Rengay Through the Seasons #18 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #18 (Dec 30 to Jan 5, 2008), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

A cardinal settles / among the tree's twigs — falling snow.
Ice fog hangs in the air — an owl perches on a stump.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #18 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #18 (Dec 30 to Jan 5, 2008), Verse 1 (of 6)

A cardinal settles / among the tree's twigs — falling snow.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #17 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #17 (Dec 23-29, 2007) Summary

Another Gin

Snowy evening —
a Christmas card for mailing,
last year.

The party guests leave —
she wins another gin.

He says he knows
the one who gave the gift —
missing nametag.

Returned gamecard —
the one he really wants,
is not in stock.

Hockey card collection,
all but Wayne Gretzky's.

The mailman
comes around early —
credit card bills.

The central theme of this rengay is "Cards" with a secondary theme of "Not". Although all but the first verse has an explicit winter season reference, one should likely get a Christmas holiday feeling after reading the entire rengay. Verse two describes the leaving of party guests. There are many parties and get-togethers at this time of the year. In the third verse there is a gift without a name tag, a not uncommon event on Christmas morning (or Christmas Eve for some). In verse 4 we have a gift being returned on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas when a lot of gifts are returned, wrong size etc... a very busy shopping day. The actual term "boxing day" is of British origin). In verse six we have the after-Christmas bills to think about (or not).

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uCwlgyxthGoYQ&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #17 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #17 (Dec 23-29, 2007), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Snowy evening — a Christmas card for mailing, last year.
The party guests leave — she wins another gin.
He says he knows / the one who gave the gift — missing nametag.
Returned gamecard — the one he really wants, / is not in stock.
Hockey card collection, all but Wayne Gretzky's*.
The mailman / comes around early — credit card bills.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #17 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #17 (Dec 23-29, 2007), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Snowy evening — a Christmas card for mailing, last year.
The party guests leave — she wins another gin.
He says he knows / the one who gave the gift — missing nametag.
Returned gamecard — the one he really wants, / is not in stock.
Hockey card collection, all but Wayne Gretzky's*.

*Wayne Gretzky, nicknamed "The Great One," is a very famous hockey player who played in the NHL during the 1980's and 1990's. He broke many records, many of which still stand today. Some say his records may never be broken.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #17 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #17 (Dec 23-29, 2007), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Snowy evening — a Christmas card for mailing, last year.
The party guests leave — she wins another gin.
He says he knows / the one who gave the gift — missing nametag.
Returned gamecard — the one he really wants, / is not in stock.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #17 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #17 (Dec 23-29, 2007), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Snowy evening — a Christmas card for mailing, last year.
The party guests leave — she wins another gin.
He says he knows / the one who gave the gift — missing nametag.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #17 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #17 (Dec 23-29, 2007), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Snowy evening — a Christmas card for mailing, last year.
The party guests leave — she wins another gin.

*** Holiday Greetings to you All ***

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #17 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #17 (Dec 23-29, 2007), Verse 1 (of 6)

Snowy evening — a Christmas card for mailing, last year.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #16 Summary
by Yvonne Myers (ym), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #16 (Dec 16-22) Summary

Shadow of a Crow

Shadow of a crow
on the snow in front of me —
where's the bird? /ym

Fired from somewhere...
a snowball finds its mark. /vs

Guarding
an empty doghouse,
a frosty man /ym

The house key
slips out of my hand —
fresh drift. /vs

A sudden sound, a sneeze —
the bushes move nearby. /ym

Our toboggan
hits a bump... kids ahead
begin to scatter. /vs

We started this rengay with the theme of "Where?" but as it developed we found "Snow" was the more prominent theme. Yvonne likes a rengay to tell a story so we also chose to write this rengay with a somewhat narrative tone.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uC7sB59RE1MNg&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #16 [1-6]

by Yvonne Myers (ym), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #16 (Dec 16-22) Verses 1-6 (of 6):

Shadow of a crow / on the snow in front of me — where's the bird? /ym
Fired from somewhere... a snowball finds its mark. /vs
Guarding / an empty doghouse, a frosty man /ym
The house key / slips out of my hand — fresh drift. /vs
A sudden sound, a sneeze — the bushes move nearby. /ym
Our toboggan / hits a bump... kids ahead / begin to scatter. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #16 [1-5]

by Yvonne Myers (ym), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #16 (Dec 16-22) Verses 1-5 (of 6):

Shadow of a crow / on the snow in front of me — where's the bird? /ym
Fired from somewhere... a snowball finds its mark. /vs
Guarding / an empty doghouse, a frosty man /ym
The house key / slips out of my hand — fresh drift. /vs
A sudden sound, a sneeze — the bushes move nearby. /ym

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #16 [1-4]

by Yvonne Myers (ym), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #16 (Dec 16-22) Verses 1-4 (of 6):

Shadow of a crow / on the snow in front of me — where's the bird? /ym
Fired from somewhere... a snowball finds its mark. /vs
Guarding / an empty doghouse, a frosty man /ym
The house key / slips out of my hand — fresh drift. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #16 [1-3]

by Yvonne Myers (ym), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #16 (Dec 16-22) Verses 1-3 (of 6):

Shadow of a crow / on the snow in front of me — where's the bird? /ym
Fired from somewhere... a snowball finds its mark. /vs
Guarding / an empty doghouse, a frosty man /ym

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #16 [1-2]

by Yvonne Myers (ym), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #16 (Dec 16-22) Verses 1-2 (of 6):

Shadow of a crow / on the snow in front of me — where's the bird? /ym
Fired from somewhere... a snowball finds its mark. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #16 [1]

by Yvonne Myers (ym), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #16 (Dec 16-22) Verse 1 (of 6):

Shadow of a crow / on the snow in front of me — where's the bird? /ym

This rengay was written with Yvonne Myers who is the moderator of the Off-the-wall "haiku" group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/offthewallhaiku/

Yvonne and I wrote a rengay together in June 2007. Since then numerous rengay have been written by members of Off-the-Wall.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #15 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #15 (Dec 9-15) Summary

Rising Snowball

River ice — a muskrat glides under / in silence.
The bank's wooded edge — a magpie swoops down.
Fort facing / fort... a snowball rises / high in the air.
Backyard rink — the puck sails above / a frozen lawn.
A black, slippery patch — the brakes do their best.
The puppy tries / to make it 'round the corner — waxed hardwood.

