What is Senryu?

Since posting some senryu from Ambassador James Day Hodgson here and here, it has occurred to me that for my readers, I should provide some explanation of what senryu is. You may have noticed a strong similarity between senryu and the more well-known Japanese poetic form known as haiku. They are similar, but there is a difference. Here are definitions of both haiku and senryu I found at a blog named Simply Senryu:

Quick Definition of Haiku: Haiku
is a "one-breath" poem (no more
than 17 syllables) that relates nature
to human nature, and usually compares
or contrasts a pair of images, which are
separated by a pause. At its best, haiku
lets the reader share in the poet's "haiku
moment" -- a moment of insight or awe.

Quick Definition of Senryu: Senryu
is a short poem similar in structure to
haiku but featuring ironic, humorous
and/or coarse observations on human
nature.

The Japanese poetic form of senryu was invented by a Tokugawa Era (1603-1868) poet named Senryu Karai (1718-1790), who published is poems in a collection called Haifuyanagidaru.

James Day Hodgson, who wrote the book from which I have quoted in the aforementioned previous entries - American Senryu - is a native of the state of Minnesota who in 1970 became the Secretary of Labor under President Richard M. Nixon and served in that office until 1973. In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford appointed Hodgson to be Ambassador to Japan. Hodgson held the ambassadorship until 1977, when President Jimmy Carter replaced him with former Senator Mike Mansfield of Montana.

I purchased my copy of American Senryu back in 1993 at a small curio shop in Shinjuku. To this day it remains one of my favorite books, filled with timeless, laconic wisdom. And to wit, here is another senryu from the venerable Ambassador Hodgson:

Should trust flow too deep,
When the channel grows shallow,
The craft will falter.

***

Election fatigue has been settling in somewhat with me, hence the apolitical tone of my last couple of posts. Don't worry though, I'll be back to my old combative self soon - tomorrow, most likely.

In the meantime, you can see Nancy Rommelmann and I go at it in the comments to this post, or read Mark Steyn's thoughts on Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher here. Here's the money quote from Steyn:

Evidently the O-Mighty One was not happy after his encounter with Joe. He's still willing to talk to Ahmadinejad without preconditions. But never again will he talk to Joe the Plumber without preconditions.

And here's something else for y'all to consider: a Military Times poll shows American troops support McCain over Obama by a 3 to 1 margin. I guess they must be "racists" too.

One other thing: Ted Nugent rules. That is all.