The Renku Sessions: Barely Time – Week 7

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1. Congrats Nancy, on your fun verse!
   *
   at the amusement park
   the couple goes public
   in matching t-shirts
   *
   candles burn to nubs
   on their first
   dinner date
   *
   excited about
   their new
   two-person shower

   1. excited about
      their new two-person
      shower

2. he licks the apple juice
   from her chin
   – Nancy Brady
   *
   unwavering
   fidelity unlike some
   other old flames
   – Betty Shropshire

3. he licks the apple juice
   from her chin

   Nancy Brady

   Tasting memories from long ago
   The first bite of her apple pie
   Two forks one slice

4. It is, indeed, such fun that I’d better stop….

   —
   he licks the apple juice
   from her chin

   Nancy Brady

   …

   the way
   a wife can disappear
   in supermarket aisles

   she objects
   to being objectified
   as a pippin

5. pie charts
   pinned
   to the office wall

   1. Where is the love. . .
      Out>

6. he licks the apple juice
   from her chin — Nancy Brady
   .
   a beginning
   we didn’t expect to end
   in wedding bells

7. he licks the apple juice
   from her chin

   Nancy Brady

   *********

   it still thrills
   to turn on a sex toy
   from the taxi

   *****

   praise god
   for remote-control
   sex toys

   *****

   why did we stop
   playing with our remote-control
   sex toys

8. making love
   all night
   in his dreams

   oh the taste
   of the night’s
   long haul

   the wedding ring
   he caressed
   she threw out

   the salty taste
   of her tears
   made him go all out

9. strength of oak
   wraps arms around his mother
   lips brush her forehead

10. a close shave
    in the closet
    as hubby returns

11. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    -Nancy Brady
    .
    .
    and that’s how
    she found herself
    in the hospital bed
    .
    yes father
    was her response to
    his every request
    .
    of course at her age
    the correct term is
    mercenary
    .
    .

12. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    – Nancy Brady
    *
    perfectly poised
    thanks to botox
    and separate bedrooms
    – Betty Shropshire

13. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    – Nancy Brady
    ****
    and then
    she did cartwheels
    into the bedroom
    ***
    as she counted
    holes in the thatched roof
    of the honeymoon suite

14. Congratulations Nancy, very tasty!

    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    —Nancy Brady

    the kitten gives
    a furry wink to
    the neutered dog

    1. or perhaps,

       kitten gives
       a wink to
       her old dog

15. meeting at the heart
    carved with
    their initials

16. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    Nancy Brady
    …..

    she reddens
    at the mention
    of her old flame

    bristling
    at the pink envelope
    under his socks

    gravity discovered
    as the test
    turns pink

    secret glee
    at the enormous size
    of his last squeeze

    sucker
    after sucker
    mate

17. my friend said
    our girl is beautiful
    because of the dough together

18. childhood sweetheart
    55 years already
    the contest is still hot

19. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    – Nancy Brady
    *
    the veneer of wits
    devolving into
    stale mates
    – Betty Shropshire

20. Very nice, Nancy, congratulations. (I thought I’d posted this before, but was mistaken.)

    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    .
    Nancy Brady
    .
    which led to angels
    consorting with the daughters
    of men

    1. or:
       .
       he licks the apple juice
       from her chin
       .
       Nancy Brady
       .
       which led to angels
       ‘consorting’ with the daughters
       of men

21. somewhere
    over France they join
    the Mile High Club

    somewhere
    over Washington
    they polish off the wine

    she appears
    not far from the tree
    wearing nothing but a snake

22. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    — Nancy Brady

    ****
    both of us
    dripping wet
    after her rain dance
    ****
    memories
    of making love
    during earthquakes
    ****
    cleaning
    off the mud
    from her boots

23. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    the makeshift altar
    where his ashes wait
    for hers
    *

24. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    – Nancy Brady
    *
    undaunted
    by these slippages
    into senesence
    – Betty Shropshire

    1. oops, should be written as:
       *
       undaunted
       by these slippages
       into senescence

25. already drooling
    over the new instructor
    at the health club

    divorce attorneys
    extract an embarrassing
    confession

    the charms of a pin
    through the tongue
    evanesce

    that he’s only human
    goes against him
    in divorce

    goddesses argue
    over the fellow’s
    amorous gift

    damned
    if she’ll sell the tiara
    for you bud

    if he wasn’t so green
    he’d never
    have fallen

26. Thanks everyone for the kind remarks about the verse. It’s appreciated, and I am loving the variety of verses to it.

    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    still holding her hand
    during their walk
    in the woods
    .
    despite the years
    he still take glamour photos
    of her
    .
    through the years
    his camera focusses
    on her face and body

    .

27. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    —-Nancy Brady
    .

    an electrical storm
    between her ears
    and legs

    .

    walking barefoot
    we take each other
    prisoner

    1. if “barefoot” has a seasonal connection:

       walking hand in hand
       we take each other
       prisoner

28. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    — Nancy Brady
    ***
    the banjo stays
    in the corner
    when she is gone
    ***
    she resembles
    a mermaid splashing
    in the waves
    ****
    whipped cream
    on her dark
    brown skin

29. rumour of an affair
    fillters through
    social media

30. A sensual little verse, Nancy.
    Great choice, John, and thanks for pausing on mine.

31. a shy smile
    a bumble bee sting
    falls gravity hard

32. choosing to live
    with a sinner
    over a saint

    on second thoughts
    his imperfections
    are adorable

33. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady

    lower
    a little to the left
    yes o h o h o h yes!

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

    might be a keeper
    comes when
    she whistles

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

    husbands are handy
    when hanging
    photos

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

    husbands are handy
    for quelling that
    unreachable itch

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

    their golden years
    basted with tongue
    in cheek humour

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

34. who says
    a woman can’t also
    pop the question

35. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    —Nancy Brady

    ***
    we hover
    glide and sometimes
    even soar
    ****
    even in winter
    my Salvadoran wife’s butt
    is brown

36. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    musing over the medium
    for the portrait
    of their marriage
    *
    how they astonish each other
    with the portraits
    of their marriage
    *
    still making more
    than art
    in their attic studio
    *

37. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    – Nancy Brady
    *
    gut-punched
    as the homewrecker
    moves in
    – Betty Shropshire

38. my pickup line
    gets an eye roll
    with a smile

    replaying
    and resaving
    your last voicemail

39. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    a pair of atheists
    building their faith
    in each other
    *
    the pair of atheists
    who’ve founded a faith
    on each other
    *

40. Congrats Nancy, I enjoy reading your verses
    ****
    watching how
    our shadows hold
    each other up
    *****
    smiling while
    she pours the coffee
    on my lap

41. a red bikini
    drapes over
    the balcony rail
    :
    under the bright sun
    his husky drawl
    in love’s promises
    :
    coolness settles
    in the twilight call of birds
    enveloped in his arms

42. finding it hard
    to peel themselves off
    the honeymoon bed

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

43. tabloids full
    of celebrity divorce’s
    spicy details

44. tongue-tied virgins
    in the bridal bed
    ever more rare

    a string of tin cans
    some well-wisher tied
    to the rear fender

    his mother’s
    wedding gift found
    in the recycling

    the jade buddha
    just missed
    his head

45. My offerings:

    reminiscing
    the first time they met
    under the orchard
    .
    wiping each other
    with crocheted handkerchief
    sewn with their initials
    .
    parting gift
    of cigar case to him
    and red lip gloss to her

    .

    Lakshmi Iyer

    .

46. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    – Nancy Brady
    *
    another blowout
    performance
    of marital bliss
    – Betty Shropshire

47. toasting
    their golden anniversary
    with long-stemmed glasses

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

48. thank you, John, for your very kind words. it feels good to flex the renku muscle again after a period that was… well, less than inspiring.

49. marrying the dry
    cleaner shakes everyone
    to the core

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

    1. ooops!

       marrying the dry
       cleaner shakes them
       to the core

       07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

50. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    the part of the vow
    they’ve yet
    to honor
    *

51. Congrats, Nancy!
    *
    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    – Nancy Brady
    *
    a diamond collar
    and the long leash
    that comes after
    – Betty Shropshire

52. she returns
    his gentle squeeze
    on rounded flesh

    she takes
    the pith
    out of his piercings

    the tingle
    that teases
    her core

53. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    the widow still sleeps
    on the left side
    of the bed

54. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    just glancing at each other
    when asked
    for their secret
    *
    serendipity making
    another honeymoon
    a staycation
    *

55. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    mature love
    only a different style
    of fun & games
    *
    the fun and games
    of mature love
    no different in spirit
    *

56. congrats go to nancy for her cheerful verse! i picture her giggling at a playful gesture or joke he made…. to have caused her to dribble…how nicely you captured an intimate moment between a young couple.

    thanks, john, for explaining how we got we where are….and how to proceed.
    happy to have done a verse you acknowleged to be considered for this position.
    *

    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    Nancy Brady

    *

    fists bump
    on the way
    to their caves

    07.29.2022 by wendy © bialek

57. have
    in a hot red skirt
    they meet face to face

58. her hair
    to his chest
    and let it be

59. covered in sand
    as waves lapped their toes
    forbidden fruit

60. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    Nancy Brady
    *
    emptying
    her glass attracts
    a pass

    See Dorothy Parker’s famous couplet/poem from Enough Rope (1926):

    “News Item”

    “Men seldom make passes
    At girls who wear glasses.”

