Poetry Pea - haiku and other English Language Japanese short forms

This episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast continues an exploration of lyrical haiku and senryū in the English language, with a focus on work written before the year 2000. What makes a haiku “lyrical”? Not overblown emotion or elaborate language, but a quieter musicality—rhythm, emotional restraint, and an image that’s allowed to resonate.This episode offers a thoughtful introduction to earlier contemporary haiku, setting the stage for a later look at more recent voices, in the next episode, do please join us.If you’re interested in poetry that values subtlety, attention, and the music of the spoken word, this is a good place to begin.

This week on The Poetry Peacast, we drift into a river-inspired collection of haiku and senryu from our March video prompt. While Patricia is (technically) in Zürich, today’s episode is carried by the warm currents of South Africa, where the original footage was filmed during a memorable family trip.The poems featured here have been carefully edited and curated by Johnny Moran—thank you, Johnny—and capture a range of voices responding to water, movement, and the quiet details that make haiku and senryu so powerful.Congratulations to the poets whose work is included in this episode. Their poems will also appear in the upcoming issue of the 1:26 poetry journal.In this episode:A showcase of original haiku and senryuPoetry inspired by rivers, travel, and observationReflections on the March Poetry Pea video promptCommunity voices from poets around the worldIf you enjoy the podcast, you can support us by becoming a member, buying us a coffee, or making a donation via PayPal—all through our website. You can also help by sharing the podcast with your poetry friends and on social media.And yes—there’s a brief (and heartfelt) nod to Crystal Palace’s latest semi-final. Fingers firmly crossed.Subscribe to stay up to date with weekly poetry prompts, haiku, senryu, and readings.Keep writing.Featured PoetsMarch Video PromptHerb TateNeena SinghDavid CoxJennifer L. BlanckMona BediJacob Blumner Lakshmi Iyer India Melissa Dennison Ralph MatthewsJoshua gageChristopher SeepVaishnavi RamaswamyAlicia SamsonRohan BuettelTony Williams Bonus poetry Robert Kingston, PPJ Autumn 2021Mark Gilbert, PPJ Autumn 2021Anne Morrigan, PPJ 2:23MartinLucas from FreewheelingBrett Brady, PPJ 2021John Hawkhead, PPJ Autumn 2020Edward Cody Huddleston, Autumn 2020

In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, we continue our exploration of lyrical poetry with a journey into the work of the Japanese haiku masters. From Bashō and Buson to Issa and Shiki, and their contemporaries, we listen to classic haiku in translation and consider how sound, rhythm and imagery carry emotional resonance across centuries.Following last week’s episode on the eighteenth-century female poet, Chyio-ni, today we turn to the male masters and their friends and contemporaries. These poems span stillness, seasonal awareness, humour, melancholy and the fleeting beauty at the heart of haiku. Expect frogs, evening breezes, cherry blossom, mountain mist and the famous old pond — along with the rarely heard response verse from its original renku.All poems are read in English translation, allowing the musicality and lyricism of classical Japanese haiku to shine through for modern listeners. If you love haiku, Japanese poetry, short-form poetry, or want inspiration for your own writing, this episode offers a rich selection from some of the greatest poets in the tradition.Don’t forget to add your poem to this month’s Poetry Pea video prompt in the comments on the channel, and support the podcast if you can.Links to the poems mentioned are in the show notes.

In this episode of Poetry Pea, I explore the haiku of Chiyo-ni, the 18th-century Japanese poet and Buddhist nun whose lyrical voice is often overlooked when we talk about the great haiku masters. While Bashō, Buson, Shiki and Issa are regularly discussed, Chiyo-ni’s work often takes a back seat.Prompted by recent conversations about the perceived lack of lyrical poetry in modern haiku, I look at what “lyrical” might mean in the context of haiku. For me, lyrical poetry creates an emotional connection without sentimentality, often supported by musicality, rhythm and the spoken quality of the words. Through a selection of Chiyo-ni’s poems, presented in English translation, I explore how her work achieves this balance with delicacy and restraint.You’ll hear a range of Chiyo-ni’s haiku, including the well-known morning glory poem, alongside lesser-known pieces that reveal her attentiveness to nature, human feeling and fleeting moments. I also discuss the challenges of translation and how different versions of the same poem can alter tone, rhythm and emotional impact.I’m also inviting you to take part:• What does “lyrical” mean to you in haiku?• Do you think lyrical poetry is missing from contemporary English-language haiku?• Send me your favourite lyrical haiku (with citations) for possible inclusion in a future episode.If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting Poetry Pea with a membership, a coffee, or sharing it with your poetry friends.You can also join the mailing list to stay updated with future episodes.Show notes

