Haiku, Senryu, Zappai, Pseudo-Haiku
Some English-language haiku/senryu/zappai (and most pseudo-haiku) utilize a three-line structure: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables, derived from the original Japanese forms. Many poets regard syllable count as irrelevant in English.
| at the community hall one old lady shouts "BINGO" the others say "shit" --Alan Pizzarelli |
a brown snake in the golf course rough- I declare my ball lost --John Bird |
buzzZ slaP buzzZ --Alan Pizzarelli |
spring frost-- the park cannon aimed at the church --Tom Clausen |
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from Strugnell's Haiku by Wendy Cope The leaves have fallen And the snow has fallen and Soon my hair also . . . . . |
[at the community
hall] © 2001 Alan Pizzarelli, from Senryu Magazine;
[buzzZ] © 1976,
1986, 1999 Alan Pizzarelli, from The Haiku Anthology, edited
by Cor van den Heuvel;
[a brown snake] © 2004 John Bird, from Haijinx;
[a brown snake] © 2004 John Bird, from Haijinx;
[spring
frost--] © 2004 Tom Clausen, from Haijinx;
from "Stugnell's Haiku" © 1986 Wendy Cope, from Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis; by permission of Faber and Faber UK
from "Stugnell's Haiku" © 1986 Wendy Cope, from Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis; by permission of Faber and Faber UK