The Renku Sessions: Tawny Jacket – Week 8
I am John Stevenson and I will be your guide for a twelve-verse renku, in which we will compose one verse per week until completion. A longer session, with a different leader, is being planned to follow this one.
As we sought the verse that will begin the second half of our twelve verse renku, this week produced one-hundred-eighty-one offers from thirty-six poets. A really impressive expression of the creative spirit!
There were so many good things to choose from, I wish I could list them all. Just know that there were many others, beyond the list of personal favorites that follows here:
the pub
around the corner
still pulling
Alan Summers
free range chicken
pecking and
clucking
Betty Shropshire
Marconi’s man
sends the first radio signal
from an Irish island
Marion Clarke
listening for the phone
in the spaces
of the day
Nancy Liddle
to pay
or not to pay
the cyber ransom
Chris Patchel
all but spitting
as he calls him
Judas
Laurie Greer
Venice Beach
littered with needles
after high tides
Maureen Virchau
an envelope
shoved to the bottom
of her purse
Agnes Eva Savich
heavy metal
blasts in the car
while it idles
Agnes Eva Savich
does your future
really rest on
school exam results?
Pauline O’Carolan
the baby
extends her toy
covered in drool
Mary Stevens
used cups
overflow the trash can
by the coffee shop
Carol Ann Palomba
Our seventh verse is:
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
In considering the set of verses we have, so far, I noticed that our two love verses, the verse featuring a musical instrument, and the verse about the scent residue in an empty room all tend to put humanity in the foreground. So, I was particularly interested in selecting a verse, this time, in which some aspect of non-human nature is prominent.
The linking element, as I see it, is the threat of extinction. And the temporal relativity of the term “survival.”
For our eighth verse, these will be the requirements/considerations:
- a two-line, summer moon verse
- connecting in some way to the seventh verse and in no obvious way to any of the previous verses
- transforming our sense of the seventh verse
Note: You will not have to make the slightest effort to link with verse seven since the name “starry night frog” and any mention of moon or moonlight will constitute a link. But remember that you also need to include a summer word or phrase in your verse.
Our renku, so far:
Tawny Jacket
autumn leaves
she sets out in
her tawny jacket
Andrew Shimield
the still-warm hollow
where the deer slept
Kristen Lindquist
cigar smoke
lingers
in the empty room
Pauline O’Carolan
seraphim song
of a glass armonica
Autumn Noelle Hall
ice-skating
with my hunka hunka
burning love
Lorin Ford
a kiss for luck
at the STD clinic
Maureen Virchau
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
Please enter your verse offers in the comments box, below. I will be reviewing these offers until midnight on Tuesday, January 7 (New York time zone). On Thursday, January 9, there will be a new posting containing my selection for our eighth verse, some discussion of other appreciated offers, and instructions for composing the ninth verse.
I look forward to seeing your offers!
John
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fireflies and the rising moon
in the hot sky
a moon in each droplet
dribbling off our rum & cokes
moonlight hopping
over blighted leaves
a running start
into the moonlit sea
crabs running sideways
on the moonlit beach
.
Would two animal verses be OK this close together? There is also an animal in verse 2. Does their being in different classes (amphibian vs fish (?) vs mammal) make it OK?
.
Is this summery enough? I’m going back to the experience of my family during summer vacation on the Outer Banks, but I suppose crabs do a lot of running around in most seasons.
.
I had been contemplating offering
.
the sand cooler now
on the moonlit beach
.
but then remembered the warm hollow, ice skating, and burnin’ love in previous verses.
.
It gets tricky not to repeat stuff the further in we get!
I replied about this, relating to an earlier post. We probably won’t want any more creatures. If we do have one more, it should probably be in the final verse and not a mammal or amphibian.
.
Yes, it does get more challenging as we go along!
bush blooms scarlet
koalas, ‘roos fry
Puddles, ponds and lakes
Are the moon’s mirrors
on every cloud
a glimmer of moonlight.
Such wonderful images can be conjured up from the previous verse, just one more, even if it is too late-
.
moonlight shadows
across a pebble beach
Not too late. There are still eighteen hours, as I write this.
🙂
Thanks, John.
through every cloud
a sliver of moonlight
.
yesterday’s lightning and
now a moonless sky
yesterday’s thunder and
now a moonless sky
*
today’s thunder and now
a moonless sky
(in case “lightning” is not so much a summer kigo, as it appears to be listed with autumn.)
