Renku Sessions

The Renku Sessions: Rendezvous – Week 12

renku_300

The Renku Sessions continue on The Haiku Foundation. I am Patricia Machmiller and I am honored to be your guide for an eighteen-verse renku, in which we will compose one verse per week until completion.

Hello, everyone. I hope wherever you are, you are safe and well. It looks like Northern California has passed the peak of the first wave of the virus. The sun is warming us up and my irises bloomed this week—they are almost my favorite flower. The ones I have are a single delicate shade of blue-violet. Every year they remind me of how fortunate I am. When I was working twenty years ago, I happened by my boss’s boss’s office. His secretary, a person I didn’t know and whom I had never spoken to before, had a bowl of these beautiful irises on her desk. I stopped by to admire them and learned that she grew them. She asked me if I would like to have some. I told her, “Oh, yes, I would.” Then I forgot about the conversation completely. In the fall someone came by my desk and dropped off a brown paper bag saying it was from Miriam. It was full of rhizomes. She hadn’t forgotten. I will confess I am not a great gardener, but these irises have continued to reward my poor efforts; there are now four patches of them in my yard, and every spring when they bloom, I think with gratitude of the woman who so generously gifted me with them.

But I digress. We are ready to choose our eleventh verse. So, let us proceed. Here are the verses that first struck me as a possible next verse.

 

his stupid joke
backfires
on him

Mark Powderhill

 

the corner of the mirror
where she keeps
her favorite photos

*

coming from a family
of prodigious
anglers

*

ducks leaving
chevrons as they paddle
downstream

*

always
looking
for an angle

*

carrying the most
precious things
in the crook of her arm

Laurie Greer

 

our jackaroo
points to the scar above
his left eyebrow

*

above the graffiti
ochre handprints
fading

Lorin Ford

 

prodigal
sons come in through
the back door

*

sad puppets
are the ones that see
the strings

*

driving back home
counting tree shadows
on empty streets

Dan Campbell

 

can we trust
the testing strategies
to flatten the curve

*

turning around
refugees’ blood
rich with antibodies

*

snruter nworht
ylluflliks nehw
gnaremoob a

*

back atcha
are the comforting words
if a pillow talked

Wendy C. Bialek

 

home late the dog
licks my plate
around the floor

*

his raised eyebrow
suggests
a new beginning

*

clippings
litter
the barber’s floor

*

screams
run deep
in Todd sweeney’s chair

*

his last pitch
on the box cars
rolling in

Robert Kingston

 

glazing perfection
distinguishes
this young potter

Barbara A. Taylor

 

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could
see, see, see

Alison Woolpert

 

directions
mean nothing
to the wind

Jonathon Alderfer

 

the refuse sorted
ready for collection
paper plastic glass

*

the ‘missing’ poster
of a much loved cat
tied to a lamppost

*

the rescue centre
releases a hedgehog
into the wild

Andrew Shimield

 

bursting with pride
at remembering
the way home

Michael Skele

 

feeling
the smoothness
of a river rock

Susan Burch

 

the fruit basket
gives back
with a dessert

Margherita Ptericcione

 

“only locals allowed
on our beach
so go home!”

Pauline O’Caroline

 

a flurry
of rosellas
over the hedge

Kanjini Devi

 

before applause
we wait until the last note
fully fades away

*

the casino man’s
favorite game
is the coin toss

Clysta Seney

 

the youngest children
learn to play
tag you’re it

Debbie Scheving

 

in tiny tails
the prodigy
strides onstage

*

the seniors’ tour group
photobombed
by an emu

Judt Shrode

 

empty-handed hunting
for the receipt
showing toilet paper

M. R. Defibaugh

 

inheriting
my father’s service saber
was a double-edged sword

*

autocorrect’s
objection to typing
“back atcha”

*

the merciful
forgiveness of
a roundabout

*

realizing
my sourdough starter
might just outlive me

Autumn Noelle Hall

 

These are the verses that made my final list:

 

our jackaroo
points to the scar above
his left eyebrow

Lorin Ford

 

Lorin brings in interesting language. The link to the boomerang is through its eyebrow shape, and we might even surmise that the scar has that shape too.

