The Renku Sessions: Side Show – Week 19
Hello, Everyone—Tonight is a super moon and a partial lunar eclipse where I live. Are you able to see it where you are?
Thank you for all your offerings. Running the gauntlet of all the forbidden topics is tough, I know. But we are nearing the end and we only have a few more verses to bring in new subjects. So that’s the reason the rules are pushing us toward unexplored topics or issues.
Here’s my long list of verses that could be possible candidates for the next verse:
after a long nap
the bears roll over
Eavonka Ettinger
*
we scatter our seeds
unsure of feast or famine
Dan MacDonald
*
butterflies
flutter by
Diana Ming Jeong
*
musty band uniforms
aired out for commencement
the eternal student
at last flips a tassel
a sudden squall
of de-tassled mortarboards
a sample of the local fare
at the spring farm market
his tired old jokes
perking up in the spring
Laurie Greer
*
tad poles
spring up
madeleine kavanagh
*
lambs shiver
in the spring zephyr
Canada geese return
to our lake
Canada geese return
to the golf course
Nancy Brady
*
native lore avows
spring brings green
her instincts murmur
spring is here now
a family flies box kites
at the heritage site
the soaring skylark
pairs up with the west wind
the child’s bubbles float
through the neighborhood
the next door baby coos
as bubbles wander by
Clysta Seney
*
just delivered red wrigglers
for the compost bin
Pamela Garry
*
local Dads get up early
for the Snapper runs
first white sails painted
in kaolin clay
Lorin Ford
*
the swallows return
with maps in hand
Curt Linderman
*
a rara avis at the
backyard feeder
an explorer’s trash
found in melting ice
Desert Fathers and Mothers
celebrate the Paschal Triduum
Richard Straw
*
late to the party,
trapped in spring mud
butterflies
in the cottage garden
John Daleiden
*
serene with a sip
of swee-touch-nee tea
spring-lite frogs
tiptoe into a new pond
how breathtaking
the coming of spring
Wendy C. Bialek
*
the creaking windmill
slows as i pass it
Rob Barkan
*
reunion event
became a lively joke
Nani Mariani
*
a new robin waits
on the spade handle
Keith Evetts
*
birds rest in the
lucent afterglow
Melissa Dennison
*
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
*
the surprise of soap bubbles
in an iridescent stream
who sent me this stream
of shiny soap bubbles?
the boy producing soap bubbles
has run out of breath
Marion Clarke
*
a clap of spring thunder
enters without asking
Jonathan Alderfer
And here are seven finalists:
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
after a long nap
the bears roll over
Eavonka Ettinger
*
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
we scatter our seeds
unsure of feast or famine
Dan MacDonald
*
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
butterflies
flutter by
Diana Ming Jeong
*
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
lambs shiver
in the spring zephyr
Nancy Brady
*
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
the swallows return
with maps in hand
Curt Linderman
*
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
an explorer’s trash
found in melting ice
Richard Straw
*
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
Upon examination of these seven verses, I was torn. I particularly liked Diana’s butterflies, but since we have moths in the second verse, I chose not to have another insect even though the moths are in the far distance. For the same reason, I didn’t choose Nancy’s and Eavonka’s—we already have a four-footed animal. Admittedly, it’s seven verses away and these verses would be eligible; it’s just that I’d like to bring in something else. Richard’s verse has “melting” in it. Dan’s verse if certainly a candidate, but if possible, I’d like this verse to be a little more positive in feeling. Curt’s verse is certainly positive in feeling and has a little bit of humor. But I felt that “map” was took close to “chart” in Melissa’s verse, and “hand” is unfortunately a body part. And so our verse eighteen is:
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
And with that we have added a bird to our renku. Thank you, Tracy.
And our renku so far is:
Side Show
the moon joins
a juggler’s side show
harvest festival
Wendy C. Bialek
a swirl of moths
orbits the yellow lamplight
Jonathan Alderfer
drifting leaves
pile up at the lock gates
on the old canal
Andrew Shimield
an inuksuk points the way
to the next adventure
Carol Jones
Earthrise
to the tune of Strauss’s ‘Thus
spake Zarathustra’
Lorin Ford
may I have this dance
for the rest of my life?
John Daleiden
I swing onto
his Vespa
fully committed
Clysta Seney
letting off a stowaway
in the middle of the heat
Laurie Greer
the cool
of the house
at the back of her mind
madeleine Kavanagh
unidentifiable
vibrations
Pamela Garry
the dog’s ears
prick up
before the doorbell
Keith Evetts
death
is listening
Barbara Anna Gaiardoni
love bound
in the hereafter
of 1001 nights
Betty Shropshire
gracias mi amor
for melting my frozen heart
Dan Campbell
cold moon
indifferent
as mountains topple
Rob Barkan
in the time machine
we chart a different course
Melissa Dennison
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
Marion Clarke
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
And now here are your instructions for verse nineteen:
- a three-line cherry-blossom verse, the three lines should flow syntactically;
- link to verse eighteen in some fashion;
- the door is closed for all wild or bizarre subjects; we are sprinting to the end. I will be looking for a verse that is uplifting and expansive, a verse that carries our feeling of goodwill and gladness that we participated in creating this poem;
- please avoid use of participles;
- for the rest of the renku, please avoid any subjects related to festivals or circuses, carnival acts, etc. as well as death, house/home, and life; avoid any birds, proper nouns, toys, and wrappings of any kind, avoid mention of landscape features, such as cliffs, hills, dunes, mounds, etc., and temperature, avoid use of a foreign language, or mention of any body parts, and the process of melting, thawing, etc., any reference to factories or any kind of apparatus, appliance, robot, etc., avoid roads, freeways, highways, etc., and no acts of drawing or graphing, avoid time of day, night, or year, avoid mention of visitors or visits for the rest of the renku; also any reference to heaven, hell, or the great beyond, any numbers, and any reference to literary works or books, for the next verse.