The theme of this rengay is "Gliding Motion". In a winter setting it begins with the natural setting of a river valley and then progresses toward human-related things including a snowball fight, hockey, an automobile, and finally a dog in the hallway.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uDKMz-sIowyCg&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #15 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #15 (Dec 9-15), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

River ice — a muskrat glides under / in silence.
The bank's wooded edge — a magpie swoops down.
Fort facing / fort... a snowball rises / high in the air.
Backyard rink — the puck sails above / a frozen lawn.
A black, slippery patch — the brakes do their best.
The puppy tries / to make it 'round the corner — waxed hardwood.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #15 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #15 (Dec 9-15), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

River ice — a muskrat glides under / in silence.
The bank's wooded edge — a magpie swoops down.
Fort facing / fort... a snowball rises / high in the air.
Backyard rink — the puck sails above / a frozen lawn.
A black, slippery patch — the brakes do their best.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #15 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #15 (Dec 9-15), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

River ice — a muskrat glides under / in silence.
The bank's wooded edge — a magpie swoops down.
Fort facing / fort... a snowball rises / high in the air.
Backyard rink — the puck sails above / a frozen lawn.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #15 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #15 (Dec 9-15), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

River ice — a muskrat glides under / in silence.
The bank's wooded edge — a magpie swoops down.
Fort facing / fort... a snowball rises / high in the air.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #15 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #15 (Dec 9-15), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

River ice — a muskrat glides under / in silence.
The bank's wooded edge — a magpie swoops down.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #15 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #15 (Dec 9-15), Verse 1 (of 6)

River ice — a muskrat glides under / in silence.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #14 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #14 (Dec 2 - 8, 2007) Summary

Polly's cracker

The dog's legs / have become shorter — first snowfall.
Playground sunset shadows — school kids grow taller.
Around and around — the kitten almost catches / its own tail.
I put my finger / through the parrot's cage — Polly's cracker?
Seated, we wait to leave — the train beside us backs up.
Empty koi pond — an orange leaf "swims" / toward me.

The central theme of this rengay is "Misperception", something that is a daily occurrence for some of us. :-)

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uBowtJgYDBMcg&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #14 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #14 (Dec 2-8), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

The dog's legs / have become shorter — first snowfall.
Playground sunset shadows — school kids grow taller.
Around and around — the kitten almost catches / its own tail.
I put my finger / through the parrot's cage — Polly's cracker?
Seated, we wait to leave — the train beside us backs up.
Empty koi pond — an orange leaf "swims" / toward me.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #14 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #14 (Dec 2-8), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

The dog's legs / have become shorter — first snowfall.
Playground sunset shadows — school kids grow taller.
Around and around — the kitten almost catches / its own tail.
I put my finger / through the parrot's cage — Polly's cracker?
Seated, we wait to leave — the train beside us backs up.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #14 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #14 (Dec 2-8), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

The dog's legs / have become shorter — first snowfall.
Playground sunset shadows — school kids grow taller.
Around and around — the kitten almost catches / its own tail.
I put my finger / through the parrot's cage — Polly's cracker?

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #14 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #14 (Dec 2-8), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

The dog's legs / have become shorter — first snowfall.
Playground sunset shadows — school kids grow taller.
Around and around — the kitten almost catches / its own tail.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #14 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #14 (Dec 2-8), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

The dog's legs / have become shorter — first snowfall.
Playground sunset shadows — school kids grow taller.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #14 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #14 (Dec 2-8), Verse 1 (of 6)

The dog's legs / have become shorter — first snowfall.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #13 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 25 - Dec 1, 2007) Summary

Pink Cascades

Cascades of pink / among windowsill cacti — first openings.
Popcorn out of the microwave — steam bursts from the corners.
Weight watcher — the host offers her another / piece of cake.
Channel surfing — a new gadget shown on / the shopping channel.
Crowded holiday mall — she squeezes his hand tighter.
A stubborn cork / finally comes loose — bottle of Rosé.

The central theme of this rengay is "Small Dangers". Each verse highlights a small danger, none of which are too serious and in most cases unlikely to happen for most of us. The other theme is "Openings". Thanks to Floots for first pointing out this theme. Thanks also to Polona for our third theme of "Indulgences".

In verse 5 there is mention of a holiday mall (e.g. in the US Thanksgiving is a late autumn holiday). The "she" in this verse could be a mother squeezing her son's hand. It could also be a man and woman with the squeeze being a little symbol of the love between them. The small danger is that they may be spotted in the mall and their secret relationship could be exposed.

The feeling of celebration in verse 5 and the feeling of Rosé wine being poured in verse 6 reminds one of the pink cascades in verse 1.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uDuIYjjiMKXYw&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #13 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #13 (Nov 25 - Dec 1), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Cascades of pink / among windowsill cacti — first openings.
Popcorn out of the microwave — steam bursts from the corners.
Weight watcher — the host offers her another / piece of cake.
Channel surfing — a new gadget shown on / the shopping channel.
Crowded holiday mall — she squeezes his hand tighter.
A stubborn cork / finally comes loose — bottle of Rosé.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #13 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #13 (Nov 25 - Dec 1), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Cascades of pink / among windowsill cacti — first openings.
Popcorn out of the microwave — steam bursts from the corners.
Weight watcher — the host offers her another / piece of cake.
Channel surfing — a new gadget shown on / the shopping channel.
Crowded holiday mall — she squeezes his hand tighter.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #13 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #13 (Nov 25 - Dec 1), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Cascades of pink / among windowsill cacti — first openings.
Popcorn out of the microwave — steam bursts from the corners.
Weight watcher — the host offers her another / piece of cake.
Channel surfing — a new gadget shown on / the shopping channel.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #13 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #13 (Nov 25 - Dec 1), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Cascades of pink / among windowsill cacti — first openings.
Popcorn out of the microwave — steam bursts from the corners.
Weight watcher — the host offers her another / piece of cake.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #13 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #13 (Nov 25 - Dec 1), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Cascades of pink / among windowsill cacti — first openings.
Popcorn out of the microwave — steam bursts from the corners.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #13 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #13 (Nov 25 - Dec 1), Verse 1 (of 6)

Cascades of pink / among windowsill cacti — first openings.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #12 Summary

by Max Verhart (mv), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #12 (Nov 18-24) Summary

The Graying Hare

Hazy sunlight — a cloud of lapwings / practicing. /mv
After school at the piano... thoughts of other places. /vs
Rattling shutters — Checking the condition / of my sweaters. /mv
The graying hare / hops into a willow thicket — overcast day. /vs
A kid's shoe with a carrot / sitting near the fireplace. /mv
A grizzly lingers / in a patch of rose hips — darkening sky. /vs

The theme we had in mind for this rengay is "Preparation" which is something we find man and nature doing, especially in late Autumn. You will notice that there is a balance between the number of verses that are nature-related (1, 4, & 6) and those that are human-related (2, 3, & 5).

The link between verse 1 and 2 is 'other places'. For the lapwings it is the other places they will be flying to, for the child practicing piano it could be two things: (a) he/she would rather being doing something else in some other place, like playing outside or in his/her room; (b) the music being practiced conjures up far-away places (Oriental, Country, European, etc).

