Grand Prize, 2017 HSA Renku Awards
Kasen written at Onawa, Maine
John Stevenson (coordinator), Nassau, NY
Yu Chang, Schenectady, NY
Tom Clausen, Ithaca, NY
Paul W. MacNeil, Ocala, FL
Hilary Tann, Schuylerville, NY
Judges: Ron C. Moss and Ferris Gilli
* * *
Glacial Boulder
jo
a glacial boulder
and an ancient pine—
deepening shade
pwm
fireflies
back and forth
js
she selects
an embroidered bureau scarf
from the bargain bin
ht
the new hire snags
a twelfth floor office
yc
college observatory
open to the public
for moon viewing
tc
candied apples
as party favors
js
ha
much puzzlement
in the voting booths
this year
pwm
I retrace my steps
to take the path not chosen
ht
a war hero
fnds his sweetheart
in Japan
yc
the flight of time
embracing her
tc
what can only
be said to
the memory of you
js
a web search
for “runes”
pwm
silhouette
of a moonlit fox
in the daguerrotype
ht
the snowmobile
speeds into a hairpin
pwm
Zika
finishes first
at the Rio Olympics
yc
bagging the summit
with bated breath
tc
tight buds
about to burst
into peonies
js
the miser relishes
his tax refund
ht
frog chorus
drowned out by
children’s laughter
yc
class clown
the butt of a joke
js
her stage fright
as she takes it all off
for a steamy scene
tc
falls in love
with his cooking
ht
to the bedroom
while the sourdough
rises?
pwm
a murmuration
swirls and swerves
tc
increased
police presence
during the fireworks
ht
bathers and paddlers
at the seashore
yc
he’s the kind of guy
who dabbles
in black magic
js
no exit from the theatre
of the absurd
tc
the waning moon
is still enough
for me
pwm
a few yellow leaves
dancing in the wind
yc
kyu
the stubble field
stretching the long
rays of late sunlight
js
town park cannon
quiet for generations
tc
the carillon
slowly plays
the Westminster chimes
pwm
once more turning the soil
in the raised beds
ht
just beneath
the cherry blossoms
all my little hopes
yc
brindled colts
canter into the meadow
js
* * *
Judges’ commentary:
We are pleased to award Grand Prize in the 2017 competition to Glacial Boulder, a summer kasen renku. During our many readings of the entries, this poem drew us back more than any other. The opening hokku is steeped in traditional imagery and is a fine start for this winning entry. Several other desirable qualities should be noted: the variety and unexpectedness of the stanzas; the clarity of language; the overall freshness; and the satisfaction in discovering the links between stanzas. Some links are more subtle than others, and studying and solving their small mysteries was fun (and educational). Moving from candied apples / as party favors (the sixth stanza in the jo) into the ha presents an easily realized, delightful link and shift.
The variety in the types of linking is a major asset. There’s always a place for humour and the amusing linking between class clown / the butt of a joke (stanza 20) and her stage fright / she takes it all off / for a steamy scene is a treat. Also notable is powerful imagery between the stubble field / stretching the long / rays of sunlight and town park cannon / quiet for generations at the beginning of the kyu. The lively verse, brindled colts / canter into the meadow, brings the renku to a satisfying close.
Upstate Dim Sum 