Renga Variations

These poems are not traditional Renga but variations designed to preserve the call-and-response structure of the original format within a looser, more open framework.

Renga, or "Linked Verse," originated in Japan during the Twelfth Century. It consists of one set of lines with a general structure of 5-7-5 syllables, followed by an answering set of 7-7 syllables. One poet would compose the 5-7-5 link, then another poet would respond with a 7-7 link, yet another with a new 5-7-5, and so on. It was a communal art form, binding word to word, line to line, stanza to stanza, poem to poem, poet to poet. It was a beautiful culture speaking to itself.