As much as venerate our literary inheritance from Basho, we feel that when he was alive there was a twinkle in his eye that we all too often forget. Imagining a steamy, hot summer day, Basho and a couple he is visiting on his travels northward, decide to do a light-hearted renga together. Doing one in the old style (before the rules ruined all the fun), Basho began by borrowing his links from several of his previously written renga, leaving us to fill in the spaces between. There was wine, many laughs, guffaws, and giggles and it was fun! as renga can be.

it's so rotten
no other dogs enjoy
old jokes with me - b.

pass the wine
raise our spirits - j.

always a link
up his sleeve
wet the brush - w.

leather socks get dirty
walking a muddy path - b.

somebody's missing
quick put the moon in
a puddle - j.

spinning down when
does it get to the bottom? - w.

shy eyes
far out
composing - w.

so the villagers
laugh at me - b.

sleeping outdoors
with friends
summer constellations - j.

a hand drumming
pulsates with the sun - w.

a wood thrush manifests
"As power-spirit I come."
and cries and cries and cries - b.

breath-wind in mists
a trail through the maze - j.

meadow walk
eventually hiding
a snake - w.

greeting the traveler nights
a lamp on the floor - b.

curving her breast
the early moon
very hot - j.

impatient call
"When can we meet
at Penny's?" - w.

sandals in petals
yet he's so poor
his hat's a sack - b.

squint-eyed
bag lady now
a famous fad - j.

depression babies without social
security rich in years - j.

new body
freedom designed
for partnership - w.

cats in love
satisfied at dawn
he explains - j.

"I'm collecting songs
for the Flax-ReapingAnthology" - b.

bundles
the hand ties
a string around - w.

college experiments
sonnets saved in a hope chest - j.

more than dreams
the real butterfly
touches one - b.

stem after it
leaves erect - w.

without friends
he moves to
help himself - j.

among that kind
the tall pilgrim
stands out - b.

relief comes
first light on
a cedar tip - w.

to an incense stick
he also bows - j.

worship service begins
as invocation
crickets chanting - j.

it's so hot!
it's so hot!
same voice at every gate - b.

wet lips
summershine opens - w.

snow-clogged
mountain pass so steep
everyone sweats - j.

the resting hiker
hears a wave of color - w.

sunset on a spring
lake pleasure brings home
a poem - b.

This renga was previously published in one-liners printed horizontally with the pages folded as where the sheets when Basho did renga. This "booklet" was then part of Mirrors III:3, 1990.