A RENGOUM: Changing Weather

changing weather
in a dubious century
teachers go unpaid

hiding the truth
what power achieves

teachers go unpaid
changing history
the commands of heretics

what power achieves
what it destroys

the command of heretics
upheaval in the norms
the different lighthouse

what it destroys
when thought is censored

the different lighthouse
there’s no right to complain
the lying man smiles

when thought is censored
wearing a coloured star

the lying man smiles
ignorance bliss
in times of chaos

wearing a coloured star
head low in shame

in times of chaos
shots in the street
diving for cover

head low in shame
crying in the shadows

diving for cover
the concrete walls
seem thick enough

crying in the shadows
a little girl holds a doll

seem thick enough
the words of Generals
lost in war games

a little girl holds a girl
sunrise approaches

lost in war games
soldiers stop
wishes of Merry Christmas!

sunset approaches
soldiers cry

wishes of a Merry Christmas!
a tin flask of scotch
safe from the bullets

soldiers cry
another day of reprieve

safe from the bullets
saluting dead friends
and those next

another day of reprieve
to walk away from duty

and those next
fighting on the western front
changing weather

to walk away from duty
hiding the truth

The Rengoum is modern style of renku invented by Luce Pelletier, a Canadian haiku poet. It combines the stanza form of renku with the repeating lines of Pantoum.