The Renku Sessions: Barely Time – Week 11

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1. rap dandelions
   shake off
   ‘fros

   wendy c. bialek

2. waters moved
   ice cream stick markers
   to a better blossom view

   wendy c. bialek

3. the walkway
   to their new home
   covered in blossoms
   *
   blossoms gently
   fall on the family’s
   pet cemetery

4. missing keys
   of the piano
   — Amoolya Kamalnath

   cherry blossoms flash
   chattering in the wind
   Rhythmic dance of light

5. missing keys
   of the piano
   – Amoolya Kamalnath
   *
   dandelions
   flowering
   among the refuse
   – Betty Shropshire

6. missing keys
   of the piano
   *
   Amoolya Kamalnath
   *
   how magic blossoms
   on the branches
   of cherries
   *

7. missing keys
   of the piano
   *
   Amoolya Kamalnath
   *
   a magic wand
   of blossoms glued
   to a stick
   *
   the magic to do
   of blossoms
   on a stick
   *

8. missing keys
   of the piano
   *
   Amoolya Kamalnath
   *
   gaps
   in the flagstones
   fill with blossom
   *
   rippling reflections
   of cherry blossom
   on the lake’s surface

9. trout rise
   to view plum blossoms
   as they fall

   dandelions
   brighten up
   the junkyard

   the soft plunk
   of spring rain
   on celandines

   the mailman sings
   I’ll be with you
   in a****e blossom time

10. wild roses
    sporadic
    within the hedgerow

11. A great verse Amoolya!

    missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    blossoms open
    to receive
    the bees’ song

    *
    fallen petals
    form a flotilla
    on the lake

12. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    water from
    the forced hyacinth
    taps on the bench

    08. 25. 2022 by wendy © bialek

13. missing keys
    of the piano — Amoolya Kamalnath
    .
    blue sharks
    in the spaces between
    cherry blossoms
    .
    or perhaps –
    .
    blue sky
    in the spaces between
    cherry blossoms

14. calendula chorus
    sharp in the
    bee harmony

    08. 28. 2022 by wendy © bialek

    1. oooops! if “sharp” appears too close to betty’s … ‘scissors’ and ‘cuts’

       calendula
       soft in the
       bee harmony

       08. 28. 2022 by wendy © bialek

15. Thank you John and everyone for appreciating my verse!

16. where have all
    the flowers
    gone

    (with full credit to folk singer, songwriter, pacifist and environmentalist
    pete seeger © 1955 for these lyrics and noting that he borrowed the melody form an irish lumberjack song)
    posted here 08. 28. 2022 by wendy c. bialek

    1. typo corrected….

       (with full credit to folk singer, songwriter, pacifist and environmentalist
       pete seeger © 1955 for these lyrics and noting that he borrowed the melody from an irish lumberjack song)

17. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    bright pink blossoms
    blown down the stairs
    guide our steps down

    or

    bright pink blossoms
    on the cellar stairs
    guide our steps down

18. My offerings:
    .

    cherry blossoms
    breeze through her hair
    in a wordless poem

    .

    time for hanami
    to gather and spill
    new thoughts and dreams

    .

    spring tunes
    through bamboo leaves
    as i fold my ego away
    .

    Lakshmi Iyer
    India

19. Cherry blossom fractals
    Spin rhapsodic verse
    A blanket of – shush –

20. Above the path
    Wisteria blossoms sway
    A canopy of rhythm

21. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    cherry blossoms not keeping
    to their side
    of the gate
    *
    dandelions recklessly
    crashing
    the gates
    *

22. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    cherry blossoms refusing
    to stay
    behind the gate
    *
    the monochromatic note
    of an orchid
    in the still life
    *

23. missing keys
    of the piano
    -Amoolya Kamalnath

    willow fluff sonata
    Merce holds the dynamic balance
    in all directions

24. plum blossoms
    just playing along
    with the breeze

    the genome
    of camellias
    deciphered

    inchoate emotions
    wild violets
    unlock

    a score or more
    of orchids
    herald spring

    a minor detour
    to pick a posy
    of vivid violets

    1. Ach, no, we can’t have “a score or more” with counting stars in the hokku, and maybe not “unlock” after taking prisoners in v7. Better scrap those two.