- submit your verses by midnight PDT Tuesday, September 24.
I thank you all for your submissions and for your participation. I wish you good writing in the coming week — I did hear that John is still on the mend. His eyesight is improving, but it is still not 20/20 so he cannot drive. But he is feeling positive that he will get there.
Thank you, Robin, for being our helper—we are most grateful.
Patricia
The Haiku Foundation reminds you that participation in our offerings assumes respectful and appropriate behavior from all parties. Please see our Code of Conduct policy: https://thehaikufoundation.org/about-thf/policies/#code-of-conduct
Comments (295)
Comments are closed.
Dear Dick Pettit,
Patricia requests a change in line 1 of your blossom party verse and prefers your original idea of using rosé in lieu of wine.
hope you can get in touch with her soon so your verse could be
‘ready’, (hint, hint) for this renku party.
on the new preemie’s
diaper
a drop of cherry blossom
i nurse my spring newborn
under the canopy of
cherry blossom
cherry blossom showers
over and over again
shampoo bar soap
a myriad of spring
participles dangle
tree’s cherry blossom
this is dedicated to our renku posters, all of whom, i cherish!
upon reading your verses…how i identify with your images, your struggles, as well as, your victories.
inside your
cherry blossom
the cherished freckles of my youth
(yes, i know, freckles are more considered a summer kigo, however, every day of every month of my youth…i saw my freckles, they would become more apparent as the weather warmed…beginning in spring )
Awww,…so sweet, Wendy.🥰
and this one is for our wonderful, sabaki, Patricia…and her gentle but strong impact on this special group.
how warm and close
we’ve become
under her cherry blossoms
Beautiful!
pamela, glad you agree
I agree too! :)
thanks for your metoo, madeleine
this one i dedicate to THF’s providing great sabaki, haiku/senryu leaders, musical/and visual art displays, and free access to literature in digital and downloadable library……
a treasured place for writers to share, and learn and……
how much we bloom
under these varied
cherry blossom trees
this one i dedicate for John Stevenson:
through cherry blossom
boughs
spring rainbows bloom
Again beautiful!!
oh, pamela….thank you so much for all of your warm and kind words.
a keeper to share, just for fun:
the eggs and matzoh
she’s planted under
this cherry blossom tree
and this one, in keeping with rules:
the spring dreams
she’s planted under
this cherry blossom tree
Beautiful Wendy!
coming from another poet/photographer….
your delightful feedback is sweeter! diana!
btw: diana my editcrow is itching to whittle-down
one of your great, mobile ones, below….do i have your permission?
You’re welcome and Yes please Wendy but it’s past the deadline now. But I’m open to your suggestions. ☺️
backlit
cherry blossom flower
a mobile around the sun
Diana Ming Jeong
with our photography caps on
let’s talk shop….Diana (it’s not about deadlines)
there are multi-images here that i see.
the object of photography is to create
one striking image that draws the viewer
into the picture.
Sometimes that may make it necessary
to crop non-essentials out/ put what we
want to show into sharp focus; while
blurring out what is least important…
and another option is cutting it/slicing it
up into many separate pictures….etc.
imo:
‘backlit’ here may be redundant.
because, once you place
the sun behind an image
it automatically is backlit.
so now
we have:
cherry blossom flower
a mobile around the sun
which must be spread onto
three lines.
also, i am confused by this image. please help me out.
when i think of a mobile….i see many things
hanging, sometimes coming from many branches
so shouldn’t this be plural?
either cherry blossoms
or cherry blossom flowers
or
are you saying that
the one flower with curved tips (possibly, up or down)
represents a mobile????
i have more, i’d like to share….but i will stop…to hear your
clarification and feedback.
Wendy,
I was thinking how when I photograph flowers, I focus on one flower, and the rest of the flowers just bokeh in the back ground. If I use a macro lens, the backlit petals are iridescent. I was thinking that when I see this one iridescent flower, it is like one of the planets in a solar system mobile revolving around the sun. And the link is to the baby. The cherry blossom flowers on the tree branch would hang like a mobile above the baby in a crib.
I am open to your ideas! :)
Wendy,
How about this?
cherry blossom flowers
their petals revolve
around the sun
Diana Ming Jeong
aha! bokeh…..that explains my confusion….quite different than blur….it can make lit up things turn into sphere-shapes….hence the flowers become round planets….and we get solar system mobile.
a little sticky for most readers to identify with your transition…..as the image is being manipulated via filter/in-camera mechanisms/or software and not the way humans normally perceive the natural world.. it could help bridge the gap, if you introduce this word/technique, (bokeh) into your verse.
i agree, the mobile is a strong element to link to a baby.
i would liken your original verse to a double exposure (two images that overlap)
one easy way i tackle this is to use a longer form such as tanka and lay each image out one on top, one on bottom with a pivot between.
very difficult, but not impossible, with three liners.
