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 line

Have 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.