Renku Sessions

The Renku Sessions: Side Show – Week 5

renku_300

 

Hello, Everyone—I write this not knowing how John’s surgery has gone, but with hope that it has gone well. If you are reading this, you will know that he has recovered enough to be able to post this. It is my sincere wish that it be soon and that his recovery is swift and complete. (From John – My surgery is tomorrow. What has happened, so far, is that gas bubbles have been injected into my right eye, which is the only one I can read with, drive with, etc. This is an emergency measure to maintain the status quo until the surgery can be performed. It is currently difficult to use my right eye, looking over the bubbles, to read. Status post-surgery remains to be seen – or not. Worst case is blindness.)

 

This week was certainly a fruitful one. Many good verses for me to consider for our fourth verse. Before I started, I had in mind that it would be good to choose a verse that moved the scene from a night scene to a daytime scene so any verses that were explicitly in the evening or at night were at a disadvantage. I’m sorry I didn’t think to tell you this in advance. The other general feature I was trying to avoid this time was the use of participles or “ing” words since Andrew’s verse starts with “drifting.” We don’t want to use too many of these words in the poem and we especially don’t want to repeat them in the next few verses. So here are the verses I chose to consider for verse four:

 

 

clouds in slow motion
start to cover the sky

 

Eavonka Ettinger

 

*

 

only muscle memory
recalls the combination

building a castle from
the sand of an hourglass

the hoarder’s home
is his fortress

the thing-a-majig drawer
full of mystery keys

the leaning towers of change
from his pocket

one more book in the stack
on how to declutter

 

Laurie Greer

 

*

 

panama hats de rigueur
for the tony bridge players

the cameleer’s ich, ich, i—ch—ch
well before dawn

poached eggs go well
with our very own jam tarts

 

Betty Shropshire

 

*

 

my son’s shadow
is much taller than mine

our family photo album
is full of frowns

 

Dan Campbell

 

*

 

my history buried
in the other hemisphere

a weekly antique show
on the castle lawns

the rocket man gone
for a long, long time

fifteen chastity belts
complete with keys

after all these years
Earthrise, again

a page or two torn
from the tourist guide

yesterday’s headlines
skipping down the street

kids fold the headlines
into paper planes

 

Lorin Ford

 

*

 

unused keys turned into
wall décor

 

Debbie Feller

 

*

 

Earthrise on the accent wall
at the rest stop

 

Pamela Garry

 

*

 

an inuksuk points the way
to the next adventure

the understory
has its own tales to tell

cornflakes rustle
into the pottery bowl

 

Carol Jones

 

*

 

underneath the sandbank
a treasure chest

 

Madeleine Kavanagh

 

*

 

the church organ player
still out of key

she slides the bolt
on her shotgun

a small windfall
from the lottery

 

Tracy Davidson

 

*

 

house clearance attracts
a gaggle of neighbours

sheltered benches detain
the usual clientele

 

Dick Pettit

 

*

 

nearby standing silent
the hitching post

 

Dinah Power

 

*

 

an awkward silence follows
our complete loss of words

a few stale breadcrumbs
are all that’s required

 

Michael Henry Lee

 

*

 

lost keys
rusting atop the cairn

 

Ben Oliver

 

*

 

toll booth basket
swallows sixteen quarters

with the pull of a lever
molasses sweetens the grain

dodgeball game over
i caught the ball

 

Rob Barkan

 

*

 

in the ancient ruins
a marble statue

stacks of boxes form
pathways in the hoarder’s house

 

John Daleiden

 

*

 

pineapple upside-down cake
wins hands down

the key is in the back,
come on in when you get there

on an abacus
an order of magnitude

 

Alison Woolpert

 

*

 

granddad’s reluctance
to try hearing aids

lost keys found
on an icebox shelf

 

M. R. Defibaugh

 

*

 

with each telling
his late pa more heroic

 

Jackie Maugh Robinson

 

*

 

our dogs become
the new dogs on the block

 

Wendy C. Bialek

 

*

 

kayaks stacked
in the barn loft

 

Carol Ann Palomba

 

*

 

a stranger alights on a branch
of the family tree

the rumble of trucks
stirs a flock of pigeons into flight

facial recognition software
tracks the crowd

the suggestion box
overflows

their whole story written down
in red ochre glyphs

the deep groan of tectonic plates
at the subduction zone

 

Jonathan Alderfer

 

*

 

the ohr ohr call
of a mourning dove

 

Diana Ming Jeong

 

*

 

a squirrel balances as
the birdfeeder sways

on the bridge
college students make new friends

 

Melissa Dennison

 

*

 

the chatter of young mothers
at collection time

one by one, the regulars
take their place at the bar

 

Marion Clarke

 

 

So many good verses to choose from this time. Three people submitted verses honoring Bill Anders, the photographer of Earthrise, who died this week.  I seriously considered breaking the form of a nijuin renku to choose one of these verses; the first four verses of the nijuin are considered to be the opening phase of the renku and have a politeness to them. They are like conversation at a party when you first arrive; small talk is the norm—no difficult or downbeat subjects, like death or religion or politics, are brought up. These are saved for later when the party really gets going—which starts with the next verse! So, I invite these three writers and all of you to consider writing a tribute to Bill Ander’s Earthrise for the next verse. From the twenty highlighted verses I think the verse I have chosen for our fourth verse is a perfect transition to the next phase of the renku which opens the poem up to all topics and emotional states.

