Eight Tan-Renga Poems by M. R. Defibaugh done in collaboration with Malaysian poet Christina Chin

Tan -Renga Poems

beer raised

again she watches stars

through the glass

 

each impatient 

for the microphone 

 

M. R. Defibaugh / Christina Chin

 

 

village crowd 

breakfast coffee 

at the hawker stand

 

a crispy corn dog

between sips

 

Christina Chin / M. R. Defibaugh

 

 

evacuees line up

for water and rice

a volunteer’s smile

 

the cute little ones tug

their mother's dress

 

M. R. Defibaugh / Christina Chin

 

 

playtime

the little girls paint

barbie dolls

 

to look more

like themselves 

 

Christina Chin / M. R. Defibaugh

 

 

arithmetic games 

. . . letting the kids

win

 

not even once

. . . