Haiku and Senryuu are often lumped together in the West because they
have basically the same form. The English Dictionary definition of a haiku
doesn't mention theme, only form. What can one expect...
As a result there are countless examples of senryuu being called haiku
in Western literature. Below are some of the differences between the two
forms.
Senryuu doesn't need a kigo,
haiku does.
However kigo-less haiku exist as do Senryuu including kigo.
Both have the same 5-7-5 form, although they don't HAVE to in order to be considered haiku, they usually do for senryuu. (This 5,7,5 form refers to works in Japanese).
Senryuu deal with humour, current affairs, politics. Usually things that readers in a few hundred years won't understand. They are normally light-hearted and make shallower comments, although sometimes piercingly true, on life.
Haiku deal with deeper truths, usually using nature and natural occurrences as a vehicle to impart understanding of something to readers.
The line between senryuu and haiku is often blurred. A slight change in an expression can move a poem between the two realms, even though the content is much the same.
Reading 100 poems you know are haiku and 100 poems you know are senryuu
may be the only way to really understand which of these borderline cases
is which...
This is a clearcut senryuu:
over shishkebabs
listening to his complaining
i want a bosskebab
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