Yay! It is time again for Susanna Leonard Hill´s Valentiny Contest.

A Valentine’s Surprise (214 words)

Corine Timmer

“Mommy’s home,” Alpha chuckled.

Fifi looked at Boris.

Boris looked at Fifi, then at Alpha.

For a rainy day she sure is cheerful, Boris thought.

Alpha opened her shopping bag.

She placed each item on the kitchen counter.

Boris and Fifi perked up their e...

What is a Senryū?

When haiku are above all about human nature, they are called Senryū. Senryū generally don’t use season words. They are often cynical or darkly humorous.

table for one—

the waiter offers me

a gossip magazine

—Corine Timmer

First published in FemkuMag, issue 15, August 2019

What is a Kereij?

In Japan, kireij are cutting letters (or words) which if used in the right place, force a breath pause. The aim of the pause is to cut the poem into two parts (two thoughts) half dependent on each other thereby creating an unexpected synergy. There is no exact equivalent of kireji in English. In English-language haiku kireji may be represented by punctuation (typically by a dash or an ellipsis). The ellipsis (. . .) provides the ...

What is a kigo?

A kigo (season word)(plural kigo) is a word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in Japanese poetry. Haiku poems, especially traditional or “pure” ones, also use season words or phrases. These words capture the setting and mood. Season words can be obvious or subtle, universal or culture-specific. In Japan, poets often use a book called a saijiki, which lists kigo  with example...