Renga Poetry !

In the Heian period (794-1185) poets competed to compose the best poem. However, in the 14th century, a new form of entertainment called a Renga poem was developed. A Renga is linked-verse poetry, one poet would compose the first 3 lines (5-7-5 syllables) of a poem, & another would complete it with 2 more lines 7-7 syllables).
The first 3 lines are called the hokku & the remaining 2 lines are the ageku. Later the hokku was developed into the independent Haiku form we all know & love.
The Renga follows the 5-7-5-7-7 pattern of the Waka, but is divided in 2 loosely coupled parts; the first 2 lines & the rest, the last 3 lines constitute a poem themselves, the first 2 lines giving a hint, a "link" to the meaning.

INCLUDING MORE POETS MAKE RENGA MORE INTERESTING !!
A long Renga uses the same pattern as the short Renga, only repeated. Each verse moves in a new direction, connected to the verse just before it, but usually not to earlier verses.
This technique keeps a Renga continually twisting & turning, challenging both poets & readers. Famous Renga masters include Sogi & his disiple, Socho in the 15th century.

Now let's add YOUR RENGA ! AND keep this going. To do so go to my guestbook & add it there.
At the beginning in ALL CAPS type RENGA: then begin your renga addition ! Have fun & thanks for sharing ! ;-)

Sogi (1421-1502) was a zen monk & a poet: a master of Renga, the linked verse. example:

Hito wo yume to ya
omoishiruramu;
sumi suteshi
sono wa kochou no
yadori nite !

Translation by Steven D. Carter:

That man's life is but a dream-
is what we now come to know.
Its house abandoned,
the garden has become home
to butterflies !