    2. falling gently
       into the void
       one plum blossom petal

25. sprouts
    lying still in
    a chequered frame

    red plum
    chooses to
    drown in the sea

26. thyme blossoms
    floating between letters
    in alphabet soup
    ****
    space telescope
    counting blossoms
    on exoplanets

27. missing keys
    of the piano
    – Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    a green snake’s
    scales gleam beneath
    the apple blossoms
    – Betty Shropshire

    1. Nix this…apple juice/apple blossoms

       1. For that matter, any mention of a fruit (tree or blossom) will link to apple in a previous verse, right??

          1. Not to mention the tree/pine link ; ) but trees certainly can’t be off limits to all renku. I don’t know if specific fruit names should be avoided in this case, though ‘apple’ probably should be for sure.

          2. erm, yes and no.
             in a short renku (like the junicho) it is best to avoid repeating almost identical topics but such practice is not at all off limits as long as an apptopriate distance between verses is respected and the context in which they appear is not the same.
             i mean, Basho & co must have known what they were doing, and yet there are two blossom verses in the kasen, not to mention three moons, and nobody can deny blossom and moon are the most prominent topics.
             even in shorter forms like the 20 verse nijuin there are two moon verses (as well as two pairs of love verses)

             1. Thanks, Polona! With only 12 verses, I was concerned just how limited we would be with distance between repeated topics. You’re right of course, that context matters. Naming a horse Molasses versus literal apple juice comes to mind. Hence, my quandry re: applejuice/fruit blossom and Chris’ astute observation of tree/pine.
                It is fun trying to figure out the nuances! 😊
                Betty

28. blossoms
    and blackbird song
    all I need

    1. blossoms
       and birdsong
       all I need

29. blossoms
    and a bicycle ride
    just what I need

30. missing keys
    of the piano
    – Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    even the plucked
    blossoms have
    an ivory tint
    – Betty Shropshire

31. at the bus stop
    cherry buds
    blossom

    cherry in blossom
    the length
    of the bus route

32. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    Police come
    with a bunch of roses
    to his mother’s grave

33. savoring Bach
    and
    cherry blossoms

    the passerby
    beneath plum blossoms
    lost in reverie

    just the bumblebee’s butt
    can be seen
    on an apple blossom

34. missing keys
    of the piano
    ——Amoolya Kamalnath
    .

    with the blossoms gone
    I have time
    to do my chores
    .

    no cherry blossoms
    in this cold
    desert spring
    .

    migrating birds
    too restless to linger
    among the blossoms
    .

    the violet
    of the lilacs
    tinged with sadness

    1. Please ignore verses one and three in the above, they have obvious links to the hokku.

35. ace of spades falls
    shaking sakura
    off shirt sleeves

    08. 26. 2022 by wendy © bialek

36. missing keys
    of the piano
    ——Amoolya Kamalnath
    .

    children make
    snow angels on a drift
    of blossoms
    .

    laughing kids
    invent a game of
    cherry blossom checkers
    .

    are these blossoms
    falling on my head
    or my heart?
    .

    a flowering quince
    shattered
    by lightening
    .

    our dog
    more interested in the trunk
    than the blossoms

37. picking fallen
    red plum
    one by one

    tree buds
    lining
    the pathway

    the bee chooses
    pink camellia
    after pink camellia

    willow fluff
    arranging themselves
    in order

38. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    clear score
    at the sunday market
    buy flowers

39. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    we get the way
    to jasmine garden
    hmmmm fresh

40. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    seen
    carnations are blooming
    in the churchyard

41. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    sound soft
    cat sound
    in the rose garden

    1. cumulus obscure the sun
       spring snow
       on daffodils

42. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    Big congratulations dear Amoolya
    Beautiful !!!

43. missing keys
    of the piano – Amoolya Kamalnath
    .
    hippopotamus
    found hiding behind
    cherry blossoms
    .
    hippopotamus
    in the spaces between
    cherry blossoms
    .
    hippopotamus
    in the concert hall plays
    the lost chord
    .

44. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    the smile made possible
    by blossoms
    and orthodontics
    *
    thanking the blossoms
    and orthodontics
    for his smile
    *

45. nicely done, Amoolya 🙂

    missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    –
    look, the hedge is
    swelling with
    blackthorn blossom

46. headed down
    a pear lined
    daydream

47. cherry blossom
    arcs above
    the pageant

48. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    the rose gold of the locket
    a match
    for the cherry blossoms
    *
    a violet blossom
    perfuming the tress
    in her locket
    *
    a scrap of camellia
    scenting the tress
    in her locket
    *
    donning their heirloom lockets
    in honor
    of sakura
    *

    1. Perhaps “tress” links back to the chin and bare foot–enough body parts already!
       revise to:
       a violet blossom
       perfuming the portrait
       in her locket
       *
       a scrap of camellia
       scenting the picture
       in her locket
       *

49. the pink colour
    tastes of spring
    and of cherry blossoms

    ***
    cherry blossoms again
    who knows if my mother
    is smiling

    ***
    cherry blossoms
    and a little pink powder
    on my cheeks

50. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    1. missing keys
       of the piano

       Amoolya Kamalnath (Congrats)

       service-berry blossoms
       compete with apple blossoms
       for the bees
       .
       honey bees
       moving between
       the blossoming trees

       which blossoms
       will attract
       the most bees

51. missing keys
    of the piano
    – Amoolya Kamalnath
    ******
    deep spring
    still in the offing
    her dormant spirits

    spring dawn
    out of reach
    her mood
    ***
    dim
    spring lantern
    her hut sways
    **
    returning cold
    she sits by coal
    hugging warmth

    ********
    first cherry
    she recalls her
    bygone merry days
    **
    wild rose
    out of reach
    of her hands now
    **
    Picking up
    clipped wings
    butterfly nowhere
    ***
    unable to taste
    fevered tongue
    her red plum

52. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    locking in a block of rooms
    with a view
    of the blossoms
    *
    restraining sakura giddiness
    with a lockstep
    procession
    *

53. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    fresh blossoms
    evening out the rents
    in the old scored trunk
    *
    a festival scored
    for plum
    and cherry
    *

54. missing keys
    of the piano
    – Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    this fondness
    for tree buds
    in an arrangement
    – Betty Shropshire

55. tickling
    the ivory petals
    of camellia

    she practises
    her moves
    beneath the red plum

    a grand way
    to welcome
    the wisteria

56. Congratulations Amoolya.

    missing keys
    of the piano

    —Amoolya Kamalnath

    showy
    pink and white blossoms
    along the road

    a wall
    of cherry blossoms
    block the road

    the kitten
    chasing a petal
    of primrose

57. chess players
    unmoved by falling
    plum petals

    a small knot
    of spring orchids
    left by the crosswalk

58. Congratulations Amoolya! Nice verse.
    .
    missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    ***

    running in circles
    to touch
    falling sakura
    .
    running in circles
    to touch
    sakura snow
    .
    first blossoms
    unfurl
    the sun
    .
    a fleeting moment
    long ago
    blossoms in her eyes
    .

59. the cherry blossom police
    conclude there’s nothing
    here to see

    virtual
    sakura viewing
    is just not the same

    thankfully
    the sakura cam
    aides in a capture
    for their capture

    1. the cherry blossom police
       conclude there’s nothing
       here to see…….. michael henry lee

       michael this one tickled me so much…

       alligator tears fall
       laughing so hard
       at this cherry picked verse

       wendy c. bialek

60. black and white kids
    want ice-cream
    at plum blossom time

    glasses clink
    to blossom-viewing
    in the sidewalk bar

    how desirable
    the dandelion would be
    if not so many

    spring orchids
    ready
    or not

61. watt-ever blossoms
    from a disconnected
    nuclear plant

    08. 26. 2022 by wendy © bialek

62. the old plum tree
    is still in blossom
    on its crutches

    no-one notices
    the peonies
    that were picked

    an early photo
    of camellias
    in black and white

    violets
    at intervals
    along the way

63. cartwheeling blossoms
    fill-up
    the bridge gaps

    08. 25. 2022 by wendy © bialek

64. in my frame
    me and the blossoms
    embracing life

    cherry picking
    on my favourite tree
    gathering love

    pink blossoms
    sprout
    togetherness

    blossoms
    of last night
    fade at dawn

    cherry blossoms
    being crushed
    by wheels

65. not so many
    cherry blossom
    these days

66. brother’s favourite
    blossoms found
    fishing in mid-sea

    08. 25 2022 by wendy © bialek

    1. .
       a fleeting moment
       long ago
       of blossoms in her eyes
       .
       for a moment
       long ago
       blossoms in her eyes
       .

