just the four of them
talking
and laughing

Jill Guffey

just the four of them
talking
and laughing
remembering jokes told
as children

just the four of them
talking
and laughing
over dinner we suddenly remember
the faces of those we'd forgotten

just the four of them
talking
and laughing
no one remembers
the abortion

Just the four of them
Talking
And laughing
About what is
To be kept between them

Jill Guffey & Matt Tierney

•••

just the four of them
talking
and laughing

    childhood memories
    things remembered

the photo album
captured snapshots of life
in black and white

    amidst words of anger
    the truth is found

love letters
yellowed with age
found hidden in the drawer

    forgotten love
    once again reborn

•••

sitting together
just the four of them
talking and laughing
over an evening meal

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write

Matt Tierney

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
then i realize
i have nothing

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
"Thirteen ways of looking at writer's block"
I generate two

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
defeated, I give up
and go to bed

My fingers
Tapping the computer
What to write
Finally a thought
Never mind

my fingers not typing but…
tapping the computer
what to write, lost in memory

my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
my mind wanders
from the assignment

nothing in mind
my fingers
tapping the computer
what to write
I write this...

early summer morning
diamond fields
covered with children

Chris Merritt

early summer morning
diamond fields
covered with children
tanned sweaty skin
from playful exercise

early summer morning
diamond fields
covered with children
orange dust
lingers in the air

Chris Merritt & Sarah Bassill

This haiku reminds me of my little league team. I started at playing softball when I was in kindergarten, and the team was so big we had to “share” our positions in the field during practice. So, we’d have twice as many girls as we’re supposed to (if not more) on the field to make sure everyone got to practice their position and nobody got left out. Also, with that many girls on a dry, dirt field, the dust never settled; the air over the field was one huge dust cloud. Angie

clouds hide the moon . . .
looking at nothing, the answer
I was looking for

David Koester

clouds hide the moon . . .
looking at nothing, the answer
I was looking for
gray summer night
clouds hide the moon…
nothing illuminated

sitting and watching
the night sky
clouds hide the moon . . .
looking at nothing, the answer
I was looking for

David Koester & group

First our group picked this Tan-Renga because there was something about it that stuck out in our minds. We were all snapping in class while we were in our groups, there is a great mood and setting that this Tan-Renga gives. We all thought about a person, it could be you or not, but someone is just sitting there lost in their own world. They are looking for an answer to something but they just don’t know what it is. And then in the simplest of times you look up and BAM, there it is. The answer you have been searching so hard for just leaps out at you and hits you like a ton a bricks. But the thing is that it is when you stopped thinking and just forgot about everything, when you looked up to watch the night sky is when you found the answer that was right in front of your face. Sometimes you need to take a step back and take a different look at it to see what you are looking for.

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive

David Meyer

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
the other
not moving

Two deer
On the shoulder
One alive
The other mourning
The loss of a loved one

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
headlights
click off

David Meyer & Nicole Silverman

blue truck
brakes lock
two deer
on the shoulder
one alive

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
the onther crossed
in front of me

one car
two deer
on the shoulder
one alive
miles from home

•••

two deer
on the shoulder
one alive

     alone in the woods
     petrified

wood washed ashore
relics
histories unknown

     we uncover the past
     pieces of a puzzle

on the coffee table
for days
untouched

     skin grows cold
     longing for something

David Meyer & Jennifer Godwin

summer night
under the stars
we sleep.

Ashley Knezevich

summer night
under the stars
we sleep.
side by side
marshmallows we eat

summer night
under the stars
we sleep
ants creeping
onto our blanket terrain

summer night
under the stars
we sleep
legs dangling from the tailgate
we wish on a shooting star

summer night
under the stars
we sleep.
woke by
police

holding her
in the warm
summer night
under the stars
we sleep

soft quiet
summer night
under the stars
we sleep
the whole night

summer night
under the stars
we sleep
two mosquitoes
bite us

Ashley Knezevich & Brooke DeWall

My group and I choose this Tan-Renga because we all liked it the most. I choose to cap this haiku because I thought it was fun. It reminds me of camping, and that is one of my favorite things to do. The one bad thing though is that some times mosquitoes some how get into the tent and spend the whole night biting everyone. I liked this tan-renga because it is fun and it gives off a nice summer feeling! Brooke

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat

Nick McLenighan

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat
sock fuzz
added to the cat's next hairball

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat
purring
glistens in the light

bright dawn beams—
licking between her toes
the black cat
silently
i lace my shoes