Wendy,
Or this one…?
cherry blossoms
another flower
around the sun
Diana Ming Jeong
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –
Tracy Davidson
this week’s post
a beautiful renku
of cherry blossoms
blossoms
of beautiful
haiku
this is my fav, of your wonderful spirit-grouping verses.
this week’s post
a beautiful renku
of cherry blossoms
madeleine kavanagh
Thank you Wendy, I cherish your spirit…your poems…the ones you have written above are beautiful too.
thank you, madeleine….same back at you!
this week’s post
beautiful branches
of cherry blossoms
this week’s post
branching of so many
beautiful cherry blossoms
beautiful branches
of cherry blossoms
this week’s post
i do so agree, to the zenith degree…your posts, too, so inspire! madeleine!
Awww! it means a lot to me, Wendy!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
in my dreams
I wear nothing
but cherry blossoms
Hi John, this week where we are has been quite hot temperature wise…wearing nothing but cherry blossoms would be a welcomed relief! Lol.
I love your verses!
Love it!
🥰
a great dream, a great image, a real keeper in keeping, so cool, John!
cherry blossoms
she plucks another
one of her grays
cherry blossoms
a few weeks
premature
a boy says
the cherry blossoms
aren’t pretty
a soldier follows
orders to march over
cherry blossoms
cherry blossoms
were a manly color
at one time
the delivery guy
carries cherry blossoms
up my steps
cherry blossoms
in the same shade
as river dolphins
hi M.
love these most upbeat ones…out of your wonderful set:
cherry blossoms
a few weeks
premature
M. R. Defibaugh
the delivery guy
carries cherry blossoms
up my steps
M. R. Defibaugh
cherry blossoms
in the same shade
as river dolphins
M. R. Defibaugh
Beautiful!
Thanks!
Thanks, Wendy, glad you liked them!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
first steps
a cherry blossom flower
pirouettes
Diana Ming Jeong
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
first steps
cherry blossom flowers
pirouette
Diana Ming Jeong
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
first steps
a cherry blossom flower
out of reach
Diana Ming Jeong
Love these, Diana!
…Your poems are beautiful!:)
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
on nursery walls
bloom after bloom
after bloom
flower nymphs
on a tuneful mobile
dance and spin
tiny hands
reach out from a
flowery onesie
the scent
of blossoms as soft
as a child’s breath
the view
from a nursery
all flowers
wow! richard…
love this one best
the scent
of blossoms as soft
as a child’s breath
Richard Straw
Richard…I agree with Wendy, delightful!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
born from
cherry blossom flowers
the honey is sweeter
Diana Ming Jeong
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
born
from cherry blossom flowers
the honey is sweeter
Diana Ming Jeong
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
backlit
cherry blossom flower
rotates around the sun
Diana Ming Jeong
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
backlit
cherry blossom flower
a mobile around the sun
Diana Ming Jeong
renewal –
this year’s cherry blossoms
in grandma’s cracked vase
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
we drink tea
brewed from cherry blossoms
gathered each morning
cherry blossoms
embedded in our home made
paper
the priest
blesses the faithful with
cherry blossoms
These are very lovely, John.:)
John, I’m fascinated and I want to try cherry blossom tea as well as cherry blossom honey.
bright cherry blossom
beneath
a gun metal sky
another attempt:
first cherry blossoms
go airborne
i paint the spring sky
misty
when the gesso dried
on the canvas
the cherry blossoms
please discard my notes above…that i forgot to erase before i posted.
this is all i wanted to post:
another attempt:
first cherry blossoms
go airborne
i paint the spring sky
at the stop
the bus picks up
some cherry blossoms
beyond all doubt
cherry blossoms
are the real thing
the many thoughts
again unwrapped
by cherry blossoms
Lovely, verses, Harrison… the first one resonates.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
—Tracy Davidson
each year
with cherry petal rain
more tears come
the stepchild lives
to see his bonsai cherry
bloom at last
at the sight
of cherry blossom
the kids want ice-cream
the days of pink and blue
are gone
with the cherry blossom
These are very touching Keith, for me especially “…the stepchild lives…” and “…at the sight of cherry blossom..”
Thank you, Madeleine.
The stepchild is me.
Issa was another, although my stepmother was wonderful; and his was horrible.
“at the sight of…” is based on a verse of mine from the new tripartite book “Year in Year out / D’une année à l’autre” Françoise Maurice, Keith Evetts and Sébastien Revon, Amazon…. (shameless advertising!)
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
bundled in a
cherry blossoms blanket
the first cries
an obstetrician
exits the hospital into
cherry blossoms
Beautiful!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
–Tracy Davidson
*
her golden lasso
cinches a cheery welcome
of cherry blossoms
*
the blush
in each cherry blossom
turns heads
*
one second’s
too short for
cherry blossoms
*
big sister clips
cherry blossom branches
for her centerpiece
*
oops, one second is one verse too early. please withdraw.
and,
*
her golden lasso
cinches a cheery bouquet
of cherry blossoms
These are all delightful, Clysta!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
from horizon
to horizon
cherry blossoms
cherry blossoms
beget
cherry blossoms
sakura
sakura
sakura
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
——Tracy Davidson
.
cherry blossoms
on the tip of everyone’s
tongue
.
Delightful!
a scout bee
performs its waggle dance
towards the cherry trees
Diana Ming Jeong
Upon Googling, I see that cherry trees and cherry blossom trees are different, so I will edit:
a scout bee
performs its waggle dance
towards the cherry blossom trees
Diana Ming Jeong
“Dance” was already in Verse 6
Edit:
a scout bee
waggles in the direction
of the cherry blossom trees
Diana Ming Jeong
Thanks for letting us know, Diana and “a scout bee” verse is darling!
