2008-05-31

Rengay Through the Seasons #39 Summary

by J. Andrew Lockhart (al), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #39 (May 25-31, 2008) Summary


Walking in the Shadows

First time this year —
pajamas not needed
tonight. /al

Late night insomnia —
grilled-cheese sandwiches. /vs

Watching a re-run
from the late sixties —
sound of an owl. /al

Full moon —
a train whistle echoes
in the valley. /vs

Trees stretch to the stars —
I walk in the shadows. /al

Waking up from
a deep, deep sleep —
where am I? /vs

The central theme in this rengay is "Night Time".

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uAfr1tFhf95WA&gid=0


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-30

Rengay Through the Seasons #39 [1-6]

by J. Andrew Lockhart (al), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #39 (May 25-31, 2008) Verses 1-6 (of 6):


First time this year — pajamas not needed / tonight. /al
Late night insomnia — grilled-cheese sandwiches. /vs
Watching a re-run / from the late sixties — sound of an owl. /al
Full moon — a train whistle echoes / in the valley. /vs
Trees stretch to the stars — I walk in the shadows. /al
Waking up from / a deep, deep sleep — where am I? /vs


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-29

Rengay Through the Seasons #39 [1-5]

by J. Andrew Lockhart (al), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #39 (May 25-31, 2008) Verses 1-5 (of 6):


First time this year — pajamas not needed / tonight. /al
Late night insomnia — grilled-cheese sandwiches. /vs
Watching a re-run / from the late sixties — sound of an owl. /al
Full moon — a train whistle echoes / in the valley. /vs
Trees stretch to the stars — I walk in the shadows. /al


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-28

Rengay Through the Seasons #39 [1-4]

by J. Andrew Lockhart (al), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #39 (May 25-31, 2008) Verses 1-4 (of 6):


First time this year — pajamas not needed / tonight. /al
Late night insomnia — grilled-cheese sandwiches. /vs
Watching a re-run / from the late sixties — sound of an owl. /al
Full moon — a train whistle echoes / in the valley. /vs


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-27

Rengay Through the Seasons #39 [1-3]

by J. Andrew Lockhart (al), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #39 (May 25-31, 2008) Verses 1-3 (of 6):


First time this year — pajamas not needed / tonight. /al
Late night insomnia — grilled-cheese sandwiches. /vs
Watching a re-run / from the late sixties — sound of an owl. /al


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-25

Rengay Through the Seasons #39 [1]

by J. Andrew Lockhart (al), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #39 (May 25-31, 2008) Verse 1 (of 6):


First time this year — pajamas not needed / tonight. /al

This rengay was written with J. Andrew Lockhart. He is the author of "Tangled in Wisteria" and has had work published in three countries in books and journals, such as Modern English Tanka, American Tanka, Haiku Harvest, Magnapoets, Fire Pearls, and Eucalypt. He lives in Van Buren, Arkansas, with his wife and their four children. Among other things, including teaching music, he spends time with photography as a hobby.

Andrew's Haiku blog, Past Tense:
http://jamesalockhart.blogspot.com/

Andrew's Photo blog, Present Tense:
http://vanburendailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Andrew and I regularly leave comments on each other's haiku blogs. I was therefore pleased when he agreed to write this last Spring rengay in our "Rengay Through the Seasons" series.

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-24

Rengay Through the Seasons #38 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #38 (May 18-24, 2008) Summary

Embers

Moon light —
the cherry blossoms glow
bright pink.

The night light still on —
yet the kids are grown up.

A lava lamp
from the flea market —
comes on, goes off.

A lit butt
tossed out a car window —
rolling, flickering.

A molten glass blob —
shaped with each puff.

Sip of rosé
by a fireplace of embers —
just you and me.

