In 1986 I started the first English-language magazine devoted to the Japanese poetic form called Renga. It was called APA-Renga and was a very amateur affair. I really didn’t know anything about Renga at the time, except that no one seemed to be focusing on it, and so I decided to initiate the magazine on my own, in spite of my lack of knowledge and experience.

Soon after the magazine was launched, I received an inquiry from Jane Reichhold who, it turned out, lived just up the coast from where I lived on the Russian River. Jane encouraged me in this endeavor and regularly contributed to the magazine. She was inspiring, thoughtful, and by example showed everyone how to do Renga in English effectively.

Jane and I formed a friendship which has lasted to this day. Jane is a prolific poet, writing in a variety of Japanese poetic forms. In 1989 she published a volume, Narrow Road to Renga, which collected the Renga she had written with a wide variety of other poets. Two of the Renga we had written together are contained in that volume and they are the two offered to visitor’s of Dharmajim’s Sutra Salon below.

pine and pond shadow across the water lengthening the days	jw
pampas grass plumes color the wind autumn	jr
pampas grass plumes color the wind autumn	jr
brushing her hair before the party -- and mother’s advice	jw
brushing her hair before the party -- and mother’s advice	jw
static electricity garbled introductions	jr
static electricity garbled introductions	jr
the evening news; but touching the window’s edge september’s full moon	jw
the evening news; but touching the window’s edge september’s full moon	jw
lace curtains tremble light on the wall	jr
lace curtains tremble light on the wall	jr
earthquake! not knowing what’s up	jr
earthquake! not knowing what’s up	jr
the owl’s silent song starshine on a moonless night	jw
the owl’s silent song starshine on a moonless night	jw
on the porch mold-speckled pine needles my waiting for you	jr
on the porch mold-speckled pine needles my waiting for you	jr
turning on the lamp winter sunset	jw
turning on the lamp winter sunset	jw
his dog watches girls on the street watch the guy	jr
his dog watches girls on the street watch the guy	jr
a new goldfish joins the aquarium	jw
a new goldfish  joins the aquarium	jw
a widow taking swimming lessons from the life guard	jr
a widow taking swimming lessons from the life guard	jr
airplane skimming the clouds full moon satin sea	jw
airplane skimming the clouds full moon satin sea	jw
who sat in the sea? Snoopy the bomber-pilot pup drinking root beer	jr
who sat in the sea? Snoopy the bomber-pilot pup drinking root beer	jr
wide-eyed on her fifth birthday giggling bright colored ribbons	jw
wide-eyed on her fifth birthday giggling bright colored ribbons	jw
a Christmas cactus bought the day she was born blooms early	jr
a Christmas cactus bought the day she was born blooms early	jr
folding the last diaper for her last child	jw
folding the last diaper for her last child	jw
knitting a sweater while leaves are still green winter memories	jw
knitting a sweater while leaves are still green winter memories	jw
of snow-covered fields manzanita blooms	jr
of snow-covered fields manzanita blooms	jr
hidden valley pine trees slowly growing	jw
hidden valley pine trees slowly growing	jw
dirt on the bird’s foot  flys into the sun	jr
dirt on the bird’s foot flys into the sun	jr
shit in his hair she really tried not to laugh at nature’s dignity	jw
shit in his hair she really tried not to laugh at nature’s dignity	jw
raccoon faces watching ours’ sleep	jr
raccoon faces watching ours’ sleep	jr
perched on a bare branch under pizzicato stars an owl blinks	jw
perched on a bare branch under pizzicato stars an owl blinks	jw
predawn darkness gathers people protest oil drilling	jr
predawn darkness gathers people protest oil drilling	jr
a yuppie watches the instant replay on his v.c.r.	jw
a yuppie watches the instant replay on his v.c.r.	jw
still in her wedding dress clenched fists and no shoes	jr
still in her wedding dress clenched fists and no shoes	jr
the waning June moon reflected in a tear drop broken promises	jw
the waning June moon reflected in a tear drop broken promises	jw
graduation at massage school they’d vowed to keep in touch	jr
graduation at massage school they’d vowed to keep in touch	jr
letters in letters let her’s	jr
letters in letters let her’s	jr
ribbon-wrapped in an old trunk finding grandmother’s voice	jw
ribbon-wrapped in an old trunk finding grandmother’s voice	jw
at dusk calling out children’s names carved on stone	jr
at dusk calling out children’s names carved on stone	jr
while the ocean waves croon their saxophone memories	jw
while the ocean waves croon their saxophone memories	jw
datura flowers reality folds up at night	jr
datura flowers reality folds up at night	jr
countless stars endless starlight	jw

