Approaching Harnham Hill
a parliament of rooks
clouds piled upon clouds
we wade through long grass
wet trousers, clean toes
stroking the bee
lavender frenzy
ticklish
is it the same one that you see
from your neck of the woods?
as they lay flowers
for Bobby Robson
we kick words around our pitch
hey Geordie
there’s a genuine hole in the wall up here
is it the lime
or the lichen
that holds the stone still?
an empty vase
his thousand months
behind his belly laugh
the incense
unfamiliar
tea pouring into the cup
hollow-sounding
how much of love
is letting go
of reason?
consulting the leaves
I see a tall dark stranger
soft muslin
blurred shapes
intrigue
that voice in the background
pushes a button
the curlew’s call
springs harsh and east
for the coast
catching the grace
of each day’s chaos
19 shades of white
when the moon shines
into the room
the nettle in flower
says nothing of its sting
what made you become a monk?
my rehearsed answer
wearing thin
a flock of passerines
a storm of thistledown.
_________
A genius loci renga
at Harnham,
1st August 2009
Participants:
Bhikkhu Abhinando (master)
Linda France
Geoff Jackson
Eileen Ridley
Tim Rubidge
Christine Taylor
Schema:
1 – summer
2 – summer
3 – animal
4 – moon
5 – open
6 – architecture
7 – open
8 – open
9 – monastic life
10 – love & wisdom
11 – love & wisdom
12 – love & wisdom
13 – light
14 – open
15 – bird
16 – open
17 – moon
18 – flowers
19 – anticipating autumn
20 – anticipating autumn
Posted 20.12.11