feet pounding
on the pavement
two more miles

heavy breathing
I keep a steady pace

feet pounding
on the pavement
two more miles

the sun's rays
soak my shirt with sweat

feet pounding
on the pavement
two more miles

my papers
fall to the ground

Morgan Vogels
& Renee Sample

This one was my favorite because I wrote the first haiku, and I liked the way that someone added onto it. Although I like to think that I am in somewhat decent shape from going on runs quite often, I still know that my breathing probably gets pretty heavy. I also try to keep a steady pace. Basically, when this person added those two lines onto my haiku, they hit all of the main things that happen when I am running. Morgan

struggling to open
his umbrella
the rain doesn't care

I land up here
on someone's porch

deep in the woods
the fort
up in the trees

only the warblers
peeking at us through their nests

deep in the woods
the fort
up in the trees

a small lantern
the center piece

this rain
pulling me down
as it falls

I turn over
and go back to sleep

Doug Sherrill
& Matthew Vangunten

I like this Tan-renga because it changed my attitude towards the first part for the better. The original haiku gave me a dreary impression, with a negative and dark connotation presented by the rain and being pulled down. The second two lines give the whole work more of a relaxing mood, and the first three lines give more of an impression of being soothing. Jordan

I like this tan-renga because it shows someone with lots of distractions in their life. The rain symbolizes all their problems and frustrations, and it is bringing them down. However, when times are tough, the person is able not let his problems get the best of him and do whatever needs to be done. I've heard this type of advice many times in my life and it is something that I always try to live my life by. Being able to stay focused on your tasks, no matter what is going on in your life, is something that in essential in order be able to successful. Ryan

old dog snores
curled 
at the foot of the bed

I turn off the bedside lamp—
darkness

old dog snores
curled
at the foot of the bed

I don't think I've ever
felt so cold

Anna Harmon
& Alexsenia Rala

This haiku seems very sabi to me. In this poem I picture an old lonely man looking at his dog before he goes to sleep. This dog has been his best friend since his wife passed away. They have spent so long together that he can look at Max and they mutually understand each other. As he turns off the lights, Henry says his prayers quietly and sleeps soundly, for the last time. Alyssa

the couch opens up
I don't move
away from you

talking without words
a quiet smile

Ryan Sikora
& Jordan Comish

I really like this haiku because it is really romantic, innocent, and playful -- all at the same time. I like how the capping goes more in depth on how important the body language was in the first part of the tan-renga. Renee

autumn night
the moon
pushes through

a prayer for direction
looking to the clouds

old man
the only visitor
in the cemetery

stepped on my bed
I'm used to it

Owen Pulver
& Douglas Sherrill

I thought the cap to this haiku was very clever. The original haiku was very sad and lonely but the addition of the cap made it lonely in a funny way. Instead of feeling bad for the elderly man, the reader can't help but chuckle at the misfortune of the dead, being stepped on continuously. It is still somewhat sad to see how little care we have for those are gone, but the old man reassures that some dead are still thought about. Savannah

closing the book
after the last chapter
my only friends, the characters

winds flips through my hair
and whispers its secrets

hot summer day
grilling
by the pool

the glass of lemonade
sweating in my hand

Matthew Vangunten
& Anna Harmon

I like this link because it reminds me of summers at my house. My family has a pool, so in the summer we will always have friends and family over for pool parties. My dad will grill burgers, bratwursts, and hot dogs. My mom will make big pitchers of iced tea and lemonade and will make a big bowl of potato salad. The kids will run around the pool, while my dog jumps in to retrieve a ball. This link reminds me of summer. Owen

cold winter night—
huddled outside without the
fire of friendship

so easy to be alone
in a crowd of people

Jordan Comish
& Savannah Riestenberg

I liked this tan-renga because it was able to bring a lonely feeling even though the haiku put the reader in a setting filled with people. It is almost as though the person is fighting something by themselves but nobody notices or cares to bring it up. I think that the link fits perfectly with the original haiku and it strengthens it. Matthew

This one is my favorite because it really hits on how lonely a person can be. Even if they are surrounded by people, one can feel lonely because they feel like they don't belong or that no one cares. It's important to remember that there is always someone out there who cares about you. Alexsenia

mind blank
cool water rushes past
gliding breaststroke

lungs bursting
I touch the wall

one path in the trees
I look down
at my own two feet

they begin to move—
I look confidently ahead

one path in the trees
I look down
at my own two feet

to see them drowning
in dark mud

Alyssa Becker
& Renee Sample

I like this pairing or continuation a lot. The original haiku could be
optimistic or pessimistic depending on how you choose to read it. But the second phrase determines the tone of the work altogether. I love how descriptive both are, the single path, the dark mud. In the first three lines I feel like the author is about to embark on some sort of journey whether literal or figuratively and he is completely on his own. Then the fourth and fifth line hit and a darkness falls over the work as he is already drowning in all he must deal with by himself. I think this is quite relatable to most people today at some point in their lives. Shannon

I simply love the imagery of this one. I can see the cold dark mud seeping between my toes. the feeling of it gives me chills, but it's fine, you know it's nothing bad. in fact, once you stop sinking, the pressure feels kind of nice, and you sit there peacefully for a moment. Doug

old, creaky basement
folding my laundry
in silence

leaky pipes form
a puddle on the floor

Christmas dinner
more than enough
to go around this year

an empty seat
saved for grandpa

late car ride
with a friend
peaceful silence

stars twinkle
as they read our minds

Caroline Lodovisi
& Ryan Sikora 

I liked this tan-renga the most out of the list.  I wrote the original haiku, and I love what the other author did with the cap on the end of the haiku.  When writing the haiku, I imagined a pleasant, intimate car ride with an old friend.  Adding the image of the twinkling stars lends to the setting, and also adds a beautiful ambience to the nature of the haiku. Caroline

light through the window
waking the children
first fall of snow

the youngest
makes a snow angel

morning mist
blending with
beads of sweat

kicking up dust
on the little league field

on top of the red barn
a cock crows
at the rising sun

collecting fresh eggs
for breakfast

fresh snow
broken only
by a single footprint

early Christmas morning
children still asleep