We’ve been having fun with Linked Worku — taking the day’s constraint words and writing a series of 5–7–5 poems, with one constraint word in each poem (check out auntie jj’s six part epic from 26 September!).
That got me reading about Japanese linked poetry.
Traditionally, renga and later renku were collaborative forms: poets took turns adding linked verses to a growing sequence, alternating:
5–7–5
7–7
5–7–5
7–7
There is also a solo version, where one poet takes all the turns.
So I thought: why not try it with Worku?
Introducing Worku Solo Renga
Write a linked sequence alternating:
5–7–5
7–7
Use the day’s constraint words according to your usual mode:
Classic/Hard: use them in the order they were played.
Freestyle: use them wherever you want.
Unlike Linked Worku, Solo Renga does not require one constraint word per verse. The defining rule is the alternating 5–7–5 / 7–7 structure.
So now we have two options:
Linked Worku: one constraint word per 5–7–5 poem.
Worku Solo Renga: one poet writes the whole linked 5–7–5 / 7–7 sequence.
For any Worki who want another challenge, give Solo Renga a try