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