Renku Sessions

The Renku Sessions: Timber Smoke – Week 11

renku_300

Greetings and welcome to The Haiku Foundation’s current Renku Session entitled, ‘Timber Smoke’. I am Marshall Hryciuk of Toronto, Canada and I will be leading this session through a 36-link kasen renku.

 

Our first winter verse is here. It is:

next door’s dog
barks
at our snowman

Carol Jones

Full-on link of a dog keeping watch with “the morality police” of verse 10.

Three things i further appreciate about this verse are 1) it suggests not just winter, but early winter when the snow is wetter and easier to pack and roll into snowmen. It’s wetter also in March, but by then most folks have had enough of snow 2) this verse brings immediacy back into our renku; it’s “next door’s dog,” a pet of someone we know personally, whereas the last two verses were completely concerned with ‘macro’ issues on a global scale and 3) it brings into “Timber Smoke” an element of levity that it hasn’t enjoyed up til now.

A dog needlessly barking can be annoying, but recognizing that a dog might find a snowman strange, especially at the start of the season, we can find humour in a pet’s taking something so harmless so seriously.

Thank-you, Carol

 

We want now to return to winter seasonality for 2 lines for verse 12. I remind possible contributors not to use the word, ‘winter’ in your suggested links; too much tell, cuts off the show. I would also be slow to use precipitation, vehicles or animals in your verses, but there are still many activities in the winter season you can write about.

 

Happy Linking
Marshall

 

Timber Smoke (so far)

 

nothing dimmed yet
timber smoke scent
sifts into the house

Marshall Hryciuk

 

one by one
I pick plums off of the ground

Alfred Booth

 

a file of cars
overtaking a tractor
on the mountain road

Keith Evetts

 

drawn out deer notes
echo in the coolness

Betty Shropshire

 

even paler
than the clearing fog
day moon

Mary White

 

handprints  and crumbs
I would miss them

Pamela Garry

 

giving pollen
a lift
on the bicycle bells

Laurie Greer

 

the tiffany blue
of 3 eggs in a nest

Eavonka Ettinger

 

scattered spores
following a random trail
through landmines

John Hawkhead

 

attempted murder
by the morality police

Rob Barkan

 

next door’s dog
barks
at our snowman

Carol Jones

 

 

 

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

This Post Has 207 Comments

  5. twisted vines
    scratch at the window
    .

    snug under a snowbank
    star-nosed mole
    .

    a child wanders
    onto the hockey rink
    .

    icicles and food lines
    grow longer

  7. Congratulations, Carol, in your verse.

    skating
    on the pond
    .
    building a fort
    for protection
    .
    sipping hot cocoa
    by the fire
    .
    traversing moguls
    on the slopes

  8. a laden evergreen
    gives up the ghost

    ***

    a few black shapes
    in the suburban whiteness

    ***

    cardboard shelter
    from the biting cold

    ***

    leafless roses pruned back
    to the hint of a bud

    ***

    that first lick of syrup
    straight from the maple

  10. Congrats Carol – love the verse!
    .
    next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman
    .
    Carol Jones
    .
    .
    a self portrait
    sketched in an old diary

  12. I went and re-read Marshall’s instructions all the way from verse one, what I gather is….
    No indicator word; seasonal words, christmas or Easter
    No back linking to past verses. No precipitation, vehicles, animals, ice and snow.
    Try to show subtly and tell little
    We can have exaggeration, strident or irruptive action and spectacular language. But not necessary if it’s not used.

  15. tooth mark shavings
    near the hot cocoa soap

    lost sock clinging
    to my furry blanket

    under cover warming up
    to fifty shades of gray

  17. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones
    *
    warming the angels with thick
    rainbow icing
    *

  18. chilled to the bone
    even my knickknacks huddle

    my warm fluffy blanket
    fresh from the dryer

    newborn’s wailing arms
    pull down daddy’s scarf

    newborn’s wailing arms
    pull down daddy’s face scarf

    newborn’s flailing arms
    pull down daddy’s scarf

    newborn’s flailing arms
    pull down daddy’s face scarf

    newborn’s flailing arms
    pull down daddy’s covid mask

    newborn’s wailing arms
    pull down daddy’s covid mask

  20. short day
    I get up anyway

    huddled round the brazier
    the prison guards glee club

    the chattering teeth
    of a dentist wild swimming

  21. a bald eagle makes off
    with the warm furry hat

    the ground too hard
    to fence off the yard

    a favorite old sweater
    the wife denies seeing

    we offer each other
    the last apple in store

  23. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones
    *
    the scent of pine
    from the christmas tree lot

