The document provides information about the poetic forms of renga and haiku. Renga is a collaborative poem consisting of alternating haiku and couplets that follows a unifying theme through seasonal changes. Haiku have a 5-7-5 syllable structure. When writing renga, each verse should link to the previous one, shift to something different, and avoid repeating nouns or verbs throughout the entire poem. The document also includes examples of haiku and provides instructions for writing renga in a group setting over multiple class periods.

1. Renga
 One Poem: 36 (or 48) verses
 Unifying theme or idea
 Move through seasons or some other
organizing structure
 Moon, flower and love should occur
once each.

2. Haiku
 5 syllables
 7 syllables
 5 syllables

3. Renga
 Alternating haiku and couplets
 Couplet: two lines, 7 syllables each

4. Link and shift
 Connect to stanza before
 Shift to something different
 Read each verse twice
 Link ONLY to verse above
 Avoid repeating same noun or verb (in
whole poem)

5. Haiku
After the gale, pink
confetti dots the dark streets.
Trees are bare again.

6. After the gale, pink
confetti dots the dark streets.
Trees are bare again.
Lost in thought, solitary,
a stranger wanders through mist.

7. Lost in thought, solitary,
a stranger wanders through mist.
Worm turns the earth and
dusting of frost shines. The grave
moon greets the morning.

8. Process
 Groups of 3 or 4
 Groups of 3: 36 verses
 Groups of 4: 48 verses
 Today: plan, decide on your “hokku”
(starting poem), scheme (seasons,
elements, other progression), theme or
general topic
 Next class: write or finish writing
 Next Wednesday: peer edit (share with
non-group members)