The Renku Sessions: Way of the Wind – Week 12
I am John Stevenson and I am your guide for a twenty-stanza, nijûin, renku.
There are a great many things to think about with each new renku verse. I try to keep my requirements simple but it often happens that a few factors become more important to me when it’s time to make a selection. In this case, I now realize that we need an outdoor image, perhaps a nature-based image, since we have been among human beings or in the imagination for quite a few verses. Also, we want something striking at this point.
Here are some offers that I very much enjoyed but that suffered from my not stating in advance what I now realize we need here. I hope we can all appreciate them, anyway:
the waiter
smirks as we order
the fugu soup
Lorin Ford
a double dog
dare to try
the blowfish
Michael Henry Lee
trying to create
snowflake ornaments
all different
Debbie Feller
wild ducks among
other colorful fowl now
stuffed and mounted
Berry Shropshire
memories
kindling
by the fireplace
Sandra St-Laurent
stepping back
in time to when
snowballs were fun
Robert Kingston
icicles dangling
from the immigration
office window
Dan Campbell
onion soup
leaving us only
half-full
Marietta McGregor
sipping coffee
by the bakery’s
fake fireplace
Dan Campbell
bedbugs
practicing
secret handshakes
greenrhythm
she was hunting
the blind mice
with a carving knife
Pauline O’Carolan
a little daikon
woke up
this greek salad
Wendy C. Bialek
first snow
our hopes
so high
Michelle Beyers
And here are a some that may have been finalists if we didn’t already have a verse from each of the poets:
a bonfire regenerates
that militant
zeal
Laurie Greer
thanked
for his service after
shoveling snow
Laurie Greer
their footprints
a bit zigzag
in the snow
Carol Judkins
at the pier
the pleasant chatter
of waterfowl
Linda Weir
The final choice comes down to seven offers:
our wink-eyed
ice sculpture
too risqué for the dean
Maxianne Berger
Probably outdoors, though very much about human relations. We have a pair of love verses coming up soon (numbers 13 and 14) and I wouldn’t want to put the idea of “risqué” in this position lest it create the possibility of back linking to this verse. Still, it does have the “pay attention” quality we want here.
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
This is outdoors, in nature, and it is striking, if not actually menacing. The link to the “pack” of fraternity brothers (?) is, in contrast, either humorous or perhaps critical.
how to ski
the expert slope
mansplained
Chris Patchel
Also, outdoors and also a verse with some attitude. Although I suspect we would all recognize skiing as suggestive of winter, it does not appear as a kigo on the list we are using.
the chatter of crows
carries across
a withered field
Andrew Shimield
This kigo is suggestive to most of us of Basho’s purported death poem. This gives it a gravitas that would be welcome here. On the other hand, because of this strong association to poetry, it may be a little close to the art show of verse eight.
deep tracks
through the snow
in the hunters wake
Carol Jones
Another strong nature image. While I am not as concerned as some about a double kigo (snow, hunting), it would be just as well to avoid this in favor of other good offers that are available.
swirling smoke
writes a mystery alphabet
above the bonfire
Jonathan Alderfer
From the Greek alphabet to something more elemental.
photographs taken
with the classic
snowman
Carol Jones
This is fun. Again, perhaps a little too close to the visual art of verse eight.
Here is what I have selected as our eleventh verse:
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
Here is what we have, so far:
Way of the Wind
green barley—
we follow the way
of the wind
Lorin Ford
kids playing pooh sticks
with plum blossoms
Linda Weir
the long day opens
with a chime of pots
on the kitchen island
Laurie Greer
a coin in the cap
of a street busker
Andrew Shimield
summer moon
low on the hips
of the horizon
princess k
mosquitoes know that my wife
has sweeter blood
Dan Campbell
still drawn to him
after all the bumps
along the line
Wendy C. Bialek
queuing up to enter
the Escher exhibit
Carol Judkins
do you think
they discovered chaos theory
by chance
Keith Evetts
three-martini lunch
with old pals from sigma nu
Betty Shropshire
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
We will now be adding a second winter verse. The kigo in verse eleven (freeze) is listed as “all winter,” so this leaves all other winter kigo available to us. Please avoid images that have their own places in a renku – no moon, no love, no blossoms.
The requirements for verse twelve will be as follows:
- A two-line verse of fourteen syllables or less
- With a winter image (kigo) from the list we are using
- Without a grammatical break
- Linking in some way to verse eleven (and in no obvious way to previous verses)
For this renku, we will be using this site (http://www.2hweb.net/haikai/renku/500ESWd.html) as the source for our season words and images.