In this special Poetry Pea episode, we celebrate impending close of our haibun submissions period with a curated selection of haibun readings. New to haibun? Don’t worry — helpful links in the show notes will guide you through this beautifully blended form of prose and haiku.All the pieces in this episode share something in common… but will you spot what it is?Answers in the shownotes.We also thank Johnny Moran for editing March’s video prompt and welcome Lakshmi Iyer, our guest editor for April. Be sure to submit your poems in the comments under the latest Poetry Pea YouTube video so they can be considered.Plus, there’s exciting news coming soon from Poetry Pea — and an opportunity you won’t want to miss. To make sure you hear about it, join the Poetry Pea membership via Buy Me a Coffee and sign up for the Poetry Pea mailing list.Pop in your earbuds and enjoy a thoughtful feast of haibun poetry.Poets included: If Wishes Were HorsesReid Hepworth, DSH issue 29 September 2024The WailersBisshie, Cattails 2025A loneliness business, and yet . . .Chen-ou Li, Contemporary Haibun Online April 2026Invisible WebSimon Wilson, Cattails, October 2025MementoNeena Singh, Cattails, October 2025MultiverseMelissa Dennison, Drifting Sands Haibun, Issue 34, Dec 25The Far ShoreSandip Chauhan, haikuKATHA, Issue 43, May 2025Grandpa Carr’s KohlrabiNicky Gutierrez, Tendrils Haibun Journal, 2024MauerspechteBisshie, Wales Haiku Journal,Winter 25/26RainRobert Witmer Tokyo, Japan, Drifiting Sands Haibun, issue 34, Dec 2025IterationsDavid J Kelly, Tendrils Haibun Journal, 2024The Soles of my FeetGerry Jacobson, Kokako, Issue 42, March 23, 2025TidesJill Muhrer, Tendrils Haibun Journal, 2025

Step into a listening space shaped by small poems and quiet attention.This weekly podcast brings together contemporary haiku from voices around the world. Each of our episodes features carefully selected poems, and thoughtful readings.From murmuration skies to winter dusk, from the hush of birdsong to the swell of the everyday, we explore the moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed — and give them room to resonate.✨ How to take part:Respond to our video prompts on YouTube, submit your haibun via our website, and join a growing international community of poets and listeners.🎧 New episodes released weekly.Subscribe, listen, and let the words take flight.

Settle in for another episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, where this time there’s no set theme—yes, maybe it 's a bit trickier for you… but as they say, if it were easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing.In this episode, you’ll hear a wonderful selection of contemporary haiku and senryu , all submitted without the safety net of a prompt. Our judges—one familiar voice and two brand-new to the podcast—have read the poems anonymously and selected their nominations, decided on a Judges’ Choice and Honourable Mention. You’ll hear their thoughts during the show, with the final results revealed soon in the Poetry Pea Journal.We also share a few notices from Pea Towers, including details of upcoming submissions for our annual haibun journal, Tendrils, and how you can nominate poems for the Golden Pea Award anthology.Whether you’re an experienced poet or just discovering English language shortforms there’s something here for you.Subscribe, join our mailing list, and consider supporting the podcast to help keep the poetry flowing.And as always—keep writing.Episode notes

In this episode of the Poetry Peacast, we bring our current exploration of one-line haiku to a halt for now.After three episodes and a number of thoughtful questions, I reflect on what the form offers, where it challenges us, and where I find myself—at least for now. There is, of course, more to be said, and the conversation remains open, particularly as listeners continue to share their own insights and experiences.I’ll also be following this series with a short essay drawing together ideas from all three episodes.Over the coming weeks, the Peacast will turn to your work, featuring original poetry written by listeners, followed by poems inspired by the Poetry Pea video prompt—continuing our focus on poetry out loud and shared creative practice.If you’d like to take part, you’re warmly invited to submit your work, respond to the prompts, or share your thoughts.Thank you for listening, and for being part of the Poetry Pea community.Until next time—keep writingshow notes

This week on the Poetry Pea Podcast there’s a slight change of plan.Part three of the one-line haiku series isn’t quite ready yet. After posing several questions at the end of part two, I realised I needed a little more time to sit with them. My head is currently full of ideas, possibilities and half-formed thoughts, and rather than rush things, I want to give those questions the attention they deserve.So, while I continue wrestling with the mysteries of the one-line haiku, I thought I’d share something special with you.In this episode you’ll hear part one of a conversation with renowned haiku poet Kala Ramesh, originally recorded for our sister podcast, Poetry Pea Readings. Kala’s insights into haiku, creativity and poetic practice are always inspiring, and it felt like the perfect conversation to revisit while we pause the one-line haiku series for a week.If you enjoy this discussion, you’ll find the link to part two in the show notes.Next week I’ll be back with part three of the one-line haiku extravaganza — and while I may not have answered every question swirling around in my head, I promise I’ll have given it a very good try.Check out the show notes for more detail...