In verse 5 there is a reference to the Dutch tradition of Saint Nicolaas which is more popularly known as Sinterklaas. In the Netherlands he arrives in late November and rides a white horse. Helped by his black assistants, he brings children small presents, which are supposedly delivered through the chimney and placed in the children's shoes. That's why these shoes are usually waiting near the fireplace (or near a radiator, nowadays), often with some hay or a carrot in it for Sinterklaas' horse. This continues till December 5th, when Sinterklaas brings the bigger presents, after which he immediately departs again. Santa Claus, as known elsewhere in the world, is a modern spin off of this old European tradition.

Verse 6: Black bears and grizzlies eat rose hips in the fall. The link with v.5 is 'Carrot' with 'Rose hip', but also the image of a veggie within something. In verse 5 the carrot is within the shoe, in verse 6 the rose hips are being put inside the bear.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uAArpV5fER6WA&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #12 [1-6]

by Max Verhart (mv), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #12 (Nov 18-24) Verses 1-6 (of 6):

Hazy sunlight — a cloud of lapwings / practicing. /mv
After school at the piano... thoughts of other places. /vs
Rattling shutters — Checking the condition / of my sweaters. /mv
The graying hare / hops into a willow thicket — overcast day. /vs
A kid's shoe with a carrot / sitting near the fireplace. /mv
A grizzly lingers / in a patch of rose hips — darkening sky. /vs

[Black bears and grizzlies eat rose hips in the fall. ]

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #12 [1-5]

by Max Verhart (mv), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #12 (Nov 18-24) Verses 1-5 (of 6):

Hazy sunlight — a cloud of lapwings / practicing. /mv
After school at the piano... thoughts of other places. /vs
Rattling shutters — Checking the condition / of my sweaters. /mv
The graying hare / hops into a willow thicket — overcast day. /vs
A kid's shoe with a carrot / sitting near the fireplace. /mv

[In Dutch tradition Saint Nicolaas, or more popularly Sinterklaas, arrives in late November. He rides a white horse and, helped by his black assistants, brings children small presents, which are supposedly delivered through the chimney and put in the kids' shoes. That's why these shoes are usually waiting near the fireplace (or near a radiator, nowadays), often with some hay or a carrot in it for Sinterklaas' horse. This continues till December 5th, when Sinterklaas brings the bigger presents, after which he immediately departs again. Santa Claus, as known elsewhere in the world, is a modern spin off of this old European tradition.]

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #12 [1-4]

by Max Verhart (mv), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #12 (Nov 18-24) Verses 1-4 (of 6):

Hazy sunlight — a cloud of lapwings / practicing. /mv
After school at the piano... thoughts of other places. /vs
Rattling shutters — Checking the condition / of my sweaters. /mv
The graying hare / hops into a willow thicket — overcast day. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #12 [1-3]

by Max Verhart (mv), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #12 (Nov 18-24) Verses 1-3 (of 6):

Hazy sunlight — a cloud of lapwings / practicing. /mv
After school at the piano... thoughts of other places. /vs
Rattling shutters — Checking the condition / of my sweaters. /mv

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #12 [1-2]

by Max Verhart (mv), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #12 (Nov 18-24) Verses 1-2 (of 6):

Hazy sunlight — a cloud of lapwings / practicing. /mv
After school at the piano... thoughts of other places. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #12 [1]

by Max Verhart (mv), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #12 (Nov 18-24) Verse 1 (of 6):

Hazy sunlight — a cloud of lapwings / practicing. /mv

This rengay was written with Max Verhart who was born in 1944 in the Netherlands. He has written and published haiku since approximately 1980 and has held the following haiku association positions:

• President of the Haiku Circle Netherlands (1999-2003).
• European director of the World Haiku Association (2001-2002).
• Member of the editorial staff of the Red Moon Anthology (USA) since 2002.
• Co-editor of the Dutch/Flemish quarterly Vuursteen (Flint), the oldest haiku journal in Europe (2003-present).
• Associate editor for Modern Haiku, USA (2007-present).

Translations of Max's haiku have been published in journals, e-zines, and anthologies in at least twelve languages. Individual volumes include:

• Zijn met wat is (To be with what is), 1993.
• Een beetje adem, 1998 (English version: some breath, 1999).
• Geen woord teveel/not a word too much, 2000.
• Om kort te gaan (to be short) 2005.
• With Betty Kaplan: smoke signals - nine rengay, 2003.
• With Horst Ludwig: twelve moons/zwolf Monde/twelve moons - a bilingual rengay series (with English translation), 2004.

Max started his own small private publishing house called 't schrijverke' (whirlywig) in 2005.

I first encountered Max's work in issues of the Outlaw Poet's Sketchbook. In each issue he and Betty Kaplan wrote Rengay that I found captivating and original. I was very pleased when Max agreed to participate in this Rengay series.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #11 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 11-17, 2007) Summary

Crust of White

A crust of white / becomes a sheet of dew — early morning.
Steamed mirror — she applies / final touches of lipstick.
His canvas depicts / autumn colours — the essence / barely captured.
New jeans — that worn out look with / rips and tears.
Winterized garden — holes / where veggies had grown.
The first snow / blankets the yard — branches / of rhubarb droop.

The central theme of this rengay is "Transformation". The other two themes are "Flatness" and "Colours".

There is an artist's depiction of an autumn scene in verse 3. Is it possible to really capture the essence of this experience? Is it not a difficult thing to accomplish, to capture this essence of the autumn feeling. The artist perhaps did so, but just barely, even though it may be a very excellent, remarkable picture. On the surface of the canvas, the painting faithfully reproduces the autumn colours, perhaps very well, but that essence of the autumn experience can only be barely captured (the light reflecting off the leaves, the smells, the cool breeze... these are some of things that constitute the full essence).

Verse 4 references a trend that's been around for a number of years and that is the buying of jeans that have been already "worn". This is accomplished by washing them in sand/rocks and creating rips and tears as if the jeans had been worn for several years.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uBBImvU_jdAXw

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #11 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 11-17), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

A crust of white / becomes a sheet of dew — early morning.
Steamed mirror — she applies / final touches of lipstick.
His canvas depicts / autumn colours — the essence / barely captured.
New jeans — that worn out look with / rips and tears.
Winterized garden — holes / where veggies had grown.
The first snow / blankets the yard — branches / of rhubarb droop.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #11 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 11-17), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

A crust of white / becomes a sheet of dew — early morning.
Steamed mirror — she applies / final touches of lipstick.
His canvas depicts / autumn colours — the essence / barely captured.
New jeans — that worn out look with / rips and tears.
Winterized garden — holes / where veggies had grown.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #11 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 11-17), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

A crust of white / becomes a sheet of dew — early morning.
Steamed mirror — she applies / final touches of lipstick.
His canvas depicts / autumn colours — the essence / barely captured.
New jeans — that worn out look with / rips and tears.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #11 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 11-17), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

A crust of white / becomes a sheet of dew — early morning.
Steamed mirror — she applies / final touches of lipstick.
His canvas depicts / autumn colours — the essence / barely captured.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #11 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 11-17), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

A crust of white / becomes a sheet of dew — early morning.
Steamed mirror — she applies / final touches of lipstick.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #11 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #11 (Nov 11-17), Verse 1 (of 6)

A crust of white / becomes a sheet of dew — early morning.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #10 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #10 (Nov 4-10, 2007) Summary

Heading South

Prairie horizon — ducks in a 'V' fly in / from the north.
An A-frame roof raised - the urban view expands.
A horse shoe / over the fireplace mantle — fading memories.
Basement reno — the wooden sawhorse, now / the kids' pony.
Telephone pole nest — an osprey lands with fish.
E-mail message: "Our last kid moved out / just yesterday."

