2011
Autumn Renga (& Potluck Picnic)
(September 25, 2011)
MAP
Holmes Park, Lincoln, NE
The renga went very well. Six poets attended. After a picnic dinner we decided on a provisional procedure.
Each poet used a notebook for a worksheet, then wrote their final stanza on a 3 x 5 index card that was numbered (to keep it in sequence) with the poets name on the back. After writing his/her stanza the poet read the linked stanzas out loud, then gave the new stanza to poet B so that it could be read as the beginning of the poem that poet B's stanza would complete. Poet B would then record his/her stanza on their index card, return poet A's card to poet A, and give their own card to poet C, and so on.
We wrote 19 stanzas out of the planned 36 because we started late and people had previous commitments to keep.
Everyone seemed to feel it was very enjoyable, and many found them selves writing renga stanzas that they might polish later into better poems, and other poetry on the side that they might work on more later.
Copies of the completed renga will be given to the participants only. By agreement the renga will not be published without the agreement of everyone involved, although once they receive the final copy of it, they may show it to whoever they wish.
Participants were (in sequence):
Mark Fairchild
Sarah Fairchild
Larry Reznicek
Charlene Neeley
Frank Edler
Mary K. Stillwell