 

 

Our verse four is:

 

an inuksuk points the way
to the next adventure

                          Carol Jones

 

Here is our renku so far:

 

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

 

And now here are your instructions for verse five:

 

  • a three-line no-season verse, the three lines should flow syntactically;
  • link to verse four in some fashion;
  • the door is open for all topics: religion, war, politics, death, or any wild or bizarre subjects (in this section of the renku the party gets going full steam—arguments, clowning, tears, all happen here);
  • for the rest of the renku, please avoid any subjects related to festivals or circuses, carnival acts, moons, etc.; also avoid mention of stones, directions, or cairns for the next six verses; avoid mention of entrances, water, and vegetation for the next five verses; avoid any mention of insects, light, color, or trajectories for the next four verses;
  • submit your verses by midnight PDT Tuesday, June 18 (this assumes John has returned to full health and the renku is back on schedule).

 

Thank you for all your submissions; I wish you good writing in the coming week—

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

John Stevenson

Comments (260)

  1. Patricia,
    Do you have an update on John?
    __________________________________________
    Jim K. posts the new viral’s on 21st of June

  2. In Tokyo it’s Thursday. 8:17 am, in London it’s Thurs. 12.: 47 am, in Melbourne it’s Thurs 9:17 am but in New York, it’s yesterday,. (Wednesday, 7:18 pm.)
    Guess I’ll be back tomorrow morning, when it will be afternoon or evening of Thursday in the USA

    1. Hello, Everyone–Yes, it’s Thursday at 12:20PM here in California. I have prepared the posting for today, but it has not yet been posted. Please be patient as, unfortunately, John is still not available to do the posting. I’m hoping Jim will be able to do it soon.
      I know you are eager to continue the process–I am too, but at the moment we can only wait for help to come.

      1. Thankyou, Patricia.

        All the good things are worth waiting for.
        Hope John’s recovery is going well.

      2. Hi Patricia. Of course, when the posting happens will depend on when Jim (or someone else capable of posting it ) will be available.
        I’ve noticed (I think I have, anyway) that re:Virals , which is usually up before the Renku Sessions, isn’t up yet , too.
        Back to bed for me this cold, cold morning

        1. Lorin, worry not: I post re:Virals a day after the usual renku session post, on Friday (in US/UK time zone) around 13.00 GMT. Today’s is scheduled..

  3. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    in the debris
    a shattered porcelain cup
    I held yesterday

    wildfire fighters
    douse water on red hot
    embers

    only a black
    concrete pad where my house
    stood yesterday

    1. John D.,
      doing google search…and are concerned, are you affected by these wildfires around Phoenix?

      1. Wendy, thank you for the concern. I am not directly impacted by any of the fires. But a couple I know well who live in Wickenburg did l0ose their home.

        1. sorry about your friends whose home was lost to wildfire in Wickenburg, that moved you to share these compasionate verses …thank you for getting back to us here and letting us know you are safe, John D.

  6. I enjoyed your verse as well as enriching my vocabulary Carol – congratulations!
    .
    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    .
    Carol Jones
    •
    .
    walking a mile
    in these ruby slippers
    so much sand!

  7. only the sound
    of sweat and tears
    in such emptiness

    *

    Joe’s crime rate lowers
    as Trump’s ‘drop dead’ list
    lengthens

  8. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    all cots taken
    at the refugee gym
    a baby cries

  10. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    in dense smoke
    I grab necessary
    documents

    below a burned out
    chimney, Raggedy Ann’s
    dress singed

    in record heat
    twenty-nine wildfires
    scorch the southwest

  15. don’t they know
    it’s the end of the world?
    it ended when you said goodb—

  17. in victory
    he captures
    the enemy flag

    international
    peace rules the cosmos
    in 2080

    workers uncover
    fossils twice the size
    of dinosaurs

    drug dealers squashed
    with universal
    bullets

  18. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    •
    awake before dawn
    the scattered groups
    trail the first birds out
    *
    packing some gewgaws
    for the daily treks,
    on the off chance
    *

  23. With hope that John is doing well, I add this haiku to the list:

    at the end
    of the game he loses
    his favorite marble

  24. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    Earth tempratres
    higher than daily averages
    scorch our journey

    at recess children
    in costumes play
    superhero games

    the felon receives
    a one year sentence to do
    only kindness

  26. Congratulations to Carol on the verse selection. I’d never head of inuksuk so thank you for expanding my knowledge.
    …
    no ceasefire
    anytime soon
    in Gaza
    …
    one evil man dies
    and another follows him
    into politics
    …
    slaughtering civilians remotely
    is a great sport
    for boys

