Welcome participants! Something I am really pleased to implement, and should have done earlier, is a ‘Schedule’ page. Come here to check on the wait list for a renku starting at the Snail.
It’s my hope to add sabaki and potential start dates here, but we shall see if that is possible – as every one of us is busy and such dates and names may change.
Please also post here if for any reason you feel you can no longer appear in an upcoming renku, no stress just let me know and I’ll slot you in at a later date!
Ashley
Winter Junicho, sabaki: Ashley – COMPLETED – August 2011
Ashley, Graham, Joseph, BAT, Valeria, Claire
‘New’ Junicho #1, sabaki: John – COMPLETED – March 2011
John, Lorin, Willie, Alan, Sandra, Bill
‘New’ Junicho #2, sabaki: John – COMPLETED – May 2011
John, Ashley, Andrew, Vasile, Mary, kala
Snowmelt Junicho – sabaki: Sandra – COMPLETED – September 2011
Sandra, Gen, Ashley, Willie
2013 Renku – PENDING – April 2013
John (sabaki) Ashley, Stephen(?)
Issa's Snail - A Renku Group 
Ash, put me in anywhere I fit. I love working with all of you! Joe
Hi Ashley – I’d like to have a go at a renku – if I can be directed as to what to do –
Rhonda P
Ashley, would like to be on the pending list, too… New junicho?
Though I put in for place a renku quite some time ago, I’d just like to reiterate my hope to take part in another when chance offers.
Oh, yes, I reiterate my hope, too and do agree for a schedule…
Hi Ash & everyone,
Great that you have renku completed & another to begin soon. This schedule page is a very good idea.
Sorry, I’ve been flat tack & still will be for a while so can’t join in anything but I have some good news for you. 😉
(Whether this is the right place to post it,I’m not at all sure, but I can’t find anywhere more suitable. Just delete this if it’s intrusive or place it where you see fit)
Have now got ‘A Hundred Gourds’ launched and we’ll be having a renku section starting in the next issue. Willie, who you know from his participation here at the Snail, is the renku edito.
Here’s the link to AHG 1:1, published yesterday, with everything you need to know on the submissions page.
http://ahundredgourds.com
cheers,
Lorin
whoops…forgot to change the website url . I hope this works.
Ace, Lorin – no probs, here’s a good a place as any to post it, and yeah, I can move the post later if it becomes necessary. Will have a read after work!
Always ok for me… Beginning after the foie gras time?(!)
Hi Its probably too late but can I be a reserve writer or keep me on the list for the next time.
Hi Mary (Hi Claire!)
I will contact those on the list for # 5 soon and see who replies – because we opened at odd times here, people who are down might not be able to jump in at this time, so I’ll definitely keep you on the list and let you know what happens
Ashley,
Thanks for opening a New Junicho. Well, yes, I am interested in trying this new genre… If it turns out to be too difficult, I’ll give my place, of course,
All my best to the team,
Ok, so far I’ve heard back from a few of us
Confirmed: Bat, Joe, Claire
With Mary able to take a space if she still wishes
& Bill is in if we do a seasonal renku
But with no leader at this stage – I’m still keen to have someone else jump up to the chair – it’s fun and a challenge, leading a renku, and teaches you so much at the same time.
However, if no-one does come forward, we have two options. Wait a little while for me to be ready or wait a longer while for John, who generously said he’d be able to lead one at a later date.
So, any volunteers? 🙂
I am interested in joining this renku circle, is there room?
Hi Steven, there’s certainly room – the Snail is a bit sleepy of late, but I’ll soon put out another call for interest and see if we can get a renku going!
I’m up for a poem too Steven. Will ‘lead’ if needed. J
John, I’d love if you could lead us again!
I’ll e-mail the team tonight
April Fool! But if this is for real, please count me in for the next renku.
You’re in, Bill!
Please do count me in ^_^
_kala
Another snail? Much tempted to be on the rails, too – claire
… Obliged to sign in again…
I’d love to be in it, if there’s room.
– Lorin
I’d like that too if there’s room
Ok, so far we have the following poets lined up, based on who e-mailed first or wrote back here:
John
Steven
Ashley
Vasile
Bill
kala
with Mary, Sandra, Claire, Lorin & Barbara right behind, so I’m going to have a chat to John and see what he thinks we should do. Hoping also to hear back from Steven soon too!
Excellent!
All right – John is able to lead the first one, but not the second – but he’s generously offered to help out if someone would like to lead the second?
