​For Karai Senryu ( 1718 – 1790 )

                                                                 by Marc Isaac Potter

​A plain distinct
chickadee,
tilts her head
toward a shivering leaf.
Far too long,
        ● Winter. Yet the failure
Of this life
Finally, lies down
To die,


                          Sometimes the
                          pain is so great,
                          we can barely
                          take the next breath.

Karai Senryū (柄井 川柳, 1718 – October 30, 1790), whose real name is Karai Hachiemon (柄井 八右衛門) was a Japanese poet and poetry judge (tenja). He popularized a form of haiku called senryū, which is named after him. Senryū was the nickname that he adopted when he started judging poetry, and other poetry judges after him also adopted this name. The word senryū means river willow in Japanese.

Senryū (川柳) is a Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction: three lines with 17 morae (or on, often translated as syllables). Senryū tend to be about human foibles while haiku tend to be about nature, and senryū are often cynical or darkly humorous while haiku are more serious. Unlike haiku, senryū do not include a kireji (cutting word) and do not generally include a kigo (season word).

​Source: Wikipedia

Marc Isaac Potter (we/they/them) …  is a differently-abled writer living in the SF Bay Area. Marc’s interests include Zen and blogging by email. They have been published in Fiery Scribe Review,  Feral: A Journal of Poetry and Art,  Poetic Sun Poetry, and Provenance Journal. Marc does not have a dog named Wilbur. Twitter is @marcisaacpotter. 

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