The 1000 Verse Renga: a call to all poets and the public for even more verses

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The Renga Project
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now over 1000 verses
and extended to Christmas!

Roger McGough: "This is a lovely idea."



BBC Poetry Season:
"The free project, led by Japanese poetry expert Alan Summers, is the first attempt in Europe to produce a 1,000 verse Renga."
Alan Summers also took part in the BBC's Poetry Summer 2009 season.


An open invitation to poets and the public :
We said we'd love even more renga verses from all the residents of Bath, and all the poets and writers in Bath, and we did, thank you!

We believe this 1000 Verse Renga will stand as an extraordinary social document, as well as a riveting poem.

Competition
A competition is also being planned for Spring 2010 for the best verses in various categories: local poets and writers; international poets and writers; the general public; and schools and children.

AN EXPLANATION ABOUT THE WHOLE THING!
This is a unique project drawing experienced writers, and international haiku and renga poets, and their verses together, with contributions from the general public.

I'm the Japanese Embassy roving "Japan-UK 150" haiku & renga poet-in-residence currently in partnership with Bath Libraries.

A challenge started on National Poetry Day (U.K.) in October for the residents of Bath and North East Somerset to create the world's longest poem using the renga form of poety (see below).



This project became more than a poem, it allowed people from all walks of life to reveal aspects of their life, their worries, their fears, to create a unique time capsule for the residents of this area:

and with verse contributions from all over the world from people who care about people beyond their geographical, political and cultural boundaries:

Bath Chronicle: Councillor Terry Gazzard, Bath and North East Somerset Council's cabinet member for tourism, leisure and culture said:

"B&NES' libraries are a place where words can come alive and everyone has the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Schemes like this poetry project bring the whole community together and reinforce Bath's reputation as a global centre for the arts."

Alan Summers, Bath Chronicle newspaper:

"Libraries are a place of words, and as someone who promotes the love of words, what better place could I choose to launch this incredible type of poem, where the public write the poem – not the poet."

I also want everyone to join in with this fully inclusive group poem!

Bath Central Library access incl. lifts, BSL, and computers:
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http://tiny.cc/LibraryAccess