Hands Across The Seas

—Tan-Renga Collaborations by 

Christina Chin (Malaysia), with 

Uchechukwu Onyedikam (Lagos, Nigeria), 

M R Defibaugh (USA), Andrew Brindle (Taiwan), 

Marjorie Pezzoli (San Diego, CA, USA), 

Kimberly Olmtak (Amsterdam), 

and Paul Callus (Malta)
—Photos Courtesy of Joe Nolan (Stockton, CA),

and Medusa (Citizen of the World)

 

 

THREE TAN-RENGA
—Christina Chin / Uchechukwu Onyedikam (italics)

Christmas songs
nostalgic sleigh bells
on the radio
villagers gather round
to listen

* * *

fragrant smoke
thin coconut wafers
over charcoal grills
children pack them
in decorative tins

* * *

stirring pineapple jam
in a black cauldron
festival tarts
to go around
a family affair 

 

 

 

 

THREE TAN-RENGA
—Andrew Brindle / Christina Chin (italics)

quietness of dusk
after the typhoon
crickets sing
snails climb
the flood barrier

* * *
 
plumeria bloom
fall by Wan Shan Temple
sound of a muyu
carved frog
on the teak shelf

* * *
 
an egret watches
as flowing waters pass by
patience fills the air
a pool of catfish
at the shallow bank

 

 

 

 

FIVE TAN-RENGA

—Christina Chin / M R  Defibaugh (italics) 


snow on white
after the snowstorm
winter solstice
the morning sun
shines brighter still

* * *

stepping out
of the jacuzzi
two winter birds
cuddle at the frozen
birdbath


* * *

warding off evil
spirits of winter solstice
holly bushes
we ask to borrow
the neighbor’s trimmers

* * *

winter solstice
ladies soak in yuzu
bobbing yellow fruit
hides their nudity
hot bath today

* * *

relatives gather
for the winter solstice
niche wind blows
clouds away from
our ancestors

 

 

 

 

SIX TAN-RENGA
—Christina Chin / Marjorie Pezzoli (italics)

Dongzhi Festival
marks the beginning
of a new year
she stirs the pot
lambs under foot

* * *

on the jetty
villagers heading home
winter solstice
fish in hand
the night darkens quickly 


* * *


going round the table
pouring rice wine for everyone
year end festival
folding joss paper
the furnace is stoked

* * *

falling snow
the countdown
is on
ice skates laced
the frozen pond awaits


* * *


my cat stares
at the twinkling
lights
unseen angels
sharing wings


* * *

the fireplace
shimmers its
warmth
packages with bows
anticipation builds

 

 

 

 

THREE TAN-RENGA
—Kimberly Olmtak (italics) / Christina Chin

winter equinox
bathing in rain from the gutter
tropical waterfall
the euphoria
jumping screams

* * *

year end festival
ghosts from the past
wither with the fireworks
drums chase the evil out
of nooks and crannies

* * *

packed in a cold tent
a war child rubs her eyes
Christmas transcends borders
gifts boxed and wrapped
surprises for everyone 

 

 

 

 

THREE TAN-RENGA
—Paul Callus (Malta) / Christina Chin (Malaysia)

first day of winter
limited sunshine robbed
by an overcast sky
hot pot served
at a corner shop
 
* * *

welcoming winter
at Mnajdra temples—
the first rays of sun
long way down the valley
on a cool day
 
* * *

winter solstice
hanging on the front door
a yule wreath
aromatic herbs seep
through the kitchen

____________________

—Medusa, with many, many thanks to today’s fine poets for early seasonal gifts of fine, fine poetry! For more about the Tan-Renga poetry form, go to https://www.graceguts.com/essays/an-introduction-to-tan-renga/.

 

 

 

". . . villagers gather round . . ."

 

 

 

 

A reminder that today at 2pm,
Sacramento Storytellers Guild meets
at Sacramento Poetry Center.
For info about this and other
future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
 during the week.

Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.

Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
 into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
 to find the date you want.

Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
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send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!