Linked by Verse: A Gentle Introduction to Renku

I don't know why he decided to wear a laurel wreath either.

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Today we're exploring renku—a collaborative form of poetry—by writing a poem with my faithful AI counterpart, Leo.

So grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let's wander a little deeper into the past.

With cotton bursting out walks a pure white cat– Unknown to us, within warm kotatsu lying contented

Isn't that just so utterly charming? I adore the poetry of Matsuo Bashō. It has a subtle charm—even when he’s talking about flies, lice, and horse piss.. It's evocative, and always paints a vivid picture. Not only can I imagine seeing our little pure white cat, slinking under the kotatsu as it seeks out a warm place to hide, but I can also feel that warmth.

When I first stumbled upon Matsuo Bashō, I knew what a haiku was. I enjoy writing haiku—maybe I’ll share some of them on here one day— but, I had no idea what a renku was. Of course, this meant I had to do some research, and here's what I found:

Renku began as renga, a group poetic tradition.. Imagine a group of poets, each displaying their wit and creativity by coming up with the next verse on the spot. Not only is there a sense of comradery but also of playful competition. We can think of renku as the more playful, younger sibling of renga. Poetry is so often seen as a solitary art form, but renku brings people together.

The verses alternate between 17 syllables (5-7-5) and 14 syllable (7-7). The 17 syllable verses are know as hokku, and became what we now know as haiku. The 14 syllable verses were known as wakiku. Each verse would like to the preceding one, either via theme or tone, but it would also build and add something new to the poem.

There are different formats of renku and Haiku Spirit says that "Traditionally the poets would follow certain codes and rules: each verse might have a set theme, or season; certain stanzas should mention the moon or flowers, or different aspects of human nature and philosophy. Such rules have more or less been generally adopted or adapted in the practice of renku in the West."

I think there is a lot more for me to research here and you can expect to see a "Not-So Gentle Introduction to Renku" at some point, but for now, I'm going to take these basics and see what Leo and I can create. Would I like to do this with a human instead of an AI? Yes. Do I have a human to hand this Friday afternoon when inspiration struck? No.

Signa:

Falling rain whispers

gently on stained glass window

cat curled in blanket

Leo:

tea cools by the amber lamp— dreams still clinging to the spine

Signa:

Singing birds herald

arrival of cruel dawn

end to blissful rest

Leo: footsteps echo in the hall—

a letter rests on the sill

Signa: Fingers graze the edge

caress a promise of love

"Fourteen sleeps, my heart" Leo: Dreaming beneath folded sheets

the scent of paper and you

If you would like to learn more about writing your own renku, I have added a link to the Haiku Spirit guide at the end of the post. I think micro-blogging sites like X, Bluesky, and Threads would be wonderful places for renku to take flight in today’s world—let’s make it happen!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your time in The History Nook today.

Until next time, stay curious, and keep warm.

Sources:

Haiku Spirit