RENGA

  Alec Finlay is an artist and apoet, currently artist in residence at THE BALTIC (Gateshead).  His press  Morning Star (1990 –2003) 
  has published 50 & titles.  Alec coordinates the renga platform, a shared writing project: poetrycircus, a series of readings and 
  performances and a new collaborative piece entitled Sewing Circle, as part of his residency at the BALTIC.  

 
 

        A new renga, from the Rothko Chapel, Houston.


  PURPLE INTO BLACK

  Rags on the thorn tree
  tied the branches ­
  blow useless winds

     the last leaf twists ­
     is a kite

  dark night waits
  moon slivers
  into the frozen pond

     cars pass lost
     in news radio chatter

  tune me in, top down
  wella-wella-wella
  tell me more

     Ήtil the train
     rocks us to sleep

  not awake already
  even in the rhythm
  weΉll arrive together

     your breath warms
     my spine

  tongue licks, claws click
  I canΉt keep any
  stiller than this

     clasped hands
     of a stopped watch

  prayers open and close
  purple respires
  into black

     the rains fallen over
     the hills of heather

  flash floods rush
  toward the silver eye
  of night 

     on the island
     sticks are sharpened

  bark chips curl, crackle ­
  sparks rise
  on a fiery current

     I light one cigarette
     from another

  watch as my 
  hand plays
  paper-stone-scissor

     Indian paintbrush scatters
     all the country roads

  small fingers tuck sprays ­
  petals are hiding
  in her tangled hair

     a faded pink
     pressed between pages.


 a nijuuin renga in the season of Winter
 The Rothko Chapel, Houston
 January 16, 2004

 Participants
 Master poet, Alec Finlay
 Mary Margaret Carlisle
 Patrick Phipps
 Elbert Pruitt
 Jessica Yu

 Verse attributions
 1-AF;  2-EP; 3-MMC; 4-PP
 5-AF; 6-MMC; 7-AF; 8-EP; 9-AF; 10-AF
 11-AF; 12-comp.; 13-comp.
 14-AF; 15-JY 16-EP
 17-AF; 18-EP; 19-JY; 20-AF
 Alec Finlay

 alecfinlay@yahoo.com