Thank you Madeleine! Life is so beautiful! I hope to see a scout bee waggle sometime! 🐝🌸🍯
I hope to see one, too Diana!🥰 I second that…life is beautiful!
how soon
these cherry blossoms
fall into a spring dream
tranquil flutter
of cherry blossom time
earlier than expected
or, if ‘time’ is redundantly too close:
the tranquil flutter
of cherry blossom
earlier than expected
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
cherry blossoms
catch and release
cats in love
What a delight, Pamela! :)
Thank you muchly Madeleine!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
she presses
cherry blossom petals
into her memory book
Diana Ming Jeong
Good afternoon, Everyone–I am glad there is so much enthusiasm for the cherry blossom verse. However, I think I should have offered a little more guidance for this verse and not just said that this is “a cherry blossom verse”; I should have said this is a “spring verse with cherry blossoms.” I think in your eagerness to bring in all elements of the world you have strayed a little too far; turtles, snakes, and jellyfish, for example, however wonderful in their own right, are not generally thought of as spring creatures.
I should also tell you, when it comes to cherry blossoms, I am strongly biased towards the real deal. I think they will give a great lift to our renku ending.
Hi, Patricia….i did use ‘jellyfish’ in two of my offerings. and just to make sure it was indeed a spring kigo…i looked it up in one of the sources you allowed us to use for this renku.
© 1997-present Yuki Teikei Haiku Society. All rights reserved.
SPRING
Animals: abalone, bee, baby animals (nestlings, fledglings, calf, colt, kitten, puppy, fawn, lamb, etc.), butterfly, bush warbler, cats in love, crane, flying squirrel, frog, horse-fly, jellyfish(medusae, Vellella, comb jelly, etc.), lizard, pheasant, robin, mud snail, soaring skylark, stork, swallow, tadpole, whitebait (a fish), hummingbird, nightingale, wild birds’ return (geese, etc.).
Is there something i am not understanding, here? I will gladly correct it.
yup, snakes and turtles are mainly summer critters,
i did not do all my homework. a quick check of carley’s
nijuin chart revealed this week as sp/bl—spring with
blossoms.
early rising poets
should perform their
dew diligence
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
after the rain
we mulch or garden
with cherry blossoms
the relatives who visit
depart with cherry blossom
memories
her outdoor
watercolor captures
the cherry blossoms
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
little fingers
comforted by the smooth satin stitches
of cherry blossom petals
Diana Ming Jeong
her smile
more beautiful
than cherry blossoms
reading
under the cherry tree
a petal marks the page
the softness
of petals
in my hands
a sea of pink
cherry blossoms
fall as rain
a newborn
light as a
cherry blossom
laughter
as they roll
in the cherry blossoms
grey streets
transformed
into candyfloss pink
by his shoes
at the station
cherry blossoms
after the storm
cherry blossom
carpets the ground
falling from
the wild cherry
a petal for her lapel
the wind
gently shakes cherry blossom
from the boughs
Congratulations, Tracy, on your verse.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
–Tracy Davidson
a forgotten toy
in favor of chasing
cherry blossoms
.
an abandoned toy
in favor of catching
cherry blossoms
.
a toddler giggles
at cherry blossoms
falling in her stroller
.
children make
snow angels
in the cherry blossoms
a toddler giggles
at cherry blossoms
in her stroller
a trio of tuxedo kittens
chase cherry blossoms
that tumble down
kittens pounce
upon cherry blossom
confetti
These are lovely, Nan, “children make snow angels…” is so very touching.
Nancy,
I really love the snow angels and kittens pounce!
Thank you, Madeleine and Diana, for your kind remarks. There have been so many excellent cherry blossom verses this week. Congrats to all for expressing such lightness and beauty in them.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
sakura songs
lullaby
children of the world
her house gift
placed in a box
of cherry blossoms
cherry blossom card
attached to her birthday
present
an infant swaddled
in cherry blossom colors
laughs
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging – Tracy Davidson
cherry blossom notes
would be
a high E
following cherry blossom
trails on
the Nike path
Typo – bike not Nike
I thought Nike was a keeper!
Pamela, i agree that Nike is a keeper! And I would guess, this could have been Dan’s immediate association/link he made with Amazon.
However, every ‘keeper’ is not always ‘in keeping’ with the guidelines of a sabaki….in this case, Dan….may have then noticed that Patricia said, no proper nouns….and then rewrote a verse in keeping with this new awareness.
Not every verse, i compliment in renku, or post here, is in keeping with the rules or guidelines. It just might be that i like it as a separate piece.
Dan, Wendy and Pamela, I also like “Nike” :) While we are on this note….I also love Dan’s first verse, “cherry blossom notes…”! :)
shipping out
his family
a cloud of cherry blossoms
~ ~ ~
her mother’s
crown
a ring of cherry blossoms
mother’s
crown
of cherry blossoms
i believe this is simply the most sincere and touching- serendipity verse
i have read of yours, madeleine!
my dream is that you have many more freeing experiences
as you did writing this one.
shipping out
his family
a cloud of cherry blossoms
madeleine kavanagh
i agree…dan’s-high E one is genius!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
cherry blossom
leis
inside the mailbox
~ ~ ~
return
to sender
a lei of cherry blossoms
~ ~ ~
thin
as paper
a cherry blossom
~ ~ ~
thin
as paper
a pink petal
~ ~ ~
returns
to earth
a cherry blossom
a lei
of cherry blossoms
arrive on shore
I love ‘returns to earth…’
Thank you! :)
Lovely of you to say!
the speed boat
stalling he puts
the petal to the metal
Cute, Madeleine. Petal to the metal, nice play on words.