The central theme in this rengay is "Glowing". The first verse is inspired by a large, old cherry tree in our back yard which is a beautiful sight in late May and early June.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uCAXYZy9En-NA&gid=0


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-23

Rengay Through the Seasons #38 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 18-24, 2008), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Moon light — the cherry blossoms glow / bright pink.
The night light still on — yet the kids are grown up.
A lava lamp / from the flea market — comes on, goes off.
A lit butt / tossed out a car window — rolling, flickering.
A molten glass blob — shaped with each puff.
Sip of rosé / by a fireplace of embers — just you and me.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-22

Rengay Through the Seasons #38 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 18-24, 2008), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Moon light — the cherry blossoms glow / bright pink.
The night light still on — yet the kids are grown up.
A lava lamp / from the flea market — comes on, goes off.
A lit butt / tossed out a car window — rolling, flickering.
A molten glass blob — shaped with each puff.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-21

Rengay Through the Seasons #38 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 18-24, 2008), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Moon light — the cherry blossoms glow / bright pink.
The night light still on — yet the kids are grown up.
A lava lamp / from the flea market — comes on, goes off.
A lit butt / tossed out a car window — rolling, flickering.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-20

Rengay Through the Seasons #38 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 18-24, 2008), Verses 1-3 (of 6)


Moon light — the cherry blossoms glow / bright pink.
The night light still on — yet the kids are grown up.
A lava lamp / from the flea market — comes on, goes off.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-19

Rengay Through the Seasons #38 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 18-24, 2008), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Moon light — the cherry blossoms glow / bright pink.
The night light still on — yet the kids are grown up.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-17

Rengay Through the Seasons #37 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 11-17, 2008) Summary

Third Degree

First mowing —
I find a dog's gift
in the lawn.

2nd birthday — she gets
a furry white kitten.

He misses again
another anniversary...
third degree.

The Prof's lecture
on the fourth dimension...
she forgets the time.

On his graduation —
a CD of Beethoven's 5th.

Gifted composer —
each note found as if
by a sixth sense.

The central theme in this rengay is "Gift/Giving". A secondary theme is an ordinal sequencing (i.e. first, second, third, and so on). It was unplanned but after writing this rengay I noticed the existence of a gender pattern that had formed throughout the six verses.

The time-related theme was also unplanned. In the 5th verse it is interesting to note that Beethoven's 5th Symphony has been used to time running races. The races are either 5K or 10K. Participants attempt to finish before Beethoven's 5th symphony finishes and are typically called Beat Beethoven. Thanks to Polona for first spotting this theme.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uCmIhbok2qYOg&gid=0


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-16

Rengay Through the Seasons #37 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 11-17, 2008), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

First mowing — I find a dog's gift / in the lawn.
2nd birthday — she gets / a furry white kitten.
He misses again / another anniversary... third degree.
The Prof's lecture / on the fourth dimension... she forgets the time.
On his graduation — a CD of Beethoven's 5th.
Gifted composer — each note found as if / by a sixth sense.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-15

Rengay Through the Seasons #37 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 11-17, 2008), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

First mowing — I find a dog's gift / in the lawn.
2nd birthday — she gets / a furry white kitten.
He misses again / another anniversary... third degree.
The Prof's lecture / on the fourth dimension... she forgets the time.
On his graduation — a CD of Beethoven's 5th.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-14

Rengay Through the Seasons #37 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 11-17, 2008), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

First mowing — I find a dog's gift / in the lawn.
2nd birthday — she gets / a furry white kitten.
He misses again / another anniversary... third degree.
The Prof's lecture / on the fourth dimension... she forgets the time.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-13

Rengay Through the Seasons #37 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 11-17, 2008), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

First mowing — I find a dog's gift / in the lawn.
2nd birthday — she gets / a furry white kitten.
He misses again / another anniversary... third degree.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-12

Rengay Through the Seasons #37 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #37 (May 11-17, 2008), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

First mowing — I find a dog's gift / in the lawn.
2nd birthday — she gets / a furry white kitten.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-10

Rengay Through the Seasons #36 Summary

by Masago: Rengay #36 (May 4-10, 2008) Summary

A Frog's View

Into the pond —
the voices of several poets
grow fainter.

Setting sun — each croak
expressed with love.

Tree limb —
morning rays, warm
on the back.

Chicken in pursuit —
I barely escape under
the wire fence.

Stone outcrop — a fly
comes tantalizingly near.

I hop to centre
lane — an approaching car
grows louder.

The central theme in this rengay is obviously "Frogs". It is in the style of the "from-their-perspective" type of haiku. The first verse is from several haiku like this that I had written in 2005/2006. I therefore thought it would be fun to extend the idea throughout the entire rengay.

Verse 1: This first verse is a parody-like salute to Basho's famous frog verse (Old pond / a frog jumps in / sound of water). It is said that Basho and his students were discussing haiku in a Japanese garden when Basho heard the splash of a frog jumping into a nearby pond. He immediately wrote this haiku. In Japanese haijin circles this is perhaps the most famous haiku in history, being memorized by most school children in Japan.