The central theme of this rengay is the spelling of the word "VACATE". Each verse contributes a letter in sequence either by name as in verses 1, 2, and 6, or by shape as in verses 3, 4, and 5. The word VACATE, of course, is related to the ducks in the first verse that are vacating their Northern summer home as well as the last kid that has moved out in verse 6.

There is a secondary theme of things related to Homes.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uC7wSui-EiVUA&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #10 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #10 (Nov 4-10), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Prairie horizon — ducks in a 'V' fly in / from the north.
An A-frame roof raised - the urban view expands.
A horse shoe / over the fireplace mantle — fading memories.
Basement reno — the wooden sawhorse, now / the kids' pony.
Telephone pole nest — an osprey lands with fish.
E-mail message: "Our last kid moved out / just yesterday."

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #10 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #10 (Nov 4-10), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Prairie horizon — ducks in a 'V' fly in / from the north.
An A-frame roof raised - the urban view expands.
A horse shoe / over the fireplace mantle — fading memories.
Basement reno — the wooden sawhorse, now / the kids' pony.
Telephone pole nest — an osprey lands with fish.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #10 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #10 (Nov 4-10), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Prairie horizon — ducks in a 'V' fly in / from the north.
An A-frame roof raised - the urban view expands.
A horse shoe / over the fireplace mantle — fading memories.
Basement reno — the wooden sawhorse, now / the kids' pony.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #10 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #10 (Nov 4-10), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Prairie horizon — ducks in a 'V' fly in / from the north.
An A-frame roof raised - the urban view expands.
A horse shoe / over the fireplace mantle — fading memories.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #10 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #10 (Nov 4-10), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Prairie horizon — ducks in a 'V' fly in / from the north.
An A-frame roof raised - the urban view expands.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #10 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #10 (Nov 4-10), Verse 1 (of 6)

Prairie horizon — ducks in a 'V' fly in / from the north.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #9 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 28 - Nov 3) Summary

Under a Sleeve

Revealing itself / upon a banana leaf — October wind.
Tree foliage descends — naked limbs emerge.
A battleship tattoo / under a sleeve rolled-up — blood-pressure test.
Fast-food server — my order taken between / tongue-ring flashes.
A rabbit-sized lump — the snake barely slithers.
Pink popcorn — a plastic toy whistle / at the box's bottom.

The central theme of this rengay is "Revealed" with a secondary theme of "Food Related". In verse 3 there is a reference to a tattoo. It was common for men to have tattoos that reflected their virility and strength. A depiction of a battleship would be one such image. It is ironical now that his strength may be in question with this blood pressure examination. As kids we'd gobble down the Lucky Pink Elephant popcorn (verse 6) to get to the cheap toy which was invariably at the bottom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Elephant_Popcorn

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uBFmD3M9RO5bQ&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #9 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #9 (Oct 28 - Nov 3), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Revealing itself / upon a banana leaf — October wind.
Tree foliage descends — naked limbs emerge.
A battleship tattoo / under a sleeve rolled-up — blood-pressure test.
Fast-food server — my order taken between / tongue-ring flashes.
A rabbit-sized lump — the snake barely slithers.
Pink popcorn — a plastic toy whistle / at the box's bottom.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #9 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #9 (Oct 28 - Nov 3), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Revealing itself / upon a banana leaf — October wind.
Tree foliage descends — naked limbs emerge.
A battleship tattoo / under a sleeve rolled-up — blood-pressure test.
Fast-food server — my order taken between / tongue-ring flashes.
A rabbit-sized lump — the snake barely slithers.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #9 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #9 (Oct 28 - Nov 3), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Revealing itself / upon a banana leaf — October wind.
Tree foliage descends — naked limbs emerge.
A battleship tattoo / under a sleeve rolled-up — blood-pressure test.
Fast-food server — my order taken between / tongue-ring flashes.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #9 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #9 (Oct 28 - Nov 3), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Revealing itself / upon a banana leaf — October wind.
Tree foliage descends — naked limbs emerge.
A battleship tattoo / under a sleeve rolled-up — blood-pressure test.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #9 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #9 (Oct 28 - Nov 3), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Revealing itself / upon a banana leaf — October wind.
Tree foliage descends — naked limbs emerge.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #9 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #9 (Oct 28 - Nov 3), Verse 1 (of 6)

Revealing itself / upon a banana leaf — October wind.

This first verse was selected as co-winner of the World Haiku Review, 2006/Autumn issue.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #8 Summary

by Daniela Bullas (db), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #8 (Oct 21-27) Summary:

At the Mirror

All 'round the scarecrow / a large flock of loud blackbirds — he wears new old clothes. /db
Just-built library courtyard — Mahatma Gandhi's bronze head. /vs
A whodunit book — disguising his appearance / with a judge’s wig. /db
His peg-leg missing — the Captain orders "no rum" / till someone 'fesses. /vs
Pinocchio's nose — the cricket / sings a modern, pop'lar tune. /db
Lightsaber duel: her dad as Darth Vader and / his mirror image. /vs

Each 3-line haiku in this Rengay is in the 5-7-5 syllable format, and each 2-line haiku is in the 7-7 syllable format.

We had two themes in mind when we developed this Rengay: "Human-related Fakeness" and the pattern of "Old/New" (note that the two 2-line verses represent the New).

Verse 4 mentions Pinocchio. This is from a novel called "The Adventures of Pinocchio" that was completed as a book for children in 1883. In the 1940's Disney version of Pinocchio, a cartoon cricket named Jiminy was appointed by the Blue Fairy to serve as the conscience for Pinocchio. He is also a comical and wise partner who accompanies Pinocchio on his adventures. The cricket sang the movie's theme song "When You Wish upon a Star" over the opening credits and again in the final scene of the film.

