Senryu Poetry– “A Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction: three lines made up of no more than 17 syllables. Senryu tend to be about human nature and are often cynical or darkly humorous.” (Paraphrased from Wikipedia, July 11, 2012)

 

The Follies of Men and Women

By Rita H. Chen

 

“I have self-respect,”
she declares as he pays
for her breast enlargement

 

 

A crowded train in Japan-
men in suits are forced to
reach for the sky

 

 

A fresh coat of lipstick
applied before leaving,
soon smeared on front teeth

 

 

In front of a store-
he looks in the window
and fixes his hair

 

 

With phone in hand
she convinces herself
she doesn’t care if he calls

 

 

“Where are the leftovers?”
he asks as he stares
at a Tupperware box

 

 

Rita’s Musings: I had this strange sense of deja vu while writing the poem about the men on the train. While I drew on a comment made by one of my former Japanese students as inspiration (he said he always has to lift his hands up on a train to avoid being called a chikan – a groping pervert), I have the oddest feeling that something similar may have been written before. Nonetheless, I found Senryu poetry to be one of the most enjoyable forms of poetry to write – lots of good, snarky fun.