John would be happy to provide front or back channel support to anyone leading poem 2 with ‘technical’ queries etc
And also mentioned that he’s interested in trying out the
‘Tankako’ – a 24 verse pattern which is interesting as a 2/3 scale Kasen
So I’d love to hear back from everyone here if you’re willing to lead the second renku?
Hi Ashley,
Sorry, I won’t be able to join Renku #2. I jumped at the chance of doing another renku with John, but wasn’t up early enough in the morning 🙂 (or late enough in the night?) Truth is I’m buggered at present. Will look in when the renku are in progress and will sign up for a future one.
– Lorin
Wanna lead number #2? 🙂
Yeah, I posted that one quite early for some timezone variation of when the calls are seen etc
Would love for you to be able to stay and watch, hope you feel better fast!
Thanks, Ash. Yeah, I’ve got a bit of recovering to do & then more work. Great that Willie has joined 🙂 I’ll definitely be popping in to follow with interest.
– Lorin
Hi all, that Tankako pattern is up at Renku Reckoner now. There’s a schematic, and some comments in the ‘common types’ spiel (top left button).
It’s only recently that I got hold of sufficient detail to list it. It’s a kind of exact 2/3 scale model of Basho’s preferred Kasen. And seems designed to invite a more ‘classic’ approach than other stuff of latter years such as the Junicho, Imachi and Rokku.
There won’t have been very many written in English. Quite possibly none. If we can get two groups together it could be good to do a sort of duelling thing in parallel ‘cos it seemed to work with the Imachis last year.
Got to share this with you ‘cos I think it’s hilarious. I’ve not long finished a translation of Novemeber Frost (Month of Frosts) which is notable for the maudlin sentimentality and bogus religiousity of a number of Basho’s verses (honestly quite ghastly). But that doesn’t stop the assembled company fawning. Here’s the closing pair by Yasui and Uritsu respectively. Note that the obligatory blossom verse has in fact been kicked upstairs to #32 (which all the manuals will tell you *never* happens).
in classic dress
our haikai master
exudes youthfulness
bright with camellias
a hat for winter winds
Come on. He was 40 years old. That was already middle aged even for a Japanese!
Ah well – I’ll just have to get myself a dress and hope for the best! J
Hello! Tankako? I’d like to be involved, if just to test my stamina.
That’s good, Willie 😉 I was hoping you’d turn up and take my place.
There’ll be an odd kind of balance with you in 2 : one woman in Renku #1 and one bloke in Renku #2.
– Lorin
Great! I’ll make the updates on number 2
Just want to stay on the list and try the tankako.. Cl
One thing we do know (given that the Tankako invites a relatively conservative style) is that the first verse, hokku, will be either spring or autumn depending on our hemisphere. So we can start to think about what candidates we will want to submit once the flag goes up.
The Tankako is 24 verses long. The Kasen is 36 and hard to do well under any circumstances. But specially in ‘remote composition’ where the impetus is easily lost, and very difficult to regain.
Just recently I had the pleasure of leading a Nijuin (20) verses against a deadline for a competition entry. We had to turn the verses round in 24 hours. It worked. I was reminded that back in they day they’d sometimes use little twists of incencse – you had to submit your candidate verse before it burnt through. At an individual level its about performing under pressure. But the strongest effect is IMHO on the collective where everyone stays engaged.
I think if we want to get best value out of our Tankako(s) we could do worse than adopt the 24 hour turn around idea. 😉 J
Sounds great John – I’ve opened a new page for it here:
https://issassnail.wordpress.com/tankako/
And hope to post a candidate soon! I like the idea of a 24 hr turnaround too.
We’re also looking for a leader for the second renku, which can run concurrently, or after the first?
Mary, Sandra, Claire, Willie & Barbara are lined up to participate in this one so far. Would any of you like to lead?
Would it be possible to set up Tankako #1 and Tankako #2 Ash? I’m sure I saw a ripple so we’ll get a nibble at leading #2 any moment!
Just hold off with posting the hokku candidates for the mo’ folks. But please do polish them up as we wait with baited breath, hooks etc. 🙂 J
I’d have a go again if no one else wants to. Back at home from working “on the road” for nearly a year I might even speak and write legibly. N o matter – I need a hokku candidate! What month is it? 😉
Fantastic, thank you, Willie! 😀
Here they are:
https://issassnail.wordpress.com/tankako/
https://issassnail.wordpress.com/tankako-2/
Could everyone please have a look to see if you’re still able to participate in this great opportunity and as John said, in the meantime keep polishing those hokku candidates!