I will be reviewing your offers until midnight on Monday, July 19 (New York time). On Thursday, July 22 there will be a new post in which I will announce my selection of the twelfth verse, comment on some of the other offers, and issue instructions for writing verse thirteen.
Onward!
John
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://www.thehaikufoundation.org/code-of-conduct/
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wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
even though it’s cold
life keeps turning
Nani Mariani
sorry, ‘virus’ is not on this winter kigo list! (though ….it is recognized on many other lists and in many books i own.
so….i replaced it in a following post…though a minute late!
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
if only this virus
was an endangered specie
7/19/2021 by wendy © bialek
if only this virus
was in winter seclusion
7/19/2021 by wendy © bialek
sally congrats for a nice action, winter image,
and thanks john for the wonderful work you do each day for this group!
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
reading totem stories
between the quilts
7/19/2021 by wendy © bialek
carp drift in
and out of view
she is in the same old coat
all through winter
**
she is curled up
example of winter withering
***
plot of long novel
her short day
**
her favorite porridge
all around winter table
**
cold sparrows
in search of haven
**
mom’s winter addiction
her charcoal throughout
**
kitten’s sleep of comfort
on fallen leaves
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
shrill longing
that is so long
Nani Mariani
Nani Mariani
Narcissus planted for gophers
Bloom
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
the north wind sweeps
through the campus
.
the north wind howls
through the mountain pass
Nancy Brady, 2021
neeps, tatties , and haggis
on the Burns’ Night menu
.
why not tells us about
the birthday stilt walk
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
‘
Sally Biggar
‘
the story of our winters
at the back of beyond
the lives of bedbugs
at the back of beyond
that pink tongue
waiting for the snowflakes
***
some rest
finally getting off the sled
***
in haste a snow glove
remains downstream
sharing the radiator
with a mouse
*
lost in a
desert of snow
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
——Sally Biggar
*
bones of winters past
preserved in the permafrost
*
whale bones litter
the icebound foreshore
*
a hawk seeks shelter
under the red iron bridge
*
on the bright side
winter nights are getting shorter
winter rain the weight
of a hawk’s cry
Michelle Beyers
Copyright © 7/18/21
chunks of glacier
heading south
melting ice makes
slippery slopes
*
hunkering down
through the sleet
*
cold nights the cost
of clear blue skies
*
sandwiches not quite
cutting it on this short day
*
the winter fly
reluctant to leave
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
by rushing to close the door
still hear the sound of wild ducks
Nani Mariani
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
an iced pool reflects
her red bonnet
a reflection
of her red bonnet
neat oxygen drawn deep
at the summit
at base camp
frost bitten digits
at base camp
climbers discuss war wounds
a scattering of candy
on the gingerbread cottage roof
day after day after day
fallen leaves piled high
*
the passing year
no different to the last
*
haunting howls penetrate
stark wintry groves
***
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
*
the crackling campfire
in the withering wind
Milan Rajkumar
*
A really vivid image, Sally.
…
Verse 1:
…
sea levels rise
and the ice disappears
…
Verse 2:
…
no access to her assets
cold comfort to the creditors
…
Verse 3:
…
perhaps Putin
authorised use of novichok
…
Verse 4:
…
he stalked her
through the snow
…
Verse 5:
…
no trees
but moss lives under the snow
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Beggar
blanched winter greens
for supper again
a twinkle of ice
in the gathering night
a howl rebounding
from the winter mountains
the young learn how
their parents kill
stark shadows
stalk the winter grove
fresh snow wipes out all traces
in the hush of dawn
#3 should read:
the young learn how
their parents hunt to kill
sparrows floating like
scraps of dirty cloth above the ice
*
tyrants know shadows of bare trees
resemble whip marks
resorts prefer faux snow
over no snow
ski resorts prefer faux snow
over no snow
talk of boycotting
the Winter Games
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
*
better one nandin berry
than cursing the snow blindness
*
the Anthropocene proving permafrost
a misnomer
*
1
looking at the clouds
I see the snow
from a long time ago
2
in my garden
flowering heather
under the rime
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
—
bare-boned trees
silent over fallen leaves
*
a passing wave of tails
in winter grasses
*
bits of charcoal
where the forest was
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
a dusting of snow
follows the thunderous entry
hawks have a way
of seeking out blood
.
the perfect wave
arrives in the cold time
.
a double-knock hammer
sounds on a clear winter day
.
or
a double-knock hammer sound
on a clear winter day
day already used
a double-knock hammer sound
at the close of the year
snacking on mushrooms
growing from a stump
*
mushrooms add flavor
to the witches brew
never swallow an oyster
that is having nightmares
*
taking oysters with viagra
prevents rolling out of bed
in an all snow background
food hard to find
or maybe
in a snowy landscape
fuel hard to find
love the energy of Sally’s wolves!! thanks, John, for pausing on the risqué frat sculpture .. and now to respond ..