In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, we continue our deep dive into the art of the one line haiku and explore five powerful techniques for writing compelling haiku and senryū in English.If you’ve been experimenting with one line poems and wondering how they work — or whether they work at all — this episode is for you.We explore five essential techniques for writing strong one line haiku:• Speed – creating breathless momentum • Circular structure – poems that can be read in multiple directions • Truncated form – leaving deliberate space for the reader’s imagination • Shape and horizontal movement – how visual and directional flow affect meaning • Multiple cuts – discovering layered readings within a single lineHave we answered our won questions?Have we appropriated the Japanese short form?Do one line haiku conform to traditional three line expectations?Is a poem a one line haiku simply because the poet says it is?Why did the one line become so popular — and why have they endured?Whether you are new to writing haiku or already publishing in journals, this episode offers accessible, practical techniques you can try immediately in your own notebook.If you enjoy learning about haiku craft, senryū techniques, poetry prompts, and contemporary short form poetry, make sure to follow the podcast and check the show notes for cited poems and further reading.And don’t forget:Submit your poems via the YouTube video comments for the Monthly Prompt or try the 3-Word Challenge in our Shorts.

In this episode of The Poetry Pea Podcast, we begin an in-depth exploration of one line haiku and senryū in English. What makes a one line haiku work? Is it simply a haiku written without line breaks, or is there something more subtle happening with rhythm, pause and flow?Through close readings of poems by Michael Segers, John Wills, Alvin Cruz, Elizabeth Searle Lamb, Kala Ramesh, Tess Sherman, Scott Wiggerman, martin gottlieb cohen and even Allen Ginsberg, we examine how the single line changes pacing, meaning and impact.We also begin asking some bigger questions about English-language haiku:Have Western poets reshaped the short form into something unrecognisable in Japan?Are English one line haiku a natural evolution — or a reinvention?Is a one line poem a haiku simply because the poet says it is?This is Part 1 of a short series. Next week we’ll turn to techniques for writing one line haiku, looking at structure, rhythm and craft.If you’re interested in:one line haikusenryūEnglish-language haiku techniquehaiku form and structurepoetry craft discussionsmodern haiku debatethen this episode is for you.Show notes and links are here.If you’d like to read along, a slideshow version is available on YouTube.Keep writing.

Monster trucks meet haiku.In this adrenaline-charged episode of Poetry Pea,I share original haiku and senryu inspired by a thrilling monster truck video, captured by Renee Schaffer and curated by Allyson Whipple. Huge thanks to both for fuelling this creative ride.Expect short-form poetry that explores power, spectacle, humour and the poetry of roaring engines and flying mud — all in just three lines.Every poem featured will appear in the first Poetry Pea Journal of the year, celebrating contemporary haiku and senryu from our international poetry community.Love modern haiku? Enjoy writing prompts and award-winning poems? Don’t miss the Golden Pea Award Winners Podcast and the accompanying anthology.Subscribe, follow, and sign up to the newsletter so you don’t miss the next Poetry Pea release.Check out the show notes.Small poems. Full throttle.Poets Featured todayBisshieAlicia SamsonAngiola IngleseChristopher SeepDavid CoxHifsa AshrafJonathan BlakesleeJoshua GageLakshman BulusuMelissa DennisonMims SullyNeena SinghMona BediRalph MatthewsRichard BaillyRichard TiceRob McKinnonRohan BuettelTracy DavidsonRupa AnandSheikha A.Kimberly Kuchar 

A podcast about haiku and short poetry from around the world, particularly early Spanish haikuesque poetry of José Juan Tablada, but I'll also explore Japanese haiku, early Western haiku, translation, poetic form, and contemporary practice.This episode offers close readings, literary context, and thoughts, uncovering forgotten poems, global influences, and the ways haiku has travelled across languages and cultures. Topics include imagist poetry, one-line poems, haiku history, and writing practice.Ideal for poets, writers, readers, and anyone interested in haiku, poetry podcasts, short poems, and creative writing.New episodes released regularly.Keep writing.For today's show notes, click here

In this special episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, host Patricia announces the winners of the Golden Pea Awards 2025, celebrating the very best haiku, senryū, tanka and haibun published by Poetry Pea this year.Recorded from her studio in Switzerland, Patricia shares a carefully curated selection of award-winning poems, chosen for their craft, originality and emotional impact. These standout pieces appear in The Golden Pea Anthology, the first collection to bring Poetry Pea’s finest poems together.Featuring luminous haiku, sharp-eyed senryū, resonant tanka and ambitious haibun, this episode is both a celebration of outstanding poets and a masterclass for lovers of short-form poetry.If you enjoy contemporary poetry podcasts and award-winning short poems, this episode is not to be missed.Want to see who the talented poets are... go to the episode.

