A renga poem is made up of a series of short verses (alternating between three lines and two) written collaboratively by a group of people. References to the seasons provide a framework for the poem, and the style of writing is very similar to haiku: concrete images, usually with some nature reference, and little or no abstraction. Each verse should be able to stand alone but should also have some link, however subtle, to the verse before and after it.
Participating in a renga can be a great way into writing poetry as well as a refreshing change for the seasoned poet. Every participant has the opportunity to write something for each verse, and the renga master chooses which piece of writing goes into the renga. Because of the concrete style and short verses, it's accessible even for complete novices, who sometimes outdo the experienced writers!
The Linlithgow Book Festival renga will be written throughout the Saturday of the festival. Anyone is welcome to come along and participate for as long or short a time as they like. The event will be led by Ken Cockburn, a highly experienced renga master, poet and publisher. Entry is by donation.
Click here for a beginner's guide to composing renga from the renga platform website. You can also find examples of contemporary renga in English on the site.
Read "Double Yellows", the complete Linlithgow renga, here.
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