The Renku Sessions: Barely Time – Week 12

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1. pilgrims
   falling among
   poppies — Richard Straw
   .
   a blackbird’s revelation
   at Adlestrop
   .

   Yes, I know : we already have a place name ( Tortuga/Turtle Island/ ) that becomes a horse’s name (Tortuga) and before that that the horse’s name was Molasses, and in a layer beneath Molasses is the short-lived proper noun, Earthrise, as a kind of literary pentimento , but I simply couldn’t resist, since Keith showed me the poem, ‘Adlestrop’, by Edward Thomas. 🙂

2. Thank you John for guiding us through this short renku. The variety of unique verses by so many poets makes for a fine learning sandbox.

   pilgrims
   falling among
   poppies
   *
   Richard Straw

   woolgathering
   spring clouds

   1. after consulting the dictionary:

      we wool-gather
      about spring clouds

3. may wind blows
   fallen scarecrow away

4. the gong behind
   red temple doors

   wendy c. bialek

   the bong behind
   red temple doors

   wendy c. bialek

   1. twittering
      behind temple doors

   2. forgot to include a kigo on the list!!!

5. I haven’t checked in for a few weeks. Looks like this renku has been going on swimmingly. Gorgeous work, here.

   Here are my suggestions…

   that old grey tomcat
   still yowling down the lane

   spring rain ticks time
   on the Tabard Inn’s windows

6. pilgrims
   falling among
   poppies
   – Richard Straw
   *
   white lace curtains billow
   as the east winds pick up
   – Betty Shropshire

   – Betty Shropshire

7. pilgrims
   fallen among
   poppies
   -Richard Straw

   Nirvana Ceremony
   all this way for nothing

8. Congrats on a lovely lyrical verse, Richard.
   *
   a pinwheel planted
   in a flower pot
   *
   beach combing
   for unknown treasure
   *
   sanding the rust
   from a faithful plow
   *
   the back and forth
   creak of swings
   *
   soap bubbles
   blown beyond view
   *
   the soft light
   of a lingering day
   *
   a light snow
   on upturned faces
   (Richard’s verse reminded me of The Wizard of Oz)
   *
   Thank you, John! I hope you have had success in recruiting a leader for the next session. This one went by quickly!

9. pilgrims
   falling among
   poppies
   ——Richard Straw
   .

   skipping down
   the yellow dust road
   .

   a ruby wink
   from the lingering sun
   .

   mending kites
   on a still day
   .

10. frog song
    fills the void

11. Wonderful sequence!
    Congratulations!

    Following Richard Straw’s:
    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    ****

    dreams suspended
    among ice floes
    *
    floating robes
    of silkworm threads

12. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    –Richard Straw

    Congrats, Richard, on your verse.

    spring noontime reminds
    one of warmer days to come
    .
    springtime warmth a harbinger
    of hot days ahead
    .
    spring’s warmth heats the asphalt
    producing schlieren lines
    .

13. .
    in every nook and corner
    a warm smell of bread
    .
    the birthday balloon
    showering confetti
    .
    colourful kites dot
    the bright sky
    .

14. black buttons
    forage forward

15. offerings:
    .
    the silent shadows
    within the shadows
    .
    at last! the seasons
    change for good
    .
    the gentle breeze
    carrying stories of the past
    .

    Lakshmi Iyer
    india

16. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    spring wind brings the retreat
    of melancholy

17. Now without mountains….

    skylarks all along
    the high road

    — plus:

    dunking sore feet
    in the waters of spring

    a healing rebirth
    in the waters of spring

18. Hi John! I’m new to renku as you may have observed. I’m still trying to understand the do’s and don’ts.

    I would like to ask you if mountains can be linked to granite and hence is expected not to be used for this verse.

