Renku Sessions

The Renku Sessions: Timber Smoke – Week 33

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

 

We wanted to turn to a spring seasonality and this definitely brings us there:

 

                   rising from the marsh
a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

Jonathan Alderfer

 

This continues from the “opened at the top” of the previous verse, but with a shift of scents from home-cozy baking of bread to the outside dank of sodden stalks and dead leaves in a wetland.

The sounds of the male red-wing blackbird may not be always musical to human ears but they do join in and break off from one another at song and are very territorial.

We did have a “blackbird” in verse 23 from Melissa Dennison, but we can easily change that -and make it even more mysterious – by changing that first line to “a black bird tapping –“, so it could be either a crow or a raven as well.

Also enjoy the play on my name in “marsh” -not every sabaki gets to experience this as he or she leads a renku -nor the delight in such a talented and congenial group of participants.

Thank-you, each of you, and especially for this one, Jonathan Alderfer.

 

 

So now it’s time for our blossom crescendo verse. Being careful not to try to summarize what has gone before, this is your chance to dust off your best blossom or flower haiku and play it in the game. So, clearly, no wetlands, music, birds or things rising; here, the quality of the haiku is the premium concern.

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 mailman’s breath
faintly white

Keith Evetts

 

Jacques Brel singing
“in the port of Amsterdam”
on the radio

Alfred Booth and Marshall Hryciuk

 

a whirligig of leaves
sweeps the deck clean

Wendy C. Bialek

 

evening begins
with a gift of opal
moonlight

Marion Clarke

 

beachcombers trade shells
as the tide comes in

Jonathan Alderfer

 

a morning glory
the hummingbird
unfolds

madeleine kavanaugh

 

stepping from the change room
in her prom gown

Laurie Greer

 

her scent
on the pillow
the morning after

Andrew Shimield

 

some vows
break easier than twigs

Dan Campbell

 

hand-calligraphed
happy new year postcard
smudge and all

Pamela Garry

 

hard to forget the party
and my off-tune singing

Biswajit Mishra

 

a black bird tapping–
smiles and thanks me for
the seed

Melissa Dennison

 

sewing up an open wound
on the dragon’s flank

Tracy Davidson

 

blue dashers
skim the surface
of a still pond

Betty Shropshire

 

twitching of a cow’s tail
in the shade of an oak

Andrew Shimield

 

the endless
night of a Las
Vegas casino

Eavonka Ettinger

 

wyndes level snow-stacked tables
in the sea-front caff

Dick Pettit

 

sipping on hot chocolate
after an afternoon
of ice skating

Nancy Brady

 

skimming recipes
for Oaxacan mole sauce

Wendy C. Bialek

 

crinkle of leaf
behind me on the path
quietly the creek

Marshall Hryciuk

 

just as the moon reaches
its frost phase

Laurie Greer

 

in the oven
a loaf of bread
opened at the top

Richard Straw

 

rising from the marsh
a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

Jonathan Alderfer

 

 

 

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 (134)

  2. service-berry blossoms competing
    with apple blossoms
    for the bees

    apple blossoms compete
    with service-berry blossoms
    for the bees

  13. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer
    *
    finally joining
    the clique
    of bunch-flowered daffodils

  14. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds
    — Jonathan Alderfer

    too many
    blossoms to choose
    just one

  15. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer
    *
    a wild forsythia
    lights that old fire
    in the belly
    *
    a saucer magnolia
    steeped in memories
    of mad tea parties
    *

        1. Hi Carol, I agree with Madeleine. I prefer the pilgrim’s knapsack version.

          1. Yes, Pamela and Carol, I love the word knapsack over backpack, an older word from days gone by and the “s” of the knapsack also sounds very lovely with “blossom”. :)

          3. Thankyou, madeleine and Pamela, I’ve enjoyed reading your comments.
            I too, like the first verse as it does give a feeling of bygone days.

            Thanks again :)

  18. fireflies
    drawn to honeysuckle
    twinkle in little hands

    picking flowers
    from the graveyard
    on World Teachers’ Day

  19. Congrats Jonathan!

    my wife’s
    wildflower
    DNA

    detour
    parking the car
    to view wildflowers

    a vase
    filled with
    plastic roses

  20. sakura petals
    streak the lake park
    in a Monet frenzy

    and:

    sakura petals
    in a Monet frenzy
    streak the lake park

    1. ooops no wetlands:

      sakura petals
      streak Central park
      in a Monet frenzy

      and:

      sakura petals
      in a Monet frenzy
      streak Central park

  22. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer

    ~~~

    Soft eavesdrop
    on baby’s breath
    whispers

  23. the rush of heady fragrance
    when she opens
    the greenhouse door

    in the morning
    first wisteria blossoms
    and snow

    1. rising from the marsh
      a chorus of red-winged blackbirds
      —Jonathan Alderfer

      where we meet anew
      in the produce isle
      fruit of lemon trees

  25. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer
    *
    hawthorn blossom
    gathers beside
    a dry stone wall

  26. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer

    erstwhile purple
    in the lilac’s access
    to time

  27. Not for consideration, but because I couldn’t help myself from thinking about flower haiku. Renku is addictive!
    .

    tepid rain scatters
    a peony’s white petals
    drifting clouds
    .

    flirtation
    a pink tulip moist with dew
    slowly opens
    .

    outside the prison walls
    a riot of orange
    day lilies

  28. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer
    *
    the timeless days
    of dandelions
    before they go to seed
    *

  30. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer

    spring breeze
    drifts of white blossom
    ring the harbour

  33. morning glory
    for the first time I wake
    without tears

    peach blossom
    falling
    into my fuzzy navel

    weeping cherry
    the wobble
    of a lower lip

  35. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer
    *
    picking a color
    from the tulips to match
    her second childhood bedroom
    *
    a wild streak
    of blossoms
    bucks up the tulips
    *

  36. even in the stillness
    windflowers tremble
    on their slender stems

    how much admired
    the dandelions
    if not so many

    lighting up
    the whole common
    dandelions

      1. If the dandelion was just discovered by an intrepid plant-hunter in the Chinese interior it would be plant-of-the-year at Chelsea…. But as ubiquitous, not coveted. As if gold was everywhere….

  37. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer
    *
    bird’s foot violet
    treading lightly
    lightly
    *
    the phlox
    forever going
    overboard
    *

  41. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    jonathan alderfer

    absolutely exquisite, jonathan,
    magnificent combination of image,
    sound and smell

    thank you marshall, best pick once again

  45. Congratulations, Jonathan, on your verse. There is something about the songs of the red-winged blackbirds.

    riding from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds
    –Jonathan Alderfer

    picnicking beneath
    blossoming cherry trees
    .
    viewing cherry blossoms
    in Vancouver

      1. Ooops, supposed to be there lines, will modify.

        sunny afternoon
        picnicking beneath
        blossoming cherry trees
        .
        festival…
        viewing cherry blossoms
        in Vancouver
        .
        Saturday saunter
        viewing sakura
        in Kyoto

  46. A lovely chorus, Jonathan! And thank you once again, Marshall.
    *
    rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer
    *
    the deep buzz
    from the long throat
    of the lily
    *
    pear blossoms
    doubling
    as juniper flowers
    *

  48. the illusion rose
    in a mother’s eyes
    unexpected

    knockout roses
    across the border
    three seasons long

    sunflowers
    around the bend

    2. illusion rose
      in a mother’s eyes
      the unexpected

      (My mom had green eyes with orange specks)

  50. in the oven
    a loaf of bread
    opened at the top

    rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds
    35
    white sloe blossom
    leans out from a dark wood
    halleluiia !

    after the first trunks
    a maelstrom of blossom froths
    down the orchard

    on the high terrace
    blossom.viewers pour out
    champagne and chat

  51. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds
    — Jonathan Alderfer (I love this verse and how it connects, especially to our brilliant sabaki!)

    how loud
    the scent of hyacinth
    a child’s insistence

  52. Well done, Jonathan, on a fine link. One can hear the waters splashing, the wings beating, the throats calling!

    And congratulations on a great choice and explication, Marshall!

    +++

    rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer

    walking round
    the flowers in bloom
    like a bee

    picture snapping
    the blooming flowers
    creating a buzz

    a bee hovering
    near the bushes in bloom
    offers directions

    the honeybee
    backing a picnicker
    into a flower bed

    up against a wall
    and rooted in a crack
    flowering weed

    on hell’s roof
    sunflowers blooming
    and dying

    plastic flowers
    on the neglected grave
    of a florist

    trashing
    flowers once
    prized

    how drab
    turning green
    the redbud

  56. Thank you Marshall! And thanks to all the wonderful poets in our renku group and their inspiring verses. It’s been a great trip!

  57. a daffodil
    bends
    his crown showing

    ~ ~ ~

    a daffodil
    in rosy
    light

    ~ ~ ~

    daffodil
    a dew drop
    in its cup

    ~ ~ ~

    a trumpet
    in the morning breeze
    daffodil

    ~ ~ ~

    the daffodil
    and butterfly
    two-stepping in the breeze

    3. Found your daffodil and butterfly verse so delicate, so evocative…not that my opinion matters, Madeleine. Still, it stimulates my sense, making me smile.

  63. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer

    dark earth
    a child’s grave covered
    by blossom

  64. An exquisite verse, Jonathan, full of imagery. Congratulations! A lovely choice!

  66. rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer

    spreading beyond
    borderlines the madonna
    parrot tulips

    and:

    madonna parrot tulips
    spreading beyond
    borderlines

    2. Beautiful! Happy to learn the name- Madonna Parrot Tulips. And their disregard for borders. Hazzah!!

  67. congrats! jonathan for a beautifully moving verse…a great addition to the renku.
    i see marshall how irresistible this verse is and how you wanted it so much to be placed here for our intro to spring in this last section.

    rising from the marsh
    a chorus of red-winged blackbirds

    Jonathan Alderfer

Comments are closed.

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