Notice: Copyright 1989 by Jane Reichhold. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Narrow Road to Renga with permission of Jane Reichhold. AHA Books, Gualala, California. No part of these Renga may be dowloaded, copied, or reproduced in any manner without permission from Jane Reichhold. Those requesting permission may contact Jane Reichhold at ahabooks@mcn.org

low clouds squeezing earth into a river	jr
into blueing sky a bird rides the wind	jw
into blueing sky a bird rides the wind	jw
out of breath the jogger clutches his side	jr
out of breath the jogger clutches his side	jr
august morning cool watering the potted plants	jw
august morning cool watering the potted plants	jw
from the spring a pretty face drinks the moon	jr
from the spring a pretty face drinks the moon	jr
the warm word processor secretary’s station	jw
the warm word processor secretary’s station	jw
the crammed mailbox amidst contests and ads one letter	jw
the crammed mailbox amidst contests and ads one letter	jw
renewing a friendship the bookcover also faded	jr
renewing a friendship the bookcover also faded	jr
february dawn the telephone ringing dreams end	jw
february dawn the telephone ringing dreams end	jw
dancing stones turn in flooded waters	jr
dancing stones turn in flooded waters	jr
toddler in diapers laughing at sunlit waves litter floats by	jw
toddler in diapers laughing at sunlit waves litter floats by	jw
after the heat wave cleaning the stove	jr
after the heat wave cleaning the stove	jr
three days of rain end a sunset walk with you autumn colors	jw
three days of rain end a sunset walk with you autumn colors	jw
our blushing the moon pales	jr
our blushing the moon pales	jr
secure in shadows children of enemies meet in spring grass	jw
secure in shadows children of enemies meet in spring grass	jw
leaping up in surprise Romeo in a modern ballet	jr
leaping up in surprise Romeo in a modern ballet	jr
well kept window box some stray wildflowers greet a sunrise	jw
well kept window box some stray wildflowers greet a sunrise	jw
under the city’s Christmas tree a bag-lady sleeps in peace	jr
under the city’s Christmas tree a bag-lady sleeps in peace	jr
winter solstice traffic lights flash red and green	jr
winter solstice traffic lights flash red and green	jr
dreaming on a crowded bus his stop slips by unnoticed	jw
dreaming on a crowded bus his stop slips by unnoticed	jw
windless days surround the islands deep sleep	jr
windless days surround the islands deep sleep	jr
boulders at the ocean’s edge moving waters, shifting sands	jw
boulders at the ocean’s edge moving waters, shifting sands	jw
rising again the sun brings a new year	jr
rising again the sun brings a new year	jr
stretching under the covers morning yawn delays the chores	jw
stretching under the covers morning yawn delays the chores	jw
tea leaves clog the drain such a party!	jr
tea leaves clog the drain such a party!	jr
with a long blue sigh she faces the cool morning	jw
with a long blue sigh she faces the cool morning	jw
last day of frost buying the bride a bread box	jr
last day of frost buying the bride a bread box	jr
white cake with purple frosting and rusty altos singing	jw
white cake with purple frosting and rusty altos singing	jw
midnight the hazy moon is also tipsy	jr
midnight the hazy moon is also tipsy	jr
in the middle of the block a pause of gray/blue shadow	jw
in the middle of the block a pause of gray/blue shadow	jw
the bathroom light shines briefly from the fifth floor red silence	jw
the bathroom light shines briefly from the fifth floor red silence	jw
a hush of air the elevator stops	jr
a hush of air the elevator stops	jr
a wave of gray dust the deserted avenue september shadows	jw
a wave of gray dust the deserted avenue september shadows	jw
blending sad colors a homeless man moans	jr
blending sad colors a homeless man moans	jr
childhood memory -- a field crammed with wildflowers occasional oaks	jw
childhood memory -- a field crammed with wildflowers occasional oaks	jw
an endless blue sky fills with warmth	jr
an endless blue sky fills with warmth	jr

Notice: Copyright 1989 by Jane Reichhold, AHA Books, Gualala, California. All rights reserved. Permission to copy, dowload, or reproduce in any form must be obtained from Jane Reichhold who may be contacted at ahabooks@mcn.org

Dharmajim hopes that you enjoy his Sutra Salon. If you have comments or questions, please feel free to post them at the Dharma House Blog.