    1. That’s a good question. There are fewer absolute answers than you might expect in a game with so many “rules.”

       The granite in Susan Grant’s verse 8 may be viewed as a mountain. I, personally, thought of it equally as monument, public stairway or tomb stone. It could be any of these things and others, too. If one of them was obviously the image in play, over all the others, that image would be something we would want to steer clear of. In a short renku, such as this one, we would steer clear for the entire remaining verses. In longer renku, we would want to steer clear for some number of verses. And, even then, we would not want any strong and obvious connections – strong enough to draw the attention of a reasonable reader back to a prior verse.

       But all of these terms – strong, obvious, connections, draw, attention, reasonable – are capable of promoting multiple images, just as “granite” does.

       For what it’s worth, I think that a renku poet who is relaxed has a better chance of enjoying the experience of composition than one who is tense. So, to answer your question: I won’t be selecting a twelfth verse with “mountain” in it.

       1. Thank you, John, for taking the time and explaining! 🙂

19. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    – Richard Straw
    *
    the gulf shaped anew
    by the spring tide
    – Betty Shropshire

20. Thank you John for guiding us in this session

    ****
    swamp frog searching
    for home in the fog
    ******
    that splash when a frog
    leaps from the log
    *****
    lonely croaks
    multiplying in the fog

21. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    spring wind
    brings an end to suffering
    *
    an in breath of spring wind
    brings an end to suffering
    *

22. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    how it feels to fulfill
    the goal of a lifetime
    *
    the selfie that makes it
    official
    *

    1. oops–forgot something:
       *

       the shining wind fulfills
       the goal of a lifetime
       *
       the selfie with a kite
       that makes it official
       *

23. Congratulations, Richard!

    spring lantern
    lighting the inside

    the old man keeps
    soap bubbles afloat

    lamp lighting for
    Buddha’s birthday

    waking up smug
    on a spring day

    spring wind
    surfaces in the breath

    shining wind
    on the pure soul

    drawing strength from
    spring thunder

    spring fields
    springing up there

    the golden peak
    on melting snow

    beach combing
    impossible with high tide

    the gas balloon
    rushing up in haste

    soap bubbles
    waddles up in puffs

    birds enter clouds
    and find epiphany

    a lingering day in
    beach shade

    hazy moon
    just above the horizon

    shining wind
    on the tarp’s sleeves

    1. Oops… I think… cancel hazy moon.
       There’s moon already in an earlier verse.

24. such a tender poem, richard, congrats!!!! john, your apologies are accepted…hope your distractions are the creative kind and i look forward to your next sabaki
    ( polona oblak pine ) pick so you can fully focus on what rings your bell now.

    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    Richard Straw

    passing
    spring

    wendy c. bialek

25. Congratulations Richard, a deep verse.

    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    — Richard Straw

    *
    geese rise
    to scribe the sky

    *
    waters of spring
    fill the furrows

    *
    spring tide
    feeds sweet-fish

26. relics of old wars
    under the plow

    skylarks all along
    the high road to the mountains

    an arrow of geese
    heads for vanishing point

    never know why some
    get high on yellow dust

    dawn skylarks
    celebrate nirvana

    telltale messages
    tied to a kite

    the roadside vendor’s
    many baby birds go cheep

27. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies — Richard Straw
    .
    a butterfly
    returning . . .

28. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    -Richard Straw

    drawing on the spring soil’s
    magical alkaloids

29. oh the view
    as this swing swings high

    spirits soar
    beneath spring sky

    ’tis wise to catch a nap
    on a long day

    the way smiles creep
    up on a lingering day

    landing a triple lutz
    just at spring dawn

30. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    – Richard Straw
    *
    an east wind builds
    the deep blue ocean waves
    – Betty Shropshire

31. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    Richard Straw
    .
    flat on our backs
    making up cloudy spring tales

32. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    — Richard Straw

    haze on the horizon
    seen from the mountains

    balloons carry him away
    in his dreams

    an avalanche of emotion
    at the end of the trip

    swing of a new beat
    playing on the radio

    the long trip
    comes to a serene end

33. plastic bottles crumple
    on the burning hills

34. Congratulations Richard!
    .
    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    Richard Straw
    .
    .
    so much yellow dust
    in those ruby slippers
    .
    .

35. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    – Richard Straw
    *
    the prow whitens
    as the spring tides recede
    – Betty Shropshire

36. departing geese
    at the sea’s edge

    the founding fathers
    comb a pristine beach

    geese moved on
    by the highway patrol

    swallows leave
    a message for the cops

    a frog jumps out
    of the camper’s water

37. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    the shining wind
    that leaves me be
    *
    how deep spring conjugates
    the verb to be
    *
    all together now
    in the shining wind
    *
    why not deep spring
    as an opiate of the masses
    *
    the draw
    of deep spring
    *

    1. Laurie,
       how deep spring conjugates
       the verb to be
       I think this verse is marvelous (and it makes me smile) just because of the idea of conjugation of verbs, especially to be.

       I sure am glad that I don’t have to choose a final verse from all the wonderful verses from all the poets I am reading. Good luck, John

38. John Thanks for leading another great Renku

    pinwheels at
    max rpm

    out on thin ice for
    untimely remarks

    exiting the swing at
    the top of its arc

39. only the village drunk
    can follow a butterfly
    *****
    a butterfly
    following the village drunk
    *****
    the village drunk
    following the butterfly
    *****
    butterfly
    without a flight plan

40. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    embracing twilight
    the hazy moon

41. I let the kite
    have all the string

42. a little boy’s balloon
    headed for the moon

43. embraced by warmth
    hazy moon

44. Congratulations dear Richard, many more from you

45. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    Richard Straw
    *********
    Coming of spring
    yet killing her moods in garden
    **

    In spring dawn
    her shutting one window

    ****
    last frost
    her tale of winter again sets
    ****
    *****
    mewing cats
    all love still for the driving master
    ***

    **
    his kite of despondency
    after results in spring sky
    **
    her fever unable to take
    Still cold of spring
    **
    her notes on piano
    striking spring melody in melancholy

46. Thanks Johnson, for your kind mention; it is so encouraging and rewarding.

47. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    the soul’s sample
    spun on a pinwheel
    *
    a sample of the soul set
    spinning on a pinwheel
    *

48. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    pinwheel in lieu
    of a scallop shell
    *
    breathing in
    the spring lantern light
    *

49. a butterfly’s progress
    against the breeze

    the red snapper’s path
    lies upstream

    finding enlightenment
    while beach combing

50. Sorry about the earlier post. I’ve modified to this:
    .
    .
    much laughter
    as soap bubbles ascend
    .
    a lingering heat
    shimmers on the road
    .
    eyes serene
    on the peak
    .
    the swing in the yard
    still moving
    .
    a warm afternoon
    fans out
    .

51. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    — Richard Straw
    —

    a soaring skylark
    lifts the spirits

    pushing on deeper
    into the high spring mountains

    eager for a trip
    into the spring mountains

    despite all distractions
    birds enter clouds

    the eccentric flight
    of a swallow

    afghans keep silkworms
    only in dreams

    survivors till the fields
    without complaint

52. Congratulations Richard! Lovely verse.
    Thank you, John, for the mention. I’m still learning the renku rules.

    .
    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    -Richard Straw

    .
    much laughter
    as soap bubbles
    ascend
    .
    a lingering
    heat shimmer
    on the road
    .
    eyes
    serene
    on the peak
    .
    the swing
    in the backyard
    still moving
    .
    a warm
    afternoon
    fans out
    .

    1. Sorry about the earlier post. I’ve modified to this:
       .
       .
       much laughter
       as soap bubbles ascend
       .
       a lingering heat
       shimmers on the road
       .
       eyes serene
       on the peak
       .
       the swing in the yard
       still moving
       .
       a warm afternoon
       fans out
       .

53. Congratulations, Richard.

    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies – Richard Straw
    .
    John, you remark that “This is unusual because the kigo is not the blossom; it’s “pilgrimage” (all spring).”

