The Renku Sessions: Pilgrims' Stride 21
Welcome to The Renku Sessions. Renku is a participatory literary game, following a set of rules that are implemented by the leader of the session. If you would like to learn more about renku go here. And if you would like to see a sample of a complete renku go here.
I’m John Stevenson, and I will serve as your guide for this session, a thirty-six verse (kasen) renku. I have supplied the opening verse (hokku) and each week I will select an additional verse from among those submitted prior to the Tuesday deadline.
We had fifty-nine offers, from eighteen poets during the past week. My commentary will be brief this time because I will be traveling during the period normally set aside for composing and setting my text.
As you read this, I will be engaged in a live renku writing experience. This is an annual event, at Paul MacNeil’s camp on Onawa Lake in Maine. Paul and I will be collaborating with Yu Chang, Tom Clausen, and Hilary Tann. These sessions have taken place every year since 1999. Onawa is in mountainous country, far from any urban centers. Web access is inconsistent and I am not certain how well I will be able to monitor activity on this site while I am there. If you don’t hear from me until next Monday, this will be the reason.
Poets who have already contributed to our renku continue to offer many really inspiring links. I’ll just mention that Alice Frampton’s eight current offers contained four or five that I would have given strong consideration.
Among potential new contributors, I found myself choosing between two verses offered this time by Betty Shropshire. In addition to the pleasures of creative collaboration, the wide ranging images that are offered sometimes provide surprising new information. An example, for me, was the mention of “Chladni figures.” For anyone who was also unaware of this phenomenon, it is well worth looking into. I am passing on this verse in favor of another because I have a sense that this acoustical image may relate too closely to the skylark song in the leap-over verse.
Our twenty-first verse comes from Betty Shropshire. This is the first three line offer we have included that is written in a 5-7-5 format. I feel that this formal quality complements the image of “the old ways” contained in the verse itself, which in turn links nicely with the discipline of yoga. I acknowledge that there are potential concerns: an earlier cooking image (seven verses ago), earlier color name (eleven verses ago, or more recent if one counts “milky”). But there is much in this verse that adds nuance and savor to our renku.
Here is the verse you must link to:
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry–Betty Shropshire
The next verse, the twenty-second, is the last in this series of three non-seasonal verses. Here are the formal requirements for verse twenty-two:
- Non-seasonal image (should not contain words or phrases from our season word list)
- Written in two lines, without a cut
- Linking with the twenty-first verse, and only the twenty-first verse
- Shifting widely to a new topic and setting
Add your suggested two-line link below, in the Comments box. You have until midnight EST, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. You may submit as many verses as you like, but please use a new comment box for each one. I will announce my selection for the next link on Thursday, July 31 here on the blog, and provide information and instructions for submitting the next link.
What We’ll Be Looking For — Throughout the Session
There are many schematic outlines for a kasen renku. We will be using one set out by Professor Fukuda in his book Introduction to World-linking Renku. It will not be necessary for you to have a copy of this book since instructions will be offered before each verse is solicited.
It is a good idea for those participating in the composition of a renku to make use of the same list of season words. There are a number of these lists available and I intend no judgment of their relative value. For purposes of this session I am suggesting the use of The Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words.
Pilgrims’ Stride to Date
comparing maps
to the mountain pass–
pilgrims’ stride–John Stevenson
a sun-warmed stone bridge
over snowmelt–Billie Wilson
dampened soil
of seed trays
in the glasshouse–Margaret Beverland
grandmother’s silverware
polished every monday–Polona Oblak
a sonata
on the concert Steinway
played to the moon–Lorin Ford
dragonflies hover
by the swaying reeds–Karen Cesar
slight hum
of a drone
in fog–Alice Frampton
the atmosphere
thick with teenage pheromones–Norman Darlington
I stumble
trying to reply
“I plight thee my troth.”–Paul MacNeil
thinking of a red wig
during chemo–Asni Amin
the woodland
of silent stories
and shadow–Alan Summers
he makes a wish
to become real–Marion Clarke
each mirror reflects
only the cool moon
rising–kris moon
freshly-caught fish
sizzles in the pan–Aalix Roake
a wealthy prince
exiled in Nigeria
soliciting my help–Christopher Patchel
sugar plum fairy came
and hit the streets…–Jennifer Sutherland
a milky nimbus
at dusk
beneath the cherry tree–Scott Mason
pulling in spring clouds
with a telephoto lens–Dru Philippou
plain truth
of a skylark’s
song–Stella Pierides
our yoga instructor
tells us to breathe–Priscilla Van Valkenburgh
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry–Betty Shropshire
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turmeric spilled on the floor
kids knocking on the front door
turmeric spilled on the floor
kids loudly knocking on the front door
Nice work, everyone. And welcome, new participants! We resume again tomorrow morning (eastern US time).
