masago-no-haiku

Renhai Reflections 145: Awakening Talent

2009-11-04T18:40:00.001-07:00

Awakening Talent
A Renhai by Gillena Cox (gc) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

School buzzer —
I'm the last one left
to leave the room. /vs

In a semi dream state, /gc
I hit the snooze button. /vs

Chalk on the black board
taking a line for a long walk —
creative art class. /gc

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0184.htm

[Be sure to read the notes for comments about the third verse.]

Renhai Reflections 144: Junior Achievement

2009-10-28T19:20:00.001-06:00

Junior Achievement
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Janice Seward (js)

Baby steps —
hands above the head,
lifted high. /vs & js

Little fingers at the keys — /vs & js
coloured sticky on the page. /vs & js

School theatre —
each student steps forward
for the encore bow. /vs & js

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0183.htm

Renhai Reflections 143: Onward

2009-10-21T20:10:00.001-06:00

Onward
A Renhai by Gillena Cox (gc) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

Leaving a trail
of joyous songs behind —
the bride's veil /gc

Two at the breakfast table — /vs
last night's left overs, day moon. /gc

Cruise ship deck —
a pair of seagulls follow
above the wake. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0182.htm

Renhai Reflections 142: Settling Down

2009-10-11T11:32:00.003-06:00

Settling Down
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Janice Seward (js)

Quiet playground —
an autumn breeze upon
the set of swings. /js

Between bicycle spokes, /vs
a scarlet maple leaf. /js

Caught in traffic —
switching stations to look
for better news. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0181.htm

[This Renhai was the first written with my wife Janice.]

Renhai Reflections 141: First Day

2009-10-06T21:33:00.000-06:00

First Day
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r)

Dressed and ready,
out the door: everything
seems new. /zh.r

A book snuggled in her arms — /vs
the school bus pulls away. /zh.r

The passed note,
tucked deep between
the last pages. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0180.htm

Renhai Reflections 140: Places Higher

2009-09-30T20:04:00.003-06:00

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

Dusting shelves —
a slip of my hand and
Harry Potter falls. /jt

Above half-glass spectacles — /jt
raised gray eyebrows. /vs

The young child
looks up at the billboard:
"Learn to Read". /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0179.htm

Renhai Reflections 139: Bright and Loud

2009-09-25T19:05:00.001-06:00

Bright and Loud
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r)

Reflected in eyes,
the wild, electric dance
between the clouds. /zh.r

Cracking, crashing booms... /vs
Sounds muffled under the bed... /zh.r

A sudden flash
spreads across the harbour -
town lights darken. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0178.htm

Renhai Reflections 138: Awesome

2009-09-20T10:29:00.000-06:00

Awesome
A Renhai by Gillena Cox (gc) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

Riverside
the marvel of mountains
and oceans. /gc

At the baptismal font /gc
a wee hand takes a scoop. /vs

Reaching higher
she almost touches
the Big Dipper. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0177.htm

Renhai Reflections 137: Drawn Back

2009-09-13T18:15:00.004-06:00

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

Musket heirloom —
on the radio, the song
Battle of New Orleans. /jt

The tangle of driftwood logs — /vs
in the bay a vintage yacht. /jt

Plates of pasta —
Granddad retells the stories
of fighting in Italy. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0176.htm

[Please read the notes for a description of how this Renhai is unique!]

Renhai Reflections 136: Coming Together

2009-09-09T19:53:00.001-06:00

Coming Together
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Betty Kaplan (bk)

Ripe red tomatoes
hanging on the back porch
growing upside down. /bk

Pizzeria patio — /vs
Wisconsin cheese wheel rolls in. /bk

A round of dough
flung high, spins up
to the ceiling. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0175.htm

Renhai Reflections 135: Here...

2009-09-03T19:31:00.000-06:00

Here...
A Renhai by Betty Kaplan (bk) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

Quiet beach —
a wave washes over
the last sand wall. /vs

Her diary... one page turned down /bk
a tear begins to well. /vs

Found in the attic —
I should have known,
crumbling pages /bk

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0174.htm

Renhai Reflections 134: Drawn Up

2009-08-26T21:17:00.002-06:00

Drawn Up
A Renhai by Betty Kaplan (bk) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

The sleeping mount
rumbles back to life —
molten cauldron. /vs

Dreaming of lake sailing — /vs
awakened... the leaf blower. /bk

A blue sea beckons ...
waiting in the marina
"Suzie Q". /bk

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0173.htm

[Before sure to check out the notes for additional info]

Renhai Reflections 133: Fleeting Moments

2009-08-21T19:52:00.001-06:00

Fleeting Moments
A Renhai by Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

She mumbles,
"He loves me, loves me not" —
white petals, scattered. /zh.r

Plump, cottony clouds — /zh.r
tethered hot-air balloon. /vs

Merry-go-round —
I push faster, the others
hanging on. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0172.htm

Renhai Reflections 132: Destinations

2009-08-17T07:16:00.000-06:00

Destinations
A Renhai by Betty Kaplan (bk) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

A bear cub
wanders into camp alone —
"No Feeding" sign. /vs

Splashing water on beached whale — /bk
barnacles glisten in the sun. /vs

Lights turned low -
rushing to the bright ocean
baby turtles. /bk

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0171.htm

Renhai Reflections 131: Time Off

2009-08-10T19:07:00.000-06:00

Time Off
A Renhai by Gillena Cox (gc) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

Sunday evening crowd;
a steelband in the park plays
vintage music. /gc

Pink clouds through the church window — /gc
the hot breeze rustles a page. /vs

Summer holidays —
banana splits at the old
ice cream parlour. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0170.htm

Renhai Reflections 130: On Board

2009-08-07T14:58:00.000-06:00

On Board
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Betty Kaplan (bk)

Window seat...
light then dark
dark then light. /bk

The smell of oiled timber — /vs
riding the rails, a runaway. /bk

He grabs her hand
as they rush the summit —
roller coaster. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0169.htm

Renhai Reflections 129: After The Storms

2009-08-02T16:37:00.000-06:00

After The Storms
A Renhai by Betty Kaplan (bk) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

This early morning
the sun's reflection plays —
sparkling clean windows. /bk

Summer storms every afternoon — /bk
the creek flows a bit deeper. /vs

Garden chores —
he empties the wheelbarrow
of rain water. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0168.htm

Renhai Reflections 128: Popped to Please

2009-07-28T19:50:00.001-06:00

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

A buttery scent
emanates from the kitchen —
a three-voiced "Popcorn!" /zh.r

Each popped kernel, threaded... /vs
the garland hangs on her neck. /zh.r

The lights come on —
bits of popcorn on my lap
and in the seat. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0167.htm

Renhai Reflections 127: Renhai Essay

2009-07-26T10:21:00.000-06:00

Renhai, a New Verse Form: Frogpond (Summer 2009)

An essay I wrote on the orgins of Renhai was published in the Summer (2009) issue of Frogpond (Volume 32, Number 2). The Frogpond journal, edited by George Swede and Anita Krumins, is an official serial publication of the Haiku Society of America. The essay has just been made available on-line here:

http://www.hsa-haiku.org/frogpond/2009-issue32-2/essay.html

Renhai Reflections 126: Sounds of Rebounding

2009-07-23T19:44:00.000-06:00

Sounds of Rebounding
A Renhai by Toshiaki Koike (tk) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

Dazzling wall —
each voice of summer
reflecting off. /tk

Sudden heavy downpour — /vs
bounces on the roof. /tk

Glistening tans —
clearing the net, the ball
hits the sand. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0166.htm

Renhai Reflections 125: Never a Dull Moment

2009-07-20T18:53:00.000-06:00

Never a Dull Moment
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r)

A car speeds off —
a pop can and a wrapper
added to the trash. /vs

Distant thundering sounds — /vs
wind shifts the surface dust. /zh.r

Runover possum
on my gravel shoulder —
turkey vultures. /zh.r

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0165.htm

Renhai Reflections 124: Wee Interactions

2009-07-15T19:51:00.000-06:00

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

Buzzing bees
swarm around spirea
laden with pollen. /vs

An ant scurries higher — /vs
peonies scent the air. /jt

Rose bramble —
a sated earwig sleeps
inside a bud. /jt

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0164.htm

Renhai Reflections 123: Grains

2009-07-12T15:15:00.000-06:00

Grains
A Renhai by John W. Sexton (jws) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

The sun rises
over the red planet
as Phobos sets. /vs

Ghost-river in its arid bed — /jws
the landbooster skims near. /vs

The shell cities
now grains of sand, rotted empires
simply methane. /jws

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0163.htm

[This was written with John W. Sexton from Ireland, and was just published in the June, 2009 issue of the Lynx Journal for Linking Poets.]

Renhai Reflections 122: Fleeting Attractions

2009-07-08T20:19:00.001-06:00

Fleeting Attractions
A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Zhanna P. Rader (zh.r)

Patch of phlox —
at each flower a bee
seems to hurry. /vs

Spider web, dew-jeweled — /zh.r
a butterfly flits and flutters. /vs

A young man
strolls through the mall —
flirty skirts. /zh.r

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0162.htm

Renhai Reflections 121: In the Thick of It

2009-07-05T20:41:00.001-06:00

In the Thick of It
A Renhai by Janice Thomson (jt) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

Faint figures
sway mutely before me —
thoughts thicken. /jt

Earth and sky joined together — /jt
the sun, but a distant memory. /vs

Only the sound
of small lapping waves, and...
a muffled horn. /vs

Click here for notes and linking details:
http://cflat7.drivehq.com/Renhai_0161.htm