  24. 1) in the bygone year
    wintry bed and pet dog by my side

    2 his drawing still on wall
    shiver and sniff of pet dog

  27. Dear readers, i went operation, for nearly one year i was ill, i missed you all, hope to see you again
    with regards
    Radhamani sarma

    1. and:

      cold feet on the scale
      weighing my New Year’s resolution

      cold feet on the scale
      my resolution for the New Year

  32. little ice age
    reoccurring in my garage

    click-click-click-click
    day of office party

    52 degree cave
    balmy to these hikers

    sled momentarily
    dad’s ’63 corvette

  33. elf on the shelf
    brightens the dark days

    outgrown mittens
    in the donation box

    hot cocoa always better
    on a cold day

    whistling wind
    down the old chimney

      1. thanks wendy, actually saw this on a TV doc—a drafty cottage on the north scottish coast, the residents could not keep the wind out.

    1. hi Wendy -glad you’re still having fun -just a reminder, Christmas is in summer in the southern hemisphere (we’ve gone global in this renku) and there will be a separate ‘New Year’s’ section since for me, it’s a separate season in Japan. So, for everyone’s interest, northern seasonal holidays and New Year’s links are out here. Go for winter without them (and no more snow or ice). And keep writing -Marshall

      1. thanks for the global reminder. and the heads up on the New Year’s topic, Marshall !
        by the way, Marshall….would you happen to have a copy of the schemas you are following to share with our renku group online? i am finding no help from page 21 of John Carley’s Renku Reckoner.

        1. hi Wendy. I have no schemas. None. I take direction from the submissions to the first 6 verses, then at about 9 or 10, decide the sequence of topics and seasons i’ll probably suggest for the rest, trying never to repeat myself. Renku have no plot, no season words and no templates when i lead them. Just follow my directions and enjoy yourself doing so. It’s up to me if there’s any qualities to it. Yes, John Carley will be of absoltely no help here, nor will a saijiki.
          It’s not a novel, nor am i a magazine editor; predicting what i will suggest or take in a verse is simply a waste of time. I want you to enjoy linking with the verse before you according to my instructions. The whole renku will only emerge at the end. Hope you’ve enjoyed it so far -Marshall

          1. Marshall, thanks for your generous response. i kinda thought this was your position. And i am fully supportive of it.
            Yes, this has been fun, engaging, inspirational and enlightening for me.
            thank you again, Marshall, for being an outstanding sabaki,

  37. ooopsy! these are corrected to add “seasoning”

    the weatherman’s hands
    shivering on mute

    toots of an HO train
    ’rounding the bough

    the puff of a loco
    that can under a tree

  38. the blur
    of caroler’s faces

    caroler’s faces blur
    in a puff of air

    rusty windpipes
    in the caroler’s throat

    the weatherman’s hands
    watched on mute

    toots of an HO train
    ’rounding the tracks

    the puff of a loco
    that can

    for some people
    fasting’s a yearly thing

    a pair of hearing aids
    inside his letter to God

    1. punctuation corrections:

      the blur
      of carolers’ faces

      carolers’ faces blur
      in a puff of air

      1. punctuation corrections:

        “the blur
        of carolers’ faces

        carolers’ faces blur
        in a puff of air”
        Dear Wendy
        very interesting to read with many a meaning, enjoyed it

        1. Radhamani sarma, thank you for taking the time to look at my posts and making comments.

  40. Congrats, Carol! love your verse! great showing of interaction between dog and “alien” snowman!
    another insightful pick by Marshall!

  41. moon resting
    on leafless branches

    only scarecrows wear
    shorts in the snow

    an unemployed scarecrow
    weeping in the snow

    a scarecrow must envy
    a melting snowman

  45. not even a tremble
    in the frosted web

    the mailman’s breath
    faintly white

    ice angels
    on the bathroom window

    as yet the burst pipe
    undiscovered

    popsicles the kids grow
    on the garden table

    church bells
    in the cold air

  49. confessing my sins
    to a snowman

    never ask a snowman
    about his childhood

    snowmen look out of place
    wearing a sombrero

    wilting’s probably worse
    than melting

    1. remembering those we’ve lost
      as the year comes to a close

      To keep it tight, not spilling over to three lines

  65. brokenness apparent
    on the snow-white screen

    (In this season of heightened miseries, I notice ones who stop participating. Come back.)

      1. Thankyou, madeleine.
        So much desolation going on as we head to a period of peace and goodwill.

  71. a few choice words
    salting the sidewalk

    how hair turns white
    in a minute

    debate at Davos
    before skiing

    vanity or thermals
    is the question

    the new connotations
    of baked alaska

    1. *oops…an edit please

      a red light shines through an evergreen tree
      from the reindeer’s nose

  75. the little boy’s grandmother
    Is sure she heard a loud thump
    …

    the father is certain he heard
    bells from the roof

  79. Sorry again ! No vehicles – and no 3
    isn’t necessarily seasonal either
    (It’s 03.35 Danish Time)
    12
    sledging down the slope
    we knock the poor chap over

    Christmas voices rise
    over mulled wine

    a gift-wrapped box of crocks
    slips though icy fingers

  80. Oops ! Just realised I’d sent
    3-liners instead of 2-.
    Here are the reductions :

    11
    next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman
    12
    a white van backs
    knocking the poor chap over

    party voices rise
    over mulled wine

    a delivery driver
    throws it in through the door

    Oops again ! Forgotten it’s
    in Winter :
    12
    a white van skids
    knocking the poor chap over

    Christmas voices rise
    over mulled wine

    six more bulky parcels
    are dumped down at the door

  81. Oops ! Just realised I’d sent
    3-liners instead of 2-.
    Here are the reductions :

    11
    next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman
    12
    a white van backs
    knocking the poor chap over

    party voices rise
    over mulled wine

    a delivery driver
    throws it in through the door

  85. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones
    *
    shaking off cabin fever
    with a round of “Jingle Bells”

  86. 11
    next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman
    12
    a white van backs
    knocking the poor chap over
    no harm done !

    party voices rise
    keeping the cold out
    with mulled wine

    a latecomer
    scrapes his boots in the porch
    and rings again

  93. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones
    *
    pulling fresh fish
    from a hole in the creek
    *

  95. another chorus
    of Die Hard’s a Christmas film

    baby Jesus
    missing from the manger

    deja vu
    at the inn’s ‘no room’ sign

    shedding hair
    on Santa’s knee

  96. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman
    Well done, Carol.

    —

    long night made longer
    by a creaking gate

    viewed from afar
    how cold the stars

    clutching a hot water bottle
    in the shape of a heart

    her father’s fireside chat
    mentioning shotguns

  100. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman
    — Carol Jones

    a shortage of rum
    for hot toddies
    **

    last year’s firewood
    still too green to light
    **

  101. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones

    time for dinner
    no one wants to be disturbed

    Nani Mariani

  102. a tiny tree festooned
    at the local brew pub

    rattling chains from
    the ghost of Christmas past

    a relationship
    skating on thin ice

  103. carolers with their homemade
    tin can drums and maracas

    colorful parols
    light up our front porch

    (A “parol” is a traditional Pilipino Christmas lantern that is usually star-shaped)

  104. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones

    frozen root vegetables
    in the squat pen’s verse

  109. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones

    surfacing from the deep
    a Pacific football fish

  111. Congrats Carol! Your haiku keeps me smiling. Thanks Marshall for such a good time in the making.

    poor boy’s tongue
    stuck to the frosty swing-set

  113. my father swears
    that it snows in Hell

    my Salvadoran wife’s eyes
    the first time she saw the snow

  116. next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones
    *
    brandy in the barrel
    for the cold carolers

  118. I enjoyed your verse Carol and thank you Marshall

    frozen scarecrow
    staring at the full moon

    blizzard predictions and my house
    is packed with in-laws

  120. Delightful verse, Carol! Thanks, Marshall, for another great selection.
    *
    next door’s dog
    barks
    at our snowman

    Carol Jones
    *
    the slip and slide of skating
    without skates

  125. Great links all round so far! Wonderful renku building, Marshall!!

    +++

    a child with mittens
    rubs storefront glass

    a child runs home
    on slick sidewalks

    a child’s red rubbers
    dry on old papers

    1. Thankyou, Marshall, for placing my verse within this vibrant renku session. I enjoyed reading your comment.
      Being a person of few words . . . I’m over the moon.
      Thanks again 🙂

  129. A delightful and inspiring poem Carol…full of holiday cheer and weaves so well into our amazing renku!

  131. Wonderful verse, Carol! Thanks, Marshall, for knowing what we needed!

    ******

    the gift of
    an ergonomic shovel

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