Petty Officer's Senryu

**Petty Officer's Senryu** (小役人川柳, *Koyakunin Senryū*) is a series of short poems written in the point of view of the Petty Officer. It revolves around the life of being a petty officer.

**What is a "senryu"?**

A *"senryu"* is a 3-line Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction. It generally consists of 17 total syllables, also known as "morae", and divided into 5 syllables in the first line, 7 on the second line, and the remaining 5 syllables on the third line. Unlike haiku which is usually about nature, senryu focuses on human nature, generally with an ironic or darkly comedic edge.

## Petty Officer's Senryu

### Halloween Version

怖くない
おばけもカボチャも
王様も

Kowakunai
Obake mo kabocha mo
Ousama mo

I'm not scared
Of ghosts and of pumpkins
And of Kings.

いたずらは
常識的な
ものにして

Itazura wa
Joushikitekina
Mono ni shite

The mischiefs are
Ordinary
Occurrences.

アメとムチ
今日くらいは
アメにして

Ametomuchi
Konnichi kurai wa
Ame ni shite

Carrot and stick
Just for today
I'm gonna give you candy.

## King's Senryu Edition

※ Privately written by a petty officer.

ハロウィンに
くっきーやいて
ひがくれる

Harōwin ni
Kukki ̄yaite
Hi ga kureru.

On Halloween,
King baked a cookie
Until it's burnt.
 2
「大掃除？
 見ててあげるわ
 感謝なさい」

"Ousouji?
Mitete ageru wa
Kansha nasai"

"General cleaning?
I'll observe.
Be thankful."
 4
「我が歌を
 聴かせてやろう
 小役人」

"Waga uta wo
Kikasete yarou
Koyakunin."

"My song,
listen to it,
Petty Officer."
 5
「見せてみよ
我が眼前に
星の海」

"Misete miyo
Waga ganzen ni
Hoshi no umi."

"Show me,
before my very eyes,
the sea of stars."

## Reference

1. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第一句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 19, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
2. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第二句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 19, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
3. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第三句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 19, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
4. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第四句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 20, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
5. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第五句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 20, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
6. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第六句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 20, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
7. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第七句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 24, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
8. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第八句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 29, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
9. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第九句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (October 30, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
10. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 9, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
11. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十一句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 13, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
12. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十二句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 19, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
13. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十三句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 26, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
14. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十四句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 27, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
15. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十五句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (December 4, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
16. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十六句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (December 29, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
17. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十七句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (December 30, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
18. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十八句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (December 31, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
19. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第十九句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (December 31, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
20. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第二十句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (December 31, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
21. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第二十一句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (January 1, 2023) (backup link **not verified!**)
22. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第二十二句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (February 12, 2023) (backup link **not verified!**)
23. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第二十三句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (February 13, 2023) (backup link **not verified!**)
24. ↑ 小役人川柳 【第二十四句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (February 25, 2023) (backup link **not verified!**)
25. ↑ 小役人川柳 【ハロウィン第一句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 2, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
26. ↑ 小役人川柳 【ハロウィン第二句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 4, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
27. ↑ 小役人川柳 【ハロウィン第三句】 (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 6, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
28. ↑ 出張版 #王様川柳【第一句】-小役人代筆- (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (November 3, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
29. ↑ 👑出張版 #王様川柳 【第二句】👑-小役人代筆- (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (December 29, 2022) (backup link **not verified!**)
30. ↑ 王様川柳 【第四句】👑-小役人代筆- (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (February 24, 2023) (backup link **not verified!**)
31. ↑ 👑出張版 #王様川柳 【第五句】👑-小役人代筆- (Japanese) by @yourmajesty\_JP on twitter.com (February 25, 2023) (backup link **not verified!**)