Work in Progress

by Michelle Schaefer, Jacob Salzer, John S Green, Richard Tice, Michael Dylan Welch, and Annette Makino

First published in Counting Stars, the 2021 Seabeck Haiku Getaway anthology (Haiku Northwest Press, 2022, page 55). Originally written during the 2021 Seabeck Haiku Getaway in Seabeck, Washington as part of our “Renkurama” group writing project. This was originally written as a renku, with a traditional autumn seasonal development, but when it ended at six verses, it seemed sufficiently like a rengay, even though it lacked a strong central theme. See also “Grocery Store.”

late harvest moon

just enough chill

to crisp the apples Michelle

the end of grandma’s lullaby

autumn wind Jacob

the postcard reading

session goes over

at Seabeck John

the mailbox with offers

to buy our house Richard

without the moon

without you

salmon run Michael

we lean into

the driving rain Annette