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.