*
yesterday’s monsoon
and now a moonless sky
*
(where i currently reside, our monsoon begin in early july and can last into mid-october.)
moon jumping side
to side on sandy trail
*
in mountain moonlight
all the trees are bonsai
.
(don’t know if these trees are allowed)
*
moon and her calming beauty
up close a million warts
*
(i don’t know if “warts” are allowed, as it may link back to STD in Maureen’s verse )
*
moon bathing
by the dusty window
.
(clothes on)
(clothes on)
🙂 🙂
.
bioluminescence even more brilliant
in the dark phase
or:
.
bioluminescence glows
during a dark phase
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
behind the Douglas Firs
a shy moon
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
astigmatic eyes turn
the moon into a football
this is very creative and fun, thank you, carmen.
moonlit swims
down a lazy river
autographs red moon
cools finger in lake’s clear water
Thanks and many happy returns for 2020
that ol’ moon rollin’
down a misty Mississippi
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
solstice moon wavering
between hot and hotter
*
sweet corn moon
at the roadside stand
*
even the moon political
this election-year summer
*
annual family get-together
for the thunder moon
*
their family tradition of gathering
at the thunder moon
*
skinny dipping
with the crescent moon
idly fanning and sipping sweet tea
as the moon sets
– Betty Shropshire
Cottingley fairies
dance over the moon
.
Cottingley fairies
dance on the moon
mindscape encounter
during a full moon
revise-
.
mindscape encounter
during a hazy full moon
making lemonade
as if this day moon matters!
sweat-stained oars dip
into moonlit doldrums
– Betty Shropshire
bases loaded with two strikes
just as the moon rises
– Betty Shropshire
moon in the spokes
of the daisy wheel
.
opium seeds
rattle in a moon lit pod
.
a moon shot
at the summer beach party
moon in the spokes
of the daisy wheel
.
opium seeds
rattle in a moon lit pod
.
a moon shot
at the summer beach party
.
a moon shot
at the summer ball
the nearly full moon
in the eye of a hurricane
– Betty Shropshire
moon over second
base playing ball
oooh, sorry Wendy…didn’t see you baseball verse!
not at all a problem, betty…..there is a group consciousness and we are influenced by everything in the universe. as well as a limited kigo selection. perhaps similar reference books, and internet sources…. we all use the same alphabet….but as artists….we have our different styles.
i don’t own the word, have as many swings at it as you want.
how many red moons
before heads’re out of sand ?
so uprooting… all these fire disasters and all the damage to life.
hoping our awareness is globally understood and we can find a way to prevent this horror from taking more life and shelter from humanity, animal kingdom and plant structures. not to mention the toxic spews into air and water.
hope all australian’s impacted including our poets can safely return to their homes.
the crescent moon
joins our pool party
a deflated beach ball
floating by the moon
red bloated moon
hula dancing in the pool
It’s sad that we take full
Moons for granted
sandcastle flags
ripple beneath a new moon
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
..
Linda Weir
.
tripping over
the moonshine
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
blink and you’ll miss
the short night moon
.
ink-stained moon
splashed in a pool
.
wendy c. bialek
beach towels flung
onto a moonlit shore
school’s over & still
a secret-sided moon
*
school almost over
& still a secret-sided moon
.
wendy c. bialek
moon beads
on the scythe arm
teens yell “Geronimo!”
from a moonlit pier
So, no temperature (two previous verses), creatures (two previous verses), clothes, feet, colors, season names (verse one) song (two previous verses), flowers . . .
–
moonlight floats
on thistle seeds
–
Unless thistle seeds are too close to blossoms.
–
moonlight floats
on cottonwood seeds
nothing but plastic
under the solstice moon
*
is the solstice moon
paper or plastic?
moonlight floats
on a thistle seed
I’m moon watching more now
The hurricane stole my roof
nothing but the summer moon
jumps into my mind
.
wendy c. bialek
only a hazy moon
to jump inside my head
.
wendy c. bialek
bottles flooding the river
cover the moon
.
wendy c. bialek
plastic floods the river
covering the moon
.
wendy c. bialek
(in case bottles…is too close to glass armonica)
the strawberry moon
looks delicious
**
floating in the pool
under the moon’s power
**
the moon’s aura smaller
with glasses on
a peek-a-boo moon
in billowing clouds
.
wendy c. bialek
in billowing clouds
a peek-a-boo moon
.
wendy c. bialek
.