I also love!
returns
to earth
a cherry blossom
Very nice of you to say :)!
I’m not sure what the presentation and organisation is so I’ll regroup my verses for clarity.
this side
of the wind
pink blossoms
stellar scores
on the report card
cherry blossoms
on the doorstep
my share of
the cherry blossoms
blossoms
of the wild cherry
is haiku a foreign word?
first cherry blossoms
I miss them
already
on the wind
cherry blossom petals
and a few grey hairs
cherry blossoms
like shavings off
the moon
Hi Orense, there is no special organization…we usually post our poems as they come to us…our sabaki, Patricia will sort them out… these are very delightful poems that you’ve posted:)
Hi Madeleine! Thank you for your kindness and answering my question. Good to know I can be as chaotic as I want…. sabaki is such a tough job :)
Lol, Orense! Wonderful!
Yes, we are all very grateful that Patricia is our sabaki!
madeleine, i agree that there has been no designated way to post stated by Patricia…however, to lower the stress and labour of a sabaki’s job…Orense may be on to something.
maybe Patricia will chime in here ????
i enjoy these verses, also.
It was very thoughtful of Orense to make that observation…Yes, I agree Wendy…anything to make Patricia’s job easier:)
Welcome Orense!!!
I especially love this one! It really resonates with me.
first cherry blossoms
I miss them
already
Thank you Diana:)
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
cherry blossom
soirée, an inventive flight
of city planners
in the parlor
she keyboards
cherry blossom rag
with each kiss
cherry blossom enchantment
unfolds
at the grave site
cherry blossoms sprinkled
on the casket
a cherry blossom
cake for her first
birthday
the empty nest
on our chimney-top sprinkled
with cherry blossoms
*
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
the toddler’s gurgles
turn
into cherry blossoms
*
blossoms soft
as fresh-spun
silk
determined tortoise
claws its way through
shell-deep cherry blossoms
a path through cherry blossoms
and there, a determined turtle
splashes into the pond
cherry blossoms piled so deep
our children’s shuffling sneakers
stay disappeared
a gust of wind
brings a pink snowstorm
of cherry blossoms
a gust of wind
squeals of delight
children smothered in cherry blossoms
memories of a delightful day
cherry petals
line the stroller
a gust of wind
then a pink storm
of cherry blossoms
a gust of wind
squeals of delight
children dressed in cherry petals
turtles and tortoises are regarded as
summer creatures mostly. this is a
spring week. fun verses but not a
proper example everyone.
Congrats Tracy – a delightful addition to the renku!
.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
.
—Tracy Davidson
.
.
in the east
a cherry
blossoms
.
a song pouch
full
of unsung cherries
.
an arpeggio of blossom
rendered
in a single note
.
.
Welcome back, Princess k! I love your poem, a song pouch
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
cherry blossom blows
from the primary school
blossom confetti
covers the bride and groom
pink candyfloss trees
cherry blossom
her hair is adorned
with sakura petals
sakura petals
float downstream
in the garden
the first cherry blossom
a buzz in the blossom
pollination
petals dance
as a bee stops by
her face covered in nectar
she flies to the next blossom
he reads her poetry
beneath the cherry trees
from our picnic blanket
the sky is full of pink stars
dancing around the maypole
petals in his hair
swirling around the shoppers feet
sakura petals
Oops should be 3 lines. Senior moment! I do apologise 😱🤣
swirling
around the shoppers feet
sakura petals
looking up
from our picnic blanket
100s of pink stars
her face covered
in nectar
she flies to the next bloom
her hair
adorned
with sakura petals
blossom confetti
covers
the bride and groom
the cherry sapling’s
first petals
open
silently
sakura petals
float downstream
laughter
and cherry blossom
blow on the breeze
dancing
around the maypole
petals caught in his hair
there’s a buzz
in the blossom
from pollination
in their garden
drinking coffee
the first cherry blossom
watching petals fall
from the cherry blossom
Done it again!
watching petals
fall from the
cherry blossom
🤣
Melissa, these are lovely verses…pink candyfloss trees and from our picnic blanket resonate for me.
*
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
the candy necklace
restrung
with cherry blossoms
*
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
under the blossoms
plenty
more blossoms
*
blossoms
all the way up
and down
*
blossoms and
nothing
but blossoms
*
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
——Tracy Davidson
.
our postman
takes his lunch break
under the cherry blossoms
.
a lacquer box
overflowing with blossoms
to share with friends
.
still vigorous
the old mountain cherry
blooms on
These are beautiful, Jonathan.
easel-steadied
to eagerly paint them
adrift en plein-air
yes, i know, ‘en plein-air’ is french for ‘in the open outdoors’
En plein air or plein-air painting, is the act of painting outdoors
it simply sounds better and carries less syllables.
:)
Oh my goodness, I love this one Wendy!
thanks diana,
i wanted to see if i could convey the concept of these
short-lived, miracles of beauty in a verse…without using their actual name.
i am talking in this verse about the actual cherry blooms, themselves and my eagerness to paint them. the original intent was to paint them
as they were on the branches….and to convey very subtly how once i got all my gear ready to do that…they were now airborne.
i would love to hear your feedback…in your opinion, do you think i came anywhere near to this attempt?