The last verse's "lightsaber" is a fictional weapon from the Star Wars movies. It is like a saber, but with the metal blade replaced by something resembling a solid bar or cylindrical beam of plasma about one meter long. "Dad" is cited for the Old/New theme not only because dad's are older than kids but usually it's kids that dress up and role play. Isn't Dad a little too old for that? A fun aspect of this verse is that Dad is playing out some childhood fantasy in the mirror (fighting himself), with the hint in the verse that his young daughter is watching.

The title "At the Mirror" was chosen is it reflects seeing yourself in the mirror as old/young and, of course, the image is fake. It also parallels the reflections in the rengay itself in that the pattern of the Old/New theme is reflective, i.e. old-new-old / old-new-old. As well, the pattern of haijin is mirrored: db-vs-db / vs-db-vs.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uA76xDPck3_Bw&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #8 [1-6]

by Daniela Bullas (db), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #8 (Oct 21-27) Verses 1-6 (of 6):

All 'round the scarecrow / a large flock of loud blackbirds — he wears new old clothes. /db
Just-built library courtyard — Mahatma Gandhi's bronze head. /vs
A whodunit book — disguising his appearance / with a judge’s wig. /db
His peg-leg missing — the Captain orders "no rum" / till someone 'fesses. /vs
Pinocchio's nose — the cricket / sings a modern, pop'lar tune. /db
Lightsaber duel: her dad as Darth Vader and / his mirror image. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #8 [1-5]

by Daniela Bullas (db), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #8 (Oct 21-27) Verses 1-5 (of 6):

All 'round the scarecrow / a large flock of loud blackbirds — he wears new old clothes. /db
Just-built library courtyard — Mahatma Gandhi's bronze head. /vs
A whodunit book — disguising his appearance / with a judge’s wig. /db
His peg-leg missing — the Captain orders "no rum" / till someone 'fesses. /vs
Pinocchio's nose — the cricket / sings a modern, pop'lar tune. /db

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #8 [1-4]

by Daniela Bullas (db), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #8 (Oct 21-27) Verses 1-4 (of 6):

All 'round the scarecrow / a large flock of loud blackbirds — he wears new old clothes. /db
Just-built library courtyard — Mahatma Gandhi's bronze head. /vs
A whodunit book — disguising his appearance / with a judge’s wig. /db
His peg-leg missing — the Captain orders "no rum" / till someone 'fesses. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #8 [1-3]

by Daniela Bullas (db), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #8 (Oct 21-27) Verses 1-3 (of 6):

All 'round the scarecrow / a large flock of loud blackbirds — he wears new old clothes. /db
Just-built library courtyard — Mahatma Gandhi's bronze head. /vs
A whodunit book — disguising his appearance / with a judge’s wig. /db

[In England and Wales judges had worn full-bottomed wigs for criminal trials until the 1840s. This old-fashioned custom is now only used for ceremonial dress and in January, 2008 the tradition will be abolished.]

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #8 [1-2]

by Daniela Bullas (db), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #8 (Oct 21-27), Verses 1-2 (of 6):

All 'round the scarecrow / a large flock of loud blackbirds — he wears new old clothes. /db
Just-built library courtyard — Mahatma Gandhi's bronze head. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #8 [1]

by Daniela Bullas (db), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #8 (Oct 21-27), Verse 1 (of 6):

All 'round the scarecrow / a large flock of loud blackbirds — he wears new old clothes. /db

This rengay was written with Daniela Draghia-Bullas who was born in 1969 in Deva, Romania. She holds a degree in archaeology and museology and has lived with her husband in the U.K. since 2001. Daniela started writing poetry and prose in her teens. Her short stories won her the "Scanteia tineretului" Award in 1988. Her editorial debut was the "Umbra Libelulei" (Dragonfly's Shadow), a haiku anthology. Between 2003 and 2007 she has been a member of the editorial staff of two Romanian magazines. She has also published two books and several of her works have appeared in on-line journals.

I met Daniela via the The Outlaw Poets Yahoo group and since the Spring of 2007 we have written numerous renku and rengay together. Daniela likes to write haiku in the 5-7-5 / 7-7 syllable format so each verse in this eighth rengay of the series is in this format.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #7 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 14-20) Summary

Tinkle of an Earring

Autumn lawn... more leaf-mulching than / grass-cutting.
National Geographic — she clips pictures for school.
Grandma blinks / for the fourth straight time — family portrait.
A young man / across the table... a speck / in her eye.
Vacuuming some crumbs — the tinkle of an earring.
Harvest hail — mice in the wheat field / head for cover.

This first verse was selected as the 64th entry in the World Haiku showcase on Oct 1, 2005:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WHCshowcase/message/73

The theme in this rengay is "Unintended Outcomes". The idea in verse 4 is that the young woman gets a speck in her eye which the young man interprets as a flirtatious wink. In verse 6, at first the hail chases the mice to take cover, but later it turns out to be a possible benefit as the damaged wheat may not get harvested and could be left for the mice to eat during the coming winter. In writing this I saw some parallels that we often face in our lives.

Please click here for link, theme, and other comments:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uB749-GHg14Zw&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #7 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 14-20), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Autumn lawn... more leaf-mulching than / grass-cutting.
National Geographic — she clips pictures for school.
Grandma blinks / for the fourth straight time — family portrait.
A young man / across the table... a speck / in her eye.
Vacuuming some crumbs — the tinkle of an earring.
Harvest hail — mice in the wheat field / head for cover.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #7 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 14-20), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Autumn lawn... more leaf-mulching than / grass-cutting.
National Geographic — she clips pictures for school.
Grandma blinks / for the fourth straight time — family portrait.
A young man / across the table... a speck / in her eye.
Vacuuming some crumbs — the tinkle of an earring.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #7 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 14-20), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Autumn lawn... more leaf-mulching than / grass-cutting.
National Geographic — she clips pictures for school.
Grandma blinks / for the fourth straight time — family portrait.
A young man / across the table... a speck / in her eye.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #7 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 14-20), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Autumn lawn... more leaf-mulching than / grass-cutting.
National Geographic — she clips pictures for school.
Grandma blinks / for the fourth straight time — family portrait.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #7 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 14-20), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Autumn lawn... more leaf-mulching than / grass-cutting.
National Geographic — she clips pictures for school.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #7 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #7 (Oct 14-20), Verses 1 (of 6)

Autumn lawn... more leaf-mulching than / grass-cutting.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #6 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #6 (Oct 7 - 13) Summary

Over the Rail

Yellow leaves / falling in the sun...like / flakes of snow.
Her lush blond hair — first gray pulled out.
Sudden gust... his toupee lifts off, over / the bridge rail.
We pass over, the muffler does not — railway crossing.
Lake-side autumn picnic — the boom box plays hits.
Roadside vendor — cobs of corn overflow / onto the ground.