Urban Haiku Podcast | More City Life in Short PoetryStep into the streets, gyms, roads, and temples of contemporary poetry with this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, dedicated to urban haiku and senryū. In this instalment of the Urban Haiku series, we continue to explore how modern city life finds expression through short-form poetry—capturing fleeting moments, human interactions, and everyday urban scenes in just a few carefully chosen words.Featuring unpublished and published urban haiku and senryū submitted by members of the Poetry Pea community, this episode offers listeners the chance to hear fresh work while also engaging with questions of form, and categorisation. What makes a poem haiku rather than senryū? How does urban experience shape contemporary haiku writing? And how do poets adapt traditional forms to modern settings?Perfect for haiku poets, short-form poetry lovers, and writers interested in contemporary haiku, this episode aims to inspire you to try writing urban poetry yourself—especially if you’re considering submitting to a current or future Poetry Pea haiku call-out.You’ll also hear updates on Poetry Pea opportunities, including YouTube writing prompts, three-word challenges, and upcoming features such as the Golden Pea Awards.🎧 Listen, reflect, and be inspired to write your own urban haiku.📺 Don’t forget to explore the Poetry Pea YouTube channel and membership options for more ways to write, submit, and publish short poetry.Show notes

Welcome to The Poetry Peacast, where small poems loom large and every word earns its keep.In this episode, you’ll hear poetry from the long list of Poetry Pea’s brand-new awards — the Golden Pea Awards. These are poems that came tantalisingly close to the top: work that impressed, delighted, and lingered, but ultimately didn’t quite make it into the final, glittering handful of Golden Peas. Expect exceptional haiku, senryū, tanka and haibun from across the Poetry Pea community, read with care and accompanied by an appreciation of effort, craft, and understatement. This is a celebration of poems that were almost 24-carat gold — and in many cases, arguably are.Thoughtful, witty, and refreshingly free of fuss, The Poetry Peacast honours the breadth and brilliance of contemporary short poetry and their brilliant writing community — and reminds us that sometimes, nearly is still rather magnificent.Want to see a list of te poets on the loong list, head over to the episode webpage.

Urban haiku and senryū inspired by modern city life, with poems, and submission calls.Show notespoets featured today:m shane pruett, Haiku Pea Podcast, S3E22Eric W Amann[i] William J Higgenson with Penny Harter,”The Haiku Handbook.” Kodansha International, 1985, p87Barbara Tate, THF City Sidewalk, tasteMichael Dylan Welch, from GracegutsMizuho, Urban Ginko V – Nakazaki-cho, Osaka July 10th 2023Akihiko, Urban Ginko V – Nakazaki-cho, Osaka July 10th 2023Richard Wright, Haiku: This Other World, Arcade Publishing, New York, NY, 1998Lakshmi Iyer, Poetry Pea Journal, 3.22Bob Whitmire, THF City Sidewalk, hearingTracy Davidson, Poetry Pea Journal 2.23Wendy Cobourne, Prune Juice, issue 46Arvinder Kaur, Poetry Pea Journal, Summer 2021Rupa Anand, failed haiku issue111

The Poetry Pea Podcast is a contemporary poetry podcast featuring original poetry, poetry prompts, video poetry prompts, and poetry readings from poets around the world.In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, we open Season Nine with original contemporary poetry written in response to our final video poetry prompt of 2025, curated by poet Kathleen Tice. This poetry podcast showcases a wide range of poetic voices and styles, demonstrating how a single poetry prompt can inspire many different poems.You’ll also hear updates about the Poetry Pea community, the latest poetry prompt on YouTube, and how poets can submit poetry correctly by leaving poems in the YouTube comments. Submitting poetry through the YouTube comments is the only way to take part in the Poetry Pea video poetry prompt.The Poetry Pea Podcast is ideal for poets, writers, poetry readers, and anyone looking for writing prompts, poetry inspiration, or contemporary poetry podcasts. Each episode features poetry readings, poetry prompts, and creative encouragement for poets at all stages.Check out the poets featured today on the Episode webpage

In this special episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, host Patricia welcomes celebrated Canadian poet Reid Hepworth for a stunning reading from her collection Loss Is a River. Praised for its emotional depth and lyrical power, Hepworth’s work explores love, loss, memory, and the quiet moments that shape our lives.Patricia also shares an important correction and heartfelt apology to poets Mona Bedi and Marylyn Burridge, plus news about the upcoming Christmas break, the bumper Season Nine, and teases Poetry Pea Press developments planned for 2026.Listeners will find links to Reid Hepworth’s books, Poetry Pea membership, the mailing list, and submission guidelines in the show notes.A perfect listen for fans of contemporary poetry, haiku, senryu, haibun, one line poems, and tanka.Subscribe, stay connected, and enjoy this beautiful end-of-year reading.

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Join Patricia for a special episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, featuring original tanka poetry from contemporary writers around the world. In this episode, she shares the judges’ nominations for the best tanka selected for the forthcoming Poetry Pea Journal. If you enjoy tanka, haiku, short-form poetry, or modern Japanese-inspired verse, this episode offers fresh poems, thoughtful commentary, and an inside look at the judging process. Perfect listening for poets, readers, and anyone passionate about tanka and micropoetry.If you enjoy this podcast do think about supporting our work, thank you.Buy us a coffeeTake out a membership Or simply share this episode with your poetry pals and leave us a comment or review. It really does help the show grow.