  28. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    ——-Carol Jones
    .

    up the valley
    a forest thrush is singing
    a drinking ballad
    .

    a smiling fox
    looks up and laughs
    as our world floats by
    .

    ivory netsuke
    of a Tokugawa samurai
    astronaut
    .

    long lost ukiyo-e print
    by Hokusai
    of the earth rising

  29. an inuksuk points the way

    to the next adventure
    — Carol Jones

    enemies
    in a maze
    seeking the start

  30. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    join us Juneteenth,
    a festive celebration
    of freedom

    doctors develop
    DNA cancer cure
    at Martian lab

  31. i remember the day
    she told me to make tea
    while she turned to greet the other guests

    1. Correction:

      i remember the day
      she told me to make tea
      as she turned to greet the other guests

      1. this is a great example of open-ended verse…and why and how it goes so well in renku…so many ways to see/ fill in/and respond to the story. Thank You! Diana the possibilities are keeping my mind flying in haunting motion.

      2. editcrow would have a ball festival here:
        he wants to know if this still says the same thing for you,
        but in less words????

        the day
        she told me to make tea
        then turned to greet other guests

        Diana Ming Jeong

  32. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    •
    which kid
    will be first to find
    Patty Reed’s Dolly?
    •
    for the whole trip
    Betsy Wetsy just eats
    wets and sleeps

    1. Alison,
      I had (actually still have) a Betsy Wetsy doll. I know what you mean. I expected her to cry tears, but she never did. Most of my practice of mothering came from playing with her. Boy, what a rude awakening I had!

  33. on Mars
    they dream
    of earthrise

    the uniqueness
    of Earth, a precious gem
    we should treasure

    OK how many posts have I sent? Blimey, over to you then. Major Tom over n out…(for now) 😁

  34. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    twelve hour rushes
    of cross-country footrace
    from LA to New York

    photographers
    document new domiciles
    on Mars

    1. Martians
      wake early
      to see the Earth rise
      -Melissa Dennison

      alter this a little and it holds a whole new meaning . . .

      Martians
      rise early
      to see the Earth’s wake
      rise early

  38. 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
    –
    who’s the sexiest
    Indigo Jones
    or his dad ?

    (for fun: we’re probably not up to the ‘love’ verses yet)

    1. hmm, if you’d said Indiana Jones I’d def have an opinion. Indigo Montoya I sort of know but sadly no Indigo Jones …..

      1. :-) You caught it, Clysta. I certainly did intend Indiana Jones, not someone dyed with indigo. Thanks! :-)
        —
        ahem… correction, thanks to Clysta:

        who’s the sexiest
        Indiana Jones
        or his dad ?

  39. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    robbers invade
    the homeowners exclusive
    neighborhoods

    firefighters battle
    Hassayampa River
    bottom inferno

  40. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    ground control to Major Bill
    send us a selfie
    of your next step
    *
    undecided cat
    dream-tussles with
    a restless wind
    *
    a three-legged lion
    faces a force of nature
    to follow her lead
    *

  41. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    •
    in living color
    the ten partly buried cars
    at Cadillac Ranch
    •
    Patty Reed’s doll
    lives on
    as a survivor

  42. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure – Carol Jones
    –
    crystal skulls
    discovered in the Andes
    made in Brunswick

  43. n inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    my time machine
    arrives at Earthport
    in 3020

  44. These are offered in honor of my top-three old-timey science fiction movies:

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    an earthrise
    before the day the Earth
    stood still

    a lonely earthrise
    for Robinson Crusoe
    on Mars

    invisible
    from the forbidden planet
    an earthrise

    1. I apologize for lowercasing the term “Earthrise.” My thought is that, for non-Earth residents or explorers in outer space, an “earthrise” would be an everyday planetary experience, much like a “sunrise” and a “moonrise” are for us.

      1. Richard, there is no need for apologies: you are right to use lower case in this context. The only reason that we use upper case when referring to Earthrise is the same reason we use upper case for your name, Richard. (or for that matter, my name or the name of my cat, Timothy. ) Earthrise is a proper noun, the name of a particular photograph.

        But moon-rise is something we might see most nights and any clear night might be a starry night. The name of the famous Van Gogh painting, though, is Starry Night, with capitals, just as the name of Anders’ photo is Earthrise.

  45. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    warlords challenge
    democratic governments
    unopposed

  46. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    women march
    with signs that say,
    “it’s my choice, not yours”

  47. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    — Carol Jones

    screaming eagles
    fishing in Michigan
    rendezvous

    slow stroll
    with the wheelator
    to and from the mailbox

    playing
    the day’s Wordle
    on Groundhog Day

  48. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    ——-Carol Jones
    .

    our journey
    starts by the willow
    where the water speaks
    .

    a double helix
    hidden
    in the northern lights
    .

    temple bells
    green with ghosts
    lie in the dust

  49. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    Earthrise viewed first-hand
    from Mars exploration
    shuttle

    2. :-) Diana, I’ve actually seen this, but perhaps not as you intended. In my experience, those brilliant (and beautiful) blue eyes belong to a Siamese cat of my acquaintance. Sneaking up behind the (actual) choolate cake to get a closer look at the baked chicken, the braised salmon, etc.

