Port Townsend October Moon ............................by Leticia Huber
It’s never too late…In case you want to join the Renku poem, let us up-date you! : )
Please share Christopher Herold’s Renku e-mail for this month:
Dear Poet Friends,
We had a wonderful renku session on Thursday at Doris’s house. The discussions about candidate stanzas was outstanding. I feel that our understanding has increased dramatically of late. We’ve come a long way since the early days of our meetings, just over a year and a half ago. A big thank you to you, Doris, for being our hostess yet again. You’re so good at it!
I’d like to suggest that we meet again on Thursday, March 25. I’m not sure where yet, although here at my house is always an option. If any of you would like to host, please let me know. It’s nice to pass around the pleasure. We may even finish our renku at the next meeting. Exciting!
And now, here is the newly updated work. As always, I’ll paste a word copy here with some guidelines for the next stanza (#32). After that, I’ll attach the three template files (master, mandalic universe, and links). Remember, you can compose one or two candidates for #32 and bring them with you to the March party.
Enjoy!
Christopher
* * * * *
.
.
A SKEIN OF OLD YARN
.
(an autumn kasen renku)
begun on August 20 at the Huber Inn
Sabaki: Christopher Herold
Jay Haskins, Leticia Huber, Karma Tenzing Wangchuk, Carmi Soifer, Bethel, Jackie Barr, Alison Hedlund, Carol O’Dell, Doris Thurston, Tanya McDonald
.
1 autumn (Jay)
.
morning light
dragonflies barely ripple
the lagoon
.
2 autumn moon (Leticia)
.
does this warmth
come from you, O moon?
.
3 autumn (Tenzing)
.
the scarecrow’s
lost a button or two
off his coat
.
4 No Season (Carmi)
.
my neighbor weaves
a skein of old yarn
.
5 winter (Bethel)
.
in his cold hut
the hermit prepares
rosehip tea (Bethel)
.
6 winter (Jackie)
.
a rare visitor leaves
footprints in the snow
.
7 No Season (Alison)
.
just inside the door
lies an envelope
with a foreign stamp
.
8 No Season (Jay)
.
bits of paper protrude
from the eagle’s nest
.
9 Love (Jackie)
.
her new bikini
causes his eyes to bug out
and his heart to flutter
.
10 love (Jackie)
.
the scent of perfume
wafts from the dryer
.
11 love (Carol)
.
as I read my book
I hear her sing a lullaby
to our daughter
.
12 No Season (Jay)
.
if clouds could speak
these would whisper
.
13 summer moon (Doris)
.
summer moon
swallowed
by the mountain
.
14 summer (Tanya)
.
bats begin to swoop
all around the camp
.
15 No Season (Carol)
.
three girls
race for the white horse
on the carousel
.
16 No Season (Tenzing)
.
somebody’s gone and left
the damn milk out to spoil
.
17 Spring Blossom (Doris)
.
cherry blossoms
tease my hand
into the branches
.
18 spring (Jay)
.
the monthly poker game
still active during lent
.
19 spring (Carmi)
.
thistledown
has settled to the bottom
of the beer mug
.
20 No Season (Christopher)
.
powerful gusts of wind
from the Columbia Gorge
.
21 love (Tenzing)
.
a paper airplane
with a love note on it
hits the teacher
.
22 love (Carol)
.
traveling to the reunion
he hopes to see her
.
23 love (Jay)
.
after fifty years
she still tries to change
his posture
.
24 winter (Jackie)
.
a snowman tilts
under the pale sun
.
25 winter (Doris)
.
there’s a blue bottle
inside my medicine cabinet
labeled “Winter Dreams”
.
26 No Season (Jay)
.
the new kid is Aladdin
in the school play
.
27 No Season (Christopher)
.
suicide bomber
apprehended just in time
at the ticket booth
.
28 No Season (Doris)
.
from beyond the garden wall
a raven calls out it’s warning
.
29 autumn moon (Carmi)
.
steam from our cider
blurs the gibbous moon
in the window
.
30 autumn (Tenzing)
.
she comes out of the fog
with a train of seaweed
.
31 autumn (Jackie)
.
dried fish
paid for with Chinese coins
found on the beach
32 No Season
.
This stanza is to be a two-liner with no reference to a season. It must not contain any negative or charged subject matter (sickness, death, money, politics, religious motifs, danger, depression . . .). Also, remember that no subject matter in the hokku can be present in any other verse.
So, the first things to do are to check the mandalic universe for topics we haven’t used as yet and could work into the tapestry in an upbeat way. Then decide upon the way you’d like to link to stanza #31. Plenty of possibilities for linking there. #32 could take place either inside or outside. This verse could be peopled if you wish. The linking can be rather close as compared to the middle of the renku where shifting is emphasized and the linkage is more tenuous. From this point on we want readers to have little difficulty recognizing the connections between stanzas.
.
.
