And some senryu, too!
By Barry Vitcov
Haiku and senryu are both Japanese short form poems with common structures but different purposes. The traditional rule for both is 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7, 5 syllables. However, that is not a hard and fast rule! Haiku poems can be serious or humorous and relate to something in nature. Senryu poems can be serious or humorous, but always with a human-centered focus. Here are six poems by David Hoffman. Which of them are haiku? Which senryu?
Haiku and Senryu Poems
By David Hoffman
Astuteness mastered—
the red fox leaps precisely
Arrow in the snow
emptiness listens—
and plays upon taught heartstrings
patiently— she waits
falling through this world
forgetting to catch myself—
I glimpse forever
aurora crackling—
trilling sounds pierce the curtain
sandhill crane redeye
equivocation—
an indecision schism
maybe— maybe not
the comedian
hit the audience with shtick—
they say he killed it!
David Hoffmann grew up in a small cabin on the outskirts of Palmer, Alaska. He moved to Ashland in 2006 and now lives in a small cabin in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Growing up in Alaska was a grand adventure — riding in the back of his father’s Super Cub, learning to ski soon after learning to walk, and fishing were some of his favorite family activities. David later learned to fly. His father’s photographs and home movies inspired David to become a nature and wildlife photographer. Some of his favorite places are Denali National Park and Yosemite National Park, as well as time spent with the humpback whales in Alaska and Lahaina Maui, Hawaii. David’s time in the wild is his inspiration for poetry. In 2024, David’s haiku ASTUTENESS was published in The Best Haiku Collection 4 International Anthology. David’s poetry has also been published by Grandmother’s Circle the Earth Foundation, Edge of Humanity Magazine, and Family Friend Poems. David’s poem INTO THE NIGHT is published as lyrics for a musical composition titled “Into the Night.”
Poetry Submissions Welcomed!
You are invited to submit original work to the Poetry Corner. There are only two restrictions: First, poems need to show a connection to Ashland and/or Southern Oregon. Your interpretation of that connection is fairly loose! Second, poems need to be aligned to the left margin. The publishing platform used by Ashland.news has issues with the creative use of space! There are no length restrictions but try to keep your poems to no more than 30 lines. Be sure to include the title of your poem, your name as you would like it to appear, the city or town in which you reside, and, if you wish, your preferred pronouns.
To submit poems, send to Barry Vitcov at haikubjv@gmail.com.