Hi Wendy,
As a photographer who often goes to the gardens to photograph flowers, this is exactly how I read your verse.🌸
ah! diana…. it is such a good feeling to be seen!
Thank you!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging——————Tracy Davidson
a jellyfish
wraps its tentacles
around a blossom
jellyfish bid
farewell to
the blossom
slate buddha
reclining in a bed
of cherry blossom petals
These are all great, Wendy!
thanks again, madeleine…..jellyfish is a spring kigo on The Yuki Teikei Haiku Society (YTHS), where i sourced it to make these two verses. however, on other sites it shows under mostly summer.
I understand Wendy. I love kigo…it can be confusing when reputable sites say different things.
thanks for your compassionate comment, madeleine.
maybe someday i will have more clarity.
btw;
i left a comment for you, below on your shipping/family/clouds verse…don’t know if you caught it.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging—————–Tracy Davidson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
free cherry blossom
petal sprinkles
on our banana splits
free blossom petals
float in the cafe’s
green tea cups
blossoms returned
to their branches
as fresh as ever
flower girl delays
each scoop of
cherry blossom petals
redone:
free cherry blossom
petals sprinkle
on our banana splits *
*banana splits are a dessert served originally, often in a boat-shaped glass dish on a pedestal, containing three scoops of ice cream, drowned in your choice of fruit sauces covered with whipped-cream and topped with a maraschino cherry sprinkled with nuts and cradled by two halves of banana sliced lengthwise against the inner sides of glass dish.
Wendy, I love this poem and description of your dish!
thanks, madeleine….although ice cream may be consumed any time of year….it is a summer kigo word, as is banana split.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging—————–Tracy Davidson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
dropped cherry blossom
petals
anatomically perfect
corrected:
Tracy, i love this linking verse and its shifting sense of humor.
Patricia, your pick brings great joy and smiles to our renku.
Thank you all above, and behind the efforts of THF.
So hoping to hear from John soon, and happy to know
that there is a light somewhere in the tunnel.
Tracy, i love this linking verse and it’s shifting sense of humor.
Patricia, you pick brings great joy and smiles to our renku.
Thank you all above, and behind the efforts of THF.
So hoping to hear from John soon, and happy to know
that there is a light somewhere in the tunnel.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging—————–Tracy Davidson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
dropped cherry blossom
petals
anatomically perfect
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
in free flight
cherry blossom verses
blown in the wind
a fermented vat
of cherry blossom wine
bottled and labeled
her baptismal gown
enbroidered with hand-sewen
cherry blossoms
beneath the trees
their umbrella sprinkled with rain
and cherry blossoms
the engagement ring
box decorated
with cherry blossoms
in free flight
cherry blossom verses
blown in the wind
a fermented vat
of cherry blossom wine
bottled and labeled
her baptismal gown
enbroidered with hand sewen
cherry blossoms
beneath the trees
their umbrella sprinkled with rain
and cherry blossoms
the engagement ring
box decorated
with cherry blossoms
traveling
enjoying
cherry blossoms
Nani Mariani
blossoms
of the wild cherry
is haiku a foreign word?
the enchantment
as each blossom
unfolds
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging – Tracy Davidson
a penguin waddling
in cherry blossoms
must be lost
cherry blossoms
bringing both melancholy
and moments of joy
cherry blossom
boats drifting
down the river
a blossom’s
brief
beauty
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
she signs
her name
with cherry blossoms
Diana Ming Jeong
Beautiful!
Thank you Orense, Pamela, and Wendy!
Beautiful. Such a strong link!
Diana a sure keeper here!
as beautiful as sakura
Diana, I agree. This is beautiful and so creative.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
puppies romp through
cherry blossoms
at the dog park
he packs his gift
in cherry blossoms
from the orchard
she knits colors
of cherry blossoms into
the child’s garment
he blesses her
in the name of cherry blossoms
and the Holy Spirit
she wheels her charges
in mom’s high heels through
cherry blossoms
in a swirl
of cherry blossoms she
delivers home-cooked meals
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging – Tracy Davidson
homesick eskimos pretend
falling cherry blossoms
are snowflakes
goldfish swimming
under floating
cherry blossoms
brushing cherry
blossims from her
beautiful black hair
dreams of cherry
blossoms glowing
in the night
first cherry blossoms
I miss them
already
on the wind
cherry blossom petals
and a few grey hairs
cherry blossoms
like shavings off
the moon
Orense Nicod
Welcome, Orense. These are beautiful!
Thank you so much for the kind welcome!
Hi Orense, wonderful to wake up to your poetry!
Hi! Thank you so much, I’m thrilled you liked them.
welcome to our renku party, Orense Nicod!
your offerings are simply beauty-filled
as the very blossoms we are placing in our verses.
Keep them coming!
Hi Wendy! Thank you for your warm welcome I’m thrilled I wandered into the party.
Congratulations, Tracy. A delightful image and link.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
she delivers
a healthy child in time
for cherry blossoms
they take wing
through a swirl
of cherry blossoms
cherry blossoms
shower mom
and her new charge
at the feet
the budding grass
under cherry blossoms
grass buds
take cover under
the cherry blossom
only in pictures
delivered to me
cherry blossom
a sugar cake
wrapped with care
in cherry blossom paper
dang!
there goes my dango
at the cherry blossom festival
Diana Ming Jeong
Diana, these are delightful. Your second, so much fun!