      1. Dear Lorin,
        I may or may not have intended this.
        But you are now in my favor.
        Whether it’s because of the Siamese cat or the chocolate cat…
        You decide :)
        Sincerely,
        Diana Ming Jeong

  53. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    on a flyby
    the orbiter discovers
    Earth’s replacement

    1. on a flyby
      the orbiter
      discovers
      Earth’s replacement
      – John Daleiden

      I can imagine the excitement of this, when seen. However, it puts dread into me.
      Many years ago I listened to a feature on radio 4. The subject was about discovering a suitable replacement for habitation. Part of the conversation went like this –
      “What would be the first consideration when investigating the landscape?”
      “Firstly, we’d investigate and consider what life, if any, inhabits this planet.”
      The conversation then went on to similar things we have done and still do on Earth –
      “If you found valuable seams of minerals and metals, would more respect be shown to this world and not exploit its potential wealth, ending up in the same situation as on Earth.
      It was the reply that chilled me.
      “In the first instant . . .”
      When we look back at what has been done to the first nations, I dread to think of a possible outcome.

  54. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *

    oui.
    et quand est
    l’happy hour?

  56. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *

    to Sutter’s Fort,
    but Patty Reed’s doll is in
    for repairs

  57. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    *
    I’m confused,
    it’s Russian Gulch State Park
    and not Gulag?

  62. reminiscing
    through the marginalia
    of out-of-date travel guides
    *
    excavating the leavings
    in the used-book
    end of the shop
    *
    stabbed by a ticket stub
    stuck
    between the pages
    *

  63. Here a few offerings in the spirit of the old (Turkish?) saying, “The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on.”

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    a baby wails
    but the parents
    keep on smiling

    a toy breaks
    but the children
    laugh again

    fenders bend
    but the line of traffic
    snakes around

    a soldier dies
    but the gunshots
    continue

    a coffin lowers
    but the mourners
    return home

  64. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    — Carol Jones

    lying
    before an alienist
    telling tales

  65. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    the lonely
    decision to attack
    the attackers

  67. Bill Ander’s journey
    to space
    edifying earth

    ~ ~ ~

    16 sunrises
    and 16 sunsets every day
    in space

    ~ ~ ~

    a planet
    made of diamonds
    55 Cancri e

      2. “We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.”–Bill Anders in Dan Campbell’s essay on Earthrise.

        Beautiful tribute to the Ander’s photograph and its profound effect on the way we see ourselves, Dan. Thank you for sharing it.

      3. I read the quote on Wiki and it inspired me to write one. Thanks for the essay too!

        1. I enjoyed reading your essay, Dan. I also like the serenity of your opening painting.

      5. wonderfully written dan!
        especially the stark contrast
        between the barren lifeless
        moon and the vividly lovely
        Earth planet…

  68. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    the graduates
    throw their mortar boards
    into the air

  69. nothing subtle
    in the exhaust
    of his new Ferrari

    the sparkle
    of a happy retirement balloon
    stuck in the thorn bush

    watching
    their helium balloon
    going going gone

    skin-on-skin
    for the first time
    our daughter’s cry

  72. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    ***

    off to explore a new world
    only to turn around
    and rediscover our own

    Diana Ming Jeong

  73. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    ok
    who’s game
    to try wild game?
    *
    and this little piggie
    frigging
    stayed home!
    *
    still a question:
    how many Japanese
    on the coast of BC?

  74. 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
    –
    how beautiful
    the blue marble Earth
    as seen from the moon
    .
    Ander’s ‘Earthrise’
    some years before Kubrick’s
    great space odyssey
    –
    a space odyssey
    to the tune of Strauss’s ‘Thus
    spake Zarathustra’
    –
    the persistence
    of memory over time
    painted by Dali
    –
    do we draw the line
    at AI generated
    cubist artworks?
    .

  75. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure …..–Carol Jones

    neither race, color,
    nor beliefs can curtail
    world love

  77. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure …..–Carol Jones

    international
    peace treaties proposed to end
    alien wars

  78. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure …..Carol Jones
    *
    photographers don’t die
    they just hide
    behind shutters

    *
    the earth looks like
    a pretty place to live
    from a distance

    *
    wish you were here
    on a postcard
    return to sender
    *

    Earthrise says
    beauty is just
    a stone throw away

    *
    Earthrise tells us
    we must step away
    to see our full beauty

    *

    mom used to say
    sticks and stones could break bones
    and words would never harm us

    *

    how far away
    must we go
    to see lovely

    *
    was that praying mantis
    on my window screen
    waiting for dinner too?

    ******************

    (kindly note:
    only some of these verses follow
    sabaki’s rules).

