Sheltering Together, Alone: A Renga
Pan. Global. Multi.
One together we dance. Clap
them out now: seven-
teen syllables, or seven-
teen syllables minus ten.
Sheltering together,
separately, in our
individual homes,
Safely apart, we gather.
Interesting life we have.
Sheltering is not
bad with your favorite book,
Where the Crawdads sing.
We were we are we will be.
Spring pairs multiple—new life.
Stillness of water
Reflects old woman image
Lines of past turmoil
Pajamas, blankets, and rest.
I am eating happily
Sat on a couch, won-
dering whether I will see
again a bird nest.
Already forgetting how
not to despair I doze as
I watch the starlings
gather as I sit alone,
a murmuration.
Our family chats on zoom.
Zoom to see his face near mine.
We shelter apart,
yet see the same blue sky and
feel the same warm sun.
My computer not that fast!
Birthday drive-byes make me cry.
Shelter in place to-
day, dreaming of a May Day
happy dance, Parade.
Safely apart, we live.
Trying to flatten the curve.
Meditation, calling in
The Light. Connecting
with Creation. All is Well.
Original prompt: Write a collaborative renga.
Cindi Neisinger, John DiFusco, Douglas McCulloh, Ai Miyamoto Kelley, Frances T. Borella, Frances J. Vasquez, Kamelyta Noor, Cindi Neisinger, Dar Stone, Barbara Berg, Gudelia Vaden,
Burcu Misirli Chatham, Natalie Champion, Renee Mosher Peirce, Steve Perry, Magdalena Nunez, Rob McMurray, Juanita E. Mantz Pelaez
Inlandia: A Literary Journey 