This haiku was written from a personal experience of seeing leaves being shaken off a tree laden with leaves in the fall. A gust of wind knocked off a whole "layer" of leaves and they drifted to the ground with the sun, low in the horizon, shining behind them. It instantly reminded me of a fresh snowfall being knocked off a tree in the wind. Both images are relatively uncommon. The snow has to have just fallen and be very dry, the temperature -20C or lower.

I'm not a big fan of comparisons and allusions in haiku but I felt it was essential in this one as all my other attempts at expressing this experience in haiku were pathetic. I posted this version of the haiku somewhere back in 2005/2006 and at least two individuals said this struck a chord with them (they had the same experience). I therefore felt justified in using it as the "hokku" in this rengay.

This was written without any idea of it telling a story. Later however, I noticed that one could easily envision a story about a family going out on an Autumn picnic.

Please click here for link, theme, and other comments:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uAENBSpyg4WIg&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #6 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #6 (Oct 7-13), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Yellow leaves / falling in the sun...like / flakes of snow.
Her lush blond hair — first gray pulled out.
Sudden gust... his toupee lifts off, over / the bridge rail.
We pass over, the muffler does not — railway crossing.
Lake-side autumn picnic — the boom box plays hits.
Roadside vendor — cobs of corn overflow / onto the ground.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #6 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #6 (Oct 7-13), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Yellow leaves / falling in the sun...like / flakes of snow.
Her lush blond hair — first gray pulled out.
Sudden gust... his toupee lifts off, over / the bridge rail.
We pass over, the muffler does not — railway crossing.
Lake-side autumn picnic — the boom box plays hits.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #6 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #6 (Oct 7-13), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Yellow leaves / falling in the sun...like / flakes of snow.
Her lush blond hair — first gray pulled out.
Sudden gust... his toupee lifts off, over / the bridge rail.
We pass over, the muffler does not — railway crossing.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #6 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #6 (Oct 7-13), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Yellow leaves / falling in the sun...like / flakes of snow.
Her lush blond hair — first gray pulled out.
Sudden gust... his toupee lifts off, over / the bridge rail.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #6 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #6 (Oct 7-13), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Yellow leaves / falling in the sun...like / flakes of snow.
Her lush blond hair — first gray pulled out.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #6 [1]

by Masago: Rengay #6 (Oct 7-13), Verse 1 (of 6)

Yellow leaves / falling in the sun...like / flakes of snow.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #5 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #5 (Sep 30 - Oct 6) Summary

Remnants

Autumn morning — an old barn bites down / into the ground.
Abandoned farm truck... its door also in the box.
River valley — a rusted bicycle frame / lodged in an elm.
A small piece / of embedded barbed wire — tree trunk.
A yellowing telegram: "Coming Home Now".
Their initials / with nineteen-twenty-one — large, flat rock.

The first verse for this rengay was written early one morning on 2005 as we were leaving to go on a long trip. As we drove through the rural countryside I saw a very old abandoned barn. It seemed to me as if it was biting down into the ground.

A central theme of "remnants" was obvious from this first verse. Then, after writing the third verse, it occurred to me that it would be interesting if each verse's remnant reference got progressively smaller in size (but not less significant). The feet and inches equivalent sizes are: Barn (270' x 115'), Truck (13' x 5'), Bicycle (13' x 5'), Wire (6'), Telegram (6" x 4"), Initials (4" x 1"). The third theme of "lodged" was actually discovered quite awhile after the rengay was written.

Please click here for link, theme, and other comments:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uB-KAejxWOMMQ&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #5 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay 5 (Sep 30 - Oct 6), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Autumn morning — an old barn bites down / into the ground.
Abandoned farm truck... its door also in the box.
River valley — a rusted bicycle frame / lodged in an elm.
A small piece / of embedded barbed wire — tree trunk.
A yellowing telegram: "Coming Home Now".
Their initials / with nineteen-twenty-one — large, flat rock.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #5 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay 5 (Sep 30 - Oct 6), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Autumn morning — an old barn bites down / into the ground.
Abandoned farm truck... its door also in the box.
River valley — a rusted bicycle frame / lodged in an elm.
A small piece / of embedded barbed wire — tree trunk.
A yellowing telegram: "Coming Home Now".

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #5 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay 5 (Sep 30 - Oct 6), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Autumn morning — an old barn bites down / into the ground.
Abandoned farm truck... its door also in the box.
River valley — a rusted bicycle frame / lodged in an elm.
A small piece / of embedded barbed wire — tree trunk.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #5 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay 5 (Sep 30 - Oct 6), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Autumn morning — an old barn bites down / into the ground.
Abandoned farm truck... its door also in the box.
River valley — a rusted bicycle frame / lodged in an elm.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #5 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay 5 (Sep 30 - Oct 6), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Autumn morning — an old barn bites down / into the ground.
Abandoned farm truck... its door also in the box.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #5 [1]

by Masago: Rengay 5 (Sep 30 - Oct 6), Verse 1 (of 6)

Autumn morning —
an old barn bites down
into the ground.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #4 Summary

by Karina Klesko (kk), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay 4, Summary

The Storm, Now Over

Autumn afternoon — rose petals cling / to the cemetery gate. /kk
Embracing at the door... an ebony hair on his shirt. /vs
Harvest moon — red acrylic fingernails / open old love letters. /kk
A ladybug / holds tight to a twig — cool wind. /vs
Late night fishing — black-skirted spinnerbait /kk
Harbour lights — the squeak of a rusty hinge / hangs in the air. /vs

After the second verse was written the theme of "clinging" was chosen and we later noticed a Red/Black secondary theme developing. It turned out that the Red's matched the 3-line haiku and the black matched with the 2-line haiku.

The spinnerbait in the 5th verse is a type of fishing lure with one or more metal blades that are shaped to spin like a propeller. This creates varying degrees of flash and vibration and mimics the movement of a small fish. Water clings to the lure as it is pulled out (unless of course a fish has been caught in which case the fish clings to the hook).

The title of "The Storm, Now Over" was chosen as it can be applied to each verse and, in a way, creates a third, hidden theme of its own.

