Recess Bell

by Michael Dylan Welch and Garry Gay

Second prize winner in the 2013 Haiku Poets of Northern California rengay contest. First published in Mariposa #31, Autumn–Winter 2014, page 27. Written by email in 2009. See also the essay “Give Rengay a Try,” which includes this rengay in an Italian translation.

great expectations—

a Muslim transfer student

raises her hand Michael

the scarlet letter

passed between friends Garry

a secret garden

outside the window—

unfinished quiz Michael

the only crayon

not broken

the color purple Garry

a boy’s homework

gone with the wind Michael

call of the wild

the children all waiting

for the recess bell Garry

About this rengay, contest judge Ebba Story said that “‘Recess Bell’ is a delightful venture into childhood. Each link incorporates the title of a classic piece of literature and by ‘incorporate’ I truly mean the words in the chosen title are intrinsic to the meaning of the verse. Too, the details of this classroom experience are wonderfully authentic. I’ve been there, and through this vivid rengay, I’m there again.”