Verse 2: Male frogs in spring-time croak to attract females for mating. Such croaking is typically carried out in a shallow body of water.

Verse 4: Chickens will eat insects and even frogs if the frogs are little enough.

Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uDW-H10nkAhAg&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-09

Rengay Through the Seasons #36 [1-6]

by Masago: Rengay #36 (May 4-10, 2008), Verses 1-6 (of 6)

Into the pond — the voices of several poets / grow fainter.
Setting sun — each croak / expressed with love.
Tree limb — morning rays, warm / on the back.
Chicken in pursuit — I barely escape under /the wire fence.
Stone outcrop — a fly / comes tantalizingly near.
I hop to centre / lane — an approaching car / grows louder.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-08

Rengay Through the Seasons #36 [1-5]

by Masago: Rengay #36 (May 4-10, 2008), Verses 1-5 (of 6)

Into the pond — the voices of several poets / grow fainter.
Setting sun — each croak / expressed with love.
Tree limb — morning rays, warm / on the back.
Chicken in pursuit — I barely escape under /the wire fence.
Stone outcrop — a fly / comes tantalizingly near.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-07

Rengay Through the Seasons #36 [1-4]

by Masago: Rengay #36 (May 4-10, 2008), Verses 1-4 (of 6)

Into the pond — the voices of several poets / grow fainter.
Setting sun — each croak / expressed with love.
Tree limb — morning rays, warm / on the back.
Chicken in pursuit — I barely escape under /the wire fence.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-06

Rengay Through the Seasons #36 [1-3]

by Masago: Rengay #36 (May 4-10, 2008), Verses 1-3 (of 6)

Into the pond — the voices of several poets / grow fainter.
Setting sun — each croak / expressed with love.
Tree limb — morning rays, warm / on the back.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-05

Rengay Through the Seasons #36 [1-2]

by Masago: Rengay #36 (May 4-10, 2008), Verses 1-2 (of 6)

Into the pond — the voices of several poets / grow fainter.
Setting sun — each croak / expressed with love.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-03

Rengay Through the Seasons #35 Summary

by John McDonald (jd), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #35 (Apr 27 - May 3, 2008) Summary


The Rookie

First day out
learning to be a rabbit —
tree-bark scattered. /jm

New postal job — he opens
a gate with "Beware of Dog". /vs

The young mother
gives the infant her breast —
the crying stops. /jm

Erupting curses —
the rookie mason nearly
hits his chisel. /vs

Another wrong note —
she bangs the keyboard. /jm

He discovers how
to get under her skin:
on, off... louder... /vs

The central theme in this rengay is "New Learners". In the first verse we have a baby rabbit's first day out. The image here is of the baby rabbit nibbling on the bark of a tree creating bits of tree bark scattering it around the tree.

Interestingly, Vaughn wrote verse four and only later discovered that John is a retired stone mason!


In the last verse we had the idea that it was a young sibling that was doing the annoying, but it is possible that one could see others in this role.


Please click here for link details and other notes:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pcytHc47X3uAQqb1sb119PQ&gid=0

Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-02

Rengay Through the Seasons #35 [1-6]

by John McDonald (jd), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #35 (Apr 27 - May 3, 2008) Verses 1-6 (of 6):


First day out / learning to be a rabbit — tree-bark scattered. /jm
New postal job — he opens / a gate with "Beware of Dog". /vs
The young mother / gives the infant her breast — the crying stops. /jm
Erupting curses — the rookie mason nearly / hits his chisel. /vs
Another wrong note — she bangs the keyboard. /jm
He discovers how / to get under her skin: on, off... louder... /jm


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.

2008-05-01

Rengay Through the Seasons #35 [1-5]

by John McDonald (jd), and Vaughn Seward (vs);
Rengay #35 (Apr 27 - May 3, 2008) Verses 1-5 (of 6):


First day out / learning to be a rabbit — tree-bark scattered. /jm
New postal job — he opens / a gate with "Beware of Dog".
The young mother / gives the infant her breast — the crying stops.
Erupting curses — the rookie mason nearly / hits his chisel.
Another wrong note — she bangs the keyboard.


Click here for the previous rengay in the series.