Poetry Pea - haiku and other English Language Japanese short forms

S9E12 Poetry Pea Podcast Brilliant poetry and some highlights from our judges'

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

S9E11 One-line haiku love them or leave them.

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

S9E10 Kala Ramesh on Haiku – A Special Poetry Pea Podcast Conversation

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...

S8E9 One line haiku part two: 5 powerful techniques for writing haiku & senryu

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.

S9E8 Examining one line Haiku, The Form, The Flow

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.