here in the garden worms outnumber the dead(Graham Nunn)reincarnations wriggling to escape(Barbara A Taylor)Cowards! I cannot believe they're gone(Betty Ann Galloway)‘scuse me, friend this spot taken?(Liam)our breathing stilled a city crumbles beyond the north window(Wilie)cutting deeper a blade fashions sorrow(Liam)iron coloured smoke slicing through the fallen trees never stops rising(grant)foraging wild pigs squeal on their backs(Barbara A Taylor)mudslinging zombie brides dirty dancing(Betty Ann Galloway)sweet words below the hedge the earth quakes(Claire)maybe it’s the tides pulling our bodies back up pulp gleams in moonlight(grant)spindle-limbs erected all along the shore(Jasmina)behind closed doors bony fingers are spinning thread for shrouds(Genevieve Osborne)esprit de corps! mummies scatter(Liam)swinging a baseball bat I hear that satisfying crunch(Ashley Capes)fresh mounds pop up in the soupy mist(Jasmina)bearded iris holds and shuffles the deck(Liam)each nodding head learning to crawl again(grant)
Continued from Zombie Haikunaut Renga I. This is Part 2 of Cordite’s Zombie Haikunaut Renga project. This renga has now been completed.
Thank you, David! So here we are on the second page, about to unleash part two of the renku.
Weve also reached the intensification folio of the renga traditionally this is where topics in renku can be expanded to include all kinds of events, dieties, love, and a wealth of other things.
For us, in a themed renku – let’s keep taking big leaps and put a little extra action and events into the kasen!
So, 3 lines now!
Note: Just jump back to the previous page to check on the previous verse selections
Get Your Demon Dogs!
the organ grinder squawks
spying his master
or this, perhaps…
Demon Dogs!
the organ grinder squawks
pedalling faster
nicotine sky
dulling the smell
of bodies
(Graham Nunn)
suffocated by
daturas tubular bells
(Barbara A Taylor)
motorbike trashed
he hitches a ride
on a bat out of hell
. . . seeing we’re doing allusions to music.
nicotine sky
dulling the smell
of bodies
(Graham Nunn)
suffocated by
daturas tubular bells
(Barbara A Taylor)
Angel trumpets blast
Every particle vibrates
The kingdom at hand.
Looking forward to seeing where the second half of the renku takes us! Here’s my offering, a reprise of sorts to try and bring the worms into the renku,
Graham
nicotine sky
dulling the smell
of bodies
(Graham Nunn)
suffocated by
daturas tubular bells
(Barbara A Taylor)
here in the garden
worms rise
into death
(Graham)
or
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead
(Graham)
suffocated by
datura’s tubular bells
(Barbara)
global market
the robot edges forward
to DNA bank
whoo, Grant… I’ve been reading a little ‘hard SF’… & a short story called ‘Matter’s End’ by Gregory Benford, just last night. Well, there were no angels or trumpets in it, but…
suffocated by
datura’s tubular bells
(Barbara)
lo and behold!
the extinguished volcano
erupts again
(Vasile Moldovan)
suffocated by
datura’s tubular bells
(Barbara)
propelled out of the
sewer pipe Gargantua’s
head swarms with vermin
magotts ?
or
out of the sewer
pipe Gargantua’s head
is swelling with vermin
notes on the wall
a dead reckoning tonight
awakens Hell’s spawn
Reading Claire’s maggots suggestion inspired this:
maggots drip
from the body
of a flying fox
or
maggots drip
from the crucified
flying fox
Here I’d actually like to two this time around. I’ve been putting it off for too, long and basically, because I cannot decide between two verses, I’d like to have them both but I cannot, alas.
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead
(Graham)
Is another dark triumph! This does get those worms in and I like the way they overflow as an image, and the direct link between ‘flowers’ and ‘garden,’ effortlessly expands our view.
Then this from Claire (which funnily enough reminded me of the English prog-rock band ‘Gentle Giant’) is so grotesque and wonderful that it had to follow – an excellent leap from the flowers and it keeps things tunnel-like, dank and slimy as a worm, and what a giant worm.
out of the sewer pipe
Gargantuas head
is swelling with vermin
(Claire)
All right – from here, I think I’ll have to go with the ‘worms’ because they give us a little more room before any ‘head’ imagery comes back – though I will have to ask Claire to resubmit this one later, as I do like it a lot.
So, on to our next verse – 2 lines, let’s keep up the action and see if we can move away from direct references to the body for a few verses!
g’day all
Congrats Graham. And Claire, your image is impacting!
Herewith some offers:
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead
the hearse departs
to a shrike cuckoos calls
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead
reincarnations
wriggling to escape
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead
each poppy, a gallant
soul to remember
peace and love
The realm of worms… a beautiful battlefield ! Congats to Graham
Thanks Ashley. Gargantua needed six pilgrims for salad…
sicteenh century… Rabelais ! Battling for wineyards in Anjou (15000 deads !)!
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the deads
among the bluebottles
a pterodactylus glides over…
@lorin: I may have read Matters End at some point – I sort of filled my head past the saturation point with that stuff in my misspent youth. I’ll have to look for it regardless.
—-
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead (Mr. Nunn)
Wishing they had limbs,
Better off being blind.
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead (Mr. Nunn)
Congrats, Graham… a good, low-key, understated verse (and they are needed in renku….the change of pace, the change of tone) well, you should see my compost bins. I like worms, feel quite affectionate towards them and love to see them all pink, fat and healthy. It’s a sad garden that hasn’t an abundance of them. They certainly outnumber the dead in my garden (well, if you don’t count leaves and potato peelings)… over the decades, there’s only a few cats, one dog and several birds buried here. When I die, I’d prefer not to deny the worms their just reward for all they do for us. And how good to have one’s remains recycled naturally into what promotes life. A curse on anyone who cremates me.
Claire, I liked yours too. I wonder whether instead of ‘vermin’ , which is generic, a more specific word might be better (maybe maggots?… despite my affection for earthworms, which are so clean, I feel revulsion when I see maggots…irrational, I know)
Grant, I was never into hard SF, more the social/ philosophical enquiry sort (& I don’t think my reading of it in youth was misspent … on the contrary, I know I learnt a lot…was led to think about a lot of issues to do with what it is to be human), but my son has taken an interest in the ‘hard’ SF, focusing on issues around technology, so I’ve read some. Apparently, Benford will be one of the speakers at a ‘Singularity Summit’ conference in Melbourne in the not too distant future.
Winter, windy, rainy old Melbourne…I’m feeling a tad zombie-like these days.
of a giant mushroom
the rain of a cheese
or
of the giant mushroom
a fermented cheese runs
—
Ayers’ Rock, infra-red
with ants, in the twilight
Hi Lorin,
“maggots” were in-between my two “snapshots”… Vermin’s probably much
more used here when thinking of human decay ? Quite common during the
first war, too, coats… mattresses… think there was no soap left. Heard that
people exchanged this or that for soap with the ennemy.
The earthworm, here, is nothing special. Just the ugly datk brown thing (lombric !)
in the wet earth when digging out. With global warming though, you don’t even see them.
I have just seen a blog called “Flo and Aurélie in Australia” with many photos, out of them
strange creatures… sort of prehistoric lizzzards, frightening… And, some sort of a big-bodied spider
with very long and thin “threads of paws” with yellow big dots on them ! What an earth !
Well, let’s say that “vermine !” is an exclamative foul-mouthed word – used by
foul-mouthed people to qualify somebody.
The earthworm, here, is no wonder ; always show when you dig up…
With global warming, they don’t show, disappear ?
Amusing, this wish of yours to feel like being eaten by worms !
custom built lovers
a sword edges onward
lovers writhing
sharpening their hooks
I know, Lorin – drab winter this week for me too! Ok, just a flying visit today – and this one from Barbara is definitely the one for me
reincarnations
wriggling to escape
It has a tight link and and is creative, really brings in something unexpected, a spiritual touch to the zombie theme.
So, onward – next verse is 3 lines, and I’d like to set a simple condition, as I think it’s time for verse that uses 1st person voice. Other than that, keep linking and shifting!
a hint of some other time
slides in and out
of my reptile mind
Cowards!
I cannot believe
they’re gone
Cowards!
I cannot believe
Odd Snake eyes
reincarnations
wriggling to escape
(Barbara A. Taylor)
in another life
I will became a blade of grass
nothing besides
or
in the life to come
I will be a thinging reed
only a reed
After life
I hope to be a dragonfly
on a moving reed
(Vasile Moldovan)
reincarnations
wriggling to escape
(Barbara)(congrats !)
I run in the two-way mirror
the dwarf’s shade in front
the dwarf behind
reincarnations
wriggling to escape (Barbara)
The wheel almost stops
Backfires, grunts and then reloads.
There I go again.
Thanks for the rapid responses, one and all! I’ve snapped right to this from Betty
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone
As I like both the touch of humour, but also its urgency, it puts a wonderfully skewed link in and shifts us clear from the garden in every sense.
So, 2 lines now! Keep those zombie-themed subs coming!
reincarnations
wriggling to escape
(Barbara)
safe from nothingness
in the almond-paste country
watersnake I am
Thanks Ashley!
Anyway-
we best get Kraken, luv
Davy’s locker still awaits
Congrats Betty Ann.
Cowards!
I cannot believe
they’re gone (Betty Ann)
shh … they’re regrouping
behind the hill
You are cordially invited to our seventh moon viewing party of 2010!
