Slough Renga

I am a founder member of the Herschel Arms Writers, holding monthly writers’ events and open mics.

Our work together included an Arts Council commission of a Slough Renga  with Anna as Scribe.

Slough Renga is a place based poem about the town written collaboratively by ten local poets and spoken word artists. It is created and shared with love – for the people and the place – in the heart of Slough. Renga – meaning linked verse – is a 700-year-old Japanese poetic form of collaborative poetry in which alternating stanzas are linked in succession by multiple writers.

A.B

Slough, home for many
Black, white, brown, all languages
All of us find space

Pete

Moonlight guides lost travellers
Illuminating shadows

Dai

Some worship the moon
Many do just loon around
But all do love Slough

Daniel

They may look down upon us
But we believe in our town

Anna

Cold dark days our bond
Discovered stars lead the way
Hearts blossom again

Mary

And I saw the crescent moon
Glow in Herschel’s Park of green

Steph

Festivals, parties
Rain or shine we are alive
Dancing our own tune

Lola

Love drew early life to Slough
Planted, I will not leave now

Rick (Jackie Norman to read)

Altered perceptions
Memories of seasoned past
Winds of change blow soft

Steve

Stop and look up to the sky
Constellations seen nearby

Pete

Writers wrestle thoughts
Punky poetry pen pits
Journeys join our gifts

Dave

Location urban spaces
Verdant places abound here

Daniel

A welcoming grey
Makes the dismay dissipate
Affectionate rain

Anna

Find discipline with chaos
Head for comfort in these Arms

Mary

Multilingual songs
Waft Slough’s alleys and lanes
Children play with love

Steph

Vulnerable finds safety
Strength in chosen family

Lola

Confectionate Mars
Takes slabs of concrete away
And makes flowers grow

Rick

Warmth uncovered through sharing
Experiences of Slough

Steve

Spring creates new life
Sweeps away winter’s virus
Sun brings cleansing light

A.B

To the town and her people:
Loved them then, I love them now