.
the summer moon baits its hook
with venus
.
what a catch!
the sturgeon moon in fishnets
.
in longhand he scores the face
of the strawberry moon
.
the buck moon
rolls another fag
.
that potbellied crow looks like it swallowed
the dog days moon
.
more than enough cheesecake to feed africa
under the fruit moon
.
.
the moon rises early
in this summer haze
***
a swim in the lake
following the moon
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
tracing da Vinci’s earthshine
in the waning thunder moon
*
finding a summer sweet spot
in the mare nectaris
*
paddling with a master
under the dog day moon
*
REVISION
nearly blinded after
telescoping the solstice moon
*
i take a midnight stroll
with my friend the moon
I choose the moonlit path
and find myself in summer
Hmmmm, now I’m thinking that choosing a path takes us back to verse one and “she sets out” …
.
once across the moonlit bridge
I find myself in summer
.
I cross the moonlit bridge
to arrive in summer
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
– Linda Weir
•
the moonset
slipping between waves
*
don miller
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
– Linda Weir
•
a reflection
of the setting moon
*
don miller
An fine, uplifting verse from Linda.
.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
a pearl moon shines
in the warm rock pool
.
the lustre of a pearl moon
in the warm rock pool
.
finding a pearl moon
in the warm tide pool
.
I added “warm” to these verses to indicate that it is summer, but perhaps the moon combined with a rock/tide pool suggest a beach stroll on a summer evening in any case?
Marion,
.
There are a number of English-language reference works for season words. I haven’t specified one for us to use while composing this renku. One of my personal favorites is Bill Higginson’s “Haiku World.” That source lists “warm” as a spring topic. .
.
I think your logic is sound and I would consider it if we were doing a series of summer verses, which would further establish your verse as “summer.” However, since this will be the only summer verse in this short renku, I will want a verse that is unequivocally evocative of that season and no other.
Okay thanks for clearing that up, John.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
– Linda Weir
•
a wink
from the setting moon
*
don miller
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
*
barley fields rippling
in the moonlight
*
succulent plums eaten
under the moon
*
the summer moon
caught in duckweed
phragmite vista
cleaves the moon
scythe this one – just read, no plants required at this stage.
an outback store
sells its first moon hopper
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
a small step
on the giants causeway
rainbow flags
flap on the moon
boy June moon selah
girl June moon selah
warts and all
the moon as witness
Any objection to reversing this to avoid the cut?
.
the moon as witness
to warts and all
.
?
the moon as witness
to warts and all
.
Thank you, John. Jumping from haiku to renku has been a fun learning challenge.
summer drought
and a crinkling moon
only the drought survives
under a crinkling moon
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
a stonefish gazing
at the summer moon
.
https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Fishes/Venomous+fishes/Stonefish#.XhFRQyNxWM8
(would not like to meet up with this sea creature.)
.
i was wondering if any thing from the animal kingdom was still permitted since we have a toad? what are your thoughts, lorin?
.
John, what are the rules here?
It’s unlikely that we will want any additional creatures. We have a deer and a toad. That’s enough for such a short renku. Even if we had another creature, we wouldn’t want that before our final verse.
thanks for replying, john.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
space junk between here
and this summer moon
.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
.
under the new moon they count
and recount their lightning bugs
.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
.
folktales crackle
under the camp moonlight
.
crickets ratcheting up
the hay moon
even the paper-thin moon
disappears on this hot day
even the paper-thin moon
disappears on a hot day
even a paper-thin moon
disappears on the last school day
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
tireless research
first moon landing
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
halluzination
of a moonwalker
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
precious discovery
drugs under the skin
belly flops
into a moonlit pool
every amphitheater production
a vehicle for the moon
*
blinking sunspots for hours after
telescoping the solstice moon
*
seeing herself in the image
of the hungry ghost moon
*
weighing herself against the image
of the hungry ghost moon
*
summer day moon
almost there
temperatures rising
as the moon it descends
********************
a crescent moon rims
my Key Lime Colada
*******************
moon shadows dangling
their toes in the pool
a crescent moon rims
my Key Lime Colada
.
mmmm! . . . . 🙂 definitely the yummiest verse to date, Michael.
Well than you much ms Ford
I meant to say well then. Not so much of a texter
silvered pools of moon-light
after the rain
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
urban possums
cross the summer moon
.
https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/09/07/2041855.htm
a saucer of milk
for the neighbours cat
Not even NASA can see
The moon’s and my dark sides
Boyhood snack, Royal
Crown Cola and moon pie
Full moons and strays
Always follow me home
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
waiting for moonrise
on the shortest night
.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
.
welcome coolness
on the moonlit verandah
.
