Poetry Pea - haiku and other English Language Japanese short forms

In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast , Patricia McGuire introduces the remarkable poetry of Anne McKay, an award-winning Canadian poet whose lyrical haiku and haiku-inspired poetry deserve to be much better known. She explores a selection of Anne McKay's haiku, looking at her evocative imagery, her musical use of language, her distinctive use of white space, and the subtle techniques that...

Rivers have always carried stories. In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, we follow their winding course through a carefully curated collection of contemporary haiku and senryū , alongside classic poems that continue to inspire writers today. These tiny poems explore rivers as places of connection and separation, memory and movement, peace and conflict. From quiet birdsong to distant sirens,...

In the final episode of this three-part series on noun poetry , Patricia reads a wonderful collection of listener poems, inspired by the nouns. This episode examines how carefully chosen images can evoke emotion without relying on explanation or abstract language. With practical analysis and inspiring examples, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to write stronger haiku, senry...

Can a haiku be lyrical without relying on verbs? Can a handful of carefully chosen nouns carry all the emotional weight a poem needs? In this second episode exploring the poetry of nouns , Patricia examines how concrete images create resonance, rhythm and lyricism in haiku and senryū. Drawing on poems by: Alan Summers Radostina Dragostinova Hifsa Ashraf Laura Driscoll Sharon Lynne Yee Mark Gilbert...

In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast , we explore why haiku has often been described as "the poetry of the noun" and ask whether removing verbs and limiting adjectives can make a poem even more powerful. Through close readings of haiku by John Wills, Elizabeth Searle Lamb, Charles Rossiter, Noel King, Choshi, Anne Curran , and Bisshie , we discover how concrete nouns create atmosphere...

In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, Patricia shares a fresh collection of haiku and senryu from Poetry Pea’s much-loved Flashku submissions — a spontaneous 24-hour poetry challenge open to poets on the Poetry Pea mailing list. Featuring poems by Nalini Shetty, Robert Witmer, Sébastien Revon, Emil Karla, Steve Bahr, Katie Montagna, Deborah A Bennett, Samo Kreutz, Cynthia Anderson, Sara Winte...

In this episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast , we share the chosen poems from April’s Poetry Pea Video Prompt , beautifully curated by Lakshmi Iyer . Inspired by pink skies, cricket song, twilight gardens, and fleeting moments of light, these poems explore the quiet beauty of the natural world through haiku and short-form poetry. Featuring poems by Marion Clarke, Ralph Mathews, Kerry J Heckman, Melis...

In this final episode of Poetry Pea’s series on lyricism in haiku and senryū, Patricia explores contemporary poems that sing—haiku and senryū rich in musicality, emotional resonance, and soaring beauty. With recommendations and insights from some poetry friends, we journey through lyrical work from some of today’s finest poets, asking what makes a haiku truly resonate. Is it sound, rhythm, imagery...

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 conte...

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—...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 giv...

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—...

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 insi...

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 d...

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:...

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,...

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 thr...

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...

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 pie...

Urban Haiku Podcast | More City Life in Short Poetry Step 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 everyda...

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.  Ex...

Urban haiku and senryū inspired by modern city life, with poems, and submission calls. Show notes poets featured today: m shane pruett, Haiku Pea Podcast, S3E22 Eric W Amann [i] William J Higgenson with Penny Harter,”The Haiku Handbook.” Kodansha International, 1985, p87 Barbara Tate, THF City Sidewalk, taste Michael Dylan Welch, from Graceguts Mizuho, Urban Ginko V – Nakazaki-cho, Osaka July 10 t...