Global Haiku Tradition • Tan-Renga 2017

 


burnt pie
dry turkey
at least we're together

though I'd rather the pie
not be burnt

by Lucas Chatterton & Benjamin Maynard

burnt pie
dry turkey
at least we’re together

bills left unpaid
the power shuts off

by Lucas Chatterton & Georgia Martindale

I liked this tan-renga because in the first three lines it makes it seem as if the person is just trying to look on the bright side of everything and just be happy that they are together with their family. Then all of a sudden the power shuts off because the bills weren't paid and they were left to eat in the dark. At this point I imagine that it was hard to stay upbeat and look on the positive side of things as their power was just shut off. I imagine a family that is happy to be together becomes upset all of a sudden when they find out they have to eat in the dark. Overall, I just really liked this tan-renga. Ben


day at the zoo
monkeys plotting
against the visiters

ammunition in hand
ready, aim, fire!

by Alex Herrera

What I like about this tan renga is the continuation that the second author had with the original haiku. I like how the perspective changes from an overall view of the monkeys plotting their plan, to the actual thoughts of a monkey participating it. I just automatically go into the monkey’s mind and I feel like I now know what they exactly are planning to do against the visitors. I thought it was fun and had a humorous tone to it. Kalli


First thanksgiving in years
the family asks
“Have you found a new girl yet?”

Going back to that one night
He wasn’t ready.

by Alex Pratt & Mia Klek


a goldfish floats
belly up
golden scales sparkling

the little baby goldfish
gives him a nudge

by Georgia Martindale & Kalli Farmer


he opens his eyes
and looks at everyone
while they say grace

wondering when
he can stuff his face

by Trey DeLuna & Benjamin Maynard


the hopeful dog
lurks
in the unattended kitchen

Grandpa Joe limps in
                  then out

by Maya Dougherty & Austin Taylor

the hopeful dog
lurks
in the unattended kitchen

he spots the steaming bacon
and decides to risk it all

by Maya Dougherty & Georgia Martindale

I really liked the added lines to this haiku, because they add an element of humor. Before, the original haiku was more observational, and didn’t comment on the thoughts of the dog. The added lines suggest that the dog loves bacon, and makes the conscious decision to go for it and risk getting in trouble. I also like the rhythm of the two lines. I think they go well with the original haiku. Lane


In the corner
Of my eye
My childhood skips by

A quick blink
It's gone from sight

by Mia Klek & Alex Pratt

I enjoyed this Tan-Renga because it was something that I think a lot of people could relate to. I think that this not only applies to childhood like in the haiku, but to all ages. It seems like time flies by in the blink of an eye and thats why I liked this Tan-Renga. Alex P.


key to the gate
the spoken word
also a deadbolt

little boys
"no girls allowed" club

by Alex Herrera & Lucas Chatterton


looking at the shelf
of board games—
he's all alone

back to solitaire
the game of the lonely

by Alex Pratt & Lucas Chatterton


lying
in a twin size bed
tissues on the nightstand

standing
with no hand to intertwine in mine

by Trey DeLuna & Mia Klek

This was my favorite tan-renga. I like to think of it as the haiku and the link are the two different perspectives of the broken relationship. One person is probably handling the break up very badly, unable to do anything but lay in bed and cry. The other person is trying hard to keep themselves distracted from it by going about their lives as usual, but they keep noticing little things that are missing now, like having their hand to hold. I also like the fact that both perspectives are sad, rather than just one person being sad and the other being perfectly okay. It makes me think that they broke up because of something circumstantial, rather than lost feelings, which in some ways is even sadder. Maya


Middle of my prayer
I hear the wind whistle
Through the trees

Just the answer
I was hoping for

by Kalli Farmer & Alex Pratt

This is my favorite tan renga because it is hopeful. This chain fits together very well. I like how it starts in the haiku by making an observation and the chain continues to explain what the person is thinking when this happens. I also enjoyed this because I have been performing in vespers this week and like this chain, it is helping me remember to appreciate life and to have hope. Georgia

This way my favorite Tan-Renga because I just really relate to the content. I have never been super religious, but I have still do believe. Sometimes I don't deal well with the indirectness of  how it all works and I always have a lot of questions. I always want more answers than something like that allows, so if I did find myself praying, I'd be looking for signs or something as a type of signal and I like that about this poem. Lucas


midnight quietness
the dog’s breathing
gets heavy

the black paw twitches
chasing bunnies in his dreams

by Kalli Farmer & Maya Dougherty

 

 

 

 