 

above the graffiti
ochre handprints
fading

Lorin Ford

 

Here the link is intriguingly subtle. I’d almost call this a scent link—the handprints on the stone cliff might be those of the inventor of the boomerang. One senses the history and culture of the Aboriginal people here. Nicely done.

 

snruter nworht
ylluflliks nehw
gnaremoob a

Wendy C. Bialek

 

I like this verse for its cleverness—an upside down, reverse spelling of the previous verse rendered in three lines instead of two. And I like the wackiness of it. Our renku needs something silly or outrageous right about now. Admittedly, pronunciation would be a problem when reading the poem out loud!

 

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could
see, see, see

Alison Woolpert

 

Here’s another verse that would add a change-up in the rhetoric. The sing-song of the child’s verse would be good right here. Unfortunately, I don’t quite see the link.

 

directions
mean nothing
to the wind

Jonathon Alderfer

 

A subtle link with a play on the word “direction.” The boomerang to be skillfully thrown would have a direction and the thrower has to account for the wind. On the other hand, the wind has a direction, but it cannot be skillfully handled for “directions mean nothing” to it; it accounts to no one and no thing.

 

the refuse sorted
ready for collection
paper plastic glass

Andrew Shimield

 

The link here is unusual—“refuse” is something thrown (away). Very clever, Andrew.

 

feeling
the smoothness
of a river rock

Susan Burch

 

The link here is to the surface quality of the rock and the boomerang—the airfoil smoothness of each. I also imagined that this rock was of a size that could be skipped.

 

“only locals allowed
on our beach
so go home!”

Pauline O’Caroline

 

This appealed to me again because of the distinct change in voice and rhetoric that we need right now. The link is to “return.” Also, it is very current to our present situation.

 

the seniors’ tour group
photobombed
by an emu

Judt Shrode

 

Lol. So funny and I love the link by the sound and meaning at a syllabic level—“boom-“ and “-bomb.”

 

realizing
my sourdough starter
might just outlive me

Autumn Noelle Hall

 

Another link through Aboriginal culture that originated the boomerang and bread-making using sourdough as a starter. The verse in its appreciation of aliveness is very appealing.

 

 

It was difficult deciding which verse to choose. A number of the verses had profound meanings with a quiet ruminating quality to them: Lorin’s “above the graffiti,” Jonathon’s “directions,” and Autumn’s “realizing.” There’s another group that got their energy from the language: Lorin’s “our jackaroo,” Wendy’s “snruter nworht,” Pauline’s “only locals allowed,” and Judt’s “the seniors’ tour group.” I feel that we are at a point in the renku where we need an injection of energy and so I am choosing Judt’s verse for its language and humor.

 

So here is our poem so far:

 

rendezvous —
snowshoes piled high
outside the sauna                              Sally Biggar

an antiphonal greeting
of one wolf to the others                  Mary Kendall

the jury still out
on gray
vs grey                                               Laurie Greer

a little half-
and-half in my tea                              M. R. Defibaugh

scarecrows and
moons are the best
listeners                                              Dan Campbell

at the autumn gates
who can hear me now                        Wendy C. Bialek

an opened sesame
seed packet
from India                                          Betty Shropshire

and as if by magic
they fall in love                                   Marion Clarke

like charmed quarks
their relationship
thrives on give and take                       Clysta Seney

a boomerang
when skillfully thrown returns             Kanjini Devi

the seniors’ tour group
photobombed
by an emu                                             Judt Shrode

 

We are coming up on the end of the renku—it will be here before we know it. I want to give you a notion of the ride ahead. I’d like the next two verses (12 and 13) to build in intensity and excitement like we are approaching the rapids in a river, then the three following verses (14, 15, and 16) should go fast, like we are rushing quickly through the rapids, and we come to the waterfall, our glorious ending (verses 17 and 18).

So, with the above in mind, here are the instructions and considerations for our twelfth verse. This verse is a nonseasonal verse. It should link to the eleventh verse, but have no connection to the tenth verse. The requirements for this verse are:

  • a two-line poem of fourteen syllables or less
  • this verse has no seasonal reference. Note that we should avoid the mention of celestial occurrences, of anything shiny (the moon verse is coming up), or building structures like gates, fences, houses, doors, etc. for one more verse. Avoid proper names and seed-like things for two verses; avoid the names of countries for a long while. Avoid references to the occult for three verses, references to science subjects for four verses, and tools or small flying objects for five. No birds, old people, or photography for six verses.
  • a single syntactical structure flowing over two lines.