The full moon rises on Friday, July 26th, (GMT)
To submit a poem (all submissions remain the property of their author) please visit the HAIKU BANDIT SOCIETY : http://haikubanditsociety.blogspot.com
Be sure to include your pen name so we might accredit your poems properly!
Happy moon gazing!
Cowards!
I cannot believe
they’re gone
Betty Ann
At the edge of the deserted
a forest of gallows birds
0r
A forest of gibbets
for all the errond boys
or
The most feeble people
at the top of the ladder
Vasile Mldovan
Vasile Moldovan
Ha!
—
reincarnations
wriggling to escape (Barbara A Taylor)
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone (Betty Ann Galloway)
So much emptiness
Feeling hungry myself
reincarnations
wriggling to escape (Barbara)
Cowards!
I cannot believe
they’re gone (Betty Ann)
only the wind now, passing
through the dry grass
g’day all
congrats Betty Ann.
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone/ betty ann
decapitated chickens
cross to the other side
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone/ betty ann
thank you, but no thanks
spread on the table
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone/ betty ann
rising from his grave
a sprouting prickly pear
Peace and Love
well now, luv…get thee Kraken
blackened sails yon horizon
the Furies whisper
at the spectre
cowards !
I cannot believe
they’re gone
(Batty Ann)
slimy fingers fumbling
out of the mud
—
brainwave
revenants yell out
—
of the micro-wave
new dung burgers
—
Thanks again for all the offers! I think we’ve got to keep it open a little longer though, to get a stronger shift, as a few of the offerings are close echoing our Barbara’s previous verse.
Because while these caught my eye, one for its beauty and the other its humour
only the wind now, passing
through the dry grass
Genevieve
decapitated chickens
cross to the other side
Bat
I think we need more of a shift from the ‘reincarnation’ verse. So I’d like to keep it open a little longer, so try and avoid the any ethereal or air referents. Looking forward to seeing more verses, keep ‘em coming!
g’day all
some more offers:
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone/ betty ann
never underestimate
the Rudd-Gillard mob
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone/ betty ann
goodbye, my dearest,
his last entry
Cowards!
I cannot believe
theyre gone/ betty ann
wrinkles, pimples, disappear
because its good for you
~
peace and love
Pheasant Wood, the last soldier
from the first has now a grave
(july 19th 10, Fromelles)
http://www.lunion.presse.fr//video/Un%252Bdernier%252Bsoldat%252Balli%2525C3%2525A9%252Binhum%2525C3%2525A9%252B%2525C3%2525A0%252BFromelles/iLyROoaf8BSE
g’day
a correction to previous offer:
Cowards!
I cannot believe
they’re gone/ betty ann
wrinkles, pimples, disappear -
because you’re worth it
peace and love
at the funfair, the maze
is a reliable shelter
—
with my candyfloss
the sun shines anew
—
with my candyfloss
all the past frights melt
cat calls
smearing lather
I can’t believe
anything I’ve seen.
smearing lather
catcalls open season
mad poet scoured the pages
erased from her memory
‘scuse me, friend
this seat taken?
in the mirror
bloated wreckage
unspoken thoughts
burning bridges
a hungry world
divided by zero
Cowards !
I canot believe
they’re gone
(Betty Ann)
impaled by the foundaments
their talk-show in the cavern
—
in my wide-angle lens
the mammoth of the permafrost
—
the shade army
deploys
—
Sorry ! Just reviewing!
>
impaled by the fundaments
teir talk-show in the cavern
Wow, thanks everyone! Lots of great verses here, hard to put just one forward. I think here, we have 3 that could work.
This from grant
a hungry world
divided by zero
And here, both of Liam’s
in the mirror
bloated wreckage
‘scuse me, friend
this seat taken?
But which one? grant has a more cerebral verse, and once again, brings us something unexpected and works as something of a continuation of tone from Betty’s accusatory verse. Liam’s bloated wreckage has perhaps a slimmer link, which I’d love to hear him describe? but I do like the duplicitous nature of the mirror, perfect for our renku.
Or, his seemingly gentle question in the next verse, which reads as quite ominous in the context of the ‘zombie’ theme. It has a link in voice ie: its dialogue feel, but it does feature the ‘seat’ which we have heard from not too long ago on the other folio.
I have a dilemma. Because I really want to take this one. It took me by surprise and works so well. I do think we should try and come up with a way to accept it. The word ‘seat’ here summons an entirely different association than that in the
previous verse by David. With David’s, the ‘seat’ is seen as an visual object, here it is a object to be used, rather than seen.
Before I accept it, I’d like to see if anyone can come up with an alternative to exactly what is taken. If not a seat then what? I hope this is acceptable, Liam. Suggestions please!
Well, you could change “seat” to “spot”, although that makes it a little less specific. “Spot” sounds more like a place in line, while “seat” sounds more like a bus. Or restaurant. I suppose “place” would work, too, sort of. You could also change the question to something like “Got room for one more?” or similar.
(Love being called “cerebral” in a zombie context. Suddenly feel I should invest in a good bite-proof helmet.)
Ashley…perhaps ‘place’ or ‘space’ instead? Was originally flashing on the bus/subway scene in Keanu Reeves’ movie Constantine where the younger version was sitting and the face of the elderly individidual sitting behind him suddenly transformed into a skeletal demon…something only he could see as an unwilling psychic … as an bittered soul it seemed an appropriate response to Betty’s throw down ku!
I hesitate to describe more fully the mirror ku as I feel that impinges on the imagination of the reader and would limit a response in turn. But since you asked…i envision several scenarios.
One…the wreckage is the person from Betty’s ku…haggered, hungover & exhausted from the night’s endeavors.
Two…simply the carnage that ensues from zombie pandemonium.
Three…a lurking thing coming into play.
The mirror leaves it open as one looks into it.
And Grant, nothing says it like being an anomoly!
Liam
…sorry, meant to say ‘embittered soul’ there. Liam
…can’t spell worth beans!
haggard …
anomaly
Sheesh! I need some sleep!
Thank you, grant & Liam, for the quick responses. I think ‘spot’ is the best word here, as it is close to the original and maintains the internal rhythm of the verse better than the repeated ‘s’ sounds of ‘place’ and ‘space’ which I think unbalances the line a little, coming right after the ‘this’.
So, we’re off again! This time, 3 lines please!
(my pleasure, grant! an unintentional pun – I feel kinda ashamed! and thanks, Liam for expanding on your mirror ku, I understand the reluctance, especially when it comes to renku and the subtleties of link & shift)
g’day all
congrats Liam.
‘scuse me, friend
this seat taken?
his caustic thoughts
worth more than a dime
this rheumy day
‘scuse me, friend
this seat taken?
outside the hospice
sienna leaves scatter
across the avenue
‘scuse me, friend
this seat taken?
beneath the pine
she tells me she’s
on the waiting list
Peace and Love
Barbara: That post is practically a poem in its own right (everything after “Liam”).
Thanks, Barbara for the constant supply of great ku!
I want to keep things moving to make up for my longer absences of late, so I wanted to actually place a verse from way back in the beginning of our renga
our breathing stilled
a city crumbles beyond
the north window
(Willie)
Which I loved at the time, but think that it fits here even more as it throws the focus back out to the wider world. Willie, I hope this is all right with you, and for the rest of us, let’s keep going. 2 lines please!
a stone’s throw away
the lottery begins
severed from humanity
quickens Dark Lord’s desire
cutting deeper
a blade fashions sorrow
a thousand empty eyes
a single voiceless voice
mirrors empty souls
advancing life’s facade
g’day all
congrats willie.
our breathing stilled
a city crumbles beyond
the north window (Willie)
at every corner
collisions with spectres
our breathing stilled
a city crumbles beyond
the north window (Willie)
skeletons swoosh
from cobwebbed corners
our breathing stilled
a city crumbles beyond
the north window (Willie)
howling gales lash
through dissipated streets
~
peace and love
our breathing stilled
a city crumbles beyond
the north window (Willie)
angels! there are angels
walking the streets
or
angels! there are dark angels
walking the streets
building no tomorrows
rigid soldiers girder pain
Great to see everyone back on board!
Now, I was again tempted by a few verses here. While Genevieve’s angels were a nice shift, I want to steer away from direct voice for a time. I also liked Barbara’s swooshing skeletons but could not pass on this from Liam’s blade
cutting deeper
a blade fashions sorrow
Which seems to link and add to the melancholy feeling which has recently crept into the kasen.
So onward to the next verse, this time I’m looking for 3 lines – but I’d like to borrow one of Keiji’s restrictions from the last renga at cordite – see if you can write this one with the traditional Japanese syllable count of 5-7-5!
nameless children pass
carving shadows into stone
leap frogging totems
correction…meant to write:
nameless children pass
carving shadows into stone
leapfrogging totems
deranged ensembles
salivating rot and gore
smile lobotimized
g’day all
Congrats Liam!
cutting deeper
a blade fashions sorrow/Liam
his bursting polyps
all surgically removed
by the witch doctor
cutting deeper
a blade fashions sorrow/Liam
facebook broadcasts
his lingering painful days
up to his last sigh
cutting deeper
a blade fashions sorrow/Liam
up from the skateboard
two patellas sticking out
from fractured freckles
~
Peace and Love
gangrene at its core
now footloose his fancy freed
spilling out full force
cutting deeper
a blade fashions sorrow/Liam
hungry like never
he dips his fork in the meat
cancer ketchup meat
out of the garbage
clones crash bumper cars into
left flying saucers
a floating world child
dots the debris window-panes
with ratatouille juice
a goblin bows down
at the foot of the holly
damned be life on earth!
a goblin holds high
his scythe to the white moon!
that the rainbow be!