    +++

    Also…Adam and Eve redux:

    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    Nancy Brady
    *
    forbidden
    and yet so far
    so good
    *
    they taste
    and see each other
    bit by bit
    *
    lying on fig leaves
    as buff as the moment
    they were born
    *
    being caught out
    and withering under
    His questioning
    *
    by the hip
    slow-walking
    out the gate

61. the fog
    has borrowed its scent
    from the pines – Polona Oblak
    .
    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin – Nancy Brady
    .
    now open
    to the general public
    their matching tattoos
    .

62. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    -Nancy Brady

    a hint
    of blue fascism
    in her Newtonian embrace

63. the gurgling
    water-bed
    in the bridal suite

    he stands out
    in nothing but
    a mackintosh

    the award
    for bad sex
    in fiction

    ( https://literaryreview.co.uk/bad-sex-in-fiction-award )

64. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    the dream house where they
    nearly touch the intangibles
    of their marriage
    *
    their marriage
    a dream house they’ve
    never stopped building
    *

    1. revision:

       the dream house where they
       touch the intangibles
       of their marriage
       *

65. discreetly
    removed from
    the tunnel of love

66. Wonderful job, Nancy! And thanks John . . .I was one who misused a kigo! Lesson learned!

    his heart-shaped
    sticky notes
    in every room

    1. Hello Debbie,

       I’m still very much an amateur in renku practice. I’m grappling with the concept of kigo usage. I read your verse from last week, and liked it. However, I don’t quite see the misuse of kigo. I guess, and maybe John would like to clarify further, that ‘remaining heat’ must apply purely to weather, not to anywhere else, such as the warmth of a bed.

       I’m also worried about ‘stickiness’ — of child seats, mud, Molasses and juicy chins. I can’t help making connections, rightly or wrongly.

       Cheers, Marietta

       1. That last sentence was a more general musing, not about your verse, Debbie!

          1. Thanks for musing about all of this ! Yes, I almost didn’t click “submit “ due to the sticky situation! Haha! We will find out on Thursday, but I imagine John will go in a less sticky direction! :).

67. nice one, Nancy, and thanks for pausing at mine, John.

    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    Nancy Brady

    oh the heady
    intimacies exuding
    from his T-shirt

68. still
    replaying and resaving
    your last voicemail

69. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    how the joint taste
    for temptation conspires
    to make a paradise
    *

70. the pale pink of
    her lips taste of early
    apple blossoms

71. same straw eye to eye
    teenagers’ time even
    after no from dad

    1. he licks the apple juice
       from her chin
       – Nancy Brady
       *
       feigning innocence
       to the charge
       of in flagrante delicto
       – Betty Shropshire

72. he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    Nancy Brady
    ********************************

    kerchief all over
    their common
    redress and wipe
    ******

73. What a tasty verse! Congratulations, Nancy! And thanks, as always, John!
    *
    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin
    *
    Nancy Brady
    *
    renewing their vows
    with an inimitable
    tongue twister
    *
    the inimitable tongue
    twister that re-affirms
    their vows
    **

74. apple juice after molasses?

    1. Yes. Imperfection, to be sure. And one of the benefits of renku is that it can get us to be more comfortable with imperfection – that is, with the world.
       .
       I will say that the Molasses in verse four is not the edible substance but, as we have been at pains to make clear, the name of a horse.

       1. the fog
          has borrowed its scent
          from the pines – Polona Oblak
          .
          he licks the apple juice
          from her chin – Nancy Brady
          .
          after that
          (the story goes)
          they both wore fig leaves
          .

       2. another imperfection in this pairing:

          “from the pines” followed by “from her chin”

          oh well, we’re only human therefore not infallible

       3. Both issues could be remedied:

          a racehorse
          named Pokey (Gumby’s pony comes to mind lol)

          he licks the apple juice
          off her chin

       4. ‘Molasses’ in verse four is a horse which has been given the name of a specific sticky substance, molasses.

          ‘Earth’ is the name of the planet we live on.

          “What was the Earth called before it was called Earth?
          Earth is the only planet in our solar system not named after a Greco-Roman deity. The name used in Western academia during the Renaissance was Tellus Mater or Terra Mater, the Latin for “earth mother”, i.e. “Mother Earth”, goddess of the earth in ancient Roman religion and mythology. ”

          “Just as the English language evolved from ‘Anglo-Saxon’ (English-German) with the migration of certain Germanic tribes from the continent to Britain in the fifth century A.D, the word ‘Earth’ came from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘erda’ and it’s germanic equivalent ‘erde’ which means ground or soil.”
          .
          We dig up earth to plant potatoes etc. But the name of our planet is Earth.

75. Congratulations, Nancy. Juicy!

    And I loved Polona’s verse too. Thanks again for all the comments, John.

    —–
    he licks the apple juice
    from her chin

    Nancy Brady
    —

    wedding dress for sale
    with no marks
    on the outside

    the barmaid’s
    dry comments
    on the decree nisi

    all the romance
    in exchanging
    DNA

76. Thanks, John, for choosing this verse of mine. I am trying to learn about renku so appreciate the weekly feedback.

    1. Congrats Nancy!

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