Poetry has the power to create connection and community. Through poetry, people express themselves, connecting to their own minds and to each other. Japanese renga, a poetry form that links individual tanka and haiku together has been generated as a communal form for centuries. While the form began in the 10th century, it developed further in 15th century Japan, linking three line and two lined stanzas together. Poets linked haiku as an activity at parties. The renga, a Japanese form that relies on haiku and verse about the seasons, encourages community building through attention to the environment and to language. This year, as part of the Asian Cultural Festival, Professor Alison Cimino and Professor Ben Miller will be leading Queensborough Community College students and faculty in the practice of renga.