Let’s give it one more day – I’ll check back tomorrow afternoon everyone, feel free to sub more in the meantime. And thanks for taking to the restriction so confidently!
Stubble in the fields
With neither bang nor whimper
Bringing in the sheaves
Iron colored smoke
Cutting through the fallen trees
Never make a sound
“Slicing” might be more elegant than “cutting” there…..
Stainless scalpels gleam
Soldiers call the surgeon, “Doc.”
Stink of salvation.
duelling masters wave
bowing low to their seconds
autumn chills the air
wings and bodies fly
a lunar path spill scales on
forensic experts
bells toll all around
forensic experts at search
among the rubble
*
mourning at the church
commuters pay their tribute
to lost friends and kins
*
on a nearby strand
students are playing beach volley
rose-bay blooming now ?
rescue team at work
the lost souls’ funny faces
are the only clue
my first better like that :
bodies are flying
a lunar path opens to
forensic experts
crystal white powder
lines in the mirror whisper
the bell tolls for you
Wow, thank you, everyone! I’ve been taken with Claire’s bodies’ and Betty’s ‘mirror’ verses, as both have that sombre feel that links with Liam’s verse.
And although this from Grant really did it for me:
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never make a sound
With its subtle and powerful image, and while it links beautifully and brings back the natural world with a taint in the iron coloured smoke. (grant, hope you don’t mind the English spelling there?) it is also a little reminiscent of Willie’s ‘our breathing stilled’ / ‘never make a sound’ and thus doesn’t have as big a ‘shift’ as I’d like
And yet, I still want to take this one with an edit, grant, what do you think of this?
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops seeking (prov)
As a stand alone haiku, grant’s ‘never make a sound’ is much more evocative, but in the context of a renku with the emphasis on link and shift, we need an adjustment.
So, on to 2 lines everyone, and for now, I’ll place grant’s verse in as a provisional.
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1. Honored, of course. (Or “honoured”, even.)
2. breathing stilled/ never make a sound. Argh, yes, I can see that.
2a. There’s a thing I was trying to do with fallen trees not making a sound (philosophically) and me not making a sound because there’s things in the woods (horror-istically). Double-coding. So I’m wondering – would “never stops rising” work? If not, “seeking” does about the same work, I suppose.
Grant…perhaps
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
leaves withered hallows
…still presents the silencing of a voice due to the specter of unholy things lurking about???
Outstanding! I like ‘rising’ too, and I like Betty’s ‘hallows’ too.
Let’s go with ‘rising’ though, because I think it’s just as good, or even better than my suggestion!
Hi everyone!
I was directed to this renga by a friend of mine, and it looks like a lot of fun. I love everybody’s verses so far. Only thing is, I’ve never done a renga–and only now found out what exactly it was.
If I’m not mistaken, a renga is a “call and response” sort of poetry, alternating between three line haiku and two lines–we play off each other.
What should I do to enter? Do I think of a bunch of different things and one of those may be selected, or will I wait my turn? I read the instructions, but I want to be sure. *off to think of some two-liners*
(P.S.–Betty G, your “the bell tolls for you” haiku really struck a chord with me…I wrote one similar as a Call of Duty: Nazi Zombies fanfiction poem!
The clock strikes one-fifteen
for whom does the bell toll
but corpses?
Great minds think alike. ^^)
Welcome, Anne!
Great to have you on board, you’re pretty much spot on with the idea of renga, some might even say it can be like a ‘call & call’ but yes, we definitely play off each other. And what’s unique (and highly challenging) is that this renku is themed.
To enter just do as you have here, and post a suggestion as a comment. This renga is running in the degachi or competitive mode, so everyone posts possible verse for the next position in the kasen renga and I as leader select the one I think it the best fit.
So, submit away, looking forward to it!
Nice use of our new threaded comments feature, Ashley! And welcome Anne!
Thanks for the warm welcome, guys.
Greetings Anne! Sorry for the late response but family drama pulls me away. Loved your haiku and thanks for noticing mine…Claire had a lovely ‘bell tolls’ ku as well so indeed there os multiplicity occurring here! I look forward to reading your future ku’s here in zombie land! Betty
Just an idea for Grant’s third line, although the “stillness” is fainter, but…
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
single clue at bay
g’day all
Congrats Grant.
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops rising/grant
foraging wild pigs squeal
on their backs
~
Peace and Love
(Ooo! Exciting.)
Hi, I came to Cordite for something else, and now have been exploring renga all week and nothing else! I’ve very green, but here goes:
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops rising/grant
we too once had
barbeques
*
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops rising/grant
strange mewlings
among the mushrooms
*
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops rising/grant
greasy ashes
ground the brolga (or could be generic – ground the birds)
thanks for bearing with me
a variation on the first one
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops rising /Grant
we too once
ate roast
Hi Jasmina! Welcome!
I like your mushroom verse, the word ‘mewlings’ is superb here.
So far, you will have noticed that we’ve been working to a theme (quite unusual for renga) but if you have any questions about that aspect or renku in general, please ask, glad you saw us here!
Hmmm, if I have to explain the link to zombies in verse 1 and 3, I guess they didn’t work then?
How concrete or abstract are we supposed to be? Is it supposed to be totally ground in the senses?
and another question, how far back are we supposed to look for repeating oneself? Is mushrooms too close to fungus back in verse 2? is the smell of burnt flesh too close to the smell of bodies in verse 15?
Good questions – re: the concrete/abstract aspect of the verses, I’m open to very broad interpretations of the ‘zombie’ theme. The senses are great for haiku, but they don’t have to be confined to that, especially here in a renku.
Do look back across the whole renku, though ultimately that’s my responsibility, but if all the writers do so too, it’ll be smoother. The burnt flesh may be too close yes, but the mushrooms and fungus are spread across what would be two different ‘folios’ if this were being composed on paper, and might be ok.
For a slightly more expanded discussion that I hope helps with the question, earlier in the renku we talked about it
http://cordite.org.au/features/zombie-renga/comment-page-6#comment-24255
If that all reads like gibberish, definitely let me know!
hordes swarm
swept to the sea
pr…
old memories
surface
or…
ah! buried memories
sniffs grave robber baron
or shoulda said…
ah! sweet memories
sniffs grave robber baron
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops rising
(grant)
the smell of frankincense
is filling the altar
Vasile Moldovan
or
the downpour washes up
all the garbage cans
iron coloured smoke
slicing through fallen trees
never stop rising/Grant
*
Hades, a rain of souls
crumble ablaze!
or, without the !
or,
Hades ! a rain of souls
crumble ablaze
—-
(sauve qui peut!)!
Will try to find something else to-morrow ; Fumi has eaten my pear.
Need to visit the fridge… Maroilles with Findus frozen potatoes?!
Plus a Fjord yoghurt… 19° when we should be with 28°
Leviathan pushes open
the putrid marshlands
or
reciting her worry beads
countdown has begun
1:07 am, here
s’pector Cordite amazed
so many beauties cender-white
bye, folks
sorry, again,
skies! the moon
grinding its golden tooth
or (sorry!) :
grinding its milk-tooth
*
strangely enough, am-I on the good page?
Hi Claire, some great verses there, just remember to limit your self to 3 or 4 submissions per verse
August 2010 Moon Viewing Party
You are cordially invited to our eighth moon viewing party of 2010!
The full moon rises on Tuesday, July 24th, (GMT)
To submit a poem (all submissions remain the property of their author) please visit the HAIKU BANDIT SOCIETY : http://haikubanditsociety.blogspot.com
Be sure to include your pen name so we might accredit your poems properly!
Happy moon gazing!
That’s Willie, by the way-one eye open this morning…
No problems, Willie, thanks again for the verse, hope you noticed it up there in the renku
At least 3 struck me this time around. First, this from Vasile, which I think is one of the more magnificent verses I’ve seen, but doesn’t quite address the theme strongly enough.
the downpour washes up
all the garbage cans
Next, this from Claire, which is direct and has a close link and a great shift – and I love the phrase ‘worry beads’ though mentioning a countdown at this stage of the renku may be a little early (at verse 26)
reciting her worry beads
countdown has begun
Finally, my choice for the next link in our zombie-renga:
foraging wild pigs
squeal on their backs (prov)
(Barbara)
I’ve just dropped the word squeal to the next line, Barbara, if that’s acceptable please let me know. I like this one for several reasons, it has a clear link in place (‘foraging’ & ‘trees’) and shifts us onward and into a new image and subject (I also believe it is the first mention of a pig, though it may have to be the last ku with a ‘frightened vocalization’ ‘screeches’ earlier, ‘squeals’ here)
And lastly, it sets up quite a challenge, as I want to call for another traditional aspect of renku, a ‘love’ verse (which usually come in a pair). So, embrace the zombies, take them into your hearts and see if you can rise to this challenge. 3 lines, love.
Bet it’s going to be tough – I find the love verse positions most difficult, even without having the undead in there!
Here’s one try to kick things off!
foraging wild pigs
squeal on their backs (prov)
(Barbara)
fighting in the mud
or dirty dancing -
zombies?
Hmm…maybe that’s too silly!
hey ash…
mudslinging
dirty dancing
zombie brides
or…
mudslinging
dirty dancing
grooms zombie brides
Love it, Betty – what do you think about this re-ordering?
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing
?
much better!…sorry to be so late with a response but am on the road with my squeeze out in boonie land and internet can be hard to come by at times…anyway…thanks for selecting it too but really should go with your name on the marque!
g’day Ashley
Thanks for your choice, and yes, I’m happy with your revision.
