Week 4 Gameday Renku(Haiku)

So instead of doing Haiku, we are going to change it up this week.  

Renku aka "linked verses, the Japanese form of popular collaborative linked verse poetry formerly known as haikai no renga, is an offshoot of the older Japanese poetic tradition of ushin renga, or orthodox collaborative linked verse. At renga gatherings participating poets would take turns providing alternating verses of 17 syllables and 14 syllables. Initially haikai no renga distinguished itself through vulgarity and coarseness of wit, before growing into a legitimate artistic tradition, and eventually giving birth to the haiku form of Japanese poetry.

So basically the first person starts with a 5-7-5 haiku, then the next person follows with 2 lines, 7-7 syllables.  Next person does 5-7-5 and so on..

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry, consisting of 17 moras (or on), in three metrical phrases of 5, 7, and 5 moras respectively.[1] Haiku typically contain a kigo, or seasonal reference, and a kireji or verbal caesura. In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line, while haiku in English usually appear in three lines, to parallel the three metrical phrases of Japanese haiku.

In addition to seasonal reference, it is encouraged to include “pillow word” and “pivot word” in these.

A “pillow word”(makura kotoba) is a conventionalized, 5-syllable line taht modifies a word in the line that follows
Examples:
Endlessly, flowing (river)
The bitter, freezing (wind)
Suddenly betrayed (love)
Or under basketball context
Blazing, lightning fast (CP3)

A “pivot word”(kakekotoba) is a word that are the basis for pun-like word play. It must have at least two meanings.
Examples: Cloud(the noun and the verb)
Leaves(tree leaves and leaving)
Last (1. most recent 2. final 3. (last) in order)
Swell (1. to well up, as in tears. 2. to bulk up 3. stylish)