Six Tan-renga with Paul O. Williams

First published in various journals. The late Paul O. Williams was a dear friend, and it was my pleasure to write the foreword for his last book of poetry, These Audacious Maples. See also “Pages of a Letter,” which tells how I wrote these tan-renga.

the parking lot

crowded on this crisp day—

with sea gulls Paul O. Williams

a dropped receipt

spins in the wind Michael Dylan Welch

~ ~ ~

a kite flown

from the pier weaves

among the sea gulls Paul O. Williams

by her anchored fishing pole

señorita stops her knitting Michael Dylan Welch

~ ~ ~

out in the garden

cleaned up for spring—

me and the spiders Paul O. Williams

the spigot now rusty

that dripped into her begonias Michael Dylan Welch

~ ~ ~

a winter morning—

at six-thirty in the rain

chickens out scratching Paul O. Williams

but for one at rest

under a wheelbarrow Michael Dylan Welch

~ ~ ~

passing the scarecrow

the homeless man seems jealous

of his job Paul O. Williams

porcupine quills

in the lost dog’s nose Michael Dylan Welch

~ ~ ~

the sunlit fountain—

the endless, varied games

falling water plays Paul O. Williams

my palms chafed

holding crutches Michael Dylan Welch