    It’s “live & learn” for me and has become confusing. Your instructions were “A spring blossom verse: traditionally cherry blossom but any spring blossom from our list: http://www.2hweb.net/haikai/renku/500ESWd.html ”

    So now there’s no blossom verse because we’ve had “apple juice” and apples grow on apple trees before being processed into juice (so Nancy’s link to Polona’s previous verse appears to rely on the fact that several stages before there was apple juice a blossoming tree was involved and Polona’s verse had ‘pines’ (noun, plural) a non-blossoming tree. Therefore, we can’t have any blossom that grows on trees (or even on bushes, such as camellias ?) for the blossom verse.

    So, we have ‘pilgrims’ ( those who go on ‘pilgrimages’) and ‘pilgrimage’ is a spring kigo on the list . We have poppies, and we have pilgrims falling about among a field of them. Poppies are not blossoms at all but flowers, and the sap (or juice) of one particular variety is easily extracted and used for medical (and other) purposes , so the pilgrims might very well be falling about with joy in a poppy field. (Reminds me of the ’60s.)
    .
    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies – Richard Straw
    .
    soap bubbles now
    from grandpa’s opium pipe (Lorin)

    1. Oxford English Dictionary: blossom

       1. ‘The flower that grows on any plant, previous to the seed or fruit. We generally call those flowers blossoms, which are not much regarded in themselves, but as a token of some following production’ (Johnson).
       Blostma, blosme was the Old English word for ‘flower’, previous to the adoption of Old Norse blóm (bloom n.1), and Old French flor, flur (flower n.). See bloom

       a. As a count noun: an individual flower.
       —
       b. collectively. The mass of flowers on a fruit tree, etc. (Cf. bloom n.1 1c) Hence in blossom. Also said of grain, grass, etc.
       —
       c. A stage of development which answers to that of blossom. Cf. flower n. 11, bloom n.1 2.

       1. Wikipedia : blossom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blossom
          –
          “In botany, blossoms are the flowers of stone fruit trees (genus Prunus) and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring.

          Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as well. Peach blossoms (including nectarine), most cherry blossoms, and some almond blossoms are usually pink. Plum blossoms, apple blossoms, orange blossoms, some cherry blossoms, and most almond blossoms are white.[1]

          Blossoms provide pollen to pollinators such as bees, and initiate cross-pollination necessary for the trees to reproduce by producing fruit.[2] : ”
          .
          Dictionary
          Definitions from Oxford Languages : flower
          1.
          the seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs (stamens and carpels) that are typically surrounded by a brightly coloured corolla (petals) and a green calyx (sepals).
          .
          Wikipedia : flower
          “A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, . . . ”
          .

    2. My thoughts on the love verse I wrote, way back when in verse 6, had less to do with apple juice, but that the apple being shared by the lovers was so juicy, it ran down the chin and in an intimate moment, one licked it away from the chin of the other.

       I didn’t realize it would blossom into a controversy (or actually another controversy) further on down the line. Sorry John, Lorin, and any of the other poets I may have offended.

       Thanks John for running this renku. I don’t envy your job at all of picking the last verse.
       Thanks for letting me participate, too, as Michelangelo said, “Ancorao imparo” (I am still learning.)

       1. I don’t think there is any controversy or offence, Nancy. Just a little banter.
          On a personal note I think it is a very sensual verse, and brought back some vivid memories of a time when this happened with my soul mate but with a very good malt whisky 🙂

          Happy days.

          1. Carol,
             I can imagine this especially if it is Glenlivet, preferably the 12-year-old, not that I am speaking from experience (wink, wink).

             PS. Glad there was no offense taken; love learning about renku from all of you.

             1. Ho,Ho, nice choice, winks back to Nancy 🙂

                Thanks for your kind reply.

