The Renku Sessions: Tan-renga – Week 6

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1. In that corner
   of an empty room
   the orchid blossoms

   +
   no star
   over this hill-
   only cherry trees

2. in whacking longing
   the frog continued to sing
   sleeping finches

   Nani Mariani

3. sun
   touch the wheat leaves
   and farmers

   Nani Mariani

4. dandelion
   parachutes floating
   in the breeze
   *
   color
   coordinated tulips
   and rainbow

5. picnic ants
   protesting scanty
   left-overs

   3/08/2021 by wendy © bialek

6. spring showers
   a rainbow grows
   in spilt diesel

7. cherry blossoms
   shower the hearse
   with goodbye kisses

   3/08/2021 by wendy © bialek

8. the hypnotic swish
   of willow catkins
   sweeping my windshield

   3/08/2021 by wendy © bialek

9. birds weaving nests
   with the threads
   from the lost mitten
   *
   so many nests
   held in the palm
   of the child’s lost mitten
   *
   the ballooning
   population
   of spring peepers
   *

10. I took a step
    slower than a duck
    smell the flower pistil

    Nani Mariani – Melbourne

11. poetry for you
    decorate a bunch of carnations
    It’s not April Fool’s Day…

    Nani Mariani – Melbourne

12. once again
    the mama racoon bites me
    April Fools’ Day

13. vernal equinox
    a piece of the bowl
    in each hand

14. held my breath
    preventing the
    april fool’s birth

    3/07/2021 by wendy © bialek

15. whisp
    ering on the moun
    taintop

16. wind chimes
    and their amazing
    accents

17. wind chimes
    and their different
    dialects

18. white sky, seagrass
    the archipelago of me
    on the way to nowhere

    Michelle Beyers
    Copyright © 3/7/21

19. two glasses of grape
    eye to eye spring tales
    of cheers

    ****
    2) spring showers
    a vow not to fight
    anymore
    ***

    3) her love verse
    in full bloom
    mood of spring
    **
    4) window curtains
    fritter a welcome kit
    of spring party

20. the first warm spell starts
    with the scent
    of witch hazel
    *
    still time to follow
    Hydra through the shortening
    nights
    *

21. Congrats Shelley! and to all poets – I always enjoy reading the range of responses.
    .
    .
    his eyes can’t hold it
    the song
    of the skylark
    .
    is it the cat’s-paw
    that renders motif?
    a tortoise cries
    .
    high pony
    a salt breeze bleeds
    intercapillary space
    .
    .

    1. oh, Princess K .. his eyes can’t hold .. I love that one ..

       1. Thanks Maxianne! Kind words are much appreciated.

22. Congratulations, Shelley. Have fun with the choice!
    …
    just one fisherman
    casting from a rock
    a butterfly brushes his face
    …
    where the ruins stand
    a mulberry tree
    in fruit
    …
    on the forest floor
    hidden from view
    a violet
    …
    baby gull ‘peeping’
    on pristine yellow sand
    benign mountain overlooks
    (written looking at Gulaga, the Mother Mountain of the Yuin Nation, Bermagui, NSW, Australia)

23. Hi All – thank you for the nice comments and all your efforts – this is becoming more and more difficult as there are many fine verses already to choose from, But like the little red engine said ” I think I can, I think I can…” and if I can’t I will ask John ( I will likely ask him no matter what) – so keep them coming! Shelley

    1. I know how you feel, Shelley! I was overwhelmed by the wonderful offerings when I had to choose–and shouldering the responsibility sent my imposter syndrome into overdrive. But you can do it–and it’s fascinating to read at a deeper level, not to mention the invaluable lessons of communing with John about the whys and wherefores.