Nick McLenighan & Mike Knowles

We did not discuss this hokku and cap in class at all, but I love the initial, fresh image I get from it. In the hokku, I can see a cat bathing (both literally and figuratively) in the sunlight early in the morning. The sun warms her up as she licks herself clean. The cap that is added on the end maintains the same feelings of calm and quiet; it also manages to give the reader a perspective other than that of the cat. The work as a whole seems to give meaning to the tedious routines that one does every day. I really enjoyed this hokku/cap, great job! Laura

underwater
pretending I'm a mermaid

                Katie Burke

underwater
pretending I’m a mermaid
reality set in
gasping for air

underwater
pretending I’m a mermaid
I hold
my breath for ten
seconds

underwater
pretending I'm a mermaid
childhood fantasies
lose their lustre
grade school ends

underwater
pretending I'm a mermaid
ocean calm
skipping
to avoid the jellyfish

underwater
pretending i'm a mermaid
goggles
i see sunlight
shimmer on tin pod floor

underwater
pretending
I'm a mermaid
escaping the reality
that he is gone

underwater
adventure awaits
swimming about
pretending I'm a mermaid

too lazy to climb stairs
cheese and crackers
ride the elevator

Molly Burns

too lazy to climb the stairs
cheese and crackers
ride the elevator
fat kid
huffing out the stairwell

too lazy to climb the stairs
cheese and crackers
ride the dumbwaiter
fat kid
huffing up the stairwell

Molly Burns & Mike Knowles

My group talked about this tan-renga because we thought it was interesting that someone had an elevator inside their house. As we began to discuss it more, I thought that perhaps the elevator was really a dumbwaiter, so I replaced the word and imagined a fat kid putting his cheese and crackers inside the dumbwaiter as he struggled up the stairs. My group thought that the only reason the kid was left huffing up the stairs was because the dumbwaiter was too small for him to fit, otherwise he would ride up along with his cheese and crackers. I laughed a lot at this tan-renga and it was probably one of my favorites. It makes me wonder what the real author had in mind when she wrote the haiku. Sarah

Too lazy to climb stairs
Cheese and crackers
Ride the elevator
Know wonder I gain
All this the weight

I didn't care for either of the responses to my cheese and crackers haiku...apparently the fact that we were sending food up and down the elevator rather than using the elevator to get cheese and crackers wasn't clear enough. Our group managed to generate what we felt was a more appropriate capping verse:

too lazy to walk
cheese and crackers
ride the empty elevator
back and forth
between
friends

I think this captures the more lighthearted mood that I was aiming for! Molly

cup of flour
spills on the tiling

Rachel Walker

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
the dog scrambles
to play
in the mess

surprise
making breakfast for mom
cup of flour
spills on the tilling
hope she doesn’t hear me

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
another batch of cookies
ruined
day turns to night

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
s.w.a.t. team
breaks through the window
drug bust

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
grout filled with dust
sweeping
sweeping

cup of flour
spills
on the tiling
the white dust
coats my toes

Rachel Walker & Ashlee Peth

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
the little chef giggles

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
pancakes for mommy

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
hands shaking
she stoops
to clean up the mess

cup of flour
spills on the tilling
mom’s gonna flip

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
eager daughter--
brand new bag
of chocolate chips

kitchen floor mopped
presents wrapped
now for the cake
cup of flour
spills on the tile

cup of flour
spills on the tiling
I sigh
will the day end

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip

                Michael Knowles

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
my tongue invades
a fleshy peach

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
hiding from view
cold leftovers

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip is alive

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
after skinny-dipping
two bud lights

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
refrigerator light
the curved silhouette
of your hip

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
as you drink
from the milk carton

refrigerator light
the tanned curve
of your hip
softly
illuminated

Michael Knowles & Laura Podeschi

This one was the one I liked out of most of them because I think it flows really well and it doesn't seem to struggle to make the moment work. Plus it reminds me of when it's really late and you're starving and you can just picture that person standing there looking for something tasty. Katie

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you

Ashlee Peth

forgotten shirt
on the shoulder
how i know you
from the scent
i know is yours

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you
faintly your cologne
still lingers

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you
crisp dress shirt
only for special occasions

forgotten shirt
I inhale
how I know you
spring day
forgotten shirt
not your scent

4am
alone in my room
forgotten shirt
i inhale
how i know you

Ashlee Peth & James Hartnett

I really liked this edit to my original hokku. I didn't think I would like the fact that the author put his/her cap on the beginning, but it really works well. This cap really goes for the essence of what I was thinking--that you are alone, thinking about that special someone, and you just want some part of them with you. You at least have their shirt, to remember their smell. Ashlee

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep

Laura Podeschi

spring lilies
i drop my luggage
on the doorstep
finally home
for the summer

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
home at last
for Easter

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
On the doorstep
Gently embracing me
You hold back your tears

spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
my hand reaches
forward

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
for each missing month
one flower bud

Spring lilies
fresh new step
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep-
We'll try again

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
a present
from my cat

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep
touch my hair
before the doorbell