Congratulations, Linda. I was fascinated, looking it up after you posted last week, to see this toad with the “just right” name and it’s great to have your verse now in the renku.
.
– Lorin
Thanks Lorin. Yes, when I heard this rediscovery it seemed perfectly named to inspire my offering, knowing that a moon verse was to follow. And thought we needed a bit more nature in our renku at that point, something happier than so much of the news these days. Hope you are safe from the bush fires and that it all comes to a rainy end soon.
Thanks, yes, I’m safe…in a city region. The town I grew up in has not been, and Iwonder about people I know up there. I watch the news nightly. I know enough from bushfires back then not to be a nuisance at such a time. All one can do is wait, at present.
.
The navy was shipping people out of Mallacoota by actual ship yesterday.
Thanks Lorin. I felt that same about the name, “just right” to inspire, especially since a moon verse was to follow…
all day hopscotch
the moonstone centres on nine
a shark sighting
scatters moonlight
Or:
***
a shark sighting
scatters the moon
***
to avoid a near rhyme
the moon’s glow
tanning White Sands
sorry – wrote 3 lines instead of 2
*
princes slaying
the orange moonlight
so many princes
in the orange moonlight
slaying the dragon
+
princes – toads
orange- our skies are now orange these days in Oz
thanks for choosing mine as one of your personal faves this week – so chuffed 🙂
nancy liddle
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
hermit crab safe
in its moon shell
*
moon snail in the wake
of its namesake
*
a high tide swim
chasing moonlight
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
blood of a horseshoe crab
bluing the moon
*
vanilla cone with a strawberry moon
on top
*
Full moon howls
Are never out of tune
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
-Linda
.
a fraction of moonlight
in each fountain jet
there’s something almost magical about this verse 🙂
.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
-Linda
.
the moon almost liquid
in the evening heat
katy-did-katy-didn’t
full moon fever
Looks like katydid is an early autumn kigo, though ‘first katydid’ (like ‘first cricket’) might be summer).
blue moon
and emergent cicadas
I forgot we already had color in the opening verse.
–
brood X cicadas
emerge into moonlight
high solstice
full moon fever
manatees and me
along the full moon kayak
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
a cup of moonlight
in the saucer magnolia
*
What a shame it is that we can’t have a flower (as John has mentioned) because there will be a flower verse coming up. (There’s always a ‘blossom’ verse in even the shortest renku).
.
You’re right on for season though, these ‘southern magnolias’ (southern to the USA, where they originate from) are blooming right now where I am. Saucer sized and dinner-plate sized! 🙂
.
It’s a very good image and well expressed so be sure to make it into a haiku and send it out.
Thanks, Lorin I very much appreciate your encouraging words.
moon-collared lava
tracking the Plumeria’s scent
moon-collared lava
tracking the plumeria’s scent
***
The capitalization of the original didn’t mean anything lol
Congratulations, Linda–a powerfully optimistic verse with a mesmerizing image.
*
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
*
Linda Weir
*
Harlequin scooping
a gelato moon
*
(from the amphibian’s full name: The starry night harlequin toad (Atelopus aryescue), and Italian Commedia Dell’Arte)
*
Sending Rocky Mountain water-thoughts to Australia…
*
~Autumn
in your ripples
many moons
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
tourists looking for the piece
of Tranquillity in the space window
*
https://cathedral.org/what-to-see/exterior/space-window/
*
rose moon shining
on the Cathedral’s west side
*
https://cathedral.org/what-to-see/exterior/rose-window/
A contribution to still play in the renku game and with Australia on my mind…
*
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
*
Linda Weir
*
between the moon and me
bushfire glow
Or trying to learn from what John said earlier, switching the lines to avoid creating a break
*
bushfire glow
between the moon and me
Linda, it’s a pity that fire is most likely completely out the question because of ‘smoke’ + ‘burning’, earlier. (There were objections to “burning love” even though it was clear from context that any relation to fire was metaphorical, as is so much orf vernacular speech) When there’s a bushfire, all the smoke and fine charcoal in the air makes the moon much larger and a bright red-orange, as if it, too, was part of the fire.
My first thought for the verse had been bushfire smoke, but knew that would work due to the cigar smoke line earlier. Thanks for the description of what the moon is like during a bushfire, sounds beautiful but frightening.