    1. the earth looks like
      a pretty place to live
      from a distance

      wendy c. bialek

      something one alien space traveler
      would tell another—as a warning!
      excellent, wendy

    2. (kindly note:
      only some of these verses follow
      sabaki’s rules). — Wendy C. Bialek

      Then why take up space by posting them, Wendy?

  79. that jackass
    tattoo is
    my biggest regret

    remember that note
    we nailed
    to his grave

      1. yes, Patricia, this url has so much rich information on the cultural/hisorical aspects to which Carol speaks in her verse. Thank you for posting it!
        and oh, yes….Patricia, my post above was only to show some crafty illustrations of the modern ways people are constructing expressions of art…and they are more properly called “inunnguaq”. Since Carol mentioned she wanted to build something from the rocks on her property. The clarification is definitely needed to not confused the sacred monuments we are linking to now, (in Carol’s verse) are called “inuksuk”. (please refer to the post towards bottom that i made to Carol….preparing her for this video in advance of my post, and asking her how she would categorize these new constructions)

  81. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    below Egyptian
    tombs we discover
    a new culture

  83. this verse
    without rhyme or reason
    fits perfectly

    an eskimo finds
    the hidden meaning
    in Stooge’s nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!

    polar bears
    float atop the lattes
    in arctic coffee shops

    1. an inuksuk points the way
      to the next adventure

      the ghost
      of Louis Leakey
      wets his pants

      1. Dan M.
        this captures, for me, the essence of discovery, and thus relates, so well to both the link to Carol’s verse and the astronauts around the iconic picture.
        well done!

        1. Thanks, Wendy – I needed a little encouragement while I continue to get acclimated to this renku environment. I would like to be an advocate for small doses of irreverence once in a while. I saw a green light flashing when Patricia closed her weekly call to action with – “the door is open for all topics: religion, war, politics, death, or any wild or bizarre subjects (in this section of the renku the party gets going full steam—arguments, clowning, tears, all happen here) . . .” Hence my coming forward with references to the Three Stooges, Louis Leakey, and the wetting of one’s pants!

          I feel we could use a little more humor here. Comedy is no less an art than cranking out three line word pictures – right???? (All in the best of taste, of course.)

  84. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    gathering tips
    at baking
    Baumkuchen
    *
    taking a stab
    at homemade
    Baumkuchen
    *

  85. Congratulations Carol! Your poem is absolutely wonderful, full of fun and mystique! I love the line “to the next adventure”! (This is such a fascinating subject and I was spurred on to look up more about these structures!) Thank you Patricia, for your insightful commentary and also for your nod towards my poem. Trusting that John will have a speedy recovery.

  86. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    trading tips
    on getting through
    the next border crossing
    *
    the sharp edges of events
    torn
    from the headlines
    *

  87. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    –Carol Jones

    moon launch countdown:
    five, four, three, two, one,
    off to explore Mars

  88. Prayers to John for a speedy and successful recovery.

    Thank you Patricia for selecting two of my haiku for your short list.

    Carol, your verse is a fine way to lead us into the action of this party—I greatly enjoy this haiku.

    1. Thankyou, John. I too look forward to reading the entries for the next section of the renku.

  89. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    fingers crossed
    the Victor, Oscar, Tango, Echo
    stays grounded

  90. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure –Carol Jones

    astronauts build
    quarters for explorers
    on the moon

  92. Best wishes to John. Hope the surgery went well, and recovery is swift.

    My offerings this week:

    how a snapshot
    can live on
    after the snapper’s passing

    her bags ready
    to return home
    in remission

    a hundred words
    for no
    and still the misogyny

    (originally wrote the last line of the 3rd one as “and still they rape us”, but then I thought that might be a bit too dark, so changed it)

  93. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure — Carol Jones
    —
    “dis pella stap hea”
    painted above the sketch
    of a crocodile
    –
    (true story, from my long ago adventures in and around Cooktown. The sign was painted on a hammered piece of tin, perhaps an old kerosene tin, and was a genuine, gentle warning. )

    1. Just done a search for the first line, keep getting results for Staph infections.

      An intriguing verse, Lorin. Is this an aboriginal warning?

      1. Yes, Carol, a kind, generous warning and not by the local council. There are two kinds of crocodile (that I know of) the freshwater croc ( doesn’t attack people) and the saltwater croc (saltie) that does attack people.
        The sign was in what’s called ‘pidgin English’, which is not too hard to translate enough to get the point:

        “dis pella stap hea” would translate (did translate to me!) to “this fellow stops/ stays/ comes here”
        When accompanied by a painted sketch of a crocodile, the message has an immediate effect. No language issues at all, but a clear and sharp understanding of the point being made. :-)

        1. I can now understand those words, hear them being said after your explanation.
          After thinking about the sign, I do believe I’d take more notice of a sign such as this, over a council sign :)
          Glad I asked about it.

          Thanks Lorin.

