Poetry Pea - haiku and other English Language Japanese short forms

Original poems by global poets.

Welcome to the Poetry Pea Podcast – your home for haiku, senryū and short-form poetry. 🐞🦋🐝

In this episode, inspired by Liam Maguire’s “creepy crawly” presentation, our judges Clive Grewcock, Melissa Dennison and Liam himself share their nominations for the Judges’ Choice. Expect beetles, butterflies, ants, dragonflies, spiders and more – all captured in the tiny but powerful form of haiku and senry...

✨ Welcome to the Poetry Pea Podcast ✨

In this episode, we share beautiful haiku and senryū from our community, inspired by the video prompts. You’ll hear poetry chosen by editor Amy Watson from the August prompt, and we’ll look ahead to September’s beach-themed prompt curated by Neena Singh.

Alongside the poetry, I raise an important question about fairness in haiku competitions — something for us all to consider as members of the sh...

In this episode we round off our tanka series with something a little different – kyōka.

Kyōka are often described as the “wild poems” of the tanka world – witty, playful, and full of wry social commentary. Think of them as to tanka what senryū are to haiku.

👉 What you’ll hear in this episode:

• A short introduction to kyōka and their place in Japanese poetry
• Examples from the Japanese, translated into English
• Contemporary kyōka writ...

Welcome to Poetry Pea! In this episode, Patricia shares practical tips and writing exercises on how to write superior tanka poetry. Building on last week’s look at the ten styles of poetry, today we dive into Teika’s principles, examples of great tanka, and step-by-step challenges to help you improve your craft.

Whether you’re brand new to tanka, already writing haiku and senryū, or preparing to submit your work to poetry journals, ...

✨ Today we’re diving into the world of Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241) — one of Japan’s most influential poets, teachers, and literary critics. If you’re curious about tanka poetry, this is a perfect place to start.

In this podcast we’ll explore:

• Teika’s ten styles of waka and why they still matter
• His core ideal of ushin (“conviction of feeling”)
• The fou...

Pack your poetic passport — this week, the Poetry Pea Podcast is off to Borneo!

Our theme? Elephants in haiku and senryu, inspired by Borneo’s rare and gentle pygmy elephants.

In this episode:

• 🐘 Haiku & senryu from Linda Ludwig’s last video prompt editorship
• 📖 Treasures from past Poetry Pea Journals
• 🌿 Elephant-themed poems from other talented writers
• 🌏 Five fascinating facts about Borneo
• 💚 A closer look at Borneo’s endangered...

Today we’re diving into technique. But wait! Don’t run for the hills just yet, or even the mountains…. This isn’t a dry lecture—we’re doing technique the Poetry Pea way: through the lens of rich, inspirational poetry.

And we’re in for a real treat today because we’re in the company of one of the greats: John Wills. A master of the short form, Wills was an American poet who lived from 1921 to 1993, leaving behind a remarkable legacy ...

Welcome to the PoetryPea Podcast, your go-to show for English-language haiku, senryu, and other short-form poetry. In this special episode, we’re embracing the lighter side of verse with a delightful collection of funny senryu.

When community member Melissa Dennison asked for more humour in her life, we thought—what better way to celebrate the joy of poetry than with poems that make us laugh, smirk, or even groan? Whether you're...

In this very special episode of the Poetry Pea Podcast, we bring you our first ever live salon event — and it's all about Zōka, the generative force behind haiku and nature itself.

Featuring readings from the anthology One Thread and a conversation with its editor, Janice Doppler, this gathering celebrates the power of becoming, creativity, and poetic presence.

Hosted by Patricia, with guest poets including Don Baird, Kala Ramesh...

What happens when alphorns echo through the streets of Zürich? They inspire short form poetry from around the world — and this week’s episode features some of the best!

These original haiku and senryū were written in response to June’s Video Prompt — a monthly moment of creativity on our YouTube channel. ✍️✨

Featuring voices like:

🖋️ Daniela Misso

🖋️ Lakshmi Iyer

🖋️ Rupa Anand

🖋️ Sara Winteridge

🖋️ Amy Watson

• more from Switze...

🐛🕷️ Creepy Crawlies Have Entered the Chat…

This week on the Poetry Peacast, we’re getting under your skin — in the best possible way — with a fresh collection of haiku and short form poetry inspired by the little creatures that wriggle, buzz, crawl, and fly.

🦋 Featuring poems from Poetry Pea Journals past (and a few haiku legends), this episode explores beauty in the overlooked — from dragonflies to snails to crickets (yes, even ...

What does healing sound like in haiku?

This week, poet Julie Bloss Kelsey joins me to read from her deeply moving collection, Grasping the Fading Light: A Journey Through PTSD — winner of the 2021 International Women’s Haiku Contest.

Her work brings vulnerability, strength, and beauty to the page. Together we explore grief, trauma, recovery, and resilience — through the gentle force of haiku, senryū, and tanka.

This is an episode full...

Without zoka, there is no haiku…

Zoka — the creative, the generative force that animates the universe — is more than a concept. It's the heartbeat of haiku.

In this week’s Poetry Pea Podcast, I reflect on Janice Doppler’s brilliant essay, “Following Bashō, Following Zoka,” and the powerful conversations it’s sparked within our community. I talk about my own grappling with the idea — from my strict Catholic upbringing to gradually...

This week on the podcast from Poetry Pea we have:

• a reply from Bruce Feingold regarding my problems with the Touchstone awards

• a bit of data research from Bill Fay

• some haiku & senryū written for the latest flashk

• the poems chosen by Linda L Ludwig from May's prompt video

Thank you to all the poets who have had their work chosen.

Thank you to Anne Fox for the video.

Thank you to ...

Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time for you?

I’m in one of those seasons. When I sat down to plan this week’s episode, I thought I’d explore the poetry of Chiyo-ni — and oh, the rabbit holes I found! That’s going to take more time. But today, I just needed a slower pace… and maybe you do too.

So, I offer you something gentler:

✨ a jazz-infused session of haiku and senryū,

✨ poems to breathe with,

✨ words that settle th...

The point of today's podcast is to get you excited to write haiku and senryū for the second volume of The Poetry Pea Anthology, “Little Marvels.”

As you’ll know from the podcasts I’ve already published the topic is belonging and alienation this year. If you haven’t listened to themHere they are:

• A Reading with Roman Lyakhovetsky
• The Poetry of Alienation
• Belonging in Poetry

The anthology will be in print and PDF format. Subm...

What am I on about doughnuts for? You'll have to listen to find out, but you'll also hear some original poetry, mostly written for the podcast.

I also try out some AI. What do you think?

Please support the podcast by 

• Becoming a member
• Buying us a coffee
• or spreading the word about us on social media

Your mission this week, should you choose it

• Don’t forget to check the website’s submission diary
• Write some poetry ...