Renku Sessions

The Renku Sessions: New Calendar 3

renkuchainWelcome to The Haiku Foundation’s Fifth Renku Session: New Calendar. I am John Stevenson, leading my second Kasen (36 verse) renku on this site. We will be trying something a little different this time. Instead of making all of the selections myself, new verses will be selected by the poet who wrote the preceding verse. This will be on a voluntary basis and I remain ready to preform this task for anyone who prefers to pass up the opportunity.

We have a third verse and, in the process, we have a start on the shared leadership that will characterize this session. Peter Newton has selected the verse you must now link to and has written two brief paragraphs about his selection. Here is our verse three:

taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek

      –Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy

“I understand that the opening verse in a Kasen renku is the only verse that stands alone as a poem in and of itself. The remaining verses create poetry through their interaction. I think this 3rd verse does that by immediately inviting the reader inside to ponder the connections.

The odd action described of taking a fistful of tilled earth almost seems comical in a way but understandable if one has long anticipated the coming of springtime. A simple unbroken action. There’s also a ceremonial aspect to the action if a somewhat personal, almost private or secretive -perhaps another loose reference to the second verse. The secretive life of a clownfish safely tucked away in the anemone. Lastly, there is a celebratory tone to this verse in keeping with the newness of the year.”

Thank you, Peter, for your selection and commentary! Thank you, Shrikaanth, for your verse!

Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy will be offered the opportunity to select the next verse. Shrikaanth, please contact me, either in a reply below or by e-mail (ithacan@earthlink.net) to let me know whether you accept this offer. If you do, I will ask you to choose the next verse in accordance with the requirements listed below and to write a paragraph or two about your selection and send it to me on Wednesday morning (January 25) so that I can incorporate it in the next posting, which appears on the following day. If you would rather not make the selection, I will do so, but I would prefer to know that I’ll be doing that as early as possible

Verse four will be written in two lines and must include a different spring image – but not one that involves flowers or flowering trees or shrubs. It must link to the third verse (and only the third verse) but it also must clearly shift away from it in terms of scene and subject matter. It is still part of the opening section of the renku (the jo, or the first six verses), so it is to be somewhat formal in tone and not dealing in strong emotions or controversial subjects (e.g. politics, religion, illness, warfare, current events). You will have until Tuesday night to make your offers. The Haiku Foundation site has been busy lately and the link to our renku session has not always been obvious on the home page. There is a permanent “Renku Sessions” button a little further down the page and you can always reach the current session via this route. We will continue to check for new verse offers through each Tuesday.

With best wishes to all,
John

 

 

New Calendar to Date

new calendar
a year of
“Natural Wonders”

      –John Stevenson

a clownfish offers
the first greeting

    –Peter Newton

taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek

    –Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy

This Post Has 76 Comments

  4. a clownfish offers
    the first greeting
    –Peter Newton
    .
    taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    –Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy

    a river’s breath
    freshens the breeze

  5. taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    ~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
    .
    .
    a chorus of frogs
    sings the blues

  8. taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    .
    .
    a lone red kite
    flies far above
    .
    .
    a lone red kite
    drifts to and fro
    .
    .
    a lone red kite
    drifts here and there
    .
    .
    a lone red kite
    in the west wind

  9. What a rich and perfect verse, Shrikaanth.
    .
    .
    taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    .
    .
    an eagle preens
    after eating a fish
    .
    .
    the eagles now rebuild
    last year’s nest

  12. taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek

    –Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
    —
    a grazed knee staunched
    with shepherd’s purse
    —
    Lorin

  13. YIKES!!!

    Correction to previous post by Michael Welsh

    a seige of cranes
    paints the sky

    SHOULD READ….

    a siege of cranes
    paints the sky

  17. a special Mother’s Day
    all her children gathered ’round

    ***

    on Mother’s Day
    all her children gather ’round

  19. Wonderful choice for verse 3, Peter. I really like the sensory aspects of your verse, Shrikaanth. Congrats!

  21. Congrats, Shrikaanth! Such a refreshing and tactile verse. It lingers. And love your commentary, Peter.
    *
    swallows perched
    along the café roof
    *
    café aromas
    on the warm breeze

  24. taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    –Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
    —
    the girl on the swing
    wearing green ribbons
    —
    – Lorin

  25. one of my faves, too
    .
    a clownfish offers
    the first greeting
    –Peter Newton
    .
    taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    –Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
    .
    ***
    children play hopscotch
    in lengthening daylight

  28. I’ve done that, Shrikaanth. Very spring-like verse, thanks!

    …

    taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    ~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
    …

    giggles from her first game
    of peek-a-boo

  32. taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    –Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy

    the sparrows drop wheat
    on my morning dream

  39. Yes. Excellent choice!

    …
    taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    ~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy

    breaking though the fog
    a thrush’s song

  44. Yes John and all I know we are supposed to be avoiding politics but I couldn’t resist it ..

  51. nice verse Skrikaanth
    ******************
    we purchase new pinwheels
    for the roof top garden

    again the mocking birds
    at three a.m.

    this picture perfect day
    for our drive down the coast

    mocking birds pick up
    where last they left off

    1. oops their were supposed to be line breaks that disappeared upon
      posting for four separate verses

  57. Oh thanks very much John Stevenson and peter Newton- honoured to have my verse as daisan. And I will be delighted to choose the next verse

    Best
    Shrikaanth

  59. taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    *
    workers wrap box after box
    of chocolate eggs

  65. Excellent choice!
    …
    taking a fistful
    of freshly tilled earth
    to my cheek
    ~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
    …
    swallows along the cliffs
    rebuild their nests
    ~ Betty

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