This week on the Poetry Peacast, we welcome Scottish poet Claire Thom, joining us from Andalusia, Spain. Claire, founder of Wee Sparrow Press, shares haiku and haibun from her beautiful collection Wildflowers in Oyster Stone. It's always enjoyable to hear a poet read their work, don't you think?Discover how travel, nature, and poetic craft intertwine as we talk about the art of haiku editing and the inspiration behind her work.If you love contemporary haiku, haibun, and international poetry, this episode will enchant you.✨ Don’t forget to sign up for the Poetry Pea mailing list for news on our upcoming anthology, amongst other things — a little gem in itself!show notes.

In this episode, we visit with Canadian poet Allison Douglas Tourner, who reads from her haunting and beautiful collection sticks & bones. Together, we wander through memory, myth, and the stories that shape us — from childhood books to the darker corners of imagination.There’s also a bit of breaking news for poetry lovers: publication of the Poetry Pea Anthology is imminent, so be sure you’re on the mailing list — it’s the perfect poetry gift for Christmas.Join us for poetry, reflection, and a touch of wonder.Show notes

As the rain lashes Zürich and the winter tyres go on, it’s time to escape to somewhere warmer! In this episode of the Poetry Peacast, we’re off to the beaches of Langkawi, Malaysia — swapping snowflakes for seashells and cold toes for sand between them.Patricia shares previously published haiku and senryu from the beach, plus new poems inspired by our latest video prompt. Expect crows, carols, and a touch of tropical sunshine — all wrapped up in the warmth of our global poetry community.With thanks to Neena Singh for her expert curating, and to all the poets who took part in this month’s prompt.If you’d like to join in, leave your haiku or senryu in the comments under the video on our YouTube channel (not by email, please!) and maybe you’ll be featured next time.🌴 Keep writing, keep watching the waves, and see you next week for more poetic adventures.Episode notes

It’s Poetry Pea’s birthday! To celebrate, we’re throwing a Senryū Pop Quiz — and you’re invited.In this episode, we put our poetic instincts to the test: can you tell your haiku from your senryū? Or have some poems wandered off into the wild world of micropoetry?Join us for a fun, thought-provoking episode full of literary nerdery, and maybe a little friendly controversy. We’ll also celebrate Joshua St. Claire’s award-winning haiku and revisit what makes haiku haiku, and senryū, senryū, from seasonal references to intuition and exposés.Tune in, play along, and then head to the show notes to compare your answers with ours. Let’s see how many you get right—no cheating!

In this episode of Poetry Pea: The Senryū Sessions (Part Two), Patricia dives deeper into the poetic dance between haiku and senryū — where do they meet, and where do they part ways? With insights from scholars like Shirane, Wirth, Pizzarelli, and Virgil, we explore what makes a haiku an observation and a senryū a commentary. Through poems by Linda Ludwig, Vera Constantineau, Sam Blair, Shiki, Matt Snyder and others, we untangle how tone, imagery, and human perspective shape these distinct short forms.Join us as we question, laugh, and maybe disagree — all in the spirit of good poetry.🎧 Featuring:Thoughtful comparisons between haiku and senryūReadings and analysis of poems from Poetry Pea Journal and Prune JuiceA few surprises (and laughs) along the way🕊️ Keep up with the series and make sure you've subscribed to the Podcast, wherever you are listening.Maybe leave us a review, it would be most appreciated.

This episode of the Poetry PeaPodcast is Part One of a series on senryū. A form of Japanese short poetryWe begin by asserting that senryū do not have to be humorous. They offer sharp, human insights that continue to spark debate among poets and editors. In this episode you’ll hear examples from both the Japanese canon and contemporary English-language poets, with commentary and context to guide you.Over the coming episodes in this series, we’ll learn the differences between haiku & senryū, discover the living practice of senryū, and consider their place alongside haiku in today’s poetry world.Perfect for anyone curious about senryū, haiku, and Japanese short-form poetry in English.