Laura Podeschi & Nicole Silverman

Of all of the Tan-renga additions I found this to be the nicest. It was a hard assignment, to write an addition to someone else's work is a bit like taking a painting and then adding a few more brush strokes to the canvas. In the end this collaboration had what I wanted, it had the seasonal element at the beginning and has a unpredicted pause and realization that we have to use the doorbell. In the edit the line 'touch my hair' was changed to 'I tossle my hair' so that the line was not so generic. But the class liked the simplicity of "touch" instead and Laura agreed. Dan T

city fire alarm--
the boots and suits
no longer empty

Joanne Weise

City fire alarm—
The boots and suits
No longer empty
Flames dancing
The empty building comes to life

City fire alarm- -
The boots and suits
No longer empty
Now it is time
To be a Hero

city fire alarm--
the boots and suits
no longer empty
the theatre
grows alive

city fire alarm—
the boots and suits
no longer empty
a row
of un-made beds

Joanne Weise & Nicole Silverman

The capping verse that best captured my original haiku was this one by Nicole. While the other capping verses were good as well, this one kept the image crisp and clean, which made it even fresher to the reader. It's interesting to think about the firemen leaving in the middle of their slumber; the image of the row of beds gives a certain quiet, which can be a dramatic sound shift from the initial haiku (if one was reading it and hearing sirens and alarms buzzing). Firemen, though heroes to some, are ordinary humans, like anyone else, and these capping lines give them that sense of being ordinary. Joanne

•••

city fire alarm—
the boots and suits
no longer empty

     the house alive
     children’s laughter

mysterious
unnatural presence
in the air

     blooming lilac
     taste of summer

ice cream melts
down her hand
hot and humid

     unable to breathe
     another life expired

•••

autumn sunrise
         make-out point
I start the car

Dan Temkin

autumn sunrise
make out point
I start the car
refusing to look
where you should be

autumn sunrise
make-out point
I start the car
engine roar covers
uncomfortable silence

autumn sunrise
make-out point
I start the car
eleven minutes later
she’s still cold

autumn sunrise
         make-out point
I start the car
         Grounded for life
         it was it worth it!

Dan Temkin & Tony Lipka

autumn sunrise
at our make-out point
I start the car quickly

autumn sunrise
make-out point
I start the car
wishing we had
run out of gas

sitting on the porch
watching waiting    
they call your name!

Brooke DeWall

Sitting on the porch
Watching waiting
They call your name!
Finally
The road trip starts

blankets wrapped tightly
sitting on the porch
watching waiting
my heart and soul
they call your name!

sitting on the porch
watching
waiting
they call your name
kickball master!

Brooke DeWall (solo tan-renga)

empty doghouse
a fur ball at my feet
softly snoring

Angie Hawk

the snow falls
our eyes
dance with each other

James Hartnett

the snow falls
our eyes
dance with each other
one snowflake--
the center of your pupil

•••

the snow falls
our eyes
dance with each other

     under the moonlight
     we grow closer together

against the wind
we march
in perfect step

     on stage
     the solitary dancer

pirouette
blond headed girl
gracefully spins

     pinwheel on a stick
     reflects the sun

James Hartnett & Jennifer Godwin

I love this Rengay because it began with a haiku that I wrote. I just love how another person can look at what I have written and elaborate so beautifully. It comes from a completely different place, with a different feel and energy and yet it works so well. I love the last link, the pinwheel is such a great image, one that I would never have thought of but it carries the color and innocence I was trying to achieve to begin with, and I also really love the third link, against the wind, is just brilliant. beautifully done. and I appreciate it very much. James Hartnett

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming

Nicole Silverman

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
first wedding anniversary
first skinny dip

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
a galaxy of stars
water in your cupped hands

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
a galaxy of stars
cupped in your hands

I really like this cap because I think it kept the tone of the actual haiku while still adding another dimension to it. The cap presented a strong visual image that really kept the tone of the original haiku. I like the continued image of the reflection of the stars in the water which I think is so integral to the feeling of swimming at night. This cap captured the original intent of my haiku the best. Nicole

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
our heat escapes
with the wind

pushing the big dipper
aside
night swimming
in the hot springs
days tensions melt away

empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets

Molly Burns

empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets
loud enough
for everyone to hear

empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets
empty hallways
summer sunbeams
illuminate the dust

graduation day
looking back
it almost killed me
empty hallways
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets

empty hallways
childhood ghosts dart between—
summer sunbeams
whisper secrets
moments missed

Molly Burns and Julie Bilbrey

I like that the author of this cap split up my original hokku and created something different that still had the same image that I was going for originally. I still get the feel of a school that is empty for the summer, the light streaming in the windows illuminating the sad, empty building. Molly