Peace and Love
this itch
to be
suckled they cried
Congratulations on posting the 3,000th comment on the Cordite site, Betty!!!!
wow!!! thanks!
foraging wild pigs
squeal on their backs
(Barbara)
Dearly beloved,
With this damned dirty shovel,
I pledge thee my troth.
Ok, let’s keep going – well done we three who managed a ‘love’ verse, grant, yours made me laugh, but I think I’ll go with Betty’s adaptation of mine, so let’s keep going!
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing
(Betty)
On to our next verse (#28 I believe) – 2 lines please!
Thank you for your comment, Ashley. Here is my new proposals.
foraging wild pigs
squeal on their backs
Barbara
enamoured teen-agers-
they learn the love lesson
from the flowers and birds
another love story:
a blue butterfly crucified
on the passion flower
Love,
you have thousand names…
one fo these is only mine
in the open palm
a lady bird ready to fly-
love messenger
Love song-
on the casing of a well
two birdies chirp together
Vasile Moldovan
Hi Ashley and all, not sure if this is another love verse … (‘which usually come in a pair’)
Congrats Betty Ann
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing (Betty)
zombie grooms
grittily prancing
… probably can’t have ‘zombie’ again so close …
grimy grooms
set on romancing
or maybe
grimacing grooms
bent on romancing
hmmm – clock just struck midnight – it’s that topsy-turvy time again … so please excuse if this is all wrong
Not at all, Gen, definitely they usually come in pairs, but I’m thinking just one for our zombie ku, so definitely sub some more verses for us!
g’day all
Congrats Betty Ann.
My offer:
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing (Betty Ann)
decapitated shadows
merge with the razor wall
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing (Betty Ann)
the best man owns up
to his evil ways
~
Peace and Love
Barbara…I love your shadows ku here!
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing
(Betty-Ann)
the djinn’s lascive eyes
the farmer’s wife unbinds her garters
or
barbarian nuptials
the djinn jiggles in the straw
or
sweet words below the hibiscus hedge
the earth quakes
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing
Bett y – Ann
under her high-heeled shoes
a squashed lady bird
it is getting light again
the wedding end in smoke
mother-in-low smiles
a bitter smile
Vasile Moldovan
across the Styx
cold burns afire
across the Styx
burns cold desire
across the Styx
a coin is tossed
zombis’ nuptial meal
blood splashes their grisly face
inflamed zombies
flesh out corpses
bloody zombis’
swaying hips
blood-stained teeth
deep into Quasimodo’s bump
Thank you everyone for the fine verses!
Especially Liam’s coin across Styx. I think we still need to avoid ‘blood’ and ‘flower’ related images for a while longer, (and save flowers for later) and I was thinking that the best verse for the next spot is actually an adjustment of Claire’s
sweet words below the hibiscus hedge
the earth quakes
to
sweet words below the hedge
the earth quakes (prov)
Claire
As I like the power in this, and I believe it sets up the next position nicely with the natural word so prominently mentioned, because our next verse is the second and last ‘moon’ verse for the kasen, so it’s 3 lines and the moon please!
(Hope you’re happy with the edit, Claire)
Thanks, Ashley, glad ; strange zombie world.
D’you know thre are no synonym in my language for “zombie”, except “phantom, revenant, ectoplasm?”
next one is a three liner ?
Bye and good afternoon !
Great! Yep, sorry, Claire, too tired to type straight!
Wow, so zombie is simply ‘zombie’ in French, just with French pronunciation?
Technically, “zombie” isn’t English – it’s an Anglicization of “nzambi” which is a Congolese name for the snakey solar supreme deity or magic done by/through that deity, or his daughter. Kind of a far cry from walking corpses, but culture is funny that way. More here: http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/fjort/fjo36.htm
There is an Irish word for walking corpses, but I can’t remember it right now. They play roles like this in stories: http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/culture/talk/banshees/priest.shtm
And in Norse culture (which is often very similar to Irish), there were draugr, who were animated corpses. They weren’t entirely mindless, though – more just folks who died and hadn’t made their way to Hel yet.
a score to settle
on the dark side
moon beams
the fault is mine
stepping into shadow
moon rakes them all
the rising moon
bearing witness
smites in tidal waves
or maybe…
bearing witness
the rising moon
smites in tidal waves
oof…just realized that ‘rising’ was already in play with Grant’s ku so hoping a late sub is okay…
bearing witness
a jealous moon
smites in tidal waves
sweet words below the hedge
the earth quakes(prov)
Claire
not the shadow of a ghost…
the dog barking in vain
at the moon (prov.)
on the horizon
the sun and moon playing
hide-and-seek
the ghosts disappear
all of a sudden-
the moon is rising
newborn covered up
under warm maternal love-
moon in the nursery
a child visage
stuck against the wondow,
to see the moonrise
Vasile Moldovan
Hi,
lunar eclipse
slowly the snakes slither out
of the gulch
*
across the ravine
a hearse is slowly riding
oh… moon be of help
*
Watching for the etymology, hers’s what I found, (somewhat similar to Grant’s) :
zombi : W. African origin, > Kikongo : “zumbi : “fetish”, Kimbundu nzambi : “god” – originally, a snake God eater.
In voodoo cult, means “reanimated corpses”… Spanish, “sombra” : shade, ghost. Louisiana creole ; phatom, ghost.
Well, Ashley, we pronounce “zombi”, more or les kike you do ine the northern part of the ountry. In the south, they have the Mediterranean accent of Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Perpignan… Toulouse, and it swings fast !
(each area has its language… When they settled in Quebec, they all had different languages !!!).
g’day all
Congrats Claire.
sweet words below the hedge
the earth quakes/Claire
till death us do part—
suddenly, the moon
clouds over
~
sweet words below the hedge
the earth quakes/Claire
a rescue dog
urinates on whimpers
beneath moonlit concrete
~
Peace and Love
drifting with the
howling winds – the moon splatched
with dark tentacles
grave robber baron
spawn of moon
shovels treasured trove
grave robber baron
pawns his moon
pleading give him more
grave robber baron!
cries the moon
beaming
sweet words below the hedge
the earth quakes
Maybe it’s the tides
Pulling our bodies back up
Brains white as the moon
hmmm…
Maybe it’s the tides
Pulling our bodies back up
Harvest moon fillets
Here we have what has become my favourite dilemma – there is a verse that I believe to be perfect, this time supplied by grant.
While verses from Liam (the grave robber pawning his moon) Betty’s ‘jealous’ ku and the ‘child’s visage’ from Vasile also tempted me, I think we have pretty close to what I want from grant – because we’ve finally reached the sea, which is a fresh topic/image in our renga thus far.
And diversity of subject matter is integral to renga, even a themed one, so I want to find a way to keep this verse in. the link is wonderful and natural & an original way to use the ‘moon’ – but I think you can see our problem – we have had ‘brains’ quite early on. Now, on the basis of distance, this shouldn’t be a regression. However, in a zombie-themed work I think we need to make an alteration.
So grant, if you don’t mind, I’d like you & everyone to jump in with alternative to ‘brains’?
Veins?
Tongues?
….
Eyes?
Skulls?
Hmmm.
Or perhaps “Minds blank as the moon”?
How about something like this, grant?
Maybe it’s the tides
Pulling our bodies back up
fish-white moon
This avoids mentioning a body part explicitly, which we’ve done a few times in the renga, and keeps the original colour. What it fails to do though, is keep that original use the moon, having them likened to soaked brains etc
Will be back to see what you think before I make a final call.
ensnared by the moon
eyes sneer at the moon
lips sneer at the moon
L3 : ?
eyes blank on the moon
psalming to the moon
moon’s glare in the eyes
hum!
I like your last, Claire, though we’d need it a touch shorter, I think, syllable-wise that is
maybe it’s the tides
pulling our bodies back up
glaring moon (pulling … glaring… not really happy, )
moon’s glare
You (natives) are better judges than I!
coming again, sorry:
full moon’s glare
how about
pulpy moon
pulp gleaming in the moon
Jas
Ah, Jasmina, brilliant! I think we have it, everyone, ‘pulp’ is a perfect word to fill in for ‘brains’ here. It works on a range of levels, it’s general mushiness, it’s colour, and of course, it’s sly reference to the ‘pulp fiction’ which is full of zombie stories.
So, I propose we move on with this provisional verse from grant & with assistance from Jasmina:
maybe it’s the tides
pulling our bodies back up
pulp gleams in moonlight
(grant)
So on to verse number 30 – which is 2 lines and our last before the final movement of the kasen, the ‘kyu’ or finale.
Having some posting trouble at the moment – will investigate
g’day all
Congrats Grant and Jasmina.
Herewith my offer:
maybe it’s the tides
pulling our bodies back up
pulp gleams in moonlight/(grant)
maybe it’s the future
spitting into itself
~
peace and love
Testing for gremlins …
Hmmm … yep, we’ve got a problem.
I will have to delete the next three comments to see if that fixes it … sorry Liam! For the record, these were posted previously:
#
Liam says:
September 2, 2010 at 11:18 pm
don’t know what just happened with my post… pleasr diregard!
I meant:
in sync with the moon
fists raised to the moon
#
Liam says:
September 2, 2010 at 11:36 pm
shoals white as the moon
jesting of course here:.
bums white as the moon!
#
Ashley Capes says:
September 3, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Love the idea of your ‘in sync with the moon’ and it’d be perfect if it didn’t bring the synchronicity of dancing to mind, which we have two verses back.
Okay I’ve now deleted those three. Let’s see how we go from here!
My turn! Let’s see how this one turns out
Looks like it’s working now! Yays!
