Dave Eggers's semi-precious literary magazine, McSweeney's, seek senryu and pantoums submissions for their next issue; "no other forms of poetry will be considered that this time." Now you're all wondering what those are, right?

Similar to a haiku, a senryu is a short, unrhymed poem of Japanese origin composed in 17 syllables or less, written in three lines. A 5 / 7 / 5 syllabic structure is not mandatory. The subject material of senryu usually concerns human nature, relationships, work, war, etc., and the poems are often humorous and/or cynical, whereas haiku tend to focus on seasons and nature. Here are some examples of senryu:

[excerpt]
Rice formed in the field,
"Beans" formed
On the farmer's hands.

When the school-boy gets home,
He takes off
The lids of the saucepans...

A pantoum is a poem of Malayan origin composed in quatrains, wherein the second and fourth lines of each stanza are reused as the first and third lines, respectively, of the following stanza. In addition, the first and third lines of the first stanza are reused as the last and second lines, respectively, of the final stanza. The repeated lines may be modified slightly upon repetition. There is no set length or required subject matter. Sometimes the repetition can induce a trancelike effect upon the reader. Here is an example of a pantoum:

[Excerpt]
Here we are riding the rail,
Gliding from out of the station;
Man though I am, I am pale,
Certain of heat and vexation.

Gliding from out of the station,
Out from the city we thrust;
Certain of heat and vexation,
Sure to be covered with dust.

—Brander Matthews [McSweeney's]

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the end.