Madeleine… ☺️ Thank you! 🌸🍡☺️
Your welcome, Diana. 🥰
Oh wait! No festivals!
dang!
there goes my dango
under the cherry blossoms
Diana Ming Jeong 🍡🌸
dried cherry blossoms
line that special
memory box
a newborn python
threads newly fallen
cherry blossoms
Rob, this is wonderful!
thanks for that madeleine!
Your welcome, Rob:)
snakes are regarded as summer
creatures mostly. this is a spring
week. fun verse but not a
proper example everyone.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
thank you tracy and patricia
for delivering this clever verse!
patricia thanks for including me
in the lists this week and last week.
gracious of you robin to keep this
all going. john hope you see your
way out of this very soon.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
picnic blankets
pillowed
by cherry blossoms
*
the baby quilt
batted
with cherry blossoms
*
Laurie, I love the fleeting nature of the sweet baby quilt
oops–make it
the tiny quilt
batted
with cherry blossoms
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
scattered
a billow
of pink blossoms
a billow
of blossoms falling
on the intrepid explorers
fierce warriors
unappreciative
of the petals in their hair
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
a cherry sapling
startled
by blossoms
*
a cherry sapling
surprised
by its own blossoms
Patricia, thank you very much for choosing my verse. Delighted to be included.
As I’m just joining in this week for fun, forgive me for ignoring some of the things to avoid!
as pink-cheeked
as a cherry blossom
on the nudist beach
a cherry blossom
pinned to her hair
but not on her head!
cherry blossoms
caught in the wide smile
of a crocodile
Well done, Tracy:
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
—Tracy Davidson
even the stiffest
break into a smile
blossom viewing
a cherry petal
turns pirouettes
in the park
grandma recalls
her pink tutu days
blossom viewing
a cherry petal
falls soft
as a feather
raindrops
on cherry blossoms
both about to…
in one
fell swoop awash
in cherry blossoms
a cherry blossom
on each and every
place matt
holding our breath
for the first bud .
to blossom
love these, Michael….the first one is my fav.
A delightful choice of verse, Patricia. Well done, Tracy!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
pink petals fall
from the pockets
of her school uniform
a pink cache
of cherry blossom
in the toddler’s pocket
her tiny pockets
filled to bursting
with pink petals
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
gifts from the gods
cherry blossoms
everywhere
cherry blossoms
special delivery
wrapped in scent
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
a forest of trees
to be replaced
river’s tidal basin
first lady
plants friendship trees
with her friend
two ladies
plant friendship trees
many years ago
planting
friendship trees
between two peoples
friendship
blossoms
between two peoples
Beautiful! This one gives me goose bumps, Madeleine.
Thank you Pamela! :) So lovely of you to say.
gift
a forest
of young cherry trees
gifting
a forest
of young cherry trees
a trail
of pink petals
along the tile
a trail
pink petals
along the tile
cherry blossom
sugar cookie
at safeways
a cherry blossom
sugar cookie
at safeway
blossom
sugar cookie
a cherry on top
Nice one Madeleine
Thanks Biswajit! :)
17
still a blow-in
even after
thirty years
18
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
19
in good time
for the blossom party
with a box of wine
It would have been rosé,
yet this word, though assimilated,
still has a foreign accent.
But he invited guest, now more
genial, is in defiance of the
googled ‘blow-in ‘ of v17 –
another breach of etiquette.
Heiligen bolikins ! (disappears
in a cloud of smoke)
A very lovely verse, Dick.
Dick–I actually think rosé is ok–it’s an English word, and I think it adds to your verse more than wine does. The problem with this verse is the use of the word “time”; this word was used before in Melissa’s verse. I hope you consider rewriting this.
Dick,
i just googled blossom party…..now i believe
this is a very special verse…..please take
a moment to make changes to the first line,
as requested by Patricia so this may be ‘ready’
(hint-hint) to-go into our renku party!
Tracy, Congrats on this image-packed (and fun double entendre) verse; and, Patricia appreciation for considering mine.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
–Tracy Davidson
*
Wonder Woman
lassoes a welcome bouquet
of cherry blossoms
*
the harnessed river
surfaces reflections
of pink sakura
*
Clysta, your “Wonder Woman” verse is wonderful!:)
thanks, madeleine. i now think Wonder Woman would be considered a proper noun though….
I hadn’t realized Clysta… are you considering maybe replacing the pronoun? I just realized I did the same with Safeway, in my verse.
madeleine, thought about reworking it but couldn’t get around rodeo being too close to a circus or fair, so decided to move on. i usually write and then sift out the “avoids” before submitting. but this time I posted too quickly. Dan’s posr triggered thoughts of Sandra Dee and baby doll nighties, followed by Barbie, a doll long after my childhood, and sensational in some circles when introduced. And then I drifted into old Wonder Woman comics …. all three meaning something different to later generations. and now I hear a cat singing: memory! all this renku mixing …..
Clysta, these are such interesting memories… I always enjoy the chance to mull over sensations from our past. I love your wonder woman poem just the way it is… a classic!
Hi, Clysta–Wonder Woman would be a proper noun, but I think we’d all know who you were referring to if you said something about “from her invisible plane”!
ah, I see now what madeleine suggested. thank you Patricia. have been spending too much time in Swede’s haiku-of-the-day sinkhole.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
cherry-blossom scent
arrives
in the nursery
Congratulations Tracy! This is a fun verse with a surprise twist! :) Very creative!