Click here for link and theme details:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uAMPU04RvuUIw&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #4 [1-6]

by Karina Klesko (kk), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay 4, Verses 1-6 (of 6):

Autumn afternoon — rose petals cling / to the cemetery gate. /kk
Embracing at the door... an ebony hair on his shirt. /vs
Harvest moon — red acrylic fingernails / open old love letters. /kk
A ladybug / holds tight to a twig — cool wind. /vs
Late night fishing — black-skirted spinnerbait /kk
Harbour lights — the squeak of a rusty hinge /hangs in the air. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #4 [1-5]

by Karina Klesko (kk), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay 4, Verses 1-5 (of 6):

Autumn afternoon — rose petals cling / to the cemetery gate. /kk
Embracing at the door... an ebony hair on his shirt. /vs
Harvest moon — red acrylic fingernails / open old love letters. /kk
A ladybug / holds tight to a twig — cool wind. /vs
Late night fishing — black-skirted spinnerbait /kk

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #4 [1-4]

by Karina Klesko (kk), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay 4, Verses 1-4 (of 6):

Autumn afternoon — rose petals cling / to the cemetery gate. /kk
Embracing at the door... an ebony hair on his shirt. /vs
Harvest moon — red acrylic fingernails / open old love letters. /kk
A ladybug / holds tight to a twig — cool wind. /vs

[This is just a little reminder that rengay is not narrative. It isn't supposed to tell a story although sometimes it works out that way. The major two aspects of rengay are that there is at least one common theme throughout the poem and that each verse somehow links to its previous verse. As well, rengay partners strive to produce something creative, interesting and poetically pleasing.]

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #4 [1-3]

by Karina Klesko (kk), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay 4, Verses 1-3 (of 6):

Autumn afternoon — rose petals cling / to the cemetery gate. /kk
Embracing at the door... an ebony hair on his shirt. /vs
Harvest moon — red acrylic fingernails / open old love letters. /kk

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #4 [1-2]

by Karina Klesko (kk), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay 4, Verses 1-2 (of 6):

Autumn afternoon — rose petals cling / to the cemetery gate. /kk
Embracing at the door... an ebony hair on his shirt. /vs

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #4 [1]

by Karina Klesko (kk), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay 4, Verse 1 (of 6):

Autumn afternoon — rose petals cling / to the cemetery gate. /kk

This rengay was written with Karina Klesko. Karina lives in Louisiana and is formerly from upstate New York. She has been writing most of her life. In addition to writing children's books and Christian bible study plans, she writes rengay, tanka, renga, renku, and other poetry forms. She also works with young children developing haiku learning exercises. In 2004 Karina founded the The Outlaw Poets Yahoo poetry news group which was established for the sake of creativity in writing rather than for keeping to strict forms of western writing, leaning more towards eastern style forms:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheOutlawPoets/

Karina is also the owner of Poetrywriting.org and sponsors The Sketchbook, Karina Klesko editor, John Daleiden editor. The Link to the latest Sketchbook on-line is:

http://poetrywriting.org/Sketchbook2-3Mar07/0_AEnter_Sketchbook_2-3.htm

I joined The Outlaw Poets about a year ago and Karina and I subsequently wrote numerous renku and rengay together. In fact, it was with Karina that I first participated in writing a rengay. I think it is therefore appropriate that Karina be the first guest writer in this Rengay Through the Seasons project.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #3 [1-6] Summary

by Masago: Rengay 3, Verses 1-6 (of 6) Summary

Pile of Spruce

Little beggar... squirreling away pine cones / in our roof.
A layer of dark moss, on each cedar shake.
Yellowing larch — the wind shakes more needles / onto the ground.
A seedling fir, nearly covered in leaves — forest clearing.
Alpine meadow flowers... the added scent of juniper.
A field mouse / darts into the pile of spruce — mountain hut.

This rengay's first verse about squirrels is based on a real-life battle we've been fighting. We live in an old neigbourhood (circa 1930) with lots of tall evergreens which attract many squirrels. In past years they somehow found a way to get into the attic and they loved to store pine cones up there. When I first went in the attic I was amazed at the huge pile of pine cones in one corner. I have since repaired the few places where they were getting in and we now currently are winning this battle.

The central theme of this rengay is "conifers" (evergreens). Each of the main species of conifers are mentioned in different verses: Pine, Cedar, Larch, Fir, Juniper, and Spruce.

There is a second theme of "accumulations": pine cones in the attic, layers of moss on the cedar shakes, larch needles on the ground, fallen leaves on the seedling fir, the scent of juniper added to that of the alpine flowers, and the pile of spruce firewood.

As the first verse references a small animal (squirrel) it seems appropriate to have the last verse also reference a small animal (mouse). Both little animals are unwelcome intruders. Although our house is not a mountain hut we sometimes feel that it is.

Click here to view this rengay's worksheet.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #3 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay 3, Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Little beggar... squirreling away pine cones / in our roof.
A layer of dark moss, on each cedar shake.
Yellowing larch — the wind shakes more needles / onto the ground.
A seedling fir, nearly covered in leaves — forest clearing.
Alpine meadow flowers... the added scent of juniper.
A field mouse / darts into the pile of spruce — mountain hut.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #3 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay 3, Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Little beggar... squirreling away pine cones / in our roof.
A layer of dark moss, on each cedar shake.
Yellowing larch — the wind shakes more needles / onto the ground.
A seedling fir, nearly covered in leaves — forest clearing.
Alpine meadow flowers... the added scent of juniper.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #3 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay 3, Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Little beggar... squirreling away pine cones / in our roof.
A layer of dark moss, on each cedar shake.
Yellowing larch — the wind shakes more needles / onto the ground.
A seedling fir, nearly covered in leaves — forest clearing.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #3 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay 3, Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Little beggar... squirreling away pine cones / in our roof.
A layer of dark moss, on each cedar shake.
Yellowing larch — the wind shakes more needles / onto the ground.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #3 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay 3, Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Little beggar... squirreling away pine cones / in our roof.
A layer of dark moss, on each cedar shake.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #3 [1]

by Masago: Rengay 3, Verse 1 (of 6)

Little beggar... squirreling away pine cones / in our roof.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #2 [1-6] Summary

by Masago: Rengay 2, Verses 1-6 (of 6) Summary

Faint Thump

The faint thump / of a distant basketball — autumn evening.
Canola field horizon — a glint of setting sun.
That area / in Grandma's back yard — hint of mint.
A new bill / in change... the slight feel / of "Twenty Dollars".
In line to buy corn — I can almost taste it.
He knew before / the ball was even snapped — long bomb.

The first verse of this rengay was based on hearing a neighbour kid get in a few last moments of an autumn day. And an experience of summer that was soon going to end with the coming of winter.

The central theme is the notion of something barely perceptible. A second theme of senses came to me after writing the second verse. There are five senses and yet there are 6 verses in rengay. The idea of using the 6th sense, intuition, as the last sense in the series was suddenly obvious.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uCLl-_fg21vQA&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #2 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay 2, Verses 1-6 (of 6)

The faint thump / of a distant basketball — autumn evening.
Canola field horizon — a glint of setting sun.
That area / in Grandma's back yard — hint of mint.
A new bill / in change... the slight feel / of "Twenty Dollars".
In line to buy corn — I can almost taste it.
He knew before / the ball was even snapped — long bomb.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #2 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay 2, Verses 1-5 (of 6)

The faint thump / of a distant basketball — autumn evening.
Canola field horizon — a glint of setting sun.
That area / in Grandma's back yard — hint of mint.
A new bill / in change... the slight feel / of "Twenty Dollars".
In line to buy corn — I can almost taste it.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #2 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay 2, Verses 1-4 (of 6)

The faint thump / of a distant basketball — autumn evening.
Canola field horizon — a glint of setting sun.
That area / in Grandma's back yard — hint of mint.
A new bill / in change... the slight feel / of "Twenty Dollars".