24. gathering shells
    all i know about
    mirrors in this sand

    Michelle Beyers
    Copyright © 3/6/21

25. a beautiful day
    with dad having a pot of tea
    fragrant roses

    Nani Mariani

26. the wake of the mallards’
    courtship a triumphant
    double V
    *

27. playing
    tennis without
    the net
    *
    scarecrow
    taking off
    his overcoat
    *
    wildflowers
    blooming again
    on battlefields

28. Congratulations Shelley and many thanks John
    *
    learned my
    foreplay skills
    by studying rabbits
    *
    new
    life
    blooming
    *
    brisk breezes
    playing.allegros
    on maple leaves

29. Perfect pairing ! Congratulations to both poets for the love-inspired duet and thank you for commenting on my magic carpet ride submission!

    Spring is still far away here (Yukon Territory, northern Canada) but as we shifted from -49 celsius to 0 in about 10 days, I believe our record snow might not last long, so dream of spring is indeed in the air:

    vinegared windows
    opened wide
    for a bird song

    ***

    bird feeder’s queue
    no longer hearing the world
    in black and white

    ***

30. Congratulations Shelley!

    trees about to bud
    throw intricate shadows
    onto street canvas

31. Thanks, John. I’m pleased that one of my offerings merited mentioning. Congrats to Shelley for a truly fitting cap to Nani’s verse.
    ***

    Here are three spring-themed verses offered as openers for the next tan-renku.
    ***

    cemetery spring
    among the fake tulips
    honest ones
    ***

    a red cast
    to the maple trees
    spring’s first blush
    ***

    overnight rain
    the crocus hiding place
    exposed

32. wellies
    splashing through
    the puddles

    1. Nancy, I love this! so playful and joyous ☺

33. crocuses bloom
    despite the cold
    and snow

34. Thank you Nani Mariani and John Stevenson for selecting my capping verse to the Tan Renga! I am very honored and happy to have been chosen to complete Nani’s touching love verse that took so many of us on different journeys. It will be great fun for me to work with John on choosing the next verse. Best of luck to you all!

35. flamenco guitar
    notes dancing
    across the tulips
    *
    fat robin
    parked on
    the bike path
    *
    Dutch goddess
    on a
    bicycle

36. colorful bougenville flowers

    along the way

    the children laughed cheerfully

    @Nani Mariani

37. first artichoke
    leaf by leaf
    the light taste of spring

    1. Revision:
       .
       first artichokes
       leaf by leaf the light
       taste of spring

38. Some great verses here and a great choice with Shelley’s, John.
    .
    by your fireplace
    my shoes dry
    .
    unable to resist
    painting a host
    of daffodils

    1. Just in case there is a misunderstanding – we are not linking to Shelley’s verse this week. Rather, we are offering three-line spring verses, one of which will be selected to be the opening verse of a new tan-renga.

       1. John, where will the new three line verses be posted?

39. spring moon
    a pontoon out
    on the lake

    Michelle Beyers
    Copyright © 3/5/21

40. an ooh ah in my breath
    fallen cherry petals
    under barefeet

    Michelle Beyers
    Copyright © 3/5/21

    1. more of an ah than ooh…

       an ah in my breath
       fallen cherry petals
       under barefeet

       Michelle Beyers
       Copyright © 3/5/21

41. muddy boot prints
    on the just-washed floor
    neanderthal spring

    © 3/05/2021 by wendy c. bialek

    *
    spring
    i-i-i–i—is
    here

    © 3/05/2021 by wendy c. bialek

    also filtered out
    by my floral mask
    spring allergens

    © 3/05/2021 by wendy c. bialek

42. forsythia in bloom
    that goldener nude
    by the roadside

    Michelle Beyers
    Copyright © 3/5/21

43. cherry blossoms
    softening the sound
    of geta
    *

44. Saohime *
    smiles
    over melting snow
    (* Goddess of Spring)
    ***
    at low tide
    we gather shells
    for her gift…
    ***
    a skylark
    soars
    into my consciousness
    ***
    under a hazy moon
    he proposes
    we split up

45. porch rockers
    find their rhythm
    in the first warm breeze
    *
    the first warm breeze
    sets the porch swing
    in motion
    *

46. it must be spring
    when pine pollen covers
    the surface of our pool
    ******************************
    those magnificent
    plum blossoms
    cut on the bias
    *********************
    time to tune up
    the lawnmower and
    sharpen the shears
    *************************
    cherry blossom
    haiku are popping
    up everywhere

47. by your fireplace

    my shoes dry

    @Shel Baker-Gard
    ——
    the wind was blowing slowly

    the aroma of jasmine brings nostalgia

    this is mama’s last crop ..