  94. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure — Carol Jones

    brighter, they say,
    in the Northern hemisphere
    tonight’s nova
    –
    waiting up
    to see tonight’s nova
    online
    –

  95. Best wishes to John.
    My wife had the ‘bubbles’ last year, but is fine now.
    *
    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    the online scammer
    fleeces another victim
    of her savings

    1. Andrew,
      how comforting, and reassuring, i’m sure your sharing your wife’s experience here will be good for John to hear…as it made me feel more optimistic….thank you for giving out these positive vibes,

  96. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    in the Alps
    with the bells & cows
    let’s yodel

    a sultry night
    on Rive Gauche
    cool jazz

    in need
    of a shower
    Victoria Falls

    the descent
    ends too soon
    parachute jump

    Thank you Patricia, I noted a verse of mine in the long list, happy about that.
    Also as I have ventured to participate in this journey I find my horizons widened greatly with wonderful snippets of learning along the way !

    Though I do not know the details, to John who is not well, wishing you the best in a speedy and full recovery.

  97. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    chauffeur-driven
    new mayor reaches town hall
    on a tandem

  98. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    Trumps mark
    say it’s not so
    sharpie

        1. sorry for the typo on your name, Melissa….i seem to be doing multiposts of video url’s here as well!

  99. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    astronauts don’t die,
    they just fade away
    like atrosanguineus

    on June 7th
    Anders just stepped away
    to see the whole picture

  100. Congratulations Carol for your path to another land! And, joining in with sending all the best wishes to John for healing. Take care.

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure Carol Jones

    a bold
    Bridge bid
    is No Trump

    1. Thankyou, Alison for your lovely comment.
      If I were in John’s place I would be very anxious and upset of what could happen.
      Thank goodness for medical advancements.

  101. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    June 7th
    the sound of a shutter
    heard across cosmos

      1. . . . cosmos the flower? Or do you perhaps mean the cosmos (harmonious universe)

  103. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    — Carol Jones

    demolition
    of antique store
    plans up in the air

    demolition
    of The Trash Museum
    plans up in the air

  105. Praying for your recovery, John . So amazed that you are here with all that is going on. You are so faithful.

    Congratulations, Carol! Your verses never disappoint!

    And thank you , Patricia, for considering my offering. You are doing a wonderful job at helping us know what you are looking for!

  106. Patricia,
    Thank you for taking the time to share so many of the jewels created in this weeks session. The one you did choose for the renku, Carol’s verse creates such a needed pivot point, while making a simple link to Andrew’s….’pile up’ and touching down on a meaningful ritual and getting us ready for what comes next….was ingenious! Thank you again, for doing such a great job of sabaki.

  107. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    Carol, what makes this verse doubly special
    (besides the refreshing transition from
    Andrew’s) is the word inuksuk– so fascinating
    and different, a whole new world ahead of us
    in the renku. What great stuff.

    Patricia, a perfect launch into the main renku,
    emphasizing adventures ahead–wonderful choice,
    thank you! And updating us about John has been angelic.

  108. Carol…what a wonderful verse, it clears the former scene, creates a new stage, and also readies us for the next to come! A total refresh! Thank you for writing about an inuksuk….i have (and still are) enjoyed reading about them and learning and being inspired by the meaning behind these structures.
    Congratulations, Carol, for this monumental addition to our renku!

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    *

  110. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure — Carol Jones
    –
    when the horses dropped
    camels were imported
    and their cameleers
    –

    1. when the horses dropped
      camels were imported
      with their cameleers
      –
      (true! now we shoot, from planes, the descendants of those pioneering camels)

      1. That is so sad to read, Lorin. No respect, there. Brings to mind the war horses of WW1, left behind to starve or eaten.

  111. inflatable
    girlfriends never complain
    about fake diamonds

    a patio forest
    of redwood
    bonsai trees

    waves of
    sand in
    a rock garden

    1. Inflatable girlfriends don’t mind being used as a surf board, either, as some of us have personally witnessed. Naughty boys!

  112. Dear John,
    Hope you can hear the love and devotion, we all share for you, as you bravely face this surgery, to save your sight. Thank you for bringing yourself to post our Thursday Renku while struggling through “bubbles” and having to take on the huge stress of surgery and its unknown outcomes.
    Rest well, knowing you are in our hearts, minds and prayers.
    the entire Haiku Foundation and specifically, The Renku Sessions

    1. Wendy, I join you in sending loving, supportive thoughts. John, wishing you the best in this time of difficulties.

    2. How do you know that John posted “our Thursday Renku”, Wendy?

      Of course he may have, but I imagine he could have given the task to someone else with the capacity to post it.
      (I know we have at least one person here who ‘d be capable, if given the necessary data, of posting it. Everyone needs a back-up, some time or another.)

      All the best, John, for your complete recovery.

  113. Sending hopeful healing thoughts to John. ?

    Thank you, Patricia, for selecting my verse for the short list. It made my day!

    Congratulations, Carol! I absolutely adore your verse and all the places it can take us.

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    origami cranes
    take flight and soar
    with the winds

    a peacock
    alarm echoes through
    the alley

    2. Yikes, just now noticed that errant and unfortunate question mark after my first sentence. I truly don’t know how that got there.

