Linked Poem

 Began over 700 years ago in Japan  Designed to encourage the collaborative composition of poems  Poets worked in pairs or small groups, taking turns alternating 3 line and 2 line stanzas  Renga were often hundreds of lines long, but the favored length is 36 lines, which is called a kasen  Several centuries later, the Haiku was formed from the opening stanzas

 One poet writes the first stanza 3 lines long, a total of 17 syllables  The next poet adds the second stanza A couplet (two lines) with 7 syllables  The 3rd stanza repeats the structure of the 1st  The 4 th stanza repeats the structure of the 2nd  And on until the end

 Theme is crucial to the form and its success  The language refers to nature, incorporating seasons, nature, and love.  In order for the poem to grow appropriately, each poet writes a new stanza that leaps from the stanza preceding it.  The leap advances the thematic elements, and maintains the linking component.  A new idea or direction can be introduced in each new verse  Modern poets have eased up on the structural elements, allowing for adjustment of line lengths, but maintaining the important elements of theme.

 1) With your partner(s) find an example of a Renga.  2) Bring it in to share in your writing group.  (3) With your partner(s) write a Renga following the correct format. (If you are in different writing groups please have a copy for each of you to share) Poems due for Review Monday, 3/18 Share in writing groups Tuesday, 3/19

 platform.co.uk/webpages/renga_02.htm platform.co.uk/webpages/renga_02.htm