67. windswept blossoms
    recompose
    at my door

    08. 23. 2022 by wendy © bialek

68. Congratulations Amoolya.

    missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    a glissando
    of cherry blossoms
    fills the air

    the plum blossoms
    outside my window
    watch for her too

69. Congratulations, Amoolya. 🙂

    missing keys
    of the piano – Amoolya Kamalnath
    .
    a magpie
    swoops down past the pink
    camellias

    past the green into
    mugwort
    .

    1. . . . ignore the 2 lines at the bottom that I forgot to delete. (Duh!)

70. Congrats Amoolya, what a beautiful name, and thank you John
    ***
    missing keys
    of the piano
    — Amoolya Kamalnath
    ****
    biking through
    a shower
    of cherry blossoms

71. missing keys
    of the piano
    -Amoolya Kamalnath

    under plum blossoms
    with a toothless ancient
    kanpai!

72. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    the truths
    the fall of cherry blossoms
    hammer home
    *
    again the cherry blossoms
    hammer home
    the truth
    *

73. Congratulations, Amoolya!!
    *
    missing keys
    of the piano
    – Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    the gnarled plums
    blossom in a riot
    of colors
    – Betty Shropshire

74. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    humming ever more
    softly to keep the plum blossoms
    falling
    *

75. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    a blind girl’s
    rosy boutonnière
    for the tramp
    *
    the monster
    floating daisies
    with a child
    *
    the lost girl
    talking with blossoms
    underground
    *
    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    a briar rose
    in a woodland
    sleep

76. Congratulations Amoolya!

    missing keys
    of the piano
    ——Amoolya Kamalnath
    .

    the young monk
    cherry-picks the best
    pear blossoms
    .

    bumblebees
    too busy blossoming
    to bother us
    .

    in the darkening day
    cherry blossoms
    glow in the shadows
    .

77. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    plum blossoms
    re-tuning
    the void
    *

78. Amoolya–congratulations–and thanks for a fine verse! And John, thanks again for the insight and empathy.
    *

    missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    Amoolya Kamalnath
    *
    plum blossoms
    striking the early
    notes of spring
    *
    something within me
    opens
    with the plum blossoms
    *
    the ikebana
    bristles
    with cherry blossoms
    *
    a few selfies
    before the cherry blossoms
    blow
    *

79. the fallen
    cherry blossoms
    trod into the soil

    cherry blossoms fall
    into the gutter
    with no word

    who recalls
    the cherry blossoms
    of last year

    someone’s daughter asks
    if she will also die
    like cherry blossom

80. Does anyone know why we lost the ability to click on comments, normally just below John’s name on the renku, on THF features? I read the entire post when first posted, but after that like to skip to comments for the latest. I first noticed it last week. Thanks!

    1. don’t know deb,,,,i don’t appear to have a problem if you can read this post

       1. Thx Wendy. I can read the comments, but the shortcut is missing here and on the Haiku Dialogue etc.

81. while the train stopped
    the travelers clear their eyes
    in the cleary blossoms

82. missing keys
    of the piano
    *
    murmur and laugh
    almond tree buds at the
    mercy of the wind

83. missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    soap bubbles
    where plum blossoms
    belong

    08. 25. 2022 by wendy © bialek

84. missing keys
    of the piano

    the child pulls petals
    from the cherry blossom
    with his teeth

85. Well done, Amoolya!

    missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath
    —

    the old cherry tree
    still in blossom
    on its crutches

86. missing keys
    of the piano

    at the heart
    of the cherry blossom
    a zebra spider

87. Thank you John for picking a verse of mine! It’s only my second time that I was trying to write for the renku. I didn’t expect at all that mine would get picked.
    I’m learning this link and shift concept. This will definitely encourage me to participate more and in turn learn more.

88. Wow Amoolya! What a verse! Thanks again John, for all you do to make this possible.

    cherry blossoms
    fall into
    the sidewalk cracks

89. Nice verse, Amoolya ☺

    missing keys
    of the piano Amoolya Kamalnath

    plum blossoms
    in a vase beside
    the candelabra Maxianne Berger

90. love your verse, amoolya…great pick, john!

    missing keys
    of the piano

    Amoolya Kamalnath

    pressed
    plum blossoms
    fill the note card

    08. 25. 2022 by wendy © bialek

    1. ooops! …..no paper

       strayed plum blossoms
       dust
       the window pane

       08. 25. 2022 by wendy © bialek

91. on the inner twigs
    a few cherry buds
    yet to blossom

92. Congratulations, Amoolia.

    1. edit:
       Congratulations, Amoolya.

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