2020-12 Memoir (Tia Haynes)

Topic – ‘Memoir’, as selected by Tia Haynes

I love to meet new people. I love hearing about their lives, their hopes and dreams, about the people they care about, and the people they don’t. It is all endlessly fascinating to me and spurs me on to take a closer look at my own life, for I believe that it is what we hold onto and what we share that defines us.

In this collection, I have gathered senryu from across the world that showcases the art of memoir. Senryu is not only about wit, humor, and satire, it is about sharing the vast tapestry of experiences that make up our collective humanity. It creates an ongoing conversation of all that we see and feel around us. Senryu can be formed from the moments that hold deep importance. Whether grand or playful, joyful, or full of pain, senryu can be used to explore it all. It can help us capture what we hope to never forget, and give us a means to retell our stories. The stories that define us. The stories that connect us. The stories that will outlive us when we are gone. Our memoirs.

– Tia Haynes