Snow in the Ferns (Solo Renga)

snow in the ferns –
three doves shelter in the damp
fluffing their feathers

the first snow falls heavily
flattening the green

the last pink flowers –
bend their knees to winter
with a snap

leaves whisper to each other  
and yet there is no wind

over the whispers  
militant chickadees
dart among the white

and under the hidden fern
three doves shiver silently

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Linked to Carpe Diem Time Glass #14: Winter Wonderland.  This reminded me of “winter” two years ago – when our first snow arrived before Halloween – rare for southern Peeay. 

Our task was to use the Wonderland photo as inspiration for a chained poem (renga) of up to eight stanzas.   (I stopped at six.)

The syllable count for a renga is 5/7/5; 7/7; 5/7/5; 7/7; 5/7/5; 7/7; 5/7/5; 7/7.  The last stanza (7/7, the “ageku”) must close the chain by referring back to the first stanza. 

And – oh – we had 24 hours to write our renga.  ;)

Winter Wonderland from Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.

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