autumn cemetery
what would the dead give to hear
leaves crumbling under feet?
from the hilltop, through bare trees
towers gleam in evening sun
scarecrow
the chirrup of the squirrel's
silhouette
the rag-man's shadow
echo of an old lover
jasmine incense
in a frost of moonlight
her discarded thong
cold, the smell of winter:
first snowflakes sparkle in the air
Public Square:
privatized
and empty
- Next verse: continued on part 2
Background info:
Credits:
ReplyDeleteFirst stanza: Ray McNiece
Second stanza: Geoffrey A. Landis
Third stanza: Joshua Gage
red and gold mottled leaves
ReplyDeletefalling past scenes
of someone laying a wreath
Hi, Beverly!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the verse.
Hold on to it-- as the renku host, I'm going to not incorporate it yet, for a couple of reasons.
First, I made a mistake when I first posted-- verse 4 is actually no season, not autumn (my bad). But, second: the verses alternate 3-line and two-line, and this is the 2-line verse.
--however, autumn will cycle back...
the rag-man's shadow
ReplyDeleteecho of an old lover
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletejasmine incense
ReplyDeletein a frost of moonlight
her discarded thong
As a quick note, the next (3-line) staza completes the opening section of the renga ("jo"). Remember I said that a poet isn't allowed to contribute two stanzas in a row, except for a few complicated exceptions?
ReplyDeleteWell, this is one of those exceptions: the poet who writes the next line can also start the next section, by contributing the two lines that follow (either continuing in winter, or with no season-- your choice)
cold, the smell of winter:
ReplyDeletefirst snowflakes sparkle in the air
Public Square:
ReplyDeleteprivatized
and empty
Statues of soldiers--
ReplyDeletetheir cast iron eyes downcast--
retreat from my love.