"Come Write With Me!" National Poetry Day Community Drop In Renga with Alan Summers and guests at Bristol Central Library

"Come Write With Me" with Alan Summers

Bristol Central Library hosts Renga Poet and Organiser Alan Summers of literature organisation With Words as he collects short verses from library visitors to create a multi-voiced renga poem similar to those traditionally created in Japan.

Bristol Central Library is very close to Temple Meads Railway Station; Bristol City Centre (1 -2 minutes walk); and Central Bus Station: Bristol Central Library weblink

• Dates and times: Thursday 7 October, 10am - 6pm
• Venue: Bristol Central Library, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TL
• Free, for more information contact Andrew Cox, 0117 9222 180

This event is specially adapted to reflect the National Poetry Day theme of Home, and what that means in Bristol, the poem will be developed throughout the day.

This family friendly drop in event is open to everyone!

We are looking for very short mini-memories that can be then be made into brief renga verses.

People love reading these haikulike verses!

•    The whole mini-memory can just take a few seconds to say.
•    The words can present a recent or past memory 

•    It can be about anything from childhood to work, or what you like about your home and/or Bristol.

That's it!  We do the rest, just record the way you say it, making it a brief verse that other people love to read, and share. 

Just give us a recollection of a memory past or present, or even something humourous, and we will link it to the other verses being created so that people will love hearing them, and reading them.

The verses will be posted on this blog, with your permission, where hundreds of people from Bristol and beyond will read and connect with, and share a common experience with you.

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If you have any questions please drop me an email at: bristolrenga@withwords.org.uk

or give me a ring on my mobile: 07979 656 775.  

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If you get my voicemail I will call you back as soon as I can, as I want everyone to enjoy this relaxed and highly rewarding experience.

What does 'home'mean to you?

• is it the building you live in
• the place you came from
• a taste of home cooking?
• or is there something else you can think of!

Above all, this is a fun experience which can result in simple but moving verses enjoyed and appreciated by people from all walks of life.
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Alan Summers is the current Renga Poet-in-Residence for the  Hull Global Renga.

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What is Renga?
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Bristol bred Alan Summers is the founder of With Words which promotes 
the love of words with events and activities through Haiku and Renga 
poetry.

He is a Japan Times award-winning writer for haiku and renga poetry 
(haiku originated from Renga as its ‘starting verse’).

Renga is a traditional Japanese group poem that's ‘shared writing’: 
everyone is allowed the chance to write, or verbally suggest a verse.

It’s very inclusive, creative, and encouraging, and the making of this 
communal poem is as important as the final result.

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More about Renga
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Example of a renga led by Japan Times award-winning writer for haiku and renga: www.geantree.com/rengarenku9_10toes.html

Of all the ‘poetic forms’this is one that works for people who have 
never written before, and yet offers a great challenge for those who 
are already comfortable and established writers.

Renga is where people can sit and stay, or come and go, listen or 
write, and above all share in the decision-making of each verse. When 
completed the renga poem is jointly owned by everyone.

The renga verses are more than the sum of its parts as they capture our 
thoughts and feelings, which might otherwise be lost at end of the day; 
we can also share an experience wherein strangers and friends or 
colleagues connect for a moment.

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The aim
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The aim is that towards the end of the day at Bristol Central Library 
we can display both finished renga poems in the library; to present a 
sense of achievement to the local community; and to develop a further 
interest in Japanese culture.

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 Blog
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The whole poem will also be available to read on this blog.


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