In this special episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, Patricia celebrates International Dot Day with the Poetry Pea community. Join us for a playful look at haiku and flashku, inspired by dots, creativity and courage.Patricia shares news about the brand-new Poetry Pea Journal 4:25 — full of original haiku, creepy-crawly poems, video prompt selections, and the latest judges’ choice. You’ll also hear how poets responded to a social media challenge and a flashku call-out.Whether you’re a seasoned haiku poet or just curious about short-form poetry, this episode is packed with inspiration and poems to spark your creativity.Show notes

Original poems by global poets.Welcome to the Poetry Pea Podcast – your home for haiku, senryū and short-form poetry. 🐞🦋🐝In this episode, inspired by Liam Maguire’s “creepy crawly” presentation, our judges Clive Grewcock, Melissa Dennison and Liam himself share their nominations for the Judges’ Choice. Expect beetles, butterflies, ants, dragonflies, spiders and more – all captured in the tiny but powerful form of haiku and senryū.✨ What you’ll hear:Original haiku, senryū and one-line poems from poets around the worldCommentary from our judges A lively selection of poems which will be some of the poems featured in Poetry Pea Journal 4:25Sign up for our mailing list for early access, special offers, and submission opportunities💌 Submissions are open for tanka 1-15th Oct 2025– check the diary & guidelines on our website before sending!☕ Like what we do? Support the Poetry Pea Podcast:Become a memberBuy us a coffeeShare this podcast with your poetry-loving friendsShow notes

✨ Welcome to the Poetry Pea Podcast ✨In this episode, we share beautiful haiku and senryū from our community, inspired by the video prompts. You’ll hear poetry chosen by editor Amy Watson from the August prompt, and we’ll look ahead to September’s beach-themed prompt curated by Neena Singh.Alongside the poetry, I raise an important question about fairness in haiku competitions — something for us all to consider as members of the short form poetry community. And, to end, we return to more poems from you, our listeners, to bring us back to calm reflection.📌 What’s inside this episode:Haiku and senryū from the Poetry Pea communityHighlights from the August video prompt (Tango-inspired)A discussion on fairness in haiku competitionsMore community poems to close the show💌 Don’t miss out! Join the Poetry Pea mailing list to hear about new journals, prompts, and podcast episodes first: [link]If you enjoy writing haiku, & senryū, or simply love listening to short form poetry, this episode is for you.

In this episode we round off our tanka series with something a little different – kyōka.Kyōka are often described as the “wild poems” of the tanka world – witty, playful, and full of wry social commentary. Think of them as to tanka what senryū are to haiku.👉 What you’ll hear in this episode:A short introduction to kyōka and their place in Japanese poetryExamples from the Japanese, translated into EnglishContemporary kyōka written originally in EnglishA light-hearted discussion about humour in poetry📚 Don’t forget – our latest haibun journal Tendrils is out now. Link in the show notes if you’d like to grab a copy (print or PDF).💌 Want to support Poetry Pea?Become a member, buy us a coffee, or simply share this episode on your social media. Every little helps to keep the podcast going and spread the word.🖊️ Submissions:Check our submissions diary for current calls. We’d love to read your work in future episodes.Thank you for listening – and most importantly, keep writing.

Welcome to Poetry Pea! In this episode, Patricia shares practical tips and writing exercises on how to write superior tanka poetry. Building on last week’s look at the ten styles of poetry, today we dive into Teika’s principles, examples of great tanka, and step-by-step challenges to help you improve your craft.Whether you’re brand new to tanka, already writing haiku and senryū, or preparing to submit your work to poetry journals, this podcast will give you inspiration, structure, and confidence in your writing.📌 What you’ll learn in this episode:What makes a tanka “superior”Common mistakes to avoid when writing tankaTeika’s timeless advice on style, rhythm, and languagePractical exercises (including a 15-day tanka challenge)How to get ready for submissions in OctoberEpisode Show notesPlease support us with a:MembershipCoffee Giving us lovely shout outs on your social media.

✨ Today we’re diving into the world of Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241) — one of Japan’s most influential poets, teachers, and literary critics. If you’re curious about tanka poetry, this is a perfect place to start.In this podcast we’ll explore:Teika’s ten styles of waka and why they still matterHis core ideal of ushin (“conviction of feeling”)The four fundamental styles every poet should try and 6 to have a go at once they are masteredAlong the way, I’ll share classic examples of waka and tanka, plus some modern tanka poems to show how Teika’s ideas resonate today.📺 Don’t miss the latest video prompt, edited this month by the brilliant Neena Singh — a chance to spark your own writing and join in the conversation.🔗 Check the show notes for sources, translations, and links to related podcasts. poetrypea.comIf you enjoy learning about Japanese poetry, tanka, haiku, and poetics, do give this video a like, leave a comment with your favourite poem or style, and subscribe for more deep dives into poetry and prompts every week.show notes

Pack your poetic passport — this week, the Poetry Pea Podcast is off to Borneo!Our theme? Elephants in haiku and senryu, inspired by Borneo’s rare and gentle pygmy elephants.In this episode:🐘 Haiku & senryu from Linda Ludwig’s last video prompt editorship📖 Treasures from past Poetry Pea Journals🌿 Elephant-themed poems from other talented writers🌏 Five fascinating facts about Borneo💚 A closer look at Borneo’s endangered pygmy elephants📢 Haiku & Senryu Submissions: You’ve still got time to submit for this month’s video prompt, edited by Amy Watson in her first ever Poetry Pea role. Remember — post your poems in the comments section of the video prompt to be considered.💡 Support Poetry Pea:Become a member, buy us a coffee, or share the podcast with poetry-loving friends.✨ Whether you’re here for nature haiku inspiration, wildlife facts, or a love of short-form poetry, this episode will leave you inspired — and maybe ready to book a trip to Borneo.🔗 LinksWebsiteYouTube with slides1.    Elephants in Haiku and Senryu2.    Borneo Pygmy Elephants3.    Poetry Pea Podcast4.    Nature Haiku / Wildlife Haiku5.    Haiku and Senryu about Animals