  114. an inuksuk points the way

    to the next adventure
    —Carol Jones

    the sound of prayers
    in diminuendo
    at the starting line

  115. This is good news because that means John was able to post. I hope he is doing better and on the road to recovery. It sounds very serious as I don’t even know what the gas bubbles mean… I will keep John and everyone in my prayers.

    Thank you Patricia for again selecting one of mine in your list. You picked the first one and I didn’t need to struggle with many iterations of the mourning doves. They just happened to be by my window all day and I was able to observe them from afar and fondly. Too bad their names have “ing” in it. They are also known as turtle doves, but I didn’t want to denote any season to them.

    I enjoyed reading everyone’s submissions, learning again from each and everyone here… You see, I am not that worldly, having only lived in California, and have not traveled out of the country, or very often. So, the word “inuksuk” is new to me… Ah… the joys of reading and participating. Congratulations, Carol! Lead the way! :)

    Best to All!

  116. Oops! Sorry The third verse 5 should be ;

    The last episode
    was in the Kalahari –
    why not Easter Island?

  117. 4
    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    5s
    “Can you enlarge it?
    I think we’re looking at
    an inhabited planet.”

    Magnificent structures
    but beyond the known techniques
    of our humanoids

    The last episode
    was in the Kalahari

  118. Congrats, Carol, on your inukshuk verse. I loved it, Having a husband, who likes reading about stone age peoples, I learned about them some time ago. I shared your verse with him. I even wrote a short story about them about a year or so ago, but I digress.

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure
    –Carol Jones

    for the first time
    he lights up
    a doobie

    2. Thankyou, Nancy for your congratulation, good to know you enjoyed and shared this verse.
      Finding out about our ancestors near and far does make for an interesting read, and that you found inspiration to write short stories, of that epoch.
      I book I’m reading, is close to home ‘searching for the Silures’ an iron age tribe in south-east Wales.
      They gave the might of the roman army a bashing, I read on . . .

  119. Be well, John! Hope your eye surgery was completely successful.

    Congratulations, Carol! Your fine (directionally unchallenged) inuksuk verse brings to mind Issa’s famous daikon haiku:

    the radish picker
    with a radish…
    points the way

    (translated by David Lanoue at http://haikuguy.com/issa/)

    Wonderful selections, explanations, and instructions again this week, Patricia! There were so many verses to enjoy, making it (I’m sure) so difficult to choose just one!

    Here are my candidates for a fifth verse, starting with the suggested topics of “religion, war, politics, [and] death.” Verses on “wild or bizarre subjects” may come later.

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones

    the world’s prayers
    light up the switchboard
    in Heaven

    bomb blasts
    the size of fireflies
    from outer space

    an orangish tint
    replaces the redness
    of embarrassment

    a veteran
    face up at attention
    on the deathbed

    1. Thankyou, Richard for your delightful comment, honest, I didn’t have the well read verse in mind when I wrote it, but no doubt it did cross my mind afterwards :)

    3. the world’s prayers
      light up the switchboard
      in Heaven

      this one is special, richard
      nicely done

  120. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    no simple errands
    in a city
    under siege
    *

  121. Thankyou, Patricia for considering my verses and selecting one for the poem, and it is my favorite, I’m so pleased, thankyou again.

    Hi John
    Your situation is so moving to read. I wish you all the very best with your recovery, and many thanks for taking the time to present this session.
    I hope you will now rest and let your eye heal.

    Take care, lovely boy.

  122. All the best of good fortune to John, and sorry to learn of his plight.

    Well done, Carol. I too needed too Google ‘inuksuk’ but learning is part of the fun.

  123. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    advertising
    for a superhero
    to save the world
    *
    not sure we’ll survive
    another trip
    to the polls
    *

  124. an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    assuring him again
    that Yes
    We Can Can
    *
    humming
    Yes We Can Can
    into a mantra
    *

  125. Congratulations Carol and thank you for adding inuksuk to my vocabulary!

    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure – Carol Jones

    carving
    an eagle’s beak
    on the totem pole

    watching my wife
    dance around
    the totem pole

  127. the cold war
    doing its damndest
    to heat up again

    pride flags
    line the walk
    of South Orange Ave

    * Pulse Nightclub located on 1912 South Orange Ave in Orlando was the scene of the second worst mass shooting by a single gunman in US History on June 12, 2016

    an election year
    has all the candidates
    figuratively speaking

  128. first and foremost; my strongest: hopes, energy, prayers et all for John’s successful surgery and
    recovery!!!

  129. Thanks to John, Patricia, Carol and all connecting here!

    an inuksuk points the way

    to the next adventure
    — Carol Jones

    at the whiskey bar
    Earthrise comes up again
    the day the shutter dies

  130. Brilliant choice, Patricia–I was behind this one from the time if appeared. Thank you, Carol. for submitting it. and congratulations!
    *
    an inuksuk points the way
    to the next adventure

    Carol Jones
    *
    recapping events
    in the bold face
    of a voice bubble
    *
    recounting events
    in the all caps
    of a voice bubble
    *

  131. Congratulations Carol. So many of us riffed off of your verse with our cairn offerings. A well-deserved choice. Patricia’s post appeared at the regular time in my time zone so I will assume that Patricia’s wish for John’s swift and successful healing begins and add my wish energy to hers.

