Renga

dancing on the beach ~ renga

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Carpe Diem #1697 Renga with Jane Reichhold … placing the flute
asks us to create a renga (or chain of verses) by following
each provided haiku by Jane Reichhold (in blue), in any order, with two lines.
A “closed chain” is attained when the hokku (starting verse)
and ageku (closing verse) connect in a way to make “the circle” complete.

dancing on the beach
I jab a stick into the sky
to break up the blue

sun giving way to shadow
welcome relief of evening

days so complete
words become the calls of birds
the high tide wind

carries the scent of sea foam
mingling with all most pleasant

wind perfumed
from a woman’s shoulder
desert night

carried across the mountains
like a song riding the breeze

placing the flute
against her lips something
slips into place

a tune that piques the senses
with charms that arouse desire

moon white water
lovers in the secret cove
Saturday night

long hours gazing at the stars
wisdom reaching through the years

I’m not old
all night my eyes have held
the ancient stars

until deep dark of night sky
yields to light of morning’s blue

Images source: pexels.com / Dominika Roseclay

so little light to be found ~ tan renga

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Carpe Diem #1669 Tan Renga – white crane asks us to use a haiku by Kikaku (in blue) – written to comfort Basho shortly before his death – to be used to create a tanka.

How I wish to call
A white crane from Fukei
But for this cold rain
               Kikaku

so little light to be found
when under such a dark cloud

Image source: Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Crane Flying over Wave, by Utagawa Hiroshige

leading away from the shore ~ tan renga

/ rivrvlogr / 10 Comments

grass on river bank.jpg

late summer
alone on the beach
with only tracks
               © Jane Reichhold

leading away from the shore
to unknown destination

journey continues
following unknown footsteps
with new direction

traveler seeking answers
absent for many seasons

beyond falling leaves
lessons learned in falling snow
blossoms come and go

wind whispers in drying grass
all revealed on reaching home

The challenge for Carpe Diem #1664 Tan Renga Hineri “only tracks” is one with a twist (hineri). A haiku by Jane Reichhold (in blue) is to be followed by two lines, as usual. These must be followed by another haiku, and then another two lines – with the optional challenge of adding another haiku and two lines. In effect, it’s almost a solo renga, except for the first haiku by Jane Reichhold. As with renga, the last stanza (ageku) should lead back to the first (hokku).

Image source: Wikimedia Commons
(Wind Blown Grass Across the Moon, by Utagawa Hiroshige)