36 Renga
by Dean Brink /Bao De-le (bd), Taiwan
Charles Chang (cc), Taiwan & Claire Ku (ck), Taiwan
1. (bd) |
The withering wind |
|
2. (cc) |
Plum blossoms—the only tracks |
(winter) |
3. (ck) |
The last snow |
(winter) |
4. (cc) |
A north wind blows nets up high |
(winter) |
5. (bd) |
Approaching the gate |
(non-seasonal) |
6. (ck) |
Streamlight Stinger searching darkness, |
(non-seasonal) |
7. (cc) |
Retiring diva |
(moon/autumn) |
8. (bd) | Out of the fog for how long overhead—migrating birds |
(autumn) |
9. (ck) | Stepping off the train heads down, a chilly wind blows their coats open |
(autumn) |
10. (cc) | Quails sneaking behind the bush are still swallowed by sunshine |
(autumn) |
11. (bd) | Chilled to the bone I pedaled twice as far as we’d gone long ago |
(autumn) |
12. (ck) | Fresh footprints in the mud I follow your path alone |
(love) |
13. (cc) | Halfway through the woods, beside the singing creek nothing but your shoes |
(love) |
14. (bd) |
Forgetting our breakfast date |
(love) |
15. (ck) |
Chirping birds drown out |
(non-seasonal) |
16. (cc) | Under the only light the homeless start to gather |
(non-seasonal) |
17. (bd) | On a hill deep in the forest preserve, we look out on the first sunrise |
(New Year) |
18. (ck) | Lighting firecrackers in blowfish washed ashore, the rich boys run |
(New Year) |
19. (cc) | Chromatic toxic clouds follow in step with homo sapiens |
(non-seasonal) |
20. (bd) | At the edge of the forest mother still rings the bell |
(non-seasonal) |
21. (ck) | Deep-fried baby trout, pickled radish, cheap sake for father and friends |
(spring) |
22. (cc) | Under cherry trees, the East wind comes along, blows off blossoms |
(spring) |
23. (bd) | While we ate fiddleheads at the dive facing the waves— an old couple sang |
(spring) |
24. (ck) | The drunken sailor whirling his red scarf—the tranquil night |
(spring) |
25. (cc) | Maiko walk away from the okuya, kimono sweep the stink away |
(spring) |
26. (bd) | Bamboo block the view from the bridge where we once took Polaroids |
(non-seasonal) |
27. (ck) | Crossing the dried riverbed the tea-picking lady goes into the hills |
(non-seasonal) |
28. (cc) | Doves fly off in the downpour— the wood shivers in the wind |
(love) |
29. (bd) | Our umbrella torn, North Shore so far—and you say you love rainy days |
(love) |
30. (ck) | Soggy socks under my chair, you go smoke in the bathroom |
(love) |
31. (cc) | The old clock stopped— I count the minutes alone the day you went away |
(non-seasonal) |
32. (bd) | In short-sleeved shirts again our arms brushed as we walked |
(non-seasonal) |
33. (ck) | Last time at your house new tea steaming between us we drank in silence |
(summer) |
34. (cc) | Greeting the flying fish, coconut palms wave from shore |
(summer) |
35. (bd) | Boys in uniform corner an eel in the canal— hold it overhead |
(summer) |
36. (ck) | Bended wing hanging loose, a waterfowl soars upward |
(non-seasonal) |