 

Please enter your verses in the comments box, below. I will be reviewing these offers until midnight on Tuesday, May 12 (California time zone). On Thursday, May 14, there will be a new posting containing my selection for the twelfth verse, some discussion of other appreciated verses, and instructions for composing the thirteenth verse.

Again, I hope you stay safe and healthy. Do take all precautions. And I hope you are enjoying the renku writing process. Keep up the good writing. Now is the time for the wild, the hilarious, the outrageous. A snippet of a nursery rhyme, a quote from your favorite poet or from your most reprehensible pol . . .  all are grist for consideration. The more you write the better the final renku will be. I look forward to seeing your work.

And thank you, John, for your help in posting this.

With gratitude to all who have contributed; and thanks to those who already have a verse and still are contributing. We are glad for your voices and your company.

Patricia

This Post Has 218 Comments

  3. Wondering where another week has gone…
    *
    A belated thank you, Patricia, for including my verses among your mentions. I hadn’t made the Aboriginal connection to sourdough (but I appreciated your encouragement to do a little research). I was just thinking about things that come back over and over, and arrived at the tongue-in-cheek irony of being outlived by my own starter in the process. ; )
    *
    Congratulations, Judt, on a truly amusing image/anecdote. It’s a wonderfully fun addition to the renku!
    *
    the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    it’s all eyes on
    the ordinance officer
    *
    down to his very last
    little blue pill
    *
    which one of you ordered
    the cheesy pickle…?
    *
    another meta coup
    for the data scrapers
    *
    remind me again
    which one is Bob…?
    *
    it’s feather dusters and quill pens
    for the lot of you
    *
    and you asked what was wrong
    with a little peck on the cheek
    *
    my granddaughter says
    we’ve gone viral
    *
    Well, it’s 10:06 Mountain Time, so if we’re on EST, I’ve missed the deadline. But if we’re going by your clock, Patricia, maybe I’m in under the wire…?
    *
    All in good fun, either way!
    *
    ~Autumn

    1. autumn
      re: deadline
      .
      PATRICIA STATES:
      .
      “Please enter your verses in the comments box, below. I will be reviewing these offers until midnight on Tuesday, May 12 (California time zone). “

      1. Yep—scrolled back up and read those very words myself…after hitting submit. With 200-300 posts, scrolling back and forth between the instructions and the comments box gets dizzying after a while. 🤪
        *
        Nice of you to keep us all on our toes, though.👯‍♀️

    2. Thank you, Autumn. I’ve been out of commission for a couple days, and haven’t been checking the site.

  4. Congrats Judt! A most amusing visual…
    .
    .
    the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu Judt Shrode
    .
    .
    that thousand watt smile
    in blackface
    .

  5. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu – Judt Shrode
    .

    “Dammit!” cries the one
    who’s lost her multifocals
    .

    what’s-his-name the flasher
    will be airbrushed out
    .

    what’s-his-name the drooler
    will be airbrushed out
    .

    our octogenarian
    high on medicinal weed
    .

    1. These are very funny, lorin……however, i was wondering….

      PATRICIA’S RULES STATES THAT:
      ‘
      “No birds, old people, or photography for six verses.”

      to me these appear to speak of stereotypical behaviours of old people…..
      Patricia how would you consider them?

