally comprised of 31 on, with the first phrase having 5 on, the second 7, the third 5, and the fourth and fifth having 7.  From the English standpoint, this is (much like haiku) commonly mistranslated as meaning 5-7-5-7-7 as a strict syllabic rule per line, but once again, because syllables are not equivalent to on, it's generally more prudent to focus on brevity, rather than syllable count.

Death is perhaps 3死はたぶんずっと背負った妹かしら
私を背負う番が来たと言う

Death is perhaps my sister I was carrying on my shoulders.
She stands and says that it's her turn to carry me. One Last Star   no moon to be found
in the predawn twilight,
  but one last star —
somewhere in the distance
a robin's lilting call

A common technique in tanka that may or may not be present in haiku/senryu is a pivot point, usually (though not necessarily) occurring in the third line of the poem, which juxtaposes the image being presented in the poem with the emotion being presented in the poem. When done correctly, a pivot point will often connect the two sections of the poem through a contrast of idea or image.

• Aesthetics in Tanka and Pivot Points by `Laurence55

Haikai no Renga

• Haikai no Renga by ~SOLARTS
• Renga Structure and Linkage by `Laurence55

Let's Play!