Lovely addition, Linda!
.
lingering on the sea path
strawberry moon
great spy – she moon
in between the trees
blueberry cheesecake
reflecting the moon
Two lovers
try to hide away
Two moonstruck lovers
try to hide away
– a reply to Radharmani Sarma`s wonderful
great spy – the moon
in between the trees
Ingrid (and everyone),
.
We have already completed the only pair of “love verses” that will appear in this short renku. We won’t be revisiting that topic.
.
It is a misunderstanding. I did not realize, that a reply to a reply is not possible. Thank you !
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
*
Linda Weir
*
Apollo artifacts
collected in Tranquillity
*
awaiting the next phase of blooms
in the new moon garden
*
forgotten perennials
blooming in the moon garden
*
late sighting of the cottontail
in the moonlight
*
one small step
to the moon garden
*
Laurie (and everyone),
.
One of our last two verses will be a “blossom verse.” So, we don’t want plants or gardens at this point.
.
the boy next door
sets a foot on the moon
Nice vs Linda, a little ray of hope in the natural world
Prayers for Australia all creatures great and small !!!!
******************************************** 🙁
all eyes at the drive in
turned toward the moon
love this one,michael!
Thank you Wendy
Congratulations Linda.
finger moon
the big hand over the low tide
the fireflies
outshine the moonlight
moon viewing
from our madhouse
Hi Everyone Writing from a small Australian community devastated by bushfire on New Years Eve. Cobargo, NSW. May not get to write verses this time as we have no power and fire is expected tomorrow. Extinction is so obvious and survival not easy. We lost lives here.
….
The verse is beautiful
Just a shame we can’t trade our rain for your sunshine, seems we have it in excess.
Take care, Pauline, and also your family and friends. xxxx
I’m thinking of you and everyone in Australia dealing with the fire and threat of fire. So very sad to see it’s impacts on people and wildlife.
best wishes to everyone–human and animal–struggling through this horrific time. Stay hopeful; you are in our thoughts and hearts.
these fires are horrible. stay safe!
Thoughts & prayers are with you, Pauline.
So sorry, Pauline. The losses in Cobargo are shattering. Weeping for you.
Best wishes, Pauline. That’s about all I can offer. The whole east coast seems to have been on fire…in Victoria from Bairnsdale to Mallacoota! As a kid in Cann River, I was used to bushfires that threatened the town nearly every year, but nothing on the scale of the regions affected this summer.
.
in same car-seated
moon is partial for you
tale of love
modified now – crafty moon
again through trees
revised to two lines
tale of love
modified now – crafty moon
moonstruck
on the high dive
You’re lucky it’s the moon & not the lightning. 🙂
Lol.
Even though we’re apart
We still share the full moon
Like me,
The moon has its dark side
Dan,
.
How about a version of this without the break. Something like:
.
the moon and I
have our dark sides
.
Thanks John, I appreciate the suggestion.
Best regards,
Dan
dipping my hair
the moon slipped away
Hi everyone – what a nice surprise to see my poem selected for the renku. And so many nice comments from others on their enjoyment of this poem. A nice way to start the new year for sure!
kimono splash patterns
floating on the moon
splash patterns
returning to the moon
.
wendy c. bialek
a huckleberry moon
rises without warning
.
over the old Roman aqueduct
a huckleberry moon
.
a huckleberry moon lights
the way to the Forum
Great link and shift, Linda!
•
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
– Linda Weir
•
southerly breezes ripple
across the moon’s reflection
O, how I wish this was so for where I am , Betty. We really need a cooling Southerly breeze.
.
I like the understated calm of this lovely image. I’m not sure how summer is definitely shown here, though.
Hi, Lorin. Was trying to use ‘south wind’ as the summer kigo but written differently…maybe early summer? Winds from the south blow all Summer here in most of Texas.
Good to know you’re safe from the fires! Betty
campfire sparks
circle a marshmallow moon
.
wendy c. bialek
mosquitos unknowingly
penetrate the moon
.
wendy c. bialek
sorry the others have typos
mosquitos unknowingly
penistrate the moon
.
wendy c. bialek
original idea:
mosquitos unknowingly
penestrate the moon
.
wendy c. bialek
*
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
*
rv rolls over
an ansel adam’s moon
.
wendy c. bialek
*
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
on the wall for 80 summers
original half-moon cookie recipe
*
those summer trips to Utica
for half-moon cookies
*
Well done, Linda. Impossible not to think of my favourite artist with that “starry night” toad. 🙂
.
a dandelion clock-flower
sends seeds to the moon
That’s a very beautiful image, Marion. We too, are drifting to who knows where…
Thank you, Carol. Yes indeed…I’ve been thinking a lot of my haiku friends who left us during last year, Rachel Sutcliffe and Jan Benson.