Thank you again Patricia for one of mine being amongst many great haiku on the long list! I am happy to hear that John is recovering well. Thank you to Robin for all your help!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
cherry blossoms
dilute a tortoiseshell cat
asleep on the patio
first bite
a cherry blossom mochi
delights my heart
a simple little
cherry blossom
connects us all
cherry blossoms
in a whirlwind
with the weather report
a bloom
of cherry blossoms
swirls in the stream
Diana Ming Jeong
Diana, these are charming verses. I love “first bite” and the third, “a simple little cherry blossom…”.
Thank you Madeleine! 🌸
Your welcome, Diana!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
that cherry blossom scent
as her pointed nipples
pierce bubble wrap
Testing – 123
Hi, Dan–Your verse is more fitting for one of the love verses; in renku human love is confined to those specifically designated verses. Also you’ve included a body part. I hope you’ll consider writing and submitting more verses.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
the timely arrival
of cherry-blossoms
in town square
love the imagery John
I hope your recovery is speedy and complete, John. (But enjoy being chauffeured!) Thanks for another thoughtful and apt selection, Patricia. And congratulations, Tracy, on an imaginative link that’s full of expectations!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
tiny fingers
point at rather than pick
the blossoms
a deep breath
brings the blossoms
inside
quiet
in the shade
of blossoms
no one
a stranger among
blossoms
everywhere
blossoms and
smiles
Patricia, thank you for including my verses in your long list of possibilites.
Robin Smith, thank you for uploading instructions and various corretions as need—your work is valued.
John Stevenson—my your healing journey contine in a satisfactory direction.
Tracy Davidson, thank you for your unique verse 18. The “Amazon packaging” is the cat’s meow without the cat—no feeding, and espeically no emptyiing the litter box.
Choice for W18, V18 Side Show Renku:
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging –Tracy Davidson
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
the beauty of blossoms
neither created
nor destroyed
*
Woo hoo! Fantastic verse, Tracy! I love the word play.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
***
once again
the cherry blossoms
deliver
***
a lullaby
of cherry blossoms
in the air
***
the gentle flutter
of cherry blossoms
as we stroll
Tracy Davidson
Darn it! Clearly, Tracy’s name was meant to be under her verse. The other three are by me. My apologies for making this difficult.
Eavonka, I especially like this one:
once again
the cherry blossoms
deliver
— Eavonka Ettinger
These are great, Eavonka. And I love the lullaby!
Yay, thank you so much, Maddy. I do worry that she may not be okay with it because “tune” was mentioned in an earlier verse, but worth trying, I think.
I am sure it’s fine Eavonka :) I think it’s subtle… more implied.
Oh, thanks so much, Pamela! I so wanted to make a link with the other verse that would work. 💜
Like the “the gentle flutter” Eavonka
Thank you, Biswajit, I was obsessed with that image, and it took some time to find this poem.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
in a dream
the very old and young dance
cherry blossoms sing
a pressed cherry blossom
in the envelope
a message of hope
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
a bonsai
cherry tree about to bloom
on the welcome mat
18
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
19
on time
for the blossom party
with bottle of wine
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
essential employees
earn a tip
of blossoms
*
happy to work
for a tip
of cherry blossoms
*
*
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
blossoms so bedazzling
they curl
the hair
*
the blossoms as essential
as those
who bring them
*
the baby tickled as can be
by a stream
of blossoms
*
These are lovely Laurie…my favorite is the last one:)
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
she practices
a 13 string instrument
school recital
~ ~ ~
in front of the crowd
she sings
the cherry blossom song
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
little flower moon
a force upon the cherry tree
in full bloom
So delightful, Pamela!:)
the blossoms
depart in a matter of hours
a cherry tree
~ ~ ~
blossoms
depart the cherry tree
only to return soon again
~ ~ ~
leaf cover
blossoms which have left
the cherry tree
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
Delightful that you think so! Thanks Madeleine
Awww! Your Welcome, Pamela.
Congratulations Tracy on such an enchanting addition! Thank you Patricia for your delightful choice and continual inspiration and for showcasing each week so many beautiful poems from this very talented community of poets. Thank you Robin, for all your help in sending off our renku each week. And very happy to hear that John is doing so much better.
on the doorstep
a delivery
rose colored blossoms
~ ~ ~
bouquet
of blossoms
on the door step
~ ~ ~
cherry blossom
florals
the baby’s dress
~ ~ ~
blossoms
the color of the
baby’s cheeks
~ ~ ~
a baby
at sister clementine’s door
cherry blossom
outside
her door
a cherry blossom
I love your verse Tracy! Makes me happy. Thanks for choosing it Patricia and for all you do for all of us. Happy to hear optimistic news about John.
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
— Tracy Davidson
light trash
floating with cherry blossoms
not a whiff of whimper
cherry blossoms
on contrails
above the laughter
cherry blossoms
gently decorate
the stroller underneath
Congratulations Tracy! And thank you Patricia and Robin!
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
Tracy Davidson
may she never leave
her cherry-blossom farmer
and this village
Congratulations Tracy! ;)
cherry blossom too
with her smile
under the tree
This is delightful, Biswajit
Thank you Madelieine
Your welcome, Biswajit
Congratulations, Tracy! Such a vivid and detailed verse. Can’t wait to do some linking. And thank you, Patricia, once again, for the generous long list and commentary.
*
the stork brings a baby doll
in Amazon packaging
*
Tracy Davidson
*
the gender reveal
in every blossom-
strewn street
*
the blossoms delivered
ahead
of the due date
*
oops–cancel “street”
a gender reveal
in every
strewn blossom
a gender reveal
in every dance
of blossoms
These are all such enchanting verses, Laurie.