*
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra — Sally Biggar
**
cor! how screeches pierce
the cold, clear night
**
.
cor! how screeches pierce
the cold, clear night
.
Intentional or not, a nice tribute to Cor van den Heuvel.
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
*
a nandin berry
to stave off the snow blindness
*
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
white as in
the cliffs at Dover
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
*
unpacking the firearms
from an heirloom quilt
*
twilight beneath the bower
a lone monk in prayer
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
*
ice withering
to the consistency of a quilt
*
hunting for something
we cannot name
*
deafened by the howling
of the north wind
*
the passing year full
of empty bellies
*
the keen eyes of a hawk
finds the wreckage first
*
from far horizons
the call of the wild ducks
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
catching a glimpse
of Aurora Borealis
Love this Sarah.
Thank you, princess k
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
burs between the teeth
of a bone comb
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
*****
wind-bent tree
kissing mother earth
the passing year was
little more than a blur
****************************
a withered field where
the bodies were buried
****************************
pidge porridge hotter
than the fires of hell
Congrats Sally and thank you John
*
porridge, onions and turnips
are a poor man’s menu
*
yelling for help
after falling through the ice
*
building a tiny igloo
for the mother-in-law
*
old Eskimo making
his last hike across the ice
*
Thanks for the lol moment Dan:
*
building a tiny igloo
for the mother-in-law
*
Excellent.
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
—
icicles the shape of a dagger
dripping
*
the spokesman’s denial
meets with cold stares
*
cornered by a married man
at the New Year’s Eve party
*
a snowflake loses life
for something said on Twitter
*
a mammoth task
to keep the ice from melting
*
a quarry of cold stones
for the graveyard
*
all the fallen leaves
not trivial
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
a PETA protest march
targets real fur helmets
On second thoughts (please ignore the first go):
a PETA protest march
shuts down the hunt
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
scattered firewood
in the wake of the home run
an Eskimo’s view
of the underworld
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
in winter seclusion
all sounds are louder
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
a lost wicker fishnet
trapping only bones
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
snow pellets easily penetrate
a pilgrim’s thin white cloak
“Pilgrimage” is listed as a spring kigo on the list we are using.
Missed that! Thanks, John.
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
logs heaped on our bonfire
to drive back unseen haunts
Hello,
Wonderful winer image, congratulations! Here are some offerings following Sally’s
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
******
snowflakes
slowly blanketing the crime scene
*
charcoal suits at last stopped
by northern lights
*
de-icing station
a flight attendant starts a tune
*
icicles forming
on the welcome sign
Oups! I meant winter image but it is a winner image, too! Congratulations Sally!
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
the diner soon fills
with the smell of onions
fewer places
to host the Winter Games
news of a distant war
to kindle to a hearth fire
news of a distant war
to kindle a hearth fire
What a delightful surprise and honor! Thank you, John, for selecting my verse. I have been away from this forum for quite some time, so this pleases me no end. I’ll be watching from the sidelines now, and absorbing all your sage advice and guidance, John. Many thanks to everyone for your congratulations.
Sally
You are welcome to keep playing, Sally. While I probably won’t use a second verse from any poet, I have been regularly featuring verses from poets already included, indicating that their verse would, otherwise, have been contenders.
Congrats Sally! A wonderfully visual verse.
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
a warm spot
amongst the icicles
turning ice to water
for the long journey home
tennis rackets too
are good for trekking
for
Verse should read
tennis rackets too
are good for trekking
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
Congratulations Sally.
Thank you for considering one of mine John.
fallen leaves
on bent feathers
Michelle Beyers
Copyright © 7/15/21
Congratulations, Sally! And, thank you, John.
snow
on snow
on bent feathers
Michelle Beyers
Copyright © 7/15/21
correction, 2 lines
snow on snow
on bent feathers
Michelle Beyers
Copyright © 7/15/21
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
Sally Biggar
*
the christmas presents
hidden from the kids
A great visual, Sally, congratulations, a fab choice, John.
Thank you for pausing on some of mine, enjoyed reading your comments.
Congratulations Sally! Delightful to be on the tundra during a heat wave. Thanks ,John, for pausing on my offerings and for all your illuminating comments.
*
wolves
in relentless pursuit
across the frozen tundra
*
barely surviving
on wild onions and turnips
*
Or even
barely surviving
the wild onions and turnips
*