Welcome to Simply Haiku's first Renku
Column of 2009, and to my first as its editor. I'll not even
attempt to fill the Wellies of John Carley and Norman Darlington
but I am an avid student of renku and hope (with your help and
contributions) to continue building the wonderful resource they've
created here over the last six years.
Triparshva: On Papery Wings
This poem was composed by poets who have in the
main, worked often together. An interesting aspect of the piece is
the omission of first and second person verses which seems to me,
to create a definite mood or atmosphere for the poem as a whole.
Indeed, as I prepared this issue of the column I realised that
coincidentally, all three contributions share the same omission.
Junicho: Wisteria Burst
- of which Diana Webb writes,
"I have just finished doing 5 sessions on haiku
and haiku related forms at Cooltan Arts, a centre in south London
which exists to promote the creation and dissemination of quality
art work by people who suffer or have suffered mental distress.
The renku form was introduced in the very last session and this
one then done through e-mail by myself and my group's two stalwart
members."
Junicho: Shadows and the Moon
A solo piece by Jim Wilson which is also sans verses
constructed in first or second person - except for a line of the
very last verse which is not only a switch to first person, but is
also the first in the poem to employ direct speech.
To remarkable effect, I think.
Essay: The Art of the Solo Renga
In which Jim Wilson presents a case for writing collaborative
poetry on one's own.
Enjoy the reading and I look forward to hearing from you.
Moira
Richards, South Africa, January 2009