      1. You’re right, Wendy. (Though I think what you really mean is more logically “PATRICIA”S GUIDELINES … ” rather than “PATRICIA’S RULES . . .”)
        .
        “No birds, old people, or photography for six verses.”
        .
        I did read through the instructions early in the piece, but missed this at the end when I posted the ku above.”No birds”…well, that’s obvious to me, After the switch from the flying boomerang to the non-flying bird, yet another bird would seem the beginning of a list.
        .
        Why no old people for this verse position isn’t so obvious. We’re linking to Judt’s
        .

        the seniors’ tour group
        photobombed
        by an emu – Judt Shrode
        .
        A group & an individual are different things. These verses of mine close in to a focus on individuals. If Basho could do it, why not me? None of these offered verses lead back to “last but one” (Kanjuni’s “boomerang” verse) , nor even to any of the previous verses in the renku to date, as far as I can tell.
        .
        There is no photography in any of these. Altering photographs, as in “airbrushing” is not photography though of course it is linked to it. It is a different process and if it happens it happens after,/i> the photography.
        .
        “What’s-his-name” is a male of unknown age, though linked to Judt’s verse we can assume he’s in the senior’s tour group.. . that’s how it’s         linked. etc. etc.
        .
        Personally, I don’t see why various kinds of linking would not be welcome, and it’s notable that there have been no close or plain links at all in this renku to date, except perhaps Marion’s “as if by magic…”
        .
        However, I do see why my first offer:
        .
        “CAUTION — BULLDUST
        for the NEXT 80 MILES”
        .
        might validly be seen as linking to “boomerang”: if selected it would be the 3rd verse in a row with a distinct Australian reference, . . . (ironically, if it were to be selected . . . which it won’t be because it can be seen as returning to last-but-one … it’d be first Australian-themed verse by an Australian)
        .
        None of these newer offers of mine break any renku rules. However, yes, Patricia’s guidelines do state: “No birds, old people, or photography for six verses.”
        .
        Too late for me to do anything about it now. Well, that’s it, then. Time for me to sing “so long it’s been good ta know ya”, bow and exit.
        .

  6. Flying golf balls don’t work well with the boomerang…It’s a good thing I was lucky enough to get a verse in early! lol

  7. collapsing in pain
    on a reachable par 4
    ***
    collapsing in pain
    as his son drives balls
    ***
    the gallery scatters
    after a wayward drive
    ***
    rubbernecking
    from the back seat
    ***
    masked passengers
    side-eye my allergies

  8. a hat pin for popping
    the party balloons
    .

    bitcoins spent
    for the prom limousine

  11. all planes grounded
    because of one idiot
    ~~~
    no-one on the bus
    below 50

  14. the echo of the footsteps
    of the intruder
    ~~~
    the guide’s voice makes it
    round the corner before him
    ~~~
    my friends always remember
    names I don’t

  15. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu                                             Judt Shrode

    *
    hands pressed
    upon the window pane
    *
    kitty’s tail in and out
    of the zoom meeting
    *
    land protections lifted
    without a Twitter

  16. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    a new cover
    for Las Meninas

  17. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    a nail in the coffin
    for the runaway killer

    1. whoop’s no ‘pubic hair’:
      .
      the pubic hair
      caught in her relaxed jeans zipper

  23. holy water
    some people sizzle
    #########
    hiker heaven
    finding an orchard
    #########
    hiker heaven
    walking through a cloud

  24. hi all, and wow! what a lovely renku so far ☺

    so following Judt’s the seniors’ tour group:

    her father reading
    over her shoulder

  25. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    when we go high
    they go low
    *

  27. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    .
    boggle eyed
    a crocodile breaks water
    .

  28. merry-go-round nose up
    and everyone goes down
    *
    a drink on the deckchair
    and the sea on TV
    *
    a porcupine is eating
    the croquettes of the cat
    *
    a sprain
    on the first May walk
    *
    a crooked movement
    and she breaks her favorite cup

  29. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    ‘guests, like fish begin to smell
    after three days’
    *
    Benjamin Franklin
    *
    Greek soldiers creep
    from the wooden horse

  30. automatic voice
    at the highway exit
    *
    hula hoop in space
    with saturn rings
    *
    a woman sitting on the bus
    reminds me of my mother
    *
    from the serving hatch
    they come and go flat
    *
    fathers and sons lined up
    the latest Ipad for the exit
      *
    voices of people on the street
    on the day of the vote
    *
    a running race
    through the streets of the historic center
    *
    from the mega-screen on the waterfront
    the rings of saturn
    *
    in the planetarium room
    the light of a cell phone

