The renga form of poetry is over seven centuries years old.

The renga is a collaborative effort between two poets. The first stanza is written by one poet, then the other poet writes the second stanza based on the first, and the pattern alternates until complete.

Below is my first self-collaboration renga (yes, I know that sounds dirty to some of you).

It’s traditional: odd stanzas are three lines, 17 syllables (I divided each into 5/7/5); even stanzas are couplets, seven syllables each.

(Don’t worry. I’m not going to give an instructive intro every day – just at the introduction of a new poetic form.)

Finally, I think giving something the title of Untitled is meaningless and pretentious, and should be avoided always.

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Untitled

When I imagine
My life without you in it
Peace is what I see

I see cut hard-tied pieces
While still life lies within us

Still lies live within
Alive we slit four eyes blind
Splitting amoeba

Slime-skitter away I stop
To ask why don’t you join me

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[Note: The renga’s opening stanza gave birth to the 17-syllable haiku. Re-read the first and third stanzas above. They tend to stand alone as complete thoughts. Poetry is cool like that!]

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