Senryu

Senryu (川柳) is a Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction: three lines with 17 or fewer syllables in total. However, senryu tend to be about human foibles while haiku tend to be about nature. Senryu do not need to include a kigo, or season word, like haiku.

Much modern haiku is more similar to senryu than to traditional Japanese haiku. Most English haiku and senryu poets no longer adhere to the 5-7-5 syllable form which is suitable for the Japanese language but which tends to produce over-long and sometimes stilted English senryu and haiku. Many modern haijin (haiku/senryu poets) use the "one deep breath" rule: take a deep breath and you should be able to read the haiku/senryu aloud.

See The Black Ships for a well-known senryu written in response to the arrival of American warships in Japan.