Have had poetry on my mind this week. Jane over at Making it write plays around with senryu. So I looked up the definition to see how that differed from haiku. Like haiku, senryu (also called human haiku) is an unrhymed Japanese verse consisting of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables (5, 7, 5) or 17 syllables in all. Haiku traditionally evoke images of the natural world whereas senryu is usually written in the present tense and only references to some aspect of human nature or emotions.
Then there’s a tanka which is is very similar to haiku, but tanka poems have more syllables and use simile, metaphor and personification. There are five lines in a tanka poem of 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 syllables (31 in all). Tanka are written about nature, seasons, love, sadness and other strong emotions.
Well today I’ve written a sentanku (if there IS such a thing)! I’m finding it’s kind of hard to seriously set out to write one of these poems and say what you need to in so few words. It works best for me if it’s just spontaneous. This was not. I was trying to tell a truth but it feels really forced… Need more practice.
coping
my fears birth the thoughts
that forge the false facades
of my daily mask;
that face of many smiles
hides my insecurities
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Picture Credit: earlfooteband.bandcamp.com
Safar Fiertze said:
Agree with all of the above! Love the alliteration too.
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calensariel said:
Thanks, hon. It turned out better than I thought it would. But I like it best when you can just snatch phrases out of the air by surprise. 🙂
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senihahaksever said:
same with me 😦
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Soul Gifts said:
I would have to agree with Jane – it does not feel or read forced at all. It’s actually very profound and real 🙂
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calensariel said:
Thanks, hon… You and Jane give me quite a run for my money trying to catch up with you! 🙂
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Soul Gifts said:
It’s not a race – just join in the fun !
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janebasilblog said:
I LOVE that , especially:
that forge the false facades
of my daily mask;
You’ve got some great alliteration going on there Calen – it sounds wonderful when you read it, not forced at all – and thanks for the linkup
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calensariel said:
You’re welcome. Always glad to send folks my favorite bloggers’ way! 😀
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janebasilblog said:
🙂
A simple smile because it’s the middle of the night and I have to get up for Oxfam in three hours…THREE HOURS! – oh no, I’ve done it again…
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