NPR: Haiku Traffic Signs Bring Poetry To NYC Streets

"If you're walking or biking around New York City this weekend you might look up at a busy intersection and see signs like these:

 Traffic warning street signs written as haiku are appearing on poles around the five boroughs, posted by the New York City Department of Transportation. The poems and accompanying artwork were created by artist John Morse. ..." 

Read more at npr.org >>

Haikai no Renga Birthday Poetry Party

We celebrated Harvey's birthday last weekend. The usual rituals involving food, drink, cake (referred to as Ken's hard tack), presents and party games were observed: sushi, sake and two rounds of Haikai no Renga. Most often simply called renga, it is collaborative poetry that was developed in 8th century Japan. Each verse is composed by a different author and links to the verse preceding and following it. Typically,

"A renga consists of at least two ku or stanzas, usually many more. The opening stanza of the renga, called the hokku, became the basis for the modern haiku form of poetry. ... "

-- Wikpedia

For our renga game, two clipboards were passed around the party. Guests were asked to initial their verses. The opening hokku were written by Harvey, our guest of honor. When a page or two was filled with poetry, we transcribed the verses:

Imperfections in our game design emerged as we played.

1. We need a key to friends' initials. Some artistic flourishes were a challenge.
2. Not everyone initialed their stanzas.
3. Some of the stanzas were not transcribed during the party. We realized this when we read the poems again the next day. 

What follows are the full poems. Poet's initials are in parentheses.

Haikai no Renga #1

White birds flying high
whispers from the southern wind
life beyond the fence (H2)

Grace notes; a gift from the sky
Pure white droplets from above

lights bright from above
the streets don't sleep anymore
just rain sometimes veils

Sleeping -- sleeping -- I can't sleep
It's 3 a.m. I'm awake (JG)

There is knocking now,
There are Mormons at the door
tell them we're Catholic! (EC)

Heathens! How they waste our time.
Let's all dance a Conga line! (KB)

The line forms right here --
Yes, time flies like an arrow
Fruit flies? Banana. (ES)

John Gabier his arrow aims
He tries to impress the dames (AS)

Weary of notice
women retire to bathe
combing long black hair (LD)

Crouched in the reeds, the watchers
admire the view, pant, pant, drool

Voyeurs dislike me
I foil their devious plans
I watch the watchers (EC)

Upon the high watch towers
Hidden by the purple mist (KB)

Mist obscures vision
Stupid room keeps spinning 'round
Too much to drink. *THUD* (ES)

morning reveals its grayness
anxious cat demands breakfast (HH)

Gauze filmed eyes, "Meow Meow"
How do you like your eggs ... "Meow"
Honey! Cats don't eat eggs! (TM)

Fur and feathers teeth and tails
Those who take care of our souls (DBG)

Just add some sweet rice
Then rolled just so carefully
Slice it and enjoy (GAB)

Consume not food alone
Wash it down with hot sake (LD)

Minds hot with shared joy
Faces flushed with sillyness
Life, horns and laughter

Hard tack from our good friend Ken
Another fun form of Zen (AS)

Zat was Zen, zhis is ...
Tao? Alchemical magic
Created by ... cake. (ES)

Ginger, flour and butter
Sweet chocolate crust like springtime (DL)

So tender inside
melts in your mouth with sweetness
another year born

Settling in between teeth
Sweetness becomes sinister.

Haikai no Renga #2

Tea in one small room
A bigger room for sake
Our house ruled by cat

Our feline overlord purrs
Licks whiskers, thinks of raw fish (DL)

In a springtime pond
Koi swim below cherry trees
Eat fallen blossoms (LD)

Garden pond 'neath grass is sunk
convenient when Harvey's dunk'd. (AS)

Harvey is old now
Friends gather 'round to observe
Drown him in sake. (ES)

As Ophelia in state
At night's end Sensei post drink (TM)

The sun rises now
Night is gone, so is Harvey
Why is the wine gone? (DL)

Dawn is near the body renews
And, now it is time for wine (DAP)

Oh sweet wine sublime
summer kiss in crimson skin
dead grape releasing (SW)

Shake those bones rock rattle roll
Pirates sing up on the knoll (SW)

Wait for the up roll
the song of the battle rattle
heave her out -- give fire

Cannon crews all point and laugh
Bad ship sinks, break out the rum!

A rum cove, he is
Let's give him the old heave ho
Wheee! Sploosh! That was fun. (ES)

Cake cake cake cake cake cake cake
Really, what else do we need (DBG)

We need the sweetness
We want the glory of chocolate
Glory to sweet Ken

Boatbuilder's hard tack -- so sweet
and soft! Greater E-vil weevil. (DL)

Just a bit evil
just a wee bit, I promise
That smile and those horns

Can we stop the cake stuff now?
What's important is the booze! (ES)