Mmm. Pulp.
I believe that makes my four verses, yes?
Now, I’ll watch from the sidelines!
Thanks, Grant! Please do stick around!
And I may yet call on you (or any who have reached 4 verses) as we may just about all get to 4 verses before the end of the kasen!
maybe it’s the tides
pulling our bodies back up
pulp gleams in moonlight
grave robbers chisel
vile dinner remains
or…
grave robbers puzzle
vile toothy remains
or…
grave robbers guzzle
juicing a jones
maybe it’s the tides
pulling our bodies back up
pulp gleams in moonlight
(congrats to Grant & Jas)
& to Barbara’s crescent moon…
fish heads swell
out of her blouse
—
fish heads swell
in the gutter
(Inspiration: http://img.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/the-object-to-your-left-is-weapon-of-choice.jpg)
(Er – no closed-parentheses in the link. Sorry: http://img.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/the-object-to-your-left-is-weapon-of-choice.jpg )
The object to my left was my modem!
seeds of destruction
pods breaking open
too many layers
imprinted with pain
an insidious rising sun
is appalling
or
stand by – the last bus flies by
nobody inside
comatose or dreaming?
blank eyes weilding sorrow
sorry…
comatose or dreaming?
blank eyes wielding sorrow
comatose or dreaming?
black ayes swearing sorrow!
strike this ku…brain dead myself & forgot ‘sorrow’ was used by me!
mayhaps ‘sorrow’ could be replaced with ‘no morrows’ in the above kus.
Morrows works, I reckon
I love Claire’s “fish heads swell/out of her blouse” and “the last bus flies by/nobody inside”
and the guzzling grave robbers.
has there been a Plants v. Zombies reference yet that I have obtusely missed?
if not:
pool cleaners
our last defence
The very first verse is! Wow, much less familiar with Part 1. You get so caught up in the verses immediately preceeding.
Another:
seabirds squalling
over torso islands
spindle limbs erected
all along the shore (or sand)
cannonade booms
no longer distract the seabirds
I know what you mean, the kasen is a long poem (though not the longest renga form by any means) and it takes a bit of reading to keep the thread!
amending a previous one,
appalled – the rising sun
an insidious octopus
and
muddy barricade
fish heads gnaw her tits
cannonade booms, says Jasmina,
it reminds me of Gavroche
sorry,
nipples?
must be mindful now
hard steering through eggshell roads
panic ! the old actress
loses a dacayed tooth
All right, time to reveal verse 30 – while I was tempted by Claire’s ‘fish heads’ I ended up going another way here, but first, I want to note that – we’re nearly on to the last stretch, the kyu or ‘finale’ – where we try and come to what John Carley describes as a ‘rush and stop.’ Here the kasen will resolve itself in some way, so let’s see how you link to our next verse – which I see as a big shift in time, even the day after grant’s verse – here we have a close link and a leap away from Claire’s verse too:
spindle-limbs erected
all along the shore
(Jasmina)
So for the first of our final 6 – please submit some potential verses, 3 lines and if possible, let’s move away from water (and also from the fields etc)
Looking forward to them!
g’day all
Congrats Jasmina.
Here’s my offer:
spindle-limbs erected
all along the shore (Jasmina)
depicted in
faded tapestry
their famous gory past
~~~
Thank you Claire for congrats on crescent moon. Guess you are referring to this: a haiku, “crescent moon,” 1st Place, and Editor’s Choice, Neo Classic Haiku, at World Haiku Review, Summer 2010, http://sites.google.com/site/worldhaikureview2/home/august-2010/editors-choice-august-2010,
Check out the renku there too, at http://sites.google.com/site/worldhaikureview2/home/august-2010/renku
Peace and Love
Congrats, Barbara!
Yes, I do. This crescent moon suited perfectly well for what came after. Hope that this “turning point” is “the essence of human being” /
a frozen wasteland
petitions
bleak sunrise
held in trust
a promise
overturned
winking in and out
the outer fringe unravels
a twisted yarn
hmm, to close to the tailor ku so amending mine
winking in and out
the outer fringe unravels
gales of laughter form
maybe it’s the tides
pulling our bodies back up
pulp gleams in the moonlight (grant)
spindle limbs erected
all along the shore (Jasmina)
behind the city doors
silent figures spinning thread
for shrouds
hmm, ‘figures’ may be too close to ‘bodies’ in Grant’s ku – maybe
behind city doors
they’re quickly spinning thread
for shrouds
behind the city doors
bony fingers spinning thread
for shrouds
spingle-limbs erected
all along the shore
(Jasmina, threat there…)
-
down from the sky
an icy black cloud looms
over the still air
-
not a breath around
the dark purple light shivers
macabre thunderbolts
-
riding the mourful veil
a black-dressed scarecrow brooms
the deserted place
-
tense
the atmosphere
another day on its way
-
figetting in a
translucid egg – a gremlin
entreats the demon
Some great images here, Claire, but remember to only offer 4 verses per round
wow it gets harder not to repeat doesn’t it?
some good images above.
mine, just for fun,
meeting for lunch -
monument
to the poor vegetarians
****
monuments to
old scourges and
the new diets
(depending on the outcome)
unsupported stares
belching
up the dawn
crossing t’s dotting i’s
unleashing
sun’s burning haze
or…
crossing t’s dotting i’s
unleashing
sun’s burning gaze
why is it ringing?
the bell -
in the old watch tower
Thanks for another wealth of submissions, another tough choice, but I think this from Gen is great, it reminds me ot the Fates, working with the threads of life and destiny etc (Clotho, the spinner, Lachesis, the measurer and Atropos, the shearer).
However, while a reference to a tailor occured much earlier in the kasen, we have ‘city’ a little closer from Willie’s verse, so I’d like to both propose a slight revision and ask Gen, and others, to offer a new/altered line 1 in this fantastic verse
behind the city doors
bony fingers spin thread
for shrouds (prov)
Gen
behind cloven doors
bony fingers spin threads
for shrouds
Hi Gen … with this shorter version, it appears to me as if ‘threads’ are spun in exchange for shrouds…as in the context of a completed garment the hip venacular of say ‘nice threads dude’ …a split between past and present …hence my choice of cloven which implies the split in time.
Thanks Ashley, happy to have another ku in this kasen.
For line 1 how about ‘behind closed doors’? It gives a nice assonance with ‘bony’. Then if that’s OK
what do you think of:
behind closed doors
bony fingers are spinning thread
for shrouds
the slightly longer version seems to draw it out like the thread is being drawn out from the spindle …
but if you prefer the shorter one that’s fine too.
Best wishes, G.
Congrats Genevieve!
here’s my input…
enshrined behind doors
bony fingers spin thread
for shrouds
Personally, I like “behind closed doors” as Gen suggests.
The word “bedroom” also offered itself as an alternative – has an extra syllable, and, you know, a room.
(I don’t know if pitching lines is kosher for me – if not, lemme know. Still reading!)
No probs, grant! I think (& hope) I mentioned this after one of your earlier posts, but while we have a small cast of players, I might relax the 4 ku rule if circumstances demanded. So absolutely, you’re most welcome to pitch lines etc, great to have you here still!
ummm…the 4 ku rule has already gone by the wayside if you go back & check the selections so why not just throw it wide open? I miss the reading the others’ …
I agree, and I even discussed the 4 ku rule even earlier when Lorin asked – although I know that she is very busy with a haiku project at the moment – I don’t know where everyone else has disappeared to!
Here it is, shame everyone seemed to have missed it back then
June 30, 2010 at 11:34 pm (Edit)
Hi Lorin! I reckon, with the smaller cast we have, that the 4 verse maximum should be relaxed somewhat.
So please keep submitting – and the same goes for the rest of us, while things are intimate let’s take advantage of that!
so the aforementioned 4-ku rule is with respect to number of submissions per 3-line/2-line requested ku, right? so hard because I post too fast and suffer remorse for want of revisions…think I have tourrette ku-itis!
all skulls shorn
or
all beards shorn
bony fingers spin
shrouds
as if necessary to have hair to spin shrouds in the crumbled city
shaved (!) and not (shorn) !!!
Just laughing, stupid!
Sorry, coming again with Barbara’s word, “gory” :
behind gory doors
bony fingers spin
shrouds
behind the gory doors
bony fingers are spinning
shrouds
(with the progressive form, the image is tougher
behind holy doors
bony fingers spin a thread
for shrouds
Martyrs’ Mount (grounds)?
or
Mons martyrdum (grounds)?
how about…???
behind doors unhinged
bony fingers spin a thread
for shrouds
…wondering whose in charge of the Fates…
errr meant…who’s in charge…!
Mons Martyrdum’s gates
bony fingers spin a thread
for shrouds
or
on Mons Martyrdum…
it’s Montmartre & Sacré Coeur
or …
deep in the crypt
bony fingers spin thread
for shrouds
- – -
behind cloistered walls
bony fingers spin thread
for shrouds
Perfect! Love the feel of tension they each bring hidden away like that!
Ok, I’m back from a short holiday – ready for more renku!
Although I like Claire’s ‘crypt’ I’d like to use Gen’s own revision:
behind closed doors
bony fingers are spinning thread
for shrouds
For the reasons she suggests, which I think are excellent. Thank you everyone for jumping to the task, let’s keep going now, next up, verse 32 – which needs to be 2 lines! Again, let’s steer away from water, and probably insects and animals too, if possible.
