Finger Exercises: Some Misc. Senryu

Whenever I suffer from writers block I like to do something to try to get the creative juices flowing again. Most of the time I try to break out by writing some senryu or tanka. These exercises seem to do trick, and occasionally might produce a decent piece of writing.


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thumping of a fetus' heart—
the soon-to-be father
checks his own pulse

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a knock at the door—
the simple hello
that means so much more

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that wild whisker
the razor always missed
finally snipped by his new bride

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spent shotgun shells
scattered in the field—
the sting of nettles on bare legs

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the clap of the screen door—
visitors are applauded
both coming and going

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tossed into the bushes
the empty pint
searches for a buddy

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written in salt
on the diner table
a lady's name again and again

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rain for a week straight
the mushrooms taller
than my wife's prized flowers

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outside the courthouse
blind justice
covered in birdlime

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a shovelful of dirt
to see where I came from
know where I'm going

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© 2007 by Jim Doss