  33. Hi Judt, Your verse was very funny. Loved it.
    …
    Verse 1:
    …
    “this way
    to the performing seals”
    …
    Verse 2:
    …
    they viewed the collection
    with robbery in mind
    …
    Verse 3:
    …
    does it really matter
    if you’re black or white?
    …
    Verse 4:
    …
    cars behind the service station
    explode
    …
    Verse 5:
    …
    for encouraging violence
    the juniors’ coach was sacked

  34. so much depends upon
    staying six feet apart
    ########
    empty barn, memories
    of my grandpa’s echos
    #########
    bonsai
    teaspoon shovels

  35. congratulations, Judt!
    *
    weird things seen before
    his cataract operation
    *
    with my little eye
    I saw him die
    *
    it’s the end, doo doo doo
    doo doo doo
    *
    he followed her to school
    one day
    *
    he followed her to school one day
    and broke the teacher’s rule

  36. picnics in swamps
    means drowning in frog spawn and gnats
    ########
    never search for the owner
    of a lost glass slipper
    #######
    gardeners rule, seeds
    will become the new gemstones

  37. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    too late he learns the perils
    of oversharing
    *

  38. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    reading through the night
    by a long-necked lamp
    *

  39. being the zookeeper’s
    favorite has its perks
    ########
    cocoon
    caterpillar launching pad

  41. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    suddenly feeling nekkid
    without his bandanna
    *
    finding the news
    hard to digest
    *

  43. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    fed up
    with hearts of stone
    *
    too tall to fold him-
    self under the caution tape
    *

  44. intoxicated clouds
    are harder to paint
    #########
    faces fade away
    but her fragrance remains
    #########
    joy should be frozen
    so it can be sipped again

  45. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    .
    through the crowd
    a rebus of eye heart eye queue

      1. All’s well, here, Robert, thankyou. Wishing you and your family well.
        .
        Apart from work, I’ve been distracted by an online poetry course I’m on, more to it than I thought, but non the less, very interesting and another great haiku form to pursue.

  47. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    .
    the speed of minds
    popping frogs
    .
    she loses her white gloves
    at the zoom bridge game
    .
    seeing her hands for the first time
    at zoom bridge
    .
    a sprinkle of chocolate
    on the fruit sundae
    .
    the taste of vinegar
    in her Eton mess
    .

  49. the poor going hungry
    while food goes to waste
    *
    wondering if a hunger strike
    could do any good
    *

  50. enjoying the wind chimes
    I hit with a rake
    ########
    sometimes it’s easier
    to believe in the devil
    ########

    1. “a-wop-bop-a-loo-mop-
      a-wop-bam-boom”

      *
      slippin’ and slidin’
      (peepin’ and hidin’)

      1. ‘boom” goes back to kanjini’s verse with ‘boomerang”….and so may be disqualified.

  53. tour of nation’s capital
    photobombed by a jackass (apologies for stealing Judt’s idea)
    ###########
    sea otter staring
    into his diving mask
    ##########
    widow’s smile when
    his life insurance kicks in

  54. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    the bus driver pats his own back
    and steers off the cliff
    .
    after the coastal seal walk
    her pockets are full of shells
    .
    a towering crane teeters
    as the jackhammer starts up
    .

    1. Three good ones, Clysta! That first one was literally lol–did not see it coming.

      1. Thank you Laurie. I enjoyed your height verses very much, being the shortest in a family of giants.

  55. tired of being asked
    if she’s a basketball player
    *
    brought up to believe nothing
    is beyond his reach
    *
    the taller the story
    the truer it must be
    *

  56. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    you need a root canal
    says the dentist

  58. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    .
    these days they paint rainbows on sheep
    to support our healthcare

  59. each oak tree plays
    a different tune when it rains
    ########
    apple pie crumbs
    on the exercise bike
    #######
    wishing wells, better
    investments than banjos
    #######
    beautiful ladies never pat
    an ugly man’s dog

  62. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    .
    Judt Shrode
    .
    sprinklers spray the field
    at the same time every day

  63. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    .
    Judt Shrode
    .
    a sign of rain
    when the high firs move

  64. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    .
    Judt Shrode
    .
    silent coral bells
    blowing in the wind

  65. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    .
    Hey, hey, hey! Judt Shrode!

    1. yes, carmen…..i was thinking along those lines as well! good job!

