RENGA NIGHT

Renga 2017_webRenga is an old form of Japanese poetry related to Chinese forms of short poems, predating even haiku.  It is a tool for socializing happily, as people sit together and write single two or three-line verses according to content prescribed by a formula.  The Renga Masters (Brendan Hewitt and Czandra) will choose from the verses produced, and link it with the next, and so on, for a total of 18 or 36 verses.

 

This form was used as a safe form for correspondence also:  one poet sends three lines to her friend, who responds in two lines, and back and forth.  Participants should be prepared to enjoy the exercise as a kind of game, but also need to observe the Asian formalism and respect it to some extent!

連歌   the evening will take place in English!
Brendan and Czandra have participated in renga for several years.  Brendan is known in his home town as the Haiku Master.  Czandra compiled and printed hand-made haiku broadsheets for KaDo haiku group two years in a row, which were read consecutive springs at the Japanese Embassy in Ottawa.  Both she and Brendan have read for the Japanese Ambassador from their own work.  Both are members of Haiku Canada, and they’re married, with two sons.
The result of the first Renga night at Main & Station in 2015 was published in the online journal, A Hundred Gourds… http://www.ahundredgourds.com

Editing & Poetry workshops (and more!) with Sandra Stephenson

Editor, teacher, and poet Sandra Stephenson is in Parrsboro for a Nonesuch Residency from now until late September.

She will be hosting 2 workshops during that time, a Poetry Workshop on Wednesday afternoons and an Editing Workshop on Thursday afternoons.

For more information, visit the workshop pages here: Poetry Workshop and here: Editing Workshop.

editing workshop

poetry workshop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While she is here Sandra will also be offering Sivananda Yoga on Tuesdays and Fridays and a ceremonial drumming evening on 27 August.

On 9 September, Czandra will be reading her poetry live alongside poet Darryl Whetter at Main & Station’s Nonesuch Café and if you miss that, or want to see them again, they will be performing together on 10 September at Truro’s Noveltea Bookstore & Cafe.

And if you like to be read aloud to, or to read aloud, join us weekday mornings, Tuesday – Friday, from 11am for Bruce Chatwin’s ‘On the Black Hill’ and other literary treats.