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
–Betty Shropshire
a worn entry ticket
to the Taj Mahal
from the poop deck
semaphores wave their greed
in tears
from the onions
from the poop deck
semaphores wave against
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
–Betty Shropshire
party favors discreetly
slipped in the garbage
scooped up from his briny bath
who knows not this man o’war
who knows not this man o’war
scooped up from a briny bath
…I know these entries are not eligible but still it’s fun to throw them out into the ether.
the patchouli scented breeze wafted
through the broken window
despite dog ears and stains
she holds onto Gran’s cookbook
shadows shift
on Uluru
knocked out
in the first round
standing upright in a forest
of crooked trees
the weight loss guru’s plan
falling out of shape
bathroom candle label
matching the T&L ad
mustard-stained leather
hot against blistered dogs
he just wants to watch
the documentary again
phoning in
her stage performance
trying not to notice
her nose ring
these eyes in tears
are yet smiling
But who would soar the solar height,
to set in such a starless night?
Lord George Noel Gordon Byron (1788-1824), Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte.
…and in no time
all the guests leave home
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
-Betty Shropshire
rising threshold guardians
stir my ashes
-Patrick Sweeney
from coils of a helix
curiosa et al
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
–Betty Shropshire
” I get by
with a little help from my friends ”
The Beatles ( Lennon & McCartney ) / The Beetles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7bY2UgLrH8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmOtWyjs8iU
oh ! sunflower is a late summer season word ( of course ) should have realised..
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
–Betty Shropshire
in a field of sunflowers
someone’s loved one
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
–Betty Shropshire
seventeen ways
to cure cibophobia
prayers rising to heaven
fluttering butterfly wings
preparing Clyesdales
tomorrow there’s a parade
neanderthal dreams
spin in coils of a helix
jugglers clubs lie besides
restless, restless
the tire recycling plant
relocated
overflowing sani-cans
behind the public market
white birds rise
from black ashes
hundreds of coal cars
rumble across our state
it’s been eleven years
since we last cleared the septic
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
Thai cuisine on the menu
honey cookies tame the heat
with those 30 pieces
he’ll steal the show
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
–Betty Shropshire
the scent of sweetness from the earth
…truffles
another crash
at the Tour de France
two seconds
for a tire change
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
the family’s grudge
celebrates a century
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
she stubs out
her last cigarette
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
indecent acts destroy
the artist’s reputation
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
loud sirens warn families
to evacuate
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
a dollar coin swims
in the chutney
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
her marzipan icing
won first prize
her long-held lust for
the family pearls
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
–Betty Shropshire
my turn to walk
across hot coals
smoldering dung cakes
burning in the blackened pit
flavors the curry
-Betty Shropshire
naruko-kei kokeshi’s neck
cries when turned
-Patrick Sweeney
the rudbeckia
speckled in its center
the fire up my spine
of the kundalini breath
cleansing waves slosh
against the weathered dock
cascades of white lace
on the baby’s baptismal dress
the tongue does not taste
the feet will not walk
a droplet from his oar
rejoins the lake
Have a wonderful time at the renku in Maine, John – it sounds like fun! Last I heard from Paul (in April) he was having some back trouble, so I hope he’s okay now. Please pass on my regards.
marion
exotic tales read aloud
feed the young imaginations
the bitterness
left us in agony