Global Haiku Tradition--Tan-Renga 2008
sand in my shoe Nicole Zabrinas sand in my shoe sand in my shoe sand in my shoe sand in my shoe sand in my shoe Nicole Zabrinas & Aubrie Cox It was really a matter of process of elimination for both of these. When it came to this one, we felt that we wanted it to continue to focus on the subject as opposed to moving to something entirely different. Haiku leaves it open and we felt that tan renga should “cap” the haiku and provide something similar to a finish. What we liked about this one in particular is that it actually ends with a grain of sand. Matt & Jason & Nichole sand in my shoe
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humid room Brett Coffman humid room humid room humid room humid room humid room humid room humid room humid room Brett Coffman & Lindsay Scully This cap we found humorous because it portrayed what the person wants to do in a situation involving the factors above. To want to die is an exaggeration; however, it still seems fitting. The ending is similar to senryu, because it’s so exaggerated, its humorous. The fly also does what the person is fearing will happen to them if he or she doesn’t get away from the speaker. Brett & team |
runt in the litter Jason Chmiel runt in the litter runt in the litter Jason Chmiel & Gordon Gilmore I would like to again state that this decision was made by process of elimination. There were few selections and we felt that it was thought to find one that continued with how we actually had interpreted the haiku. One of the tan renga didn’t make sense at all, so it was really between two of them. The other one that ended with “snarling siblings, in the barn” kept along with the image of fighting, but detracted from the subject of the original haiku. The tan renga we choose actually adds to the haiku and succeeds in what we believe the purpose of tan renga to be. Matt & Jason & Nichole runt in the litter
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voices in my head Kersten Haile voices in my head voices in my head voices in my head Kersten Haile & Elise Wildman voices in my head voices in my head blurry street signs-- voices in my head
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the car horn echoes Kersten Haile the car horn echoes the car horn echoes Kersten Haile & Gordon Gilmore I like the way this cap brings a new element into the poem, one that I had not personally though of. Yet, at the same time in continues on with the idea of isolation and loneliness, yet adds hope to that loneliness, showing that we are not always as a lone as we think. Kersten The coyote seems like a lonely creature and so the horn gets a bit of hope to the its loneliness and its response adds a bit of hope to the driver--they keep each other company. As Kersten put it, it shows "that we are not always as alone as we think." And even though there is that companionship, there's still the sense of isolation and loneliness, even in the caps, particularly the crows, since they merely shake their heads. Aubrie the car horn echoes We liked these two caps because they bring an different element to the poem. In these cases, machine meets nature. Several of us liked the personification of the animals and how they were given personalities. Both types of animals are scavengers by nature, but the crows, as birds, seem to have that "devil may care" attitude while the coyote always seems to be a bit of a sad creature. While there used to be scads of them around here, I hardly ever see them in groups anymore, when I see them. Aubrie the car horn echoes the car horn echoes I also like this cap because of the repetition of the word highway, keeping within the context of the poem itself. Yet, while doing this it also adds in a new element of humor, by personifying the highway, giving it the opportunity to get back at the reckless driver who is haphazardly honking their horn. Very fun! Kersten the car horn echoes the car horn echoes the car horn echoes the car horn echoes the car horn echoes |
walking together Jessica Villarreal walking together walking together walking together walking together walking together walking together Jessica Villarreal & Alyssa Thompson This one fulfilled our sense of enjoyment through the ideas of romance. This one stood out because it flowed together really well. Then there is the imagery of two people who are romantically close spending time together the one makes a friendly gesture of trying to hold the others hand. It imitated the previous haiku’s style very well which is why we thought it went together so well. Amanda & team walking together walking together walking together
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silent willows Andy Jones silent willows silent willows Andy Jones & Gordon Gilmore Our group really liked this one because of the unexpected surprise of fish playing in the trees. For most of our group we had to read through this one more than once before we caught the complete meaning of it. The imagery that accompanies the fish playing in the water where the willows touch also definitely adds something to this tan-renga. Then there are the sounds of the fish splashing in and out of the water as they play amongst the willow braches. Overall this encompasses everything that we think as of currently are needed to make a good tan-renga. Amanda & team silent willows silent willows silent willows |
driving out of the city Patrick Thacker driving out of the city driving out of the city driving out of the city driving out of the city driving out of the city driving out of the city Pat Thacker & Nicole Zabrinas Our group chose this one because of its continuity. The tan-renga flows extremely nicely and gives a strong visual image of the endless road and the horizon beyond it. We think that the word “swallows” was a fabulous choice and gives the tan-renga such depth. Lindsay & group |
lover's initials Lindsay Scully lover's initials lover's initials lover's initials lover’s initials Lindsay Scully & Jessica Villarreal We enjoyed this one because of the connection between past and present. The last two lines are more open to interpretation—the two people could be lovers, or friends, or relatives. Its simplicity is characteristic of a good haiku and still allows many different interpretations to be had. Lindsay & group lover's initials running my fingers lovers’ initials |
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an event Brett Coffman an event an event an event Brett Coffman & Jessica Villarreal This cap we liked a lot because it seemed that the person knew how to perfectly carry on the message we were trying to portray with the original haiku. —Brett & team an event an event |
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© 2008, Randy Brooks • Millikin University • All rights returned to authors upon publication.