Midwinter Interlude: The Hidden Sun

Renku is a style of Japanese short-form poetry that is usually written collaboratively. Verses alternate between three and two lines. This poetic form eschews clear narrative, incorporates all of the seasons, and has designated themes/images for most verses.

The Midwinter Day Renku is a variation I began developing last year. Inspired by Bernadette Mayer’s epic poem Midwinter Day, it deviates from the standard renku form in two key ways. First, it only contains 24 verses: one for every hour of the day. Second, all verses take place in winter. In its current incarnation, I have not assigned themes/images to specific stanzas, but that is something I am working on for future versions of the form. (When preparing for this year’s session, I found thematic notes I had started and then forgotten about!)

The Midwinter Day renku is ideally written in the span of one day, on the winter solstice. Like the poem it is named after, it is meant to celebrate the small moments of daily life, and celebrate the connections we share, on the shortest, darkest day of the year.

In 2022, my friend Claire Vogel Camargo wrote the first Midwinter Day Renku with me via email. In honor of the winter solstice, I am sharing our effort here.

The Hidden Sun
Written by Allyson Whipple (St. Louis, MO) and Claire Vogel Camargo (Austin, TX)
Wednesday, December 21^st, 2022

two hours before dawn
a dream of freshwater pearls
in salmon skin                                     (AW)

still dark outside
the microwave's ding                          (CVC)

back door closing
the shrill whine of a chainsaw
and clunk of ice                                   (CVC)

eczema’s scaly burn—
hold music                                           (AW)

missing him—
the house plants lean
toward the weak light                         (AW)

an ice reindeer waits
in deep freeze for Christmas Eve       (CVC)

red poinsettia
perks up under stove light
the hidden sun                                     (CVC)

Christmas presents not yet wrapped
a stack of moving boxes still packed              (AW)

sixth cup of tea
the outdoor lights seem
a little brighter                                    (AW)

arctic front warnings 
finding my warm clothes                    (CVC)

blood pressure check ... 
payments and poem submissions
due by NYE                                        (CVC)

preparing for tomorrow
wondering which plans will get canceled       (AW)

hot shower
realizing I’ve missed
the sunset                                            (AW)

not noticing markers
of this winter solstice                          (CVC)

gray days merge
the sadness for some  
tranquility for me                                (CVC)

old TV shows
a new sweater for the dog                   (AW)

late package delivery
the porch light gleams
in early darkness                                 (AW)

pondering the value
of gifts as people age                          (CVC)

the loud buzzes
of the washer and dryer
power grid fears                                  (CVC)

his lingering cough . . .
no snow yet                                         (AW)

jokes shared
with just one glance
no shadows left                                   (AW)

the holiday hurdle— 
missing family                                    (CVC)

our gratitude
for each other, each year
the ease of I'm sorry                            (CVC)

sinking into the warm couch
heavy eyelids                                      (AW)