The
challenge today is to create a Tan Renga to Jamie Wieland's haiku, "the
glow of the dawn". I first saw this prompt when reading Jen’s from
Blogitorloseit and was so amazed at our host’s offering as well as Jen’s; their
striking differences makes the challenge inspiring and motivating. I encourage you to read the many offerings
for they are all unique and thought provoking, just click here. That is what is so exceptional about adding a tan renga. The goal is to complete the meaning/essence
of the haiku to make a tanka.
The
first image that comes to mind when I see the word Dove or see a photo is my
mother. Her name is Colombe which is
dove in French.
The rising dawn brought such a vivid image of something
else however; when my grandfather died at his home, I was there. Surrounding his bed in my grandparents’
bedroom were all his 7 children kneeling and my grandmother praying for him. My
mother was there, of course and I tiptoed near the bedroom door to have a peak
for I was very close to GrandPapa. That was the year my sister, mother and I
moved in with them for a year. I used to
sit near his bedside holding his hand and whining that he gets better so we
could play. I had no concept at six
years old what terminal cancer meant, only that it was making the best father
that I ever knew, weak and unable to play with me. He always smiled faintly and would whisper, “Tout
à l’heure, ma poule, tantôt.”
I managed to poke my head enough so Grandpapa saw me with
a facecloth on his forehead, in the center of the double bed, propped up on
pillows; I was sad seeing my mother crying but then, he smiled at me, just
seconds before everyone shooed me out.
Later I overheard my aunts and uncles saying that just
before he passed, he smiled and said, “Oh, que c’est beau! La lumière blanche…que
c’est beau!.” His smile and that phrase
has always comforted me for years.
This is the haiku to inspire you to write a tan renga.
as a
white dove lands
words
unspoken yet knowing-
the glow
of the dawn
© Jamie
Wieland
Our host’s
offering:
as a
white dove lands
words
unspoken yet knowing-
the glow
of the dawn
(Jamie)
starting
a life together
newly
weds ... exchanging their vows
(Chèvrefeuille)
as a
white dove lands
words
unspoken yet knowing-
the glow
of the dawn (Jamie)
luminescence
enchants
smiles,
crossing over (Tournesol)
© Tournesol '14/08/09