  66. “hold on tight”
    her claws on my wrist
    *
    snow clung
    to our eyelashes
    *
    she only laughs like that
    when she’s gasping

  67. Just for fun, of course.
    .
    .
    on this bucket list trip
    some pairing off going on
    .

    1. That’s not what I meant!
      .
      .
      on this dream excursion
      some pairing off going on
      .

          2. Yep! Pretty darn good, actually.
            .
            My mother always said ‘It could be worse.’ My daughter always says ‘It is what it is.’ And I’m stuck in the middle with ‘You never know.’
            I was just being silly with the reply. In a silly mood, I guess.

  70. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode

    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

    wearing ppe’s
    with pizzazz

    1. oooops! ppe’s are proper nouns

      .
      wearing protective gear
      with pizzazz

  73. formatting!

    begin by painting
    the lovers in technicolor

    *

    impossible to see her
    dancing in the brightness

    *

    even so, sit by the willow
    where the water speaks

  74. begin by painting
    the lovers in technicolor

    impossible to see her
    dancing in the brightness

    even so, sit by the willow
    where the water speaks

  75. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    our walks now mapped out
    by tea and toilets

  76. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode

    *
    too tall an order to clear the air
    with bleach
    *

  77. kayaking down a river
    that has no name
    #######
    my skin’s tattooed with weeks,
    years, decades from head to foot
    ########
    concerts
    of whalesongs
    ####
    most rubber duckies
    spend their lives in just one tub

  78. Nice one, Judt, excellent.
    Congratulations. I can see the pesky might lurking about for just the right moment 🙂

      1. The thing is, they certainly can be sneaky. I’ve been recalling, since your verse was chosen, the Melbourne Zoo incident from when my son was 3 or 4 years old. Lovely, sunny day. He had a cake roll that he wanted and was sitting on a wooden bench , the sort without a back, eating it. I was close by and there was no-one anywhere close to us. The setting was around a small, man-made lake with an island in it. I heard his scream and turned to see him in angry tears. There was an emu strutting away and he was pointing to it, in a rage.
        .
        Yes, it really had sneaked up behind him, reached around with its long neck and took his cake.

        1. I once read animals can’t reason, I’ve never agreed with this statement. When it comes to survival or self gratification, man or animal when opportunity knocks …
          .
          A marvellous graphic read. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  80. a son’s first words
    are always car keys, please
    #######
    joy is watching
    two hermits embrace
    #######
    joy is watching
    hippos enjoying the banjo
    #######
    scubadivers enjoy
    shipwrecks and mermaid mirages

  81. choices soon to narrow
    to conventional candidates
    *
    Or
    narrowing the choices
    to conventional candidates
    *

  82. perfect weather
    for the virtual graduation
    *
    a brief refresher
    on the role of chlorophyll
    *
    synthesizing his notes
    for a lecture on chlorophyll
    *
    I know this one won’t count but can’t resist:
    *
    the oohs
    at oz
    *
    Noticed all the great ooo sounds in Judt’s verse

    1. Love it, Laurie. I’ve always wanted the chance to oooh and even ahhh at oz., but don’t think it’s gonna happen this time around.

      2. Thanks, Judt! Don’t lose the faith: remember, “you never know’!

  83. evil men build
    corrals for tumbleweeds
    ########
    howls from pirates walking
    the plank shatter eardrums

  87. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    leave that shower curtain
    well alone

      1. I don’t think that the first thing you think of when you think of an eel is shininess. Not to mention, they’d be a great addition to the renku.

        1. thanks, patricia, for your reply….i understand what you mean. quintessential!

          1. in the cockney club
            eating eels and mash
            .
            within the sound of Bow bells
            knives forks eels mash
            .
            Eels were/are a common dish in East London.
            You could also feast on pie, mash and liquor. Arguments still occur today over where to buy the best.
            And just before you lick your lips, bare in mind the demon barber also resided within the sound of Bow bells.

  89. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu – Judt Shrode
    .

    “CAUTION — BULLDUST
    for the NEXT 80 MILES”
    .

