1000 Verse Renga, the world's longest poem ever!I'm the Embassy of Japan's roving "Japan-UK 150" haiku & renga poet-in-residence and I am currently based at Bath Central Library for October (& November) 2009.Please txt a renga verse (2 or 3 short lines) to: 07797 806545Or email: 1000verses@withwords.org.ukThe mission
is to help create the World’s longest ever poem with the help of visitors to Bath Central Library; schoolchildren; and everyone from the REST OF THE WORLD. What is the world's longest poem? It's a renga poem, and just like haiku it came from Japan. It's
where people from all walks of life don't even have to be a poet to
help create a poem. How does that work?
RENGA
Renga
is a traditional Japanese group poem that is ‘shared writing’: everyone
is allowed the chance to write, or orally suggest a verse. It’s very inclusive, creative, and encouraging, and the making of this communal poem is as important as the final result.
WHO ARE JAPAN-UK 150?
Japan-UK
150 was set up by the Embassy of Japan for a range of activities across
the U.K. to celebrate 150 years of the 1858 Anglo-Japanese Treaty of
Amity and Commerce in Edo (Tokyo).MORE ABOUT RENGA
Of
all the ‘poetic forms’ this is one that works for people who have never
written before, and yet offers a great challenge for those who are
already comfortable and established writers.
The
renga activity is where people can sit and stay, or come and go, listen
or write, and above all share in the decision-making of each verse.
When completed the renga poem is jointly owned by everyone.
The
renga verses are more than the sum of its parts as they capture our
thoughts and feelings, which might otherwise be lost at end of the day;
we can also share an experience wherein strangers and friends or
colleagues connect for a moment.
As
a Japan Times award-winning writer for haiku and renga poetry (haiku
originated from renga as its ‘starting verse’) I felt renga was an
ideal choice of activity for a Japan-UK 150 event.
THE AIMThe
aim is that towards the end of the 1000 Verse Renga Residency we can display both
finished renga poems in the local library; create an eBook free and accessible around the world; to present a sense of achievement
to the local community; and to develop a further interest in Japanese
culture.
Both national and international haiku/renga poets have already contributed renga verses, but we also want people from all walks of life adding their own couple of lines even if they have never "done" poetry before.
We are calling on EVERYBODY to help complete the 1000 verse renga so that the local community
are involved with a renga that has been around the world from Africa
(including teachers and schoolchildren from Nairobi); Japan; India;
Nepal; Pakistan; North America; Canada; Ireland; and West Indies, just
to mention a few of the countries where I know people who regularly
write haiku and renga.
What would you write about?
You
could put down what's important to you right there and then, or it
could be about naming a newborn child, your partner, or why you love
Bath, or just something that makes you laugh out loud despite our
troubled times, and current recession.
The 1000 Verse Renga project
has been wonderfully supported by June Brassington, BathNES Head of
Libraries; June Wentland, new Libraries Reader Development Officer; Ann
Cullis, Senior Arts Development Officer and Peter Salt, Arts
Development Officer of Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Other art officers, the general public, and the homeless are supporting this project, no one gets left out.
A renga verse for this project is anything that is two or three VERY short lines, not poetic, more like a snatch halfway through a conversation you might have with a friend.
Please txt a renga verse (2 or 3 short lines) to: 07797 806545
Or email: 1000verses@withwords.org.ukall my best to everyone!
Alan
With WordsFounder/director/tutor:
http://www.withwords.org.uk.
