Renku Sessions

The Renku Sessions: Barely Time – Week 14

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Please have a look at our archived renku: https://www.thehaikufoundation.org/renkuarchive/2022_barelytime.pdf

Thank you to those of you who contributed comments this week, including alternate title possibilities. Suggested titles included “Missing Keys” (Chris Patchel, Nancy Brady, Wendy C. Bialek), “Walking Barefoot” (Debbie Scheving, Wendy C. Bialek), “Somehow Forgetting” (Betty Shropshire, Wendy C. Bialek) and “Falling Among Poppies” (Wendy C. Bialek). To these, I would add, “Short Night,” “Count the Stars” “Still Fresh,” “Back Seat,” “Tortuga,” “Borrowed Scent,” “Apple Juice,” “Snow Moon,” and “All the String.” And, most mischievously, I would offer “Scissors Cut Paper.” A title that consists of an entire verse would be a unique novelty, in my experience, and only possible because of the minimalism that developed as a style choice in the course of our collaborative creation. It would make it clear that we do not apologize for this style.

In live renku sessions, I like to end with a reading in which each poet recites their own verse(s). The variety of (literal) voices says something warm about what we have experienced together. Regrettably, this is not an option in this setting but perhaps you will join me in imagining it.

 

I’m going to be traveling at times during the remainder of this year and don’t feel that I can offer the kind of sustained focus required for another renku during that period. I haven’t heard from any experienced renku session leaders who might take up the task. I’ve come to feel that this is not a good setting for anyone to “learn the ropes” of renku leadership. And it would require even more focus and attention for me to teach that process in this setting.

All the same, I feel, as many of you do, that this kind of collaborative work is valuable and enjoyable. So, I am thinking that perhaps another period of tan-renga practice might take us forward from here. It would be weekly but could be suspended during weeks in which I am actually in transit (via cross-country trains) or in attendance at a haiku event. So, here is my offer:

 

THIS WEEK

Please submit one to five three-line verses that you would be willing offer for “capping” by two-line verses to be added in the following week by other poets. Enter your offers in the comments section, below, before midnight (Eastern US time) on Monday, September 19. On Thursday, September 22, I will comment on some of the offers, identify three verses to be “capped” during the following week, and suggest some things to keep in mind when “capping.”

 

Thank you, all,

John

 

 

 

 

The Haiku Foundation reminds you that participation in our offerings assumes respectful and appropriate behavior from all parties. Please see our Code of Conduct policy: https://thehaikufoundation.org/about-thf/policies/#code-of-conduct

This Post Has 28 Comments

  1. Thank you so much John, most generous of you.
    I will delight in engaging in the energy that the Renku fostered – by writing more offerings.
    Susan

  11. My offerings:
    .
    nothing to say
    and here they are
    muttering parrots

    .

    we patch up
    this autumn night
    under the lantern sky

    .

    rowing the boat
    splitting the sunlight
    on the ghats of Ganges

    .

    fitting the puzzle
    of the mountain mist
    laden with wildflowers

    .

    a slip in my tongue
    as i spill out the secret
    of the ancestors

    .

    Lakshmi Iyer
    India

  12. Many thanks John for the opportunity to continue writing
    ***
    scarecrow holding
    the cornstalk
    like a microphone
    ****
    more headlines
    and breaking news means
    it’s time to water the bonsai
    ****
    prodigal sons
    and strays
    searching for home
    *****
    owls hoot, wolves howl
    and men weep
    under a full moon
    *****
    jogging faster
    by the cemeteries
    and crack houses

  13. morning prayers
    with aid leaves turn
    to and fro
    *
    cooling off
    the water heater’s
    river of rust
    *
    aftermath
    among fallen limbs
    a sunning snake
    *
    words unspoken
    strawberries trimmed
    of mold
    *
    dusty closet
    one good suit reserved
    for the funeral

  14. Thanks, John, for carrying on with some tan-renga

    full moon
    the long distance driver
    sings of home
    *
    summer rain
    the riverbank swells
    with buddleia
    *
    caught on CCTV
    a moth hovering
    round the porch light
    *
    a broad-brimmed hat –
    taking the shade
    wherever I go
    *
    morning sun
    from a top floor balcony
    the bark of a dog

  16. Thank you John, for leading us through these tan-renga sessions!

    Here is my offering of five verses:

    in the patio
    the peonies cry –
    late night spell

    ***
    this rooster
    wakes all the world but
    its housemates

    ***
    ballerina –
    through a glass door he
    follows her glissade

    ***
    diamond ring –
    she carries her aura
    to the sun

    ***
    dotting the sky
    a new body
    …the ship sets sail

  19. dusk…
    a murder of crows
    circles the steeple
    *
    windfall apple
    first red
    in the maple leaves
    *
    stealing off without a word…
    the gleam of a key
    in the crow’s mouth
    **

  20. old gunny bag
    full of silver vessels
    unidentified

    **
    Progress report
    not satisfactory
    still dad’s cheers
    ***
    hot summer
    frequenting bath tub
    mom’s in deaf ears
    **
    withered roses
    In her pooja room
    her hand’s piety
    **
    after tournament
    still bleeding in victory
    laurels hidden

  21. another loss
    she counts the cost
    of her addiction

    creeping dread
    wolf whistles
    follow her home

    Saharan sand
    deepening
    the sunset

    autumn shadow
    still seeing the skyscraper
    that’s not there

    dry summer
    the shrinking reservoir
    reveals secrets

  22. More fun More Creative Intercourse. Thanks for all you do John!

    regular season
    their first year of marriage
    ends in overtime

    kitten season
    the reality of six more
    mouths to feed

    storm season
    stocking up on essentials
    like pretzels and beer

    soaring food costs
    flying in the face of the
    next shuttle launch

    october chill
    dire news that the cancer
    has spread

  23. Many thanks, John. A good read.

    Thank you for taking on the continuation of renku sessions with tan-renga. My five propositions below:

    the morning after
    remembering to ask
    for pronouns

    —

    between reports
    from the battlefield
    an ad for sofas

    —

    beyond city limits
    a tumbledown shack
    covered with roses

    —

    hot night
    a lady cat cleans up
    between trash cans

    —

    not catching tarpon
    up the Manatee River
    a perfect morning…

  24. Thank you , John, for keeping the fun going with tan-renga practice!

    front porch
    spider webs
    catching morning light

  28. great idea, john!

    here is my first verse offer for a tan-renga, ready for capping, (pun intended):

    white roses
    how well she wore
    that crown

    wendy c. bialek

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