    1. i really enjoy this…..lorin
      looks like you are taking note of patricia’s
      encouragements and starting to let go…
      i say this reveals a lively renku….that i find
      playful, and fun…..kudos

    2. i knew you had in ya….to create a wild and crazy verse…..bravo, lorin

  90. Nice work, Judt. I was just wondering what inspired your story image when I read your note re it coming to mind the last hour. Love that. And thank you, Patricia, for the in-depth commentary, and the mention. This has been such a nice distraction.
    *
    taking a break
    from breaking news

    1. hi debbie..

      I appreciate your choice to take a break from anything you want….and to write on any subject you want.
      .
      i have read all the guidelines that patricia has given this
      weeks renku above….in addition to this:
      .
      PATRICIA SAYS:
      .
      “Again, I hope you stay safe and healthy. Do take all precautions. And I hope you are enjoying the renku writing process. Keep up the good writing. Now is the time for the wild, the hilarious, the outrageous. A snippet of a nursery rhyme, a quote from your favorite poet or from your most reprehensible pol . . . all are grist for consideration. The more you write the better the final renku will be. I look forward to seeing your work.”

      .
      “or from your most reprehensible pol. . .all are grist for consideration”
      .
      i take it that “pol” means politician/politics.
      .
      so i am sorry, but i will be disappointing you here….as i see politics and “any breaking news” to have a high correlation.
      and politics and pandemic are up there in my priorities.
      .
      i respect any boundaries the sabaki provides.

      1. Wendy, I wasn’t suggesting to anyone not to write about current events. I’ve written many re the pandemic. I am not able to isolate. I’m out in the world at least five days a week and observing much firsthand. I was resting and enjoying an old movie that I had recorded, after watching the latest news, thus ” taking a break.” Was also tying into my comment to Patricia that her efforts here are a nice distraction, no matter the topic. How I connected my verse to the previous one I will leave for the reader.

        1. cool! debbie…..enjoy….i just needed to place that caution out there….just in case!
          thanks for understanding, and taking the time to clarify your position.

    3. debbie..,
      we agree on this one….your question
      is a good question…..i ,too, will be interested
      in judt’s response to it.

      1. in case i wasn’t clear:
        debbie….we agree that it could be interesting for judt, (or any verse writter) to share their motivations for their work.

        1. correction:
          writer

          &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
          so here is new verse….to use this space efficiently:

          *
          my verses can disturb
          your eyes

      2. Judt already gave her explanation in a comment. Perhaps I should have been more clear and started the sentence off with “As I was wondering…”

  91. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    .
    this pop smells a little
    like old fireworks

  92. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu Judt Shrode
    .
    protestors in plaid jumpers
    fill the intersection
    .
    the suspense is heightened
    from the rear window
    .
    the exhibit of knots
    reminds her of that dark night
    .

  93. Yes, congrats to you, Judt!

    the senior tour group
    photobombed
    by the emu
    Judt Shrode

    OMG,
    ingesting bleach?

  94. on some planets haiku are
    alive and howl like wolves
    ############
    she said he’s the reason
    their kids are so ugly

  95. more fun and games
    when the lights go off
    *
    Or
    no more fun and games
    when the lights come back on
    *

  96. his knighthood was castles of sand
    and icicle duels
    ###########
    joy is watching grandpa
    and grandma dance on the porch
    ###########
    he said gracias
    when she ripped out his heart

  98. rediscovering his neighborhood
    as restrictions ease
    *
    traveling solo
    with no fixed itinerary
    *
    secrets he’ll keep forever
    from his junior year abroad
    *

  100. Nicely done Judt
    ***************
    after the show all caught in
    headlights of a passing car
    ************************
    regressing back to
    our favorite stoner LP
    **********************
    remastered from
    our last meeting

  101. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    another natural-born comedian
    discovered by accident
    *
    finding her true self
    as an accidental comedian
    *
    finally laughing it off
    to hide the pain.
    *

    by laughing it off
    *

  103. Congratulations, Judt. I’m happy for you. 🙂 There’s no doubt that yours is a fresh and funny link.

  104. thursday morning
    mid-wife always delivering
    a strong lunged baby
    *
    my poem for patricia!
    thank you for consistently bringing life into
    this world with your amazing insight,
    and ability to shine a light in your perceptive words
    your appreciation in every verse you review.