Blog post proudly presented by Huber’s INN Port Townsend… www.StayInHubersINN.com
…Your “Green” Bed and Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington. We love serving all people, coming to the scenic Opympic Peninsula. Tourists, neighbors, visitors, or Winter Olympiads enthusiasts… Centrum patrons,, Ft. Worden friends, gourmets “foodies”, vegetarians, vegan eaters, hikers,sailors,divers, canoers,fisher people, When it comes to fun , vacations and festivals, we are Port Townsend is The Leader… come and EnjoyPT!
Here, Poetess Marjory reads her ALWAYS fascinating poetry:
Poetess Marjory reading her poetry at "Lehani's Cafe", in Port Townsend...
At the same reading, Poetess Leticia ( “I”…ha-ha-ha! ) explores “new” forms in her poetry -for sheer “kicks” -and deep enjoyment!- C if it pleases Ü 2!…: )
Port Townsend opened its warm literary arms wide, to embrace the art -and the person- of David Huerta. One of Mexico’s best poets presently.
The lovely Wheeler Theater, in the Fort Worden park, was full and radiant with incomparable local poetical talents -particularly thrilled knowing that Huerta’s laureated Poetry would be (excellently) translated into English by Mark Schafer.
Here we see them both: Poet and Translator after the celebrated event…
Mexican Poet David Huerta & Mark Schafer, Poetry Translator.
Mexican Poet David Huerta & Mark Schafer, Poetry Translator.
When David with a joyful open heart was signing his name for many a Port Townsend youth on his “Before Saying Any of the Great Words” ISBN-978-1-55659-287-4 book -published by the renowned Port Townsend’s Copper Canyon Press -presenter of the very special event…
And to up-date you, this is the latest I’ve received from Renku Sabaki: Christopher Herold today…Enjoy!…and remember you are always invited to participate in the fun!
Just e-mail leticiainpt@gmail.com…Will gladly get you in contact with Christopher…; )
Dear Poets,
Yesterday we had a delightful renku party and managed to pen four new stanzas.
Doris has volunteered her home as the site of our next party. I’ve spoken with her and the date that works for the two of us, at least, is THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 and the time will be as it was this time, from 1:00 to 4:30.
And now, here is our updated renku, A Skein of Old Yarn. I’ve given some guidelines at the bottom for the upcoming stanza (#28). And, as usual, I’ve attached the three templates below as well. Enjoy!
And please let me know in advance if you’ll be able to party with us on the 18th of February.
In the spirit of communal creativity,
Christopher
* * * * *
A SKEIN OF OLD YARN
(an autumn kasen renku begun on August 20 at the Huber Inn)
Sabaki: Christopher Herold
.
Poets so far: Jay Haskins, Leticia Huber, Karma Tenzing Wangchuk, Carmi Soifer, Bethel, Jackie Barr, Alison Hedlund, Carol O’Dell, Doris Thurston, Tanya McDonald
.
1 autumn (Jay)
.
morning light
dragonflies barely ripple
the lagoon
.
2 autumn moon (Leticia)
.
does this warmth
come from you, O moon?
.
3 autumn (Tenzing)
.
the scarecrow’s
lost a button or two
off his coat
.
4 No Season (Carmi)
.
my neighbor weaves
a skein of old yarn
.
5 winter (Bethel)
.
in his cold hut
the hermit prepares
rosehips for tea (Bethel)
.
6 winter (Jackie)
.
a rare visitor leaves
footprints in the snow
.
7 No Season (Alison)
.
just inside the door
lies an envelope
with a foreign stamp
.
8 No Season (Jay)
.
bits of paper protrude
from the eagle’s nest
.
9 Love (Jackie)
.
her new bikini
causes his eyes to bug out
and his heart to flutter
.
10 love (Jackie)
.
the scent of perfume
wafts from the drye
.
11 love (Carol)
.
as I read my book
I hear her sing a lullaby
to our daughter
.
12 No Season (Jay)
.
if clouds could speak
these would whisper
.
13 summer moon (Doris)
.
summer moon
swallowed
by the mountain
.
14 summer (Tanya)
.
bats begin to swoop
all around the camp
.
15 No Season (Carol)
.
three girls
race for the white horse
on the carousel
.
16 No Season (Ten
zing)
.
somebody’s gone and left
the damn milk out to spoil
.
17 Spring Blossom (Doris)
.
Cherry blossoms
tease my hand
into the branches
.
18 spring (Jay)
.
the monthly poker game
still active during lent
.
19 spring (Carmi)
.
thistledown
has settled to the bottom
of the beer mug
.
20 No Season (Christopher)
.
powerful gusts of wind
from the Columbia Gorge
.
21 love (Tenzing)
.
a paper airplane
with a love note on it
hits the teacher
.
22 love (Carol)
.
traveling to the reunion
the hopes to see her
.
23 love (Jay)
.
after fifty years
she still tries to change
his posture
.
