Why I love Senryū (川柳)

When I was a kid growing up in Los Angeles, we did “the dozens”, “capped on”, and “clowned” each other. It sometimes got out of hand, and feelings were hurt, but we managed to survive. It was mean, but very, very creative.

I love concise poetry and the art of conveying a complete thought or story in a few words. I like Japanese formats, especially Haiku (俳句).

Senryū allows me to be true to the format and true to myself in a way that combines the diss, the tiny poem and Japanese-style poetry.

How to write a Senryū (川柳):

Here are the 4 key things you need to know before you write a Senryū:

1. Similar to haiku (俳句), it has three lines with 17 syllables in total.

2. Tend to be about human foibles, while haiku tend to be about nature

3. Often cynical, dark or humorous, while haiku are more serious.

4. Do not include a kireji or verbal caesura (cutting word).

5. Do not generally include a kigo, or seasonal word (a word or phrase associated with a particular season).1

Try writing your own Senryū diss track and put it in the comments.