I was going to write this post about Death Haiku but given the recent posts, decided it could wait for another time – if you’re keen to read up on the topic (which is more interesting and less morbid than it sounds) you could start with this essay by Robert Epstein, who published a book about death haiku in 2011.
What has been in short supply for the past few weeks are some smiles, so here are some haiku/senryu that might make you grin, smile wryly or even laugh out loud.
zinnias . . .
why yes my favourite
was Harpo
– Scott Mason, The Heron’s Nest 11.3
(If you don’t get this one, read about Harpo Marx here.)
letting rip a fart –
it doesn’t make you laugh
when you live alone
– Karai Senryu 1718-90, from The Penguin Book of Japanese Verse (1964)
separated
my bread
sprouts a beard
– Ernest J Berry, Commended, Free xPresSion contest 2014
eye surgery
I sign my consent
on the bottom blur
– Karen Peterson Butterworth, a taste of nashi (2008)
seven calories per stamp
i write too many letters
– Janice Bostok (1942-2011)
stopped to allow geese crossing some idiot honks
– Janice Bostok (1942-2011)
barbecue –
hairs on the cook’s belly
sprinkled with salt
– David Cobb, Jumping from Kiyomizu
David Cobb and Janice Bostok have both penned articles about humour in haiku. David’s article; Janice’s article.
wonderful senryu.
looking forward to the death haiku post. the concept and the results always amaze me.
Thanks Belinda – maybe it’s a midwinter topic …