24 winter (Jackie)
.
a snowman tilts
under the pale sun
.
25 winter (Doris)
.
there’s a blue bottle
inside my medicine cabinet
labeled “Winter Dreams”
.
26 No Season (Jay)
.
the new kid is Aladdin
in the school play
.
27 No Season (Christopher)
.
a suicide bomber
apprehended just in time
at the ticket booth
.
28 No Season
.
This is to be a two-liner without a seasonal reference. It be seen to be inside, outside, or possible in both places. We haven’t had an olfactory or gustatory stanza in a while so it might be nice to try to go there. Also, I think this verse and the one that follows it ought to exclude humanity or at least put it way into the background. A present particple verb or gerund is okay again since the last one came in #22. Check your mandalic universe for unused topics. REMEMBER TO LINK TO #27 BUT NOT TO #26 OR THE HOKKU. When you come to the next meeting, bring one or two candidates if you like, or not–up to you.
.
Blog post proudly presented by Huber’s INN Port Townsend… www.StayInHubersINN.com
…Your “Green” Bed and Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington. We love serving all people, coming to the scenic Opympic Peninsula. Tourists, neighbors, visitors, or Winter Olympiads enthusiasts… Centrum patrons,, Ft. Worden friends, gourmets “foodies”, vegetarians, vegan eaters, hikers,sailors,divers, canoers,fisher people, When it comes to fun , vacations and festivals, we are Port Townsend is The Leader… come and EnjoyPT!
Nationally recognized Seattle/Olympia rapper, Macklemore, will be performing at the American Legion Hall, in PortTownsend…This Saturday, December 19th, 2009…
Local rapper R.O.B. (aka Robert Komishane) will open-show for him.
Just ‘member doors open at 8:00 P.M..
Concert starts at 9:00.
Tickets are $6.00, and available at:
The Food Co-Op,
Quimper Sound,
Crossroads Music,
The Boiler Room and at the door.
Blog post proudly presented by Huber’s INN Port Townsend… www.StayInHubersINN.com
…Your “Green” Bed and Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington. We love serving all people, coming to the scenic Opympic Peninsula. Tourists, neighbors, visitors, or Winter Olympiads enthusiasts… Centrum patrons,, Ft. Worden friends, gourmets “foodies”, vegetarians, vegan eaters, hikers,sailors,divers, canoers,fisher people, When it comes to fun , vacations and festivals, we are Port Townsend is The Leader… come and EnjoyPT!
A Skein of Old Yarn ! is the title of the present Renku poem being created by the Port Townsend Renku group… Soooo, under the Master’s serene presence, enjoy the magic of “variety in images -without narrative” -as I think to have heard Christopher say… : )
1 autumn (Jay)
.
morning light
dragonflies barely ripple
the lagoon
.
2 autumn moon (Leticia)
.
does this warmth
come from you, O moon?
.
3 autumn (Tenzing)
.
the scarecrow’s
lost a button or two
off his coat
.
4 No Season (Carmi)
.
my neighbor weaves
a skein of old yarn
.
5 winter (Bethel)
.
in his cold hut
the hermit prepares
.
rosehip tea (Bethel)
.
6 winter (Jackie)
a rare visitor leaves
footprints in the snow
.
7 No Season (Alison)
.
just inside the door
lies an envelope
with a foreign stamp
.
8 No Season (Jay)
.
bits of paper protrude
from the eagle’s nest
.
9 Love (Jackie)
.
her new bikini
causes his eyes to bug out
and his heart to flutter
.
10 love (Jackie)
.
the scent of perfume
wafts from the dryer
.
11 love (Carol)
.
as I read my book
I hear her sing a lullaby
to our daughter
.
12 No Season (Jay)
.
if clouds could speak
these would whisper
.
13 summer moon (Doris)
.
summer moon
swallowed
by the mountain
.
14 summer (Tanya)
.
bats begin to swoop
all around the camp
.
15 No Season (Carol)
.
three girls
race for the white horse
on the carousel
.
16 No Season (Tenzing)
.
somebody’s gone and left
the damn milk out to spoil
.
17 Spring Blossom (Doris)
.
cherry blossoms
tease my hand
into the branches
.
18 spring (Jay)
.
the monthly poker game
still active during lent
.
This three-line stanza needs to have a spring reference that is either applicable to the entire season or points to a time AFTER Lent, sometime in April. “Easter” wouldn’t be a good reference since it’s thematically too close to “lent.” #19 can take place eside or outside. It should link in some way to #18 but NOT to #17, nor to the hokku. No personal pronouns please. It would be a good idea to have a scene in which humanity is either not present or barely so. Check your mandalic universe for likely topics. If you have a saijiki (seasnal almanac), that’s the best place to search for late-spring ideas. Here’s the link to the late Bill Higginson’s on-line saijiki:
) explores “new” forms in her poetry -for sheer “kicks” -and deep enjoyment!- C if it pleases Ü 2!…: )