Today we’re diving into technique. But wait! Don’t run for the hills just yet, or even the mountains…. This isn’t a dry lecture—we’re doing technique the Poetry Pea way: through the lens of rich, inspirational poetry.And we’re in for a real treat today because we’re in the company of one of the greats: John Wills. A master of the short form, Wills was an American poet who lived from 1921 to 1993, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of poems and books. I’ll introduce you to his work, highlight some of the techniques he used so beautifully, and read a few examples that just might change the way you write—or read—poetry.📌 You can find out more about John Wills by following the links in the show notes. And of course… Google is your friend.Breaking news... Poetry Pea Journal 3:25 is out as a PDFYou can purchase it here

Welcome to the PoetryPea Podcast, your go-to show for English-language haiku, senryu, and other short-form poetry. In this special episode, we’re embracing the lighter side of verse with a delightful collection of funny senryu.When community member Melissa Dennison asked for more humour in her life, we thought—what better way to celebrate the joy of poetry than with poems that make us laugh, smirk, or even groan? Whether you're a poet, a poetry lover, or just someone who enjoys a clever twist in senryū, this episode is for you.🪲 What’s happening at Poetry Pea?We’re currently accepting submissions for creepy crawlie haiku. Visit our submissions diary to find out how to send us your best insect-inspired verses.Check out our latest video prompt on the Poetry Pea YouTube channel, this month hosted by the wonderful Amy Watson, who’s taken over from the equally fabulous Linda Ludwig. Be sure to show Amy some love—and don’t forget to add your poem in the comments!✨ Want to help shape the podcast?Support us by becoming a Poetry Pea member. Members enjoy special opportunities to influence episode themes, submit work, and support the ongoing work of spreading high-quality short-form poetry worldwide. Details in the show notes. If you can't do that, and I understand, maybe buy us a coffee, or spread the love about this podcast on social media, and leave a review wherever you listen.🎧 Hit play, have a laugh, and enjoy the magic of funny haiku and witty senryu—because poetry can be profound and playful.

In this very special episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, we bring you our first ever live salon event — and it's all about Zōka, the generative force behind haiku and nature itself.Featuring readings from the anthology One Thread and a conversation with its editor, Janice Doppler, this gathering celebrates the power of becoming, creativity, and poetic presence.Hosted by Patricia, with guest poets including Don Baird, Kala Ramesh, and our very own Vandana Parashar and friends, this episode is both a showcase and an invitation to explore Zōka for yourself.Want to join us next time? Members get first dibs on seats — details in the show notes

What happens when alphorns echo through the streets of Zürich? They inspire short form poetry from around the world — and this week’s episode features some of the best!These original haiku and senryū were written in response to June’s Video Prompt — a monthly moment of creativity on our YouTube channel. ✍️✨Featuring voices like: 🖋️ Daniela Misso 🖋️ Lakshmi Iyer 🖋️ Rupa Anand 🖋️ Sara Winteridge 🖋️ Amy Watsonmore from Switzerland’s own haiku poets!🎧 Listen now to discover the power of poetic echoes — and how alphorns brought the mountains to the city streets.👉 Don’t forget: July’s prompt is live! Write your response and leave it in the comments to be considered for the podcast and journal.Every month, except December, there is a short video on the Poetry Pea YouTube channel and you are invited to leave your poems, as many as you want, in the comments section under the video. The poems that are chosen by our editor Linda Ludwig, are featured in podcasts and of course in the Poetry Pea Journal.Submission criteria.show notes

🐛🕷️ Creepy Crawlies Have Entered the Chat… This week on the Poetry Peacast, we’re getting under your skin — in the best possible way — with a fresh collection of haiku and short form poetry inspired by the little creatures that wriggle, buzz, crawl, and fly.🦋 Featuring poems from Poetry Pea Journals past (and a few haiku legends), this episode explores beauty in the overlooked — from dragonflies to snails to crickets (yes, even cockroaches get a cameo).💚 Special shout-out to Liam Maguire, whose presentation on insect haiku actually inspired Patricia to write about bugs (gasp!), and to Linda Ludwig, who’s wrapping up her time as editor of our Video Prompt feature. We’ll miss her guiding hand — let’s make her final month unforgettable.🎧 Tune in now & find out why these “deceptive little poems” are anything but simple. Then, get writing — August's Creepy Crawly submission is open! 📝Liam Maguire’s presentation show notes

