<![CDATA[Local Gems Press - OtaRenga]]>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 17:00:38 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[OtaRenga "On Learning Japanese Poetry" Round 2]]>Mon, 14 Nov 2016 04:23:37 GMThttps://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/otarenga/otarenga-on-learning-japanese-poetry-round-2We got several more responses for our second call! We took a few and strung them together to add to the first round!

​ 
 
One thousand years of
Japanese poetry and
no time to learn it...
                                ~(Hokku)
 
Foreign in my mouth
the forms are awkward to me
and resist my touch
yet I love them so, these songs
growing in my heart-soil.
 
                                (~ hennepinhaiku )

Removed by culture
Time and language yet we strive
To join together
With our poets of the past
No matter how far removed
                                (~ Sharon Dockweiler)
 
By the ocean ideas flow
poetry begats more poetry
Seagulls soar above
the poet includes their beauty
new lines of a poem soar skyward.
 
                        (~ Gene McParland)
 
 Threads of emotions
Broken hearts left entangled
With words so controlled 
Living free from expression
As flying birds wings are bound

                       ( - Debbie Tosun Kilday)
 
 rain forgives anger
when it falls with grace and hope
         water heals the land 
courage replants   life renews
the earth and sun in balance

                            (~ Patricia Carragon)

A Japanese name
though Swahili origin
Britalian in race
a gift from God translated
or Buddha's great face resides?
 
                        (~ Ushiku Crisafulli)
 
I walk with my dog
Among trees with leaves held high
Or freed to their rest
Regardless, all are painted
Hues diverse as poets’ words
 
                        (~ Mike Croghan)
 
I don't write Renga
Never have I heard of it
There is no reason...
...I cannot understand it
Though I should know what to do
 
                                (~Kate Fox)

 
 
Let's keep this Renga going!

Write your tanka verse responses a poem of 5 lines (5-7-5-7-7 syllables) and send it in!

(Note: All responses must relate to either the original Hokku in some way, or relate to the verses in the ongoing poem. )


Please submit your responses to

otarenga@gmail.com 

please include your name and a 1-2 line bio in the 3rd person.

We'll keep adding corresponding verse and create a great poem together! If it gets big enough we might even make a book out of it! 

​Third round's deadline: 11/21/16]]><![CDATA[OtaRenga "On Learning Japanese Poetry" Round 1]]>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 08:34:16 GMThttps://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/otarenga/otarenga-on-learning-japanese-poetry-round-1
We got several responses to our call for submissions. We took a few and strung them together to make this first round of this Renga:

​ 
 
One thousand years of
Japanese poetry and
no time to learn it...
                                ~(Hokku)
 
Foreign in my mouth
the forms are awkward to me
and resist my touch
yet I love them so, these songs
growing in my heart-soil.
 
                                (~ hennepinhaiku )

Removed by culture
Time and language yet we strive
To join together
With our poets of the past
No matter how far removed
                                (~ Sharon Dockweiler)
 
By the ocean ideas flow
poetry begats more poetry
Seagulls soar above
the poet includes their beauty
new lines of a poem soar skyward.
 
                        (~ Gene McParland)
 
 
 
 
Let's keep this renga going! Write your tanka verse responses (5-7-5-7-7) to this first round of verse!
Please submit your responses to

otarenga@gmail.com 

please include your name and a 1-2 line bio in the 3rd person.
We'll keep adding corresponding verse and create a great poem together! If it gets big enough we might even make a book out of it! 

​This round's deadline: 11/11/16
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]]><![CDATA[What Is a Renga?]]>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 08:19:28 GMThttps://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/otarenga/what-is-a-renga The renga is a popular form of Japanese poetry that is a linked verse written by traditionally 3 poets (though sometimes many more.)
 
Initiated by a prompt known as the Hokku (often misinterpreted as Haiku through history)
 
of
 
     5
     7
     5
 
The next poet would continue the verse to complete a tanka
 
     5
     7
     5
     7
     7
 
This response would be sent to another poet who would then add on another link to the poem resulting in a series of interconnected tanka verse.
 
The earliest record of renga poems is found in Kin'yo-shu, an anthology of poems compiled in about 1125. In ancient Japan, composing renga was a favorite pastime affairs of poets, aristocrats, even the general public. In fact, tracts of hokku or haikai poems were published by famous literary individuals of the time for the specific purpose of instigating and inspiring renga poems between individuals in the general population. The renga also became a popular way for people to correspond with each other across long distances.
In the beginning, renga were based on light topics.  By 15th century, however, there was a marked distinction drawn between ushin renga (serious renga) and mushin renga (comic renga.)
Renga poetry was known for becoming very long--many historial renga contain at least 100 verses.
 
                In the 1980's Renshi became a more popular, contemporary version of the Renga which made it possible for poets from around the world to collaborate on poems. 
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