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Haiku & Senryū

The word haiku (pronounced hahy-koo) derives from the Japanese word hokku meaning “opening verse.” The first hokku were written by students to precede the performance of their masters. It was an initiation into the world of poetry. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases, containing a kireji, or “cutting word”, with  17 on, phonetic units, similar to syllables in a 5 – 7 – 5 pattern, and a kigo, or seasonal reference. 

Senryū are similar poems that do not adhere to these rules. So much for rules.

There is no way to convert a kireji into the English language or entirely copy the 5-7-5 on rules into any language other than Japanese. Still, playing with numbers, rhythms and words to mould them into an emotion can be an oddly satisfying experience. May Sumiyoshi, Tamatsushima, and Kakinomoto no Hitomaro forgive me. 

The Magic of Short Stories