Larry Reznicek joined Mark & Sarah Fairchild for the spring renga. It was interesting. As planned, we changed the 3 lined / 2 line / 3 line / 2 line stanza structure in favor of each stanza being anything from 2 to 6 lines. The results were promising. Sitting around the dinning room table in the Fairchild's house we wrote 20 stanzas in 1 1/2 hours. Afterward we sat around and talked poetics. Despite the small size it was very satisfying.
I did find the turnout for the last few rengas a bit disappointing, yet it does show that the group does not need to be large, or the stanza length very limiting. In fact Japan's most famous renga was A Hundred Stanzas by Three Poets at Minase. (Emphasis on Three Poets!) If we had a large group we could divide up into several rengas. Wouldn't that be nice!
I still hope people will let me know if I can make the group more inviting. Were the changes too intimidating? Or not challenging enough? Or perhaps we can find a way to make it more accessible?
Also was the idea of a partimen too intimidating? Please let me know, and we will work on making it more palatable.
This is supposed to be experimental. I am open to new and varied ideas.
NEXT
(April 28, 2013)
Where: Mark & Sarah's house (2236 A Street, Lincoln, see map below).
When: April 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
If our yard is clean, we might meet in the back yard.
BYOB&F. Bring your own Beverage and Food (or snack).