Recess Bell by Michael Dylan Welch and
Garry Gay
Second prize winner in the 2013 Haiku
Poets of Northern California rengay contest. First published in Mariposa #31, Autumn–Winter 2014, page 27. Written by
email in 2009. See also the essay “Give Rengay a Try,” which includes this rengay in an Italian translation.
great expectations—
a Muslim transfer student
raises her hand Michael
the scarlet letter
passed between friends Garry
a secret garden
outside the window—
unfinished quiz Michael
the only crayon
not broken
the color purple Garry
a boy’s homework
gone with the wind Michael
call of the wild
the children all waiting
for the recess bell Garry
About this rengay, contest judge Ebba Story said that “‘Recess Bell’ is a delightful venture into childhood. Each link incorporates
the title of a classic piece of literature and by ‘incorporate’ I truly mean the
words in the chosen title are intrinsic to the meaning of the verse. Too, the details
of this classroom experience are wonderfully authentic. I’ve been there, and through
this vivid rengay, I’m there again.”
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