 


old brick sidewalk
through the cracks
flowering weeds

beating the odds
can't keep me down

by Lucas Chatterton

old brick sidewalk
through the cracks
flowering weeds

old childhood memories
come flooding back

by Lucas Chatterton & Benjamin Maynard


playground
the caterpillar
takes his turn down the slide

little kids giggle
behind his back

by Kalli Farmer & Austin Taylor

playground
the caterpillar
takes his turn on the slide

a frog
watching carefully at the end

by Kalli Farmer & Alex Herrera

I really like this tan-renga from Kalli and Alex. I like how the perspectives of both parts are animals. I think the haiku is kind of cute and would be good for a little kids. I can imagine an innocent caterpillar going down a slide that is unaware of the patient frog at the end. The tan renga is simple and enjoyable to read. Austin

I liked this tan renga because it was so cute and it complements the haiku so well. I imagine a little frog sitting at the end of the blue slide, his eyes bulging. He is waiting to eat the little caterpillar that is sliding down so runs his long tongue across his lips and tries to get in position. I like how he writes that it is watching carefully, like it needs to get this exactly right or the little caterpillar will get away from him. Trey


they gossip and laugh
after the last
cousin leaves

it's not halloween,
but I see masks

by Trey DeLuna & Lane Casper

I like the progression from the original three lines to the following two because the first one eludes to the backstabbing that is happening, while the second come right out and call the people out for their fakeness. I like that they are clearly written by two people, one person wants to be subtle and the other author wants to come right out and say it. Maddy


waterpark in winter
the wind whistles through
the empty slides

angels in the snow
my favorite one above me

by Lane Casper & Mia Klek


whip cream tower
slowly melting on the
warm pumpkin pie

mother pours the apple cider
into the crystal glasses

by Austin Taylor & Georgia Martindale


scratching her head
the light of her laptop
illuminates her face

she makes shadow puppets
on the wall behind her

by Madeline Delano & Kalli Farmer

 


sea shells
by the sea shore
chilly Thanksgiving breeze

we laugh
already blaring Christmas music

by Mackenzie Martin


skipping stones
counting the ripples
out loud

I throw another
to avoid the end

by Maya Dougherty & Lane Casper

I really like this one because of where the second half of the haiku takes the first half. The first three lines has been one of my favorites since the matching contest. In this haiku, I always thought of it as a peaceful day, with someone trying to take their mind off of all the chaos going on in the outside world. I think of this person by themselves and they are counting the ripples out loud as a way of calming him or herself down. But when the next two lines are introduced, it takes my breath away thinking that this person is trying to stop or delay time for some reasons. All of these stories pop into my head on what this person could be going through. Maybe this person stopped by here on his or her way to meet up with their significant other and she anticipates a break up. Or maybe this person has a parental figure that they are taking a break from being with at the hospital, trying to make peace with saying their final goodbyes soon. It’s a very well written collaboration for sure. Mia


slow afternoon
they walk through the park
bread for the pigeons

crumbs on the ground
ants take the leftovers

by Mackenzie Martin & Alex Herrera

slow afternoon
they walk through the park
bread for the pigeons

missing grandma by his side
He sprinkles a little more

by Mackenzie Martin & Austin Taylor

slow afternoon
they walk through the park
bread for the pigeons

a young girl murmurs
“I want to find a love like that”

by Mackenzie Martin & Maya Dougherty

I liked this haiku to begin with, because I wrote the first half. But what I really like was where Maya ended up taking my haiku. She took it in an entirely different direction than I imagined, which was two people walking through the park who are truly in love. It was cute; and furthermore, I liked how she italicized her two lines and made a clear distinction between hers and mine. Mackenzie


taking a stroll
in the distance
sleigh bells

Santa exclaims
he can't fit down the chimney

by Madeline Delano & Mackenzie Martin


on a walk
wishing I had someone
to walk with

alone again
just me and my shadow

by Benjamin Maynard & Lucas Chatterton


Thanksgiving prayer
Reminds me
He's not here

That doesn't mean
He's not with us

by Kalli Farmer & Alex Pratt


thinking of how far
                we've come
                old running shoes

the shoe laces
hold on by a thread

by Austin Taylor & Kalli Farmer

thinking of how far
                we've come
                old running shoes

thumbs high in the air
for a ride back

by Austin Taylor & Mackenzie Martin

thinking of how far
                we've come
                old running shoes

learning to let go
of the miles of memories

by Austin Taylor & Lane Casper

thinking of how far
                we've come
                old running shoes

i pack them up in storage
unable to throw them away

by Austin Taylor & Maya Dougherty


© 2017, Randy Brooks • Millikin University • All rights returned to authors upon publication.