       2. There’s no controversy, Nancy, and I don’t see how you’ve offended anyone. Quoting John, from this week’s preface:

          “I must admit that I have been more than usually distracted by other matters while this session has been in progress and have missed a number of things that I probably wouldn’t have, otherwise. The latest example is that I have suggested that this might be a cherry blossom verse, as is often the case when we get to the spring blossom. But I had not considered that we had already included references to pine and apple (verses five and six), which would tend to forestall any further tree references in so short a renku. So, no cherry, plum, pear nor, of course, apple blossoms. This leaves other kinds of spring flowers but I do regret not sending you in that direction in last week’s instructions. ” – John Stevenson

          No further tree references, considering “that we had already included references to pine and apple” .

          (and we are all still learning.)

54. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw

    beyond the grave are skylarks
    we believe

    a fair east wind
    to the promised land

    shining wind fills the sails
    of the first boat home

    some sacrament left over
    for the rising carp

    so many candles glow
    on buddha’s birthday

    soap bubbles
    too pretty to pop

    (or if we can’t have pop after poppies, then ‘burst’)

    balloons of all colors
    swept off by the wind

    geese depart
    in skeins of sunset

55. Congrats Richard, we featured your book, The Hiker Sees His Shadow, as Book of the Week in August 2021.

    https://thehaikufoundation.org/book-of-the-week-the-hiker-sees-his-shadow-a-broadsheet-of-haiku-by-richard-straw/
    *****
    a tadpole in a jar
    gazing at the stars

    a tadpole in a jar

56. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    -Richard Straw

    soap bubbles fore
    and aft

57. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    another story
    keeps the melancholy at bay
    *
    twittering birds add their side
    to the story
    *

    1. revision for a closer link:
       *
       another tale
       keeps the melancholy at bay
       *
       a tale contributed
       by twittering birds
       *

58. Wonderful Richard! And thanks, John,for keeping us going!

    tranquil smiles and nods
    completing the day

59. gaping potholes
    Emerald City blues

    joss stick smoke
    wafts over the devout

    our naked ecstasy
    renewal in the rain

60. edit- the above seems more autumnal.

    swallows swoop
    through the temple windows

61. swallows depart
    through the temple windows

62. An awesome verse, Richard, congratulations.

63. Congratulations Richard, very creative.
    Thank you John, for stopping and commenting on my poem. Made my day. Bless you

    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    — Richard Straw

    the mountain in view
    melting snow

64. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    — Richard Straw
    *
    tadpoles curiouser
    and curioser
    – Betty Shropshire

    1. fixing the spelling:

       tadpoles curiouser
       and curiouser

65. Thanks, John, for selecting this week one of my verses. And thanks to everyone for your comments, congratulations, and follow-up contributions. It’s been humbling and inspiring this summer to spend a little while with so many imaginative people.

    As Walt Whitman wrote in “O Me! O Life!” and as Robin Williams quoted in “Dead Poets Society,” “…the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”

    +++

    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    insects
    flurry
    *
    the day
    lingers
    *
    winds
    shine
    *
    the heat
    shimmers
    *
    kites
    vanish

66. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    the sign and wonder
    of the shining wind
    *
    bowing just enough
    to the spring thunder
    *

67. Congrats, Richard!!
    *
    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    – Richard Straw
    *
    shipwrecks come to life
    with schools of red snapper
    – Betty Shrosphire

68. Congratulations Richard!

    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    ——Richard Straw
    .

    a shady nap
    on Buddha’s Birthday
    .

    spring clouds drift over
    the emerald city

69. Congratulations, Richard, and thank you John for the mentions.

    pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies

    — Richard Straw

    —

    spring slug-abeds
    roused by the rooster

    come beachcombing
    before the tide rises!

    rollicking laughter
    at the reeve’s tale

    1. #3 rollicking… oops, no kigo. Carried away. Removed.

70. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    Richard Straw
    *
    the serenity
    of silent reflection
    *
    finding tranquility
    in common cause
    *

71. time still
    for planting seed

72. pilgrims
    falling among
    poppies
    *
    a red balloon tied
    to a curious box along a deserted road

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