    1. Thankyou, Clysta for your kind supportive words and honesty.
      I’ve read quite a few books about haiku, regarding the masters, and it is said it’s a credit to the writer of original verse if others find it worthy to write their own interpretation. That said, riff away :)

      1. Quite a few years ago I purchased a book – Landmarks: a collection of haibun by Ray Rasmussen. I’ve read it from cover to cover and back again.
        On the cover there an inuksuk on the cover, small but perfectly formed.
        The afterword: inuksuk landmarks made for good reading.
        The translation “someone was here”

    2. Thankyou, Melissa. These ancient monuments have an interesting history. I have every intention of building some myself, at some time, in appropriate places on the farm, goodness knows there’s plenty of stones about the place.

      1. aha, Canada gets a look-in, via Ray Rasmussen, a lovely , very helpful man and knowledgeable in many ways :-)
        Congratulations, Carol, a fresh and interesting verse in its own right.

        Quite how an inuksuk links to a British Isles or European ( I assume) lock gate is beyond me, though. Am I the only one who wishes our sabaki would explain the links a little?

        For those interested in the inuksuk:
        https://www.whalehouse.ca/travel/the-inukshuk-cultural-icon-cultural-appropriation/
        .
        Another thing I don’t understand is how Rob Barkan’s ‘dodgeball’ verse (good in itself) was considered to be in the running (in bold type, too) when our hokku featured a juggler:

        dodgeball game over
        i caught the ball – Rob Barkan

        I would’ve thought that anything to do with balls would take us straight back to Wendy’s juggler verse.
        What am I missing?

        1. Lorin,
          the link i see in Carol’s verse to Andrew’s is simply “pile up” !

        2. Hey, Lorin, there are also canals with locks in Canada, the USA, and, of course, the biggy…the Panama Canal farther south.
          ? Betty

          1. Thanks, Betty. :-) Then it’s my ignorance about locked canals: I simply associated them with ye olde English/ Dutch/ European things, and didn’t even imagine these things might be in Canada. Obviously, I haven’t travelled far. (I admit that I have a vague idea that I’ve heard of the Panama Canal sometime in my life, but I thought it was in South America (I don’t mean the American South) I didn’t associate it with ‘locks’.

        3. Thankyou, Lorin for your congratulations, appreciated.

          My initial thoughts were the same as, Wendy’s, regarding leaves and stones, then came the ‘old’
          Some of the canals in the UK are not used, but the footpaths are, I was going to write this –

          footpath lead the way
          to the next adventure

          A bit flat, I think.
          And I wasn’t aware we had to be in a specific hemisphere, just to connect with the previous verse, in some way, that has been Patricia’s request.

          1. Yes, Carol, I didn’t think we had to be in a specific hemisphere, but when I read canals and locks I assumed (wrongly) the setting was England or Holland or Venice & the like. I thought of those old, unused locks and the paths on each side of the river, though.

            “footpath lead the way
            to the next adventure” – Carol

            :-) I do like your sense of humour. :-)

          2. Carol,
            That your additional link has been inspired by the word, ‘old’ ( in Andrew’s verse)…makes your already charming verse more precious for me.
            In my search of this subject i found many amazing historic values and poignant stories for these old structures. and i also found how many people today are building them. i will post an interesting video above on top page for all to peruse, but i was wondering how would you categorize these contemporary monuments? old or new ? and would it matter, if they use old sticks and old stones vs. new materials? or a mixture of both materials?

        4. Good catch, Lorin–for sure a verse with “ball” in it would be a no-no. If this were an in-person renku, I know you’d be there to save me from my mistakes. Fingers-crossed I can make it to the end without any serious flub-ups :)

          1. Patricia, here are my thoughts
            about the hokku:

            the moon joins
            a juggler’s side show
            harvest festival

            wendy c. bialek

            i see no mention of the word
            ball(s) in the above hokku.
            the juggler could be juggling
            anything–bowling pins, alphabet
            blocks, soup cans, torches…
            one can’t assume a juggler is
            juggling balls. but i can understand
            balls are usually associated with a
            juggler’s act.

          2. Patricia, my sincere thanks for your post, above. :-) Sometimes I seem to play the Devil’s Advocate, sometimes I’m right, sometimes wrong.

            Rob, it’s true that we can’t assume a juggler is juggling balls. But balls are commonly associated with a juggling act and we can’t assume the juggler wasn’t juggling balls. The only reason “balls” wouldn’t be a good idea (for the rest of the renku, considering the prominence of the hokku) ) is that there should be nothing that has the reader looking back, nothing that interferes with the forward motion of the poem until the end.

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