Stitcher's Rengu

[patable2010]

At the 2000 Pytt of Quivera fall event, Conquestador's Folly, one of the competitions was the creation of Haiku and Rengu.  I was very fortunate this piece came very easily to me and although it's short I felt I'd really done a good job of it.  A few months later friends flattered me by  requesting the use of my Rengu for an illustrated scroll for a costumer/friend.  Since then the friend has become a Laurel and I'm apprenticing to him at Cattle Raids in a few weeks.  So here's the Rengu [the first verse was what I used for the Haiku challenge].

 

Words, the needles, pins

To fasten thoughts into deeds,

Pattern life’s fabric.

 

Gather honor, grasp concepts,

Friendships garnered, stitched down tight.

 

Though shears cut away,

Put by bits of scraps to trim

Life’s assorted parts.

 

Nothing should be lost or tossed;

All things of some value prove.

 

Sort pins and needles.

Set away bent and dull tools.

Work on with the best.

 

All fibers’ character proves,

Fine or course, to have purpose.

 

My soul’s garment gains

Comrades weft and partners woof

With every day’s play.

_____ 

A Haiku has a verse of three lines, each line consisting of 5-7-5 syllables.  A Rengu is five or more Haiku with bridging verses of two lines consisting of 7-7 syllables.