Thank you Ashley and thanks Betty Ann for the congrats – and everyone for their suggestions.
killing time
meatcleaver hooks a joint
or
courage waffles
killing time
or
killing time
the band plays on
strike the band…
killing time
in B flat
frenzied wailing
mummy’s lost
esprit de corps
mummies chatter
or
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter
true confessions read
post mortem
the inspiration for the above ku
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postmortem/
g’day all
Congrats Genevieve.
An offer:
behind closed doors
bony fingers are spinning thread
for shrouds
crashing through the ceiling
silver claws sparkle
~
Peace and Love
Thanks Barbara.
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter
From Liam is an excellent switch in tone, something uplifting even. We also have a great link between ‘spirit’ and the weavers I feel, and just as importantly, a shift away from Jasmina’s verse.
I think we have it here, thank you once again to everyone for submitting candidates – let’s do it again! This time, verse 33, which needs to be 3 lines and let’s keep away from water & insects, but also, let’s see if we can get another 1st person verse in there!
behind closed doors
bony fingers spin thread
for shrouds
(Gen, with congrats)
sacrilege, a corpse
spits out
or
copper spikes shoot out
of chests
or
Heavens crash
on Mount Parnassus
And congrats again Liam!
Hey! You there…
I pantomime
transfiguration
or
Hey! You there…
I pantomime
film is rolling
so much dust…
Baron mutters
brushing hero glyphs
or
so much dust…
Baron stumbles
brushing hero glyphs
I love where this renga takes me…
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyph_(album)
I so enjoy just participating and wish to see more of the others, too!
Keep ‘em coming everyone!
Betty, I should have been clearer I think, but the 4 ku rule was basically this: a maximum of 4 verses from each writer could be selected for inclusion in the entire kasen. (It actually started as 3) but with our cast size I thought this should be relaxed. The maximum of ku submitted from any writer per verse position is still 4.
Hope that makes sense, and so on we go!
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter
(congrats to Liam!)
apocalypse
out of my wing’s clothe
struggling to be born again
or
apocalypse
out of the nether world
struggling for my soul
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter
(Liam)
resurrection!
out of the catacombs
I face Ground Zero
Betty’s Baron & glyphs was close, as was Claire’s ground zero, though I the Baron has no first person and we have had reincarnation/resurrection not too long ago in the renga, so I’d like to keep things open 1 more day.
So anyone out there, past or present contributors, jump in – 3 lines, steering away from water or insects & animals, and do incorporate 1st person too!
Here’s an idea
swinging a baseball bat
I hear that
satisfying crunch
Yep…wanted to revise the Baron’s to
savoring last breath
Baron grunts, “I curse you all!”
binding hero glyphs
but
thought too late
or
baseball bat comes out
swinging satisfaction
I hear you crunch
g’day all
Congrats Liam!
an offer:
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter (Liam)
between darkest valleys
howling hounds
on my scent
~
Peace and Love
caught in my bands
I hear the bubblng oil
in the cauldron
catapulted
out of my bandages
I burst out laughing
facing Ground Zero
I shudder
the pneumatic drill’ s roar
facing Ground Zero
I hear the pneumatic drill’s
roar
Congrats Liam.
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter
spattered with gore -
this time
I’m too close
spattered with gore -
I’m too close
too close
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter (Liam)
still, in the sunlight
I can smell
the dank mould
hmm – we’ve had ‘smell’ in part one, so maybe:
still, in the sunlight
mould lingers – the taste
of it on my teeth
and, so on…
I chuckle
the maccabees throw me out
of the catacombs
I’m going to be a little cheeky here, and choose my own – mostly because I want to continue the slight uplift in tone before we move on to #34. It also has 1st person and a ‘run-on’ kind of link – while at the same time introducing a very human element with the idea of a game ‘ baseball.’ It does of course, shift away from Gen’s verse at the same time.
swinging a baseball bat
I hear that
satisfying crunch
Thank you to everyone submitting this round, and sorry to disappoint – I liked Gen’s ‘mould-verse’ and from Claire, the idea of being catapulted out of bandages!
Ok, so for #34 can we please have a 2 liner, and if possible, try and work in a spring reference (with or without mentioning the world ‘spring’) By doing this, we’ve actually using a kigo or ‘season-word’ which is a key element to link and shift in traditional renga. However, as we have a themed renku here (aimed somewhat at encouraging newcomers) we haven’t been dealing with kigo. But I wanted to now, as we approach the end.
Looking forward to your verses!
g’day all
I was thinking
fangs just visible
in the dense mountain mists
but we’ve had teeth way back,
maybe:
swinging a baseball bat
I hear that
satisfying crunch
a frenzied colony sweeps
through dense mountain mists
~
peace and love
pods splinter open
spitting seeds on the fly
pods splinter open
mother all smiles
Hi, Ashley…
Does a zombie renku end on a sad or a glad ku? Ethereal?
Sorry, I ust don’t know
Me neither, Claire! But I think it’s up to us, so let’s see where we end up, and in the meantime, submit verses in either tone (just include a spring referent)
(C’mon, somebody quote Eliot! Old undead dingbat….)
fresh mounds popping up
in the soupy mist
interrupted – I’ll be back
sweet gherkins!
picnic’s on at last
or
mmmmm…sweet gherkins!
kites racing cloud anagrams
love is stawberry
the steam roller stops short
*
rainbow overhead
the garriguettes’ sieve drips gory
*
up and down the ladder
the mason’s spring whistle
*
dripping saliva
the garriguettes’ cream sour
*
garriguettes are very tasting strawberries that grow
in the south, etymology “garrigue” dry vegetation, there
garriguettes are, in fact, the first
strawberries in spring.
the golems all have sweet tooth
in the spring cane crush
swinging a baseball bat
I hear that
satisfying crunch (Ashley)
the fields all red -
tulips! as far as the eye can see
fields all flooded red -
tulips! each fragile cup
fields all flooded red -
tulips! each sun-filled cup
Genevieve, I love the last revision – but I have a problem. I realised I didn’t warn everyone not to use flowers here, as our next verse is the ‘blossom’ verse.
So, I’m proposing that we hold yours over to compete for verse position #35, and in the meantime, for verse #34 I find myself caught between these:
pods splinter open
spitting seeds on the fly
(Betty Ann)
fresh mounds popping up
in the soupy mist
(Jasmina)
In the end, despite both having great spring kigo, I have to go with Jasmina, because of ‘soupy mist’ is a cracking-good link. We also have a clever double image hidden in the kigo, where ‘fresh mounds’ seems to double as both corpses & flowers rising. We also have a smoother rhythm from verse to verse with Jasmina’s, though I’d like to ask her whether this is provisional revision is acceptable?
fresh mounds pop up
in the soupy mist (prov)
(Jasmina)
In the meantime, let’s charge on to our second last link! For number 35 I’m asking for a blossom verse in 3 lines. Already, we have two that I’d like to submit on behalf of Willie & Gen, should neither object.
fields all flooded red -
tulips!
each sun-filled cup
(Gen)
displays of dead flowers
evocations
for the damned
(Willie)
And finally for number #35 – when I close the subs for the blossom verse in a couple of days, I’d love it if participants, readers, lurkers etc could vote on a shortlist (which I’ll create from our candidates) and include your reasons too – even better if you could include how you see the verse linking & shifting.
Oh, and I have noted the ‘mist’ & ‘smoke’ & ‘fog’ in the renga so far, but at this point, I’m pretty sure all are on different ‘folios’ and thus separated by a comfortable amount of verses.
g’day all
an offer:
fresh mounds pop up
in the soupy mist (prov)
horror dispelled
by the golden glow
of a sole wattle
Peace and Love
Jack-in-the-pulpit
standing
En Guarde!
and congrats Jasmina…love your name too!
rather
Jack-in-the-pulpit
standing
en garde
Hi Ashley, yes that’s fine to submit it as three lines for the next position – and congratulations Jasmina.
Thanks, Genevieve!
frash mounts pop up
in the soupy mist
(Jasmina – like “soupy”)
pricking my fingers
for a hawthorn bloomed branch
dark clouds overhead
*
in the hailstorm
the so vivid anemones
mortified flesh, too
*
damned!
they would love the buttercups,,
too
*
hooded
Jack-in-the-pulpit’s
gathering crowd
poppy beds
curing
sleepwalkers
flowering strife
loose
on still life
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck
a dark-eyed susan
beckons
her medusa laugh
blooms a desert rose
adrift the faded lilies
human glorries!
blooms a desert rose
adrift the wilted lilies
flower glory!
Here’s my shortlist, the 3 which I believe allow us a nice opportunity to add something new to the kasen, but also to enable a great ageku. Each have spring kigo for the blossom position – but from here it’s up to you.
Please vote for your fav verse and give a short explanation of why you think it links & shifts best etc. Can’t wait to see what you think!
a)
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck
b)
horror dispelled
by the golden glow
of a sole wattle
c)
fields all flooded red -
tulips!
each sun-filled cup
While I like the aesthetic feel of the golden wattle (very zombie, for some reason) and the tulips make a great image (plus kind of circling back to the “what is that in the fields?” feeling of the original ku), I think as far as next steps go, I’m most fond of:
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck
Because, for one thing, bearded iris isn’t a flower you’d see in a lot of literature, is it? Also – it’s brilliant that all three plants here can be punned upon (wattles on a neck, tulips parting to show teeth), but I like the suggestion of a “bearded iris” also being either an eye that is disguised or concealed (gray cataract whiskers) or a sideshow attraction (Come see Bearded Iris, the amazing hairy woman!).
That’s partially an extension of my favorite weird details in George Romero’s Living Dead films – the crowd of zombies in Day of the Dead includes a clown, possibly from a kid’s party interrupted by outbreak. But the carnival aspect of end-of-the-world stories is always unsettling and fun.
