Hi a very strong triple senryu which is written well not that I'd expect anything less from you :)

I can't help but fail.
Nothing can prepare you for
defeat's bitter taste.
^^
A very strong opening and we all believe we will fail, the hardest part is believing in ourselves thus not failing or at least trying and if we do fail then picking ourselves up brushing ourselves off and trying again until we succeed.

I look in your eyes
and I expect no pardon,
for success is earned.
^^
I like this part because being with someone you love (I expect it is looking into their eyes) will help you succeed but as you state success is earned by ourselves and nobody else buy the ones we love can help in our success by helping us believe in ourselves.

One day, I will earn
the look of pride in your eyes:
I'll fail at failing.
^^
Very powerful ending because when success is earned you will also earn pride in their eyes but I believe that if someone truly loves you, they will be proud no matter what but you being successful in what you want to do will make hem proud as you never gave up.
A great, insightful and powerful write with a deep message nonetheless.
Em

You're most welcome. I'm glad I inspired you to write something especially as it's so great. I can never write the triples because I always run out of ideas. :)

Hello Stephen

Wonderful senryu string here which isn't easy to achieve - for me, anyway!
As pessimistic as the tone is throughout the first two, I do like the optimistic ring of the third one, especially the final line "I will fail at failing" - great stuff.
The only gripe I have is the "earned" and "earn" in such close proximity to each other although I couldn't really see another option. Maybe "One day I will see the ...."

Anyway, this is a great write and one I enjoyed multiple times.

Take care and all the best,
Ben

I cant help but read and re-red this.
I like it. It sticks in my head and it took me back to all the times I have failed and made the same mistake over and over..

Thank you, for putting it into words..

I dont know how to reply to a comment, but your welcome. And thank you for your encouraging words. :)

"I can't help but fail.
Nothing can prepare you for
defeat's bitter taste."

Well first let me preface this with the comment that all of the poems are true to the nature of senryu's; touching on human foibles and this is probably one of the best embodiment of the senryu I've seen in a while. I do have a bit of an issue with 'defeat's bitter taste' since it is a bit cliche. Don't get me wrong, it still works, but since senryu's are limited in nature utilizing a cliche seems to be a bit lazy, perhaps 'this embarrassment' (even that sounds eh)' or something a bit more unique? Just a thought. :)

The second stanza serves as the bridge between the first and the last, and does a great job at it.

"One day, I will earn
the look of pride in your eyes:
I'll fail at failing."

The last verse is also a bit cliche, but in this case it totally works here, unifying all of the senryu's in theme here. Really enjoyed this chain senryu!

I love senryu and haiku poetry. I think I've only ever written one once and I just can't anymore. I need a lot more than 17 syllables, lol.

Can't say anything that hasn't been said. Thank you for sharing this!