  106. Most of these will probably be disqualified, LOL!

    *
    grave robbers were greeted
    by hungry ghosts

    *
    treasures unearthed
    were meant for the afterlife

    *
    ducking and diving
    to avoid paparazzi

    *
    wondering the angle
    when bombarded with gifts

    *
    wondering the angle
    of endless gifts

    *
    but swinging is not
    part of the package

    *
    way oh way oh, way oh way oh
    walk like an Egyptian

    *

    2. ducking and diving
      to avoid paparazzi

      *
      way oh way oh, way oh way oh
      walk like an Egyptian

      *
      love these….kanjini

  107. the flushing toilet
    heard on the news
    *
    valet testing +
    with the candlestick
    *
    even the virus afraid
    of his bad mouthing
    *

  108. congrats! Judt !!!!!!!
    this is such a fun visual….let go and left in the last minutes, so glad you kept on giving…..
    *
    the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    .
    Judt Shrode

    *
    crowding eyes
    on potato mountain

  109. Oh my goodness, thank you, Patricia! This once again reminds me of what I think is the truest phrase in the English language…’you never know.’ I ponder and reponder and ruminate over writing verses. But this one just popped up from who knows where at literally about half past the eleventh hour. There’s a lesson for me in there somewhere.
    I can see from your choices that I was wrong about the backlink issue (Lorin was right, no surprise there 🙂). I’ve ordered John Carley’s books, and looking forward to diving in.
    This renku is saving my bacon during quarantine. Thank you for all your effort, Patricia. And I’m grateful to everyone who participates in this fascinating process.
    .
    Judt

    1. I’m so pleased that you shared it, Judt. That’s how the boomerang verse came to me, out of ‘nowhere’ 😉

    2. Hi, Judt–Congratulations! Your process is a wonderful example of how to write renku (or haiku or poetry) successfully. The mind is a pattern-making machine; you can trust it to produce the connection, the link, if you set it free from your internal critic. I encourage everyone to just write whatever pops into your mind. In renku it is easier to ignore the critic because the sabaki can be depended on to serve that role.

      1. Thanks, Patricia. It’s not easy for me to relax into that. But it’s a worthy goal, and I’ll be trying not to try so much.

  110. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu                                          Judt Shrode
    .
    a prosecco cork bobs
    in its bottle
    .
    bunting lining the streets
    for V E day

     

      1. Thanks Wendy:-)
        .
        on the way home they sing
        show me the way to go home
        .
        as the beano ends they sing
        show me the way to go home

  112. Congrats Judt, I have enjoyed reading your contributions each week and thank you Patricia for your encouragement each week. My muse is hibernating but I hope she will wake up one day soon.

  113. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    laughing all morning
    at custom-made limericks
    *
    waiting for his career as a stand-up
    to take off
    *
    trying out new material
    while the plane taxis
    *

    1. oops–
      trying out new material
      while the plane taxis
      *
      another “out” take
      instead:

      *
      trying new material
      while the plane taxis
      *

  115. Congratulations Judt
    Thank you Patricia for considering some of mine.
    Well done everyone, enjoyed reading and looking into your offerings.
    Stay safe
    Have a great week.

  116. Well done and deserved Judt. Congratulations. You take us in another direction with a smile. Your emu reminded me of Audrey Hepburn’s neck which surprised me. Thank you Patricia for noting my verse and especially for the glimpse of what to expect as the renku moves forward.

      1. Audrey Hepburn once
        a towering movie star

        Judt, now that I’ve figured my mindlink my mind can wander.
        We are all having so much fun with your link.

  117. the seniors’ tour group
    photobombed
    by an emu
    *
    Judt Shrode
    *
    Congratulations, Judt!
    *

    her face lights up
    at the old joke
    *

  118. Fantastic choice! Congrats, Judt!! And well done, everyone. I loved seeing some of my favourite verses in the long list. Thanks for including my rosellas’ verse, Patricia:-)

    1. Thanks very much, Kanjini!
      I got the impression that you are new to renku…? If so, you’ve certainly hit the ground running!

      1. Week 2 of Rendezvous was my intro to this fascinating journey!

        renku river
        which way will it flow?

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