So mound to bearded iris to, well, eyes or freaks (or, really *anything* bearded… humans, body parts) seems a rich vein of associations.
—-
There’s possibly a counterargument to be made that the other two kus are both sunshiney, which leads to a better ending-place than someone shuffling cards (or chairs on the Titanic, if you want another double-coding).
But what’s writing without corners to wiggle out of?
…this makes the ‘beard’ all the more compelling:
“Flower of the lily” – the name given long time ago to the white Florentine iris (iris florentina). Perhaps the iris was once commonly called a lily. Some claim that fleur-de-lis means “flower of Louis,” but whatever the origin, there’s no question that the fleur-de-lis does represent an iris. It was the respected emblem of French monarchs for many centuries, appearing on flags, tapestries, shields and armor.
Possibly, the use of the iris as a symbol traces back to ancient India and Egypt, where it stood as a symbol of life. Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of heaven, joy, music and love, was the mother of Horus, the god of light and heaven. Horus often was identified with the lotus, symbol of the essence of life, and sometimes was said to have been born of the lotus.
This symbolism eventually extended to the iris and also the lily: These flowers became associated with thunder, one of the destructive powers of Horus. Since the thunder weapon was used to protect the Egyptians, the flowers came to represent the protection of life. So the iris was a symbol of both the essence and the renewal of life. The ancient Egyptians believed that the three petals stood for faith, wisdom and valor. Since the iris flower reflected a sense of authority, it was used to decorate the funeral temples of the pharaohs, who believed the iris would preserve their power in the next life.
There are iris species names – Iris mesopotamia and I. kashmiriana – that correspond to territories where Alexander the Great’s army marched eastward as far as India in the fourth century B.C. This son of Philip of Macedonia was the first conqueror of Western civilization and as a result was a spearhead of ancient Greek culture. Other irises collected at around the same period reflect places that the Greeks colonized on Turkish shores – Iris trojana, I. cypriana and I. junonia.
The goddess Iris of Greek mythology was a beloved messenger of the gods, especially of Hera, who became Juno to the ancient Romans. She had golden wings and was the goddess of the rainbow. Iris traveled on the rainbow’s arc, carrying commands and messages from the ancient gods to mankind. Iris married the west wind, Zephyrus. To this day, the Greeks plant irises on women’s graves, believing that the goddess Iris will guide the souls of women to their last resting places.
In the Christian world, the fleur-de-lis came to be particularly sacred to the Virgin Mary. A legend tells of a knight who could never remember more than the two words Ave Maria of the Latin prayer that was said to honor the Holy Mother. Night and day, he continued his supplications with these two words. After many years, the old man died and was buried in the chapel yard of a convent. Proof of the acceptance of his brief but sincere prayer by the Virgin Mary came when a plant of fleur-de-lis grew upon his grave. On each flower, golden letters spelled out Ave Maria.
The number three is implicit in the structure of the iris flower and obvious in its three standards and three falls, the six petals of its form. Three has also long been a strong and mystical number, especially in representing the Trinity in Christianity. There were also the three Magi. There are many triple design elements in ecclesiastical art.
The number three represented completion to Pythagoras, the sixth-century B.C. Greek philosopher and mathematician. He thought so because the number three consists of a beginning, middle and end. Three is prominent in Greek mythology, which also offers the three Fates, the three Graces and Cerberus, the three-headed dog. Cerberus lived in the Infernal Regions near the black river Cocytus where Charon served as boatman.
The first mention of the iris in the history of France occurs during the reign of Clovis I, a Frankish king who became the powerful ruler of the Merovingian dynasty that founded the French state, in A.D. 481. It was Clovis who defeated Rome’s last great army in Gaul in 486. He went on to also defeat the Alamanni, the Visigoths and the Burgundians. Within a decade Clovis and the Franks would rule western Germany and the Low Countries of north-western Europe, as well as most of Gaul.
Legend says that Clovis adopted the fleur-de-lis as his symbol in the early 500s when an angel gave him an iris in honor of his becoming a Christian. Clovis was the first Germanic ruler to become a Christian. Up until that point, most of the Germanic kings were either pagans or Aryan heretics. Clovis earned the valuable support of the Catholic clergy and laymen with his conversion to Christianity.
A few hundred years later, in 1147, the fleur-de-lis was first used as an emblem of French monarchy by an ordonnance of Louis le ]eune. Then in 1376, Charles V, known throughout his kingdom of France as Charles the Wise, adopted three fleurs-de-lis for his coat of arms. In addition to being a man of letters who supported both art and literature, Charles V reformed the government that had been torn apart by rivaling factions, built up the army and navy and resumed the Hundred Years’ War with England. Since he was successful in all of these ventures, the iris became recognized throughout Europe as a symbolize of the reign of Charles the Wise.
That is how the iris came to be a symbol in the system of heraldry. At first these symbols-the iris, beasts, fish and birds-were simply helpful ways to tell foe from friend in those medieval days when knights were encased in armor. Like Clovis, the knights chose symbols that represented an event or some quality of character. These heraldic symbols were also used as seals to authenticate documents in times when few could read and write.
Once gunpowder was introduced from China, armor was no longer effective, and the symbols of heraldry then were used in elegant emblems created to represent particular families rather than individual knights. The symbols combined to make coats of arms that were created in formal patterns following certain rules of usage. In 1484, the Herald’s College or College of Arms was established in England by Richard Ill. This institution made the decisions as to who qualified to use and wear coats of arms and also what particulars could be used to make a coat of arms. In the code of usage of the Herald’s College, the fleur-de-lis is the mark that symbolizes a sixth son on the shields of coats of arms.
The fleur-de-lis became common as an artistic symbol. It has shown up as an attractive terminal for the limbs of the cross. Since the fleur-de-lis is an ancient symbol of life, this is appropriate symbolism.
http://www.herbs2000.com/flowers/i_history.htm
As it is a zombie themed-renku, I feel somewhat compelled to choose the bearded iris. Question of link… and, of shift, as it “shuffles the porch”, it seems, there, we are entering a new folio… To “shuffle” is intriging (“to hold the deck” with the beard I presume! has a human connotation going in the zombie way, of course, “what’s going to come, then?”
“Bearded iris” reminds me of my mother at some fair of her childhood with her family wanting to see “the trunk woman”…
However, there has been no mention in the renku so far, that a new city had been built.
“Yellow”, represents quite well the blooming explosion of spring (forsythia, mahonnia), that sudden illuminating spell that invigorates the dulled souls of winter. To some extent, it brings a shift, too, to a nice ending ; however the zombie theme does not appear and,as far as I know about haiku “horror” should be implicit…
The same for “tulips” ; the opposition “flooded/sun”, could be nice in a bloom haiku, however, this is renku… Typically enough, we generally have a true summer week at the end of february, meaning tulip blooming, followed right away by a cold episode with hail (giboulées de mars), it so happens that tulips are “each hail cup filled”, or petals destroyed, cut, and, then, “flooded” has all its meaning…
Bearded iris, I think, are the old perfumed sort of different colours. I had one light rosy smelling pepper, another one (maybe the chocolate one, horribly smelling “dung”!)
“Bearded”, Father Christmas’ beard, which sometimes frightens children
Well, I hope I don’t disappoint too much!
How do you do this Ashley…this choosing of ku’s???
Sigh…but if I must, I go with the card reader…curious as to what the final shuffle will bring…life or death or ever-lasting ambiguity as displayed by the he/she aspect depicted by the anonymous bearded iris.
It’s pretty tough, definitely!
g’day Ashley
I guess we’ll go with the bearded iris; it moves into an unknown direction which seems most appropriate for
any zombie trip.
Peace and Love
Hi Ashley,
I agree – the bearded iris ku has a sense of ‘anything can happen’ – both in this moment, before the end of the renku, and continuing – stretching out into this other world. I like the tension.
I also like Barbara’s wattle for the quiet intensity of the focus.
In mine the image that came to me was of fields covered in what appeared to be blood – and then the sweet release of – hey, not blood but tulips.
For me though, the bearded iris has it.
Best wishes, G.
A damp cloud scuttles
pinching quickly at the moon
hungry for the light
Fantastic, everyone, thank you! And I agree, superb reasons all
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck
(Liam)
This is a wonderful verse and I’m definitely happy to go with it – so here we are, very close to the end now
and so we’re opening up for the ageku which the verse that will bring our renga to a close.
This verse traditionally attempts to ‘wrap up the renga’ and sometimes may echo the hokku (though this is not a requirement) so I’d love to hear from anybody out there – whether you’ve had 4 or more verses selected or not – it’s a free for all!
Just remember to link to the Iris & leap away from the Mist
what visions there far afield
scything sleeper grimly reaps?
g’day all
an offer:
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck (Liam)
tomorrow’s ghouls
are already born…
~~~
peace and love
grey whiskers blinking
ravenous for the dawn
one eye cocked on the trophy
dead man walking screams
or just…
one eyed cocked
dead man walking dreams
one eye cocked
piercing dreams
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck (Liam)
a backward glance -
then the undead lumber on
Hi,
Thanks Betty for page of history!
A very good one, indeed
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck (Liam)
at the new alter
her crystal voice, “I will”
sorry!
at the new alter
her crystalline voice, “I will”
I forget the cry of gulls.
I fold the pearls that were my eyes.