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #2 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay 2, Verses 1-3 (of 6)

The faint thump / of a distant basketball — autumn evening.
Canola field horizon — a glint of setting sun.
That area / in Grandma's back yard — hint of mint.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #2 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay 2, Verses 1-2 (of 6)

The faint thump / of a distant basketball — autumn evening.
Canola field horizon — a glint of setting sun.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #2 [1]

by Masago: Rengay 2, Verse 1 (of 6)

The faint thump / of a distant basketball — autumn evening.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

Rengay Through the Seasons #1 [1-6] Summary

By Masago: Rengay 1, Verses 1-6 (of 6) Summary

Popsicle Stick

A green sprig / pokes above the edge — eaves trough.
Leaves in the back yard, a frisbee almost buried.
Rear car window — "Wash Me" handwritten / in stuck-on dust.
Dirty dishes / spread on the kitchen table... vase of daisies.
A boy in his room — his stuff on the floor.
Red ants swarm / over a popsicle stick — driveway curb.

The first verse of each solo rengay in this series will be chosen from haiku that I wrote between July 25, 2005 and August 10, 2006. This first one:

A green sprig
pokes above the edge —
eaves trough.

...was written after an early Autumn walk we took around the neigbourhood. At one house I saw a little weed poking above the edge of the eaves trough. It reminded me of the debris in our own eaves trough that would soon need attention. The verses in this rengay follow a theme of "Needing Clean-up". As well, each verse links to the one before it and the last verse links to the first verse. Please click on the following link for notes on the linking and other technical details:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uAIxcVRM-wLIA

Note: Click on the "Project" button near the top of the first sheet to access the Notes page.

Click here for the project archives.

Rengay Through the Seasons #1 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay 1, Verses 1-6 (of 6)

A green sprig / pokes above the edge — eaves trough.
Leaves in the back yard, a frisbee almost buried.
Rear car window — "Wash Me" handwritten / in stuck-on dust.
Dirty dishes / spread on the kitchen table... vase of daisies.
A boy in his room — his stuff on the floor.
Red ants swarm / over a popsicle stick — driveway curb.

Rengay Through the Seasons #1 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay 1, Verses 1-5 (of 6)

A green sprig / pokes above the edge — eaves trough.
Leaves in the back yard, a frisbee almost buried.
Rear car window — "Wash Me" handwritten / in stuck-on dust.
Dirty dishes / spread on the kitchen table... vase of daisies.
A boy in his room — his stuff on the floor.

Rengay Through the Seasons #1 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay 1, Verses 1-4 (of 6)

A green sprig / pokes above the edge — eaves trough.
Leaves in the back yard, a frisbee almost buried.
Rear car window — "Wash Me" handwritten / in stuck-on dust.
Dirty dishes / spread on the kitchen table... vase of daisies.

Rengay Through the Seasons #1 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay 1, Verses 1-3 (of 6)

A green sprig / pokes above the edge — eaves trough.
Leaves in the back yard, a frisbee almost buried.
Rear car window — "Wash Me" handwritten / in stuck-on dust.

Rengay Through the Seasons #1 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay 1, Verses 1-2 (of 6)

A green sprig / pokes above the edge — eaves trough.
Leaves in the back yard, a frisbee almost buried.

[For the sake of readers who are new to Rengay I will add a few remarks at this point. This is the second of six verses that will be posted. In the solo and two-person rengay, the 2nd and 5th verses are two-line haiku. That is, they consist of two lines that are about the same length as the middle line of a regular 3-line haiku. They are also generally "cut" at the end of the second line as in regular haiku (i.e. a 2-line verse should not read as one sentence or phrase).

In addition, there is a link between the previous verse and current verse. Sometimes the links in Rengay are obvious and sometimes they are more subtle. These links are similar to the links in Renku and like between the haiku in my last year's linked haiku project. Do you see a link between these two verses above?

Finally, a Rengay has one or more themes that run through every verse. This provides a unifying aspect to each Rengay. Hopefully you will get a feel for the theme I have in mind for the Rengay as each verse is posted. At the end of the week I'll post the theme(s) I had in mind along with the links and other notes.]

Rengay Through the Seasons #1 [1]

by Masago: Rengay 1, Verse 1 (of 6)

A green sprig / pokes above the edge — eaves trough.

Rengay Through the Seasons: Kick-off

Each day in this past year I posted a haiku that became part of a year-long linked haiku project:

http://haikuworkshop.pbwiki.com/LinkedYear2006

I'd like to thank you all for your comments and suggestions for this project. Your support over the past 12 months has been greatly appreciated.

This coming year I will be doing a new project consisting of a set 52 weekly Rengay poems. A Rengay consists of six linked haiku that support a common theme. For more information about Rengay, see the following notes by Joan Zimmerman:

http://www.baymoon.com/~ariadne/form/rengay.htm

Most Rengay are written collaboratively with two or three participants. They can also be written by one or six individuals. The rengay in this project will primarily be written solo (by me). However, twelve of them, one for each month of the year, will be done as a joint effort with different guest rengay/haiku friends.

Each day of the week I plan to post a different verse from that week's Rengay. On the last day of the week I will post a title, the theme I had in mind, linking details, and technical notes.

I look forward to your comments and suggestions. I plan to tweak verses and adjust Rengay titles based on your feedback.

269. Hot August Day

Backyard pool —
one cloud, a cloud's worth
of cool shade.

262. Prelude to a Night

Hot day's dusk —
a bat darts through
the full moon.

227. Making Sure

A red rooster
announces the morning,
over and over.

205. Better Late?

Seniors stand
in a lottery line-up —
retirement planning.

202. Olfactory Perception

Someone is back
from a smoke break...
crowded elevator.

163. Epic

War and peace —
the two covers seem
far apart.

160. Souvenir

A gift on the hand —
I think I've become a friend
of the young sparrow.

158. Foul Feline Fantasy

A bird chirps
in the neighbor's tree —
cat dreams.

144. Flight Path

A blue jay flies off —
the neighbour's new Porsche
needs a wash.

136. Clear View

The windshield wipers
almost clean the window —
bugs rest in pieces.

135. Vestige

Ghost town
playground sign — "Caution
Children Playing."

115. Through the Glass

High-rise window —
a seagull turns out
to be a bug.