The loss of talented people are always a very sad loss, Marion.
a thrilling verse, linda and a great new direction, john:
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
.
Linda Weir
*
camping with tesla’s
shattered moons
.
wendy c. bialek
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/tesla-smashes-bulletproof-pickup-trucks-windows-with-a-metal-ball.html
Even though far apart
We can share the full moon
moonlight melting
polar ice caps
*****
on the summer moon
it isn’t so warm
*****
August twenty-eighty:
the Earth our waning moon
*****
lonelier than imagined
man living on the moon
Australia burning
January moonlight
***
From a Northern Hemisphere perspective, it’s interesting to think of January having a summer moon. Linda, I love the current event link in your link. Unfortunately, many species will never be seen again.
I’m not sure how burning slipped my mind on this one.
Yep, M.R. the moon (through smoke haze) has been red. Where I come from, East Gippsland, has been completely cut off (not for the first time by a long shot). But the various areas on fire this past fortnight or so have never been so many and they have been joining up.
.
a haiku (not a renku verse) :
.
bushfire moon . . .
the calligraphy
of charred trees (Lorin Ford, Simply Haiku vol. 4 no 1, spring 2006)
.
http://simplyhaiku.com/SHv4n1/haiku/Ford.html
.
The writing was on the wall when I was a kid. And now, here we are.
that’s spooky darlin’
.
The temperature alone, I should imagine, is horrendous to cope with, but add bushfires to the mix… unless it is experienced we just have no idea how hellish this must be.
A devastating loss of human, animal and plant life.
Bushfires are certainly hellish, Carol, and this year is unprecedented though it’s been predictable for a couple of decades at least. There has been a huge loss of animal life, farm and wild. Only two human deaths, which is amazing, all considered.
.
The smoke haze in Melbourne has been thick all week and will continue to be until Friday or later. This affects people with breathing issues such as asthma quite seriously.
Can’t post below, Lorin.
.
The climate’s exacerbated change, for certain, has not only been predicted but has been a concern for at least forty years, it is only, I believe, that commercial and economical change this will bring has side-stepped.
– as you so aptly say-
‘and now, here we are’
Congrats, Linda! What an absolutely fascinating link. I’ve enjoyed reading more about the subject. An excellent choice, John. Thank you for all your hard work. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
hide and seek
with the strawberry moon
*
Marco Polo
under the sturgeon moon
*
sharpie-gate moon
over Alabama
circling this , chris!
Strange fruit indeed, but ” That’s entertainment!”. One day there will be a movie. I sincerely hope it’ll be by the Coen bros . Only they could do it, imho.
.
Yes, countless movies I’m sure, and they will all strain credulity.
. . . as does the ‘reality’, Chris, which leaves me gasping. (I do like your verse though and we’ve not had politics as a general topic)
moon-lit landscape
of Saint-Remi-de-Provence
*
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
a lost afternoon of tanning
under the day moon
*
as the day moon briefly surfaces
from a thunderhead
*
This is a beautiful ku
.
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
.
skinny dipping
in balmy moonlight
.
reels and jigs
at the moonlit crossroads
.
whooping as they moon
out the car window
.
Mary (and everyone),
.
Moon verses in a renku are about the literal moon and its light.
.
I like your skinny dipping verse but, since our hokku features an article of clothing (possibly to be amplified by use in our title), a verse calling attention to a lack of clothing might be better avoided, but without loosing the moonlight swim image that seems so promising.
alone with the moon
in the blue bayou
revise
.
alone with the moon
in a blue bayou
Congratulations, Linda–this was hands-down my favorite offering of the lot.
*
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
*
white knuckled
in the black Maria
*
lost in the shadows
of the mare nubium
*
oops–forgot about summer.
maybe:
*
sweating and white knuckled
in the black Maria
*
Perseids lost in the shadows
of the mare nubium
*
Brilliant choice. Well done, Linda.
We’re discovering and rediscovering, many times, tragic that the planet is in the situation it is.
Goodness knows what we have lost before even knowing about it.