Ancient Road – tan renga

ancient road…

the trails of the masters

absorbed in fallen leaves                            © Adjei Agyei-Baah

thickening over the years

rarely disturbed by new feet                 © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

     

the road climbing higher

towards the mountaintop                          © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

For Carpe Diem's Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #15

Springtime – tan renga

Springtime in Edo,

Not a day passes without

A temple bell sold.                                    © Kikaku

Happy sounds rise on the air –

laughter and hopeful prayers.                    © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

I think of how little I know

of Edo and its temple.                                © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Written for Carpe Diem's Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #14

Bamboo – tan renga

bamboo

waving candlelight into the night

wind                                                        © Jane Reichhold

the scent of the tropics

when you and I were young                         © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

thin stems rattling together

by my father’s fernery                                   © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Written for Carpe Diem's Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #13

And linking to the latest Tuesday Platform at 'imaginary garden with real toads'.

Dandelion, dandelion – tan renga

dandelion dandelion

on the sandy beach

spring opens its eyes                    © Ogiwara Seisensui

a new morning 

blooms shiny gold                        © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

awakening to sunshine

and sparkling ocean                      © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Written for Carpe Diem's Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #12

(I found this one really difficult to extend – probably because I regard the original haiku as complete and perfect in itself.)

Taste of Nature – tan renga

taste of nature–

sweet blackberry bushes

sing to child and bees                           © Sara McNulty

the hum of pleasure deepens

through the sunny afternoon                 © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

the tart-sweet juices spread,

reddening mouths and fingers               © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

For Carpe Diem's Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #11

And linking to Poet s United's Poetry Pantry #354

An Autumn Leaf – tan renga

now it reveals its hidden side

and now the other—thus it falls,

an autumn leaf                                        © Ryokan Taigu

the light face, the dark face, 

are only one leaf, one whole                 © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

a butterfly rises

its bright wings flickering                      © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

For Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #10 at Carpe Diem

Also linking to Tuesday Platform May 16 2017 at 'imaginary garden with real toads'

Leaves Float Away – tan renga

autumn evening

like whispered prayers

leaves float away                             © Dolores Fegan

darkness settles slowly
warm like prayers answered            © Rosemary Nissen-Wade 

or:

my outdoor temple breathes
peaceful in the soft breeze               © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Another  prompt from Chevrefeuille at Carpe Diem: 
Tan renga challenge 2017 #9.

The Flower of a Pumpkin – tan renga

the flower of a pumpkin

as well as Mt. Ishizuchi

is great in scale                                  © Tomiyasu Fusei 

slow changes over time
it forms another shape                       © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

big pot of hot pumpkin soup
family fed from flower                      © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

For the Carpe Diem  Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #8  

(I think I am probably being too intellectual, not enough sensual.
What do you think?)

Two Sets of Footprints – tan renga

two sets of footprints

in freshly fallen snow

one pair from Kyoto                             © Hamish Managua Gunn

patterns on the soles reveal
only part of the story                             © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

how far has the stranger come

to meet a friend in the cold?                  © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

or:

new city shoes leave clear prints
the others must be well-worn                © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

For Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #7: two sets of footprints.

First Autumn Morning – tan renga

first autumn morning

the mirror I stare into

shows my father's face                          © Murakami Kijo

hints of the coming cold

familiar from times before                    © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Written for Tan Renga Challenge Month 2017 #6 at Carpe Diem.

Shared with The Tuesday Platform for May 9, 2017 at 'imaginary garden with real toads'

Silent Steps – tan renga

silent steps –

one more candle illuminates

the old chapel                                      © Ese

a shadowy figure passes

along the edge of vision                       © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

lightning one candle

with another candle

an evening in spring                            © Buson (Tr. unknown)

from the withering the seed
from the seed the new blossom           © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge 2017 #5: silent steps

Shared with The Tuesday Platform for May 9 2017 at 'imaginary garden with real toads'

Tan Renga for Jane

At Carpe Diem, in honour of the late Jane Reichhold, we are asked to add two lines to some of her haiku, in 'tan renga' – which I found challenging, because I learn that the idea of tan renga is to associate on one aspect of the haiku, not what it says as a whole. My associations are with  the middle line of each, except the final one where I associate to the last line.

morning breeze

coming in the window

surf sounds                                              © Jane Reichhold

scents of briny ocean

and the shrill calls of gulls                      © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

*

without lights

the brightness of a blue sky

full of stars                                               © Jane Reichhold

the white swathe of milky way

superimposed like a cloud                        © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

*

balanced at dawn

a full moon slides into the sea

without ripples                                         © Jane Reichhold

the sun melts upward smoothly

from the opposite horizon                        © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

*

stars bend down

into the wind of whitecaps

morning light                                           © Jane Reichhold

the stars gradually fade

sky and water brighten                             © Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Written for Carpe Diem Universal Jane #16 Morning Breeze
Also linking to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #352

Paulownia Trees – tan renga

A tan renga for Carpe Diem: the initial haiku is supplied (in this case it is by Nozawa Boncho); we are invited to add two lines.  This one was interesting for me, as I have some old history with paulownia. Here are my two efforts:

from the paulownia

without a breath of wind--

falling leaves

remember that house

where they used to grow?

*

from the paulownia

without a breath of wind--

falling leaves

so many years ago 
we planted those trees