Renga

by

Katie Smith (UK),

Ronda Rutherford (US),

Mindy Owens (US) and

Mark Wollacott (UK).

Autumn gingko trees

scatter handfuls of gold at

my unfeeling feet.

The sun softly kisses the

gold and wishes them goodnight

The dark finds fallen leaves robbed

of their lustre, except in

the minds of sleepers.

Dreams of tiny fireflies.

Freedom. They light their own path.

Hunched into their coats

people stalk to the station.

Their dreams seem far away.

Morning trains rush past, whisking

people to reality.

Barren branches sway

Beyond glimmering phone screens,

Going unnoticed.

A schoolgirl splits a big grin;

dangling bead-charms sparkle.

Sake-drenched morning;

milky sunlight drips from trees

fingers sting with cold.

So many gloves left at home

Warm instead of their charges.

A small cup of soup;

steaming pumpkin mists the glass

as I look outside.

Wind through my chattering teeth;

Hot, cold, sensitivities.