“I will”, her crystalline voice
at the new altar
or
the ravens’ squawks…
tearing away the bride’s lace gown
my calling card
the reaper softly goes
how many sir? to wit
the reaper chose
Each nodding head
Learning to crawl again.
it’s deadheading season
she sighs and lops them all
Excellent, let’s keep them coming for another day, some great offers so far. This is going to be perhaps the most difficult choice.
where the dice loaded?
zombies lifting each brick applauded
oh lord! Janus calls
seeing his opening
Sorry,
“Were”, and not “where”…
All right, I’ve narrowed it down to three. This choice has been tough for different reasons, as many of the submitted verses would be suitable for an ageku, but here I’ve tried to find the 3 that offer: something new, something thematic, some sense of closure, and perhaps an echo back to the hokku.
Then I asked myself that if the verse was thematic, how thematic should it be? Could it echo various points of the renga, not just hokku (or any of the other more high profile verses for that matter)?
More on that in the tomegaki (something of a debrief from the sabaki) but for now, the verses – the three that I believe are most suitable, all of which have strong thematic links to the renga and offer something new:
tomorrow’s ghouls
are already born…
(Barbara A Taylor)
This from Barbara is great because not only would it be effective and quite amusing verse in a non-zombie renku, here it has additional resonance due to our needs. It also brings a sense of both closure and a hint of the future, by using ‘tomorrow’ and ‘already born’ together.
a backward glance -
then the undead lumber on
(Genevieve Osborne)
And here Genevieve’s verse does something similar, while also self-referencing the renku process and the ageku verse position itself, it allows the narrative to continue on with the lumbering undead (love the word choice of ‘lumber’ here). There is also a nice lexical link between ‘shuffles’ and ‘lumber’ in this verse and Liam’s.
each nodding head
learning to crawl again
(grant)
And finally from grant we have more humour, as I imagined disembodied heads struggling along, though the zombies could certainly still have bodies here too. This verse I also find effective in that it too offers a sense of echoing the hokku and having the renga continue after the ageku, with the addition of the word ‘again.’ I also see the strongest links in this verse to Liam’s, with the ‘crawling, shuffling-nodding’ relationship being effective. Here I saw the flowers ‘nodding’ in an ominous breeze. And the idea of ‘crawl’ also links back to the creeping hand earlier, along with the use of the body part ‘head’ which has been a running symbol/image in our renga.
And so I believe grant’s verse must be our ageku!
Well done everyone, and thank you so much for coming along with me , being patient with me, rising to the challenge when our numbers dipped, and for helping create what I feel is a pretty creepy renga!
Ashley
(Stay tuned for the tomegaki, where I’d love to hear your (and any one reading) thoughts on the whole renga and the process.)
g’day Ashley,
A good choice. So we have finished, what a journey! Thank you for guidance on this creepy trip.
Have you got a title for this zombie piece?
Here are some offers:
Zombies In The fields
or
Zombies then start first line in the fields
This would avoid using the word zombie twice in the poem.
of fungus and new rain
a hand creeps
The Smell of Bodies…
~
Peace and Love
Good point, Barbara, will be back with a title soon, leaning toward the traditional method of first line of hokku. Back soon.
Gosh.
I’m all aglow. (I was sure Liam’s deadheading would bump any of mine off!)
Such a lovely field we’ve all planted….
http://blogs.amctv.com/monsterfest/motel-hell-560.jpg
HI,
Grant’s photo reminds me of the”musée des sables mouvants, in Saint Malo. people used to get stuck, enterred
in the “moving sands” in the bay between the town and the Mont Saint-Michel. Not hilarious though, there !
Thanks, Ashley, for this creepy trip, for your choices quite well done), for keeping the inner intensity of the different phases;. I have been surprised to stick at it, zombie literature is unknown here, George Romero to me, too.
It was a good precious time to be with you again in an unknown and very visual (although artificial, virtual) written world !
The collision of those two worlds, zombies and livings is well paralleled. To some extent, the zombie world has more impact ; the title would appear to me as something as, “Zombie days” or just “Zombies hittings, Zombies unchained “… And, the ageku is really good, on the same rythmical rythm as the hokku,…
Just hope to be with you again, if you don’t mind.
Please, where to read the zombie renku from last year, though ? That would be interesting!
I won’t certainly not forget Graham’s “old actress” (with all the light it has in it) and neither the ageku…
Thanks again for being part of the trip !
Claire
Just another word. Grant says: “what a lovely field weve all planted… ” I just hope we planted for better deciphering another world, an almost wordy world of peole anxious to develop the theme!
Hi Claire,
Just realised I forgot to reply to your earlier question
Here is the link to Cordite’s first open renga, though it isn’t zombie themed:
http://cordite.org.au/poetry/haikunaut/haikunaut-island-renga
It’s a great renga and I was thrilled to have a verse selected!
Ashley
Tomegaki
And finally we reach the end of the zombie kasen renga. It’s been a challenge working on a themed renku, for a variety of reasons, but equally, it’s been highly satisfying.
On one hand, we have simplified the process by removing the seasonality of a renga and focused on Link and Shift. On the other, we have set ourselves other boundaries by having a theme, something uncommon in renga, which usually remains (defiantly?) thematically open. And further, having our theme as ‘zombie’ is quite a nice twist, as horror-themed renga seem quite rare.
But from constraint comes creativity. If Ernest Vincent Wright can complete a novel without using the letter ‘e’ then surely we’d have no problems writing a renku on a single theme? And we could. And did.
While movements in the kasen-renku dynamic (jo-ha-kyu or ‘preface, development, intensification and finale’) remain integral to the form, I adhered to this but loosely, instead, having a theme pushed our renku into following a different dynamic. Instead, we have the structure of waves, where the ups and downs of verses are embodied by their alternating between Intensity and Lightness. Or in our case, perhaps, between gore and humour!
I think we saw a renga that strained against its boundaries and is all the better for it. We really stretched the theme ‘zombie’ and were able to encompass a cultural literacy not often used in renku. Renku is quite like film, like a montage of words, where between ‘cuts’ or verses, meaning must be made by the reader. With our renga, quite a number of good verses were ‘left on the cutting room floor’ at the end of the process and this is surely a healthy sign.
So thank you to all of you who contributed, who commented, who read, who stuck around when the numbers dropped, and who held on during a lengthy process (from April to Nov as it turns out) and for making my time enjoyable as leader – though perhaps I agonised over choices overlong, I hope it made the difference when reading the poem, it did for me when selecting verses.
And thank you especially to David and Cordite for hosting the renga and for supporting renga in such an inclusive and collaborative way, which, after all, is the point of renga.
Ashley
In the Fields
zombies in the fields
lifting each cauliflower
decoy brains
(Scott Thouard)
footprints smell
of fungus and new rain
(grant b)
in lust
for the drummer
this silent heart
(Lorin)
out in the dark behind
the disco – waiting
(Genevieve Osborne)
new moon
all that exposed flesh
shivers my skin
(Graham Nunn)
the high-pitch screeches
swallowed by fog
(Barbara A Taylor)
Salome’s dragon
coughs
a wake in progress
(Liam)
prizes at Bar Etiquette
for the best dressed dead
(Lorin)
stop!
on the tailor’s needle
bits of blood
(Vasile Moldovan)
his mouth drawn shut
a head-shrinker’s trophy
(grant b)
dreaming of pearls
the old actress
leaves her teeth out
(Graham Nunn)
signing autographs
sideshow seats glow orange
(David Prater)
Armageddon rules
against the whistle blower
a stiff wind
(Betty Ann Galloway)
midnight, the train departs
for death camps
(Barbara A Taylor)
all by itself
a hand creeps
through the moonlight
(Ashley Capes)
whose coat of arms
on this signet ring?
(Lorin)
nicotine sky
dulling the smell
of bodies
(Graham Nunn)
suffocated by
datura’s tubular bells
(Barbara A Taylor)
here in the garden
worms outnumber
the dead
(Graham Nunn)
reincarnations
wriggling to escape
(Barbara A Taylor)
Cowards!
I cannot believe
they’re gone
(Betty Ann Galloway)
‘scuse me, friend
this spot taken?
(Liam)
our breathing stilled
a city crumbles beyond
the north window
(Wilie)
cutting deeper
a blade fashions sorrow
(Liam)
iron coloured smoke
slicing through the fallen trees
never stops rising
(grant)
foraging wild pigs
squeal on their backs
(Barbara A Taylor)
mudslinging
zombie brides
dirty dancing
(Betty Ann Galloway)
sweet words below the hedge
the earth quakes
(Claire)
maybe it’s the tides
pulling our bodies back up
pulp gleams in moonlight
(grant)
spindle-limbs erected
all along the shore
(Jasmina)
behind closed doors
bony fingers are spinning thread
for shrouds
(Genevieve Osborne)
esprit de corps!
mummies scatter
(Liam)
swinging a baseball bat
I hear that
satisfying crunch
(Ashley Capes)
fresh mounds pop up
in the soupy mist
(Jasmina)
bearded iris
holds and
shuffles the deck
(Liam)
each nodding head
learning to crawl again
(grant)
Again, please feel free to add comments here or at the page with the full text (coming soon-ish)
I am dumbstruck at how well it all flows right to the bittersweet end. It was an amazing experience and I thank you for it and I will miss the anticipation of what happens next.
Congratulations, Ashley and everyone involved. Another successfully concluded Cordite renku.
My apologies for not being able to hang in there for the second half.
Thank you Ashley and David – it was different and amazing. Hope we can all get together again soon.
Best wishes,
Genevieve.
Thanks everyone for your comments and participation! I’m going to clsoe comments on this post now, but if you’d like to see the completed renga in all its glory, check out this post! Thanks again, Haikunauts!