Renhai Reflections 102: Looking Up, Down

Looking Up, Down
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (Solo)

An alpine hut
near the mountain's summit —
long climb's end.

Old limestone basilica —
moss at the wall's base.

The toddler's hands
reach up toward grampa's
empty lap.

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0147.htm

Renhai Reflections 101: Understanding

Understanding
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Janice Thomson (jt)

Tidy cupboards —
each fruit can on the shelf
facing outward. /jt

Apple sauce on toast — /vs
the kids avoid my eyes. /jt

Farmers market —
under stalls a boy looks for
other life forms. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0145.htm

Renhai Reflections 100: Commuting Time

Commuting Time
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Karina Klesko (kk)

Setting sun —
His pocket watch swings
back and forth. /kk

Old windmill on the hill — /vs
Cambridge ewes and lambs grazing. /kk

A thousand stars —
arriving just as the train
pulls away. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0143.htm

Renhai Reflections 99: Public Consumption

Public Consumption
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (Solo)

The power fails
during the weather report —
"storm com..."

A fashion show flyer,
under a layer of slush.

Corner lamppost:
"Call us if you have info
about our son."

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0142.htm

Renhai Reflections 98: Onward

Onward
A Renhai by Janice Thomson (jt) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

More things
in the house than boxes —
marked-up calendar. /vs

A last look at old treasures... /jt
choosing what things to pack. /vs

I close the door —
in my hand the paper
of a new address. /jt

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0140.htm

Renhai Reflections 97: Paths of Curiosity

Paths of Curiosity
A Renhaibun by Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

It is a cool summer day. The creek nearby trickles and gurgles under overhanging branches. Light wind sways an oriole's nest on the other side. I decide to investigate further, pushing through brush, stepping on stones... Suddenly I am face to face with a bear. It immediately rises up on two legs and terror floods my being. My first instinct is to run but I remind myself of everything I have been told to do in these situations. See what kind of a bear it is, for the tactics are different for black bear and for grizzly. This one is a relatively small black bear. It looks more curious than aggressive. I know better than to look the beast in the eye. "Oh, that's you then. Well, hello there. You are a beauty." With these words it drops back on all fours. I intend to hold my ground but the branch under me snaps and I loose balance tumbling backwards into the creek... Just then a flock of loud-crying geese swooshes into the sky, diverting the bear's attention. I regain balance, duck under the over-hanging branches and squeeze through, back to the other side.

A high-flying jet
leaves a trail, just under
the day moon. /vs

Grass tips nearly touch — /vs
a garter slithers through. /zh.r

Coal dark night —
with only three of my senses,
I search for a way back. /zh.r

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0139.htm

[This is what we are calling a Renhaibun. It is similar to a haibun in which a short narrative precedes a poem (Haiku). In this case it precedes a Renhai. Haibun are normally written solo and so the narrative is written by one writer. For Renhaibun, however, it makes sense to take turns writing the narrative. Check the notes for more information and to see which parts of the narrative were written by each writer.]

Renhai Reflections 96: From, To, & In-Between

[Yesterday we presented a Renhai from the perspective of a crayon. As this was written with the reverse process, the middle verse was written last. We had two variations of this middle verse and so it was decided that both Renhai would be retained. Here is the other variation. Of course, the linking in both Renhai is different.]

From, To, & In-Between
A Renhai by Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

In a small hand,
I glide across the paper —
the trees, a house... red. /zh.r

A dark cardboard chamber — /vs
"Let me out! Let me out!" /zh.r

The puppy's face
grows larger, comes closer —
teeth and gums... /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0138.htm

Renhai Reflections 95: Made to Please

Made to Please
A Renhai by Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

In a small hand,
I glide across the paper —
the trees, a house... red. /zh.r

Last week, strong and tall — /vs
Now I'm just a little stub. /zh.r

The puppy's face
grows larger, comes closer —
teeth and gums... /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0137.htm

Renhai Reflections 94: Spanning Years

Spanning Years
A Renhai by Ron Seward & Vaughn Seward

The boys' feet
in the old copper tub —
log shack. /rs

A twenty-eight Wippet — /rs
the first family car. /vs

Last farmstead —
finding years later
just a calendar. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0136.htm

[Check the notes for some historical details.]

Renhai Reflections 93: The Day I left the Cloud

The Day I Left the Cloud
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r)

Rolling, tumbling...
I land on a plane's windshield —
the pilots don't smile. /vs

Free fall, the wind pushes me — /vs
I merge with a look-alike. /zh.r

Splash-bouncing
into the ocean's surface,
I lose track of myself... /zh.r

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0133.htm