The Renku Sessions: New Calendar 3
Welcome 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
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bloodworms in a coffee can
I tie on a March brown
southbound cranes
the river afterward
a lone fiddler fern
slowly emerges
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
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
.
.
a chorus of frogs
sings the blues
puddling butterflies
rise from the dung pile
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
.
.
a newborn foal
tries to stand
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
hmmmm, too many adjectives in the last one…I’d like to change it to:
.
.
in the west wind
a single kite
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
a foul ball barely
missing the dugout
along the river
daffodils sway
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
–Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
—
a grazed knee staunched
with shepherd’s purse
—
Lorin
YIKES!!!
Correction to previous post by Michael Welsh
a seige of cranes
paints the sky
SHOULD READ….
a siege of cranes
paints the sky
***
a seige of cranes
paints the sky
Thanks for this evocative daisan, Shrikaanth.
ten pence ebbs
down the wishing well
dipping a toe
in the bubble bath
a special Mother’s Day
all her children gathered ’round
***
on Mother’s Day
all her children gather ’round
in the dew-kissed pasture
a mare nuzzles her foal
Wonderful choice for verse 3, Peter. I really like the sensory aspects of your verse, Shrikaanth. Congrats!
Cheers Theresa
in the maypole dance
her braid coming undone
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
Thanks Maureen
Polona, Marietta, Anna, Michael Henry, Debbie- thanks for your appreciation
the scent of rain
and rainbows
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
–Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
—
the girl on the swing
wearing green ribbons
—
– Lorin
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
shadows of returning birds
over lake melt
the scent of rain
almost intoxicating
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
perfect saturation
seedlings ready to grow
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
.
~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
.
slush proceeds down
this rocky mountain
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
.
~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
.
picnic leftovers pass
left to right
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
–Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
the sparrows drop wheat
on my morning dream
scent of the river
swollen with glacier melt
head first slide at second
on Jackie Robinson Day
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
soft rain soaking into
dragonfly wings
Gap intended:
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
~Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
—
soft rain soaking into
dragonfly wings
~Jacob Salzer
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
–Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
—
the whirligigs also
keep on spinning
—
Lorin
shining wind
blows me a kiss
baby birds call
across a bridge
Yes. Excellent choice!
…
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
breaking though the fog
a thrush’s song
the president throws out
the first baseball
coasting along
home still miles away
spring onions
the tears continue
between two trees
a swing becomes a flying fox
Yes John and all I know we are supposed to be avoiding politics but I couldn’t resist it ..
departing geese
after Trumps inauguration
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
–Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
—
praised be
the industry of worms
—
– Lorin
Thank you Shrikaanth and Peter!
——
weathered wooden swing
darkened with rain
the to and fro
of a swing in the breeze
he looks forward to going back
for St Patrick’s Day
a slight shift
in the glacier
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
oops their were supposed to be line breaks that disappeared upon
posting for four separate verses
early mist pierced
by birdsong
perhaps ‘pierced’ is too violent?
.
birdsong emerges
from the mist
a change of hat
for the scarecrow
two sparrows check
the water temperature
her blush at his glance
on the field trip
her blush at his glance
on the eighth grade field trip
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
That’s good news. Thank you, Shrikaanth!
Well done Shrikaanth!
Thanks Marion
baby chicks keeping warm
inside their box
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
*
workers wrap box after box
of chocolate eggs
scent of the unpacked
baseball glove
on the clothesline
the first load of winter sweaters
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
*
a patchwork quilt
airs on the fence
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
*
blackbirds follow
a farm tractor
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
*
blackbirds follow
a chuffing tractor
Excellent choice!
…
taking a fistful
of freshly tilled earth
to my cheek
~ Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy
…
swallows along the cliffs
rebuild their nests
~ Betty
toddlers spellbound
as soap bubbles float free
~ Betty
Thanks Betty