    @Nani Mariani

48. by your fireplace

    my shoes dry

    @Shelley Baker-Gard
    ——

    blooming cherry blossoms

    a pair of deer making love

    and I’m not jealous anymore ..

    @Nani Mariani

49. lovely short list and lovely capping verse chosen ..
    looking forward to this next one .. looking forward to srping ,, which, here, is quite a ways off still ..

    1. Here, too. But the dream of spring is just beginning to flower.

50. all the wonder of spring
    in that first
    green aura
    *

51. my third offer of a three-line opening for our new spring tan-renga:

    hunger moon
    the whole block
    waits for morning mail

    © 3/04/2021 by wendy c. bialek

52. my second offer of a three-line opening for our new spring tan-renga:

    something grows
    in the garden
    planted by a bird

    © 3/04/2021 by wendy c. bialek

    1. alternate format:

       something
       grows in the garden
       planted by a bird

       © 3/04/2021 by wendy c. bialek

53. by your fireplace

    my shoes are dry

    @Shelley Baker-Gard
    —

    for a moment

    You and me just stare with smiles

    in your eyes there is longing ..

    @Nani Mariani

54. by your fireplace
    my shoes dry

    Shelley Baker-Gard

    —
    the scant of your sweat

    make me even more excited

    darling.., i love you ..

    @Nani Mariani

55. because of love
    I came here
    on foot…

    Nani Mariani

    by your fireplace
    my shoes dry

    Shelley Baker-Gard
    Special thanks to dear John Stevenson,
    for your attention and cooperation.

    Also thanks to all the friends who participated.
    Renku’s beautiful beauty.

    — Big congratulations dear Shelley Baker-Card
    Because of love ..
    His shoes are broken.
    What a sacrifice he has made …
    Congratulations , dear ..
    💕💕💕💕

56. heirloom tomato seeds…
    anticipating the taste
    of springs past
    *
    welcomed home
    with the roosting song
    of house finches
    *

57. john…..love all your picks and how you found neat pockets for them.
    your commentary…..as usual, always enlightening….thank you, too, for
    including one of mine.

    here is my first spring opening verse for our next tan-renga:

    in this wind
    whispers of tulips
    no longer secret

    © 3/04/2021 by wendy c. bialek

58. because of love

    i come here

    on foot …

    @Nani Mariani
    –

    the scent of your sweat

    make me even more passionate ..

    @ Nani Mariani

59. because of love
    I came here
    on foot…

    Nani Mariani

    by your fireplace
    my shoes dry

    Shelley Baker-Gard

    john and shelly….this was my pick, too!
    i love your verse, shelly!
    the shoes, soaked with sorrowful rains….the weary journey
    and now the soles, (souls are comforted) drying
    by the burning embers, (the love being shared)
    links so well with the, ‘on foot’ journey so lovers
    can be rejoined ( from the opening verse). a perfect fit!
    congrats!!!!! shelly.

    1. ooops!
       shelley
       sorry….habit typo!

60. I love this completed verse–both parts perfect, and perfect for each other. Thanks, John, for the commentary and for noticing one of mine.
    **
    through warm sun and cool air
    the call and response
    of mating songs
    *

61. as if the pink moon
    has a thousand suns
    cherry blossom festival

    Michelle Beyers
    Copyright © 11/2/20

62. bud
    at first sight
    light clings

63. Thank you for the insightful commentary, John. Shelley’s verse is a great fit as a capping verse; in its quietude it says much about their love relationship..already present and comforting to have shoes off and cozying by the fire. Beautiful, Shelley. Congratulations! Thank you for mentioning one of mine, too, John.

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