What does healing sound like in haiku?This week, poet Julie Bloss Kelsey joins me to read from her deeply moving collection, Grasping the Fading Light: A Journey Through PTSD — winner of the 2021 International Women’s Haiku Contest.Her work brings vulnerability, strength, and beauty to the page. Together we explore grief, trauma, recovery, and resilience — through the gentle force of haiku, senryū, and tanka.This is an episode full of humanity and hope. You might think it’s not for you — but poetry this honest speaks to all of us.Also available to watch on Poetry Pea's YouTube channel.shownotes

An episode of haiku poetry presented by Liam Maguire on the topic of creepy crawlies. Honestly he does a brilliant job. He's inspired me to write and I hope he'll inspire you to write too. Check out the submission diary.You can read the slides on the YouTube version or check them our at Buy Me A Coffee, where you can support the work of the podcast in many ways.Show notes

Without zoka, there is no haiku…Zoka — the creative, the generative force that animates the universe — is more than a concept. It's the heartbeat of haiku.In this week’s Poetry Pea Podcast, I reflect on Janice Doppler’s brilliant essay, “Following Bashō, Following Zoka,” and the powerful conversations it’s sparked within our community. I talk about my own grappling with the idea — from my strict Catholic upbringing to gradually recognizing zoka in my writing, even before I had the language for it.We’ll explore what haiku can be when we allow transformation, transience, and seasonality to rise above static images or generic kigo. 🌀What does it mean to feel the seasons in an urban space? How can we write haiku that breathe and evolve with nature — not just describe it?🎙️ Tune in and journey with us through change, through poetry, through zoka.Show notes

This week on the podcast from Poetry Pea we have:a reply from Bruce Feingold regarding my problems with the Touchstone awardsa bit of data research from Bill Faysome haiku & senryū written for the latest flashkthe poems chosen by Linda L Ludwig from May's prompt videoThank you to all the poets who have had their work chosen.Thank you to Anne Fox for the video.Thank you to Linda for all the work she puts in for the video prompt.Thank you to all the editors who took part in the flashku submission, Robert, Vandana, Lev, Shane, Richard and Samantha.show notes

Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time for you?I’m in one of those seasons. When I sat down to plan this week’s episode, I thought I’d explore the poetry of Chiyo-ni — and oh, the rabbit holes I found! That’s going to take more time. But today, I just needed a slower pace… and maybe you do too.So, I offer you something gentler: ✨ a jazz-infused session of haiku and senryū, ✨ poems to breathe with, ✨ words that settle the heart.You’ll hear work from Lenard D. Moore, Stanford M. Forrester, Jennifer Gurney, Debbie Strange, Lakshmi Iyer, and many more — including the unforgettable lines of Chiyo-ni herself.🎙️ This episode isn’t a workshop or deep dive — it’s a quiet conversation with the poems I’ve been holding close lately. Think of it as late-night jazz… in haiku form.show notes

The point of today's podcast is to get you excited to write haiku and senryū for the second volume of The Poetry Pea Anthology, “Little Marvels.”As you’ll know from the podcasts I’ve already published the topic is belonging and alienation this year. If you haven’t listened to themHere they are:A Reading with Roman LyakhovetskyThe Poetry of AlienationBelonging in PoetryThe anthology will be in print and PDF format. Submission will be by invitation only and the only way to get your invitation is by signing up to the mailing list. It won’t be long til the invite goes out so hurry, hurry, hurry.For your inspiration today I’m with a poet from North Carolina. You met him before on a podcast in series 7, where he read to us from his book “A Million Shadows at Noon”.  show notes

haiku, senryu and tanka about death. It's much more cheerful than that sounds. In the end I think the Ravens won! Are you all Vikings?There's a bit of homework in there for you too. Do you agree / disagree with the thoughts expressed at the beginning of the podcast? Write and let me know.Shownotes

What am I on about doughnuts for? You'll have to listen to find out, but you'll also hear some original poetry, mostly written for the podcast.I also try out some AI. What do you think?Please support the podcast by Becoming a memberBuying us a coffeeor spreading the word about us on social mediaYour mission this week, should you choose itDon’t forget to check the website’s submission diaryWrite some poetry for the video promptAnd maybe think if there’s anyone you know who might like to advertise on the podcast.show notes

A discussion of the importance of poetic history to our writing with the philosopher poets, Sean O'Connor and Thomas Festa.Your mission is to email me with your thoughts:Did this podcast work for youWhat topics would you like to hear them talk aboutDid you agree / disagree with the two poetsEmail me and let me know.show notes

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This week I revisit some haibun that Poetry Pea nominated for awards from their Journals over the years. Will you be writing for the next Poetry Pea Journal of Haibun, Tendrils?Check out the show notesSubmissions diary