One of the pillars of traditional Japanese poetry, the renga consists of verses alternating between a haiku and a couplet. In gatherings of poets, the renga was often employed as a form of play, with each poet adding one verse to the chain that ultimately formed the complete renga.

 

On 12 May 2018, Literary Shanghai hosted an event called “Renga in the Plum Garden” in Lu Xun Park, Shanghai. As the spring afternoon flowed by, while sipping tea and saké, participants formed a renga chain, with each poet adding her or his observations of the scene in turn. With the permission of the poets involved, we reproduce here the renga that took shape that afternoon.

                       – Susie Gordon, Alluvium editor

 

 

lazy saxophone

competing voice asking why

flowers are so red

~ SB

 

palm leaves like small fans vibrate

voices make the ash trees sing

~ LJ

 

breast’s curve

beneath the mist, jade dress

the rain begins

~ KP

 

the leaves cry in the still air

the novice hearts pound for sake

~ CDL

 

red ceramic stains

sweet redwood softly cracks

leaves and grain fill cups

~ NW

 

foliage peacocks across the bridge I sit

we both flirt with the wind

~ CR

 

chirping canopy

rumbles under quiet feet

the sun gleaming through

~ AR

 

paddle boat on man-made stream

rippled laughter, childish glee

~ SB

 

a pattern of squares

red pillows on round stone beds

witness to the game

~ LJ

 

saxo-phone’s wires

connecting accidental strangers

~ KP

 

purpose of the park

abrupt electric humor

Allegra misspoke

~ CDL

 

sit, listen, argue, stroll slow

remember great names of the past

~ NW

 

;ateness’ raucous intro

to sinuous humid lines

dead on arrival

~ AFB

 

as rains for this rich forest

poets are always timely

~ CR

 

May 4th, May 12th

Lu Xun still listening

bending bamboos along the mossy path

~ KP

 

secrets sprouting between us

listening ears still abound

~ AR

 

silence betwixt wood columns

ears gently inclined

catching gaps

~ AFB

 

whispers yells, spring squawks and squeaks

silence listens here and now

~ NW

 

a smoking woodwind

radios on wet pavement

the silence disturbs

~ CDL

 

foreign faces on the bridge

noticed – they’re not one of us

~ SB

 

technology intrudes

amongst the fountain pens

an orange flash in green

~ LJ

 

we capture the intrigue

imitate natures colors

try to co-exist

~ CR

 

 

Names of the poets, in alphabetical order:

AFB                Allegra Fonda-Bonardi

AR                  Allison Rose

CDL                Chris DeLacy

CR                   Chanell Ruth

KP                   Karolina Pawlik

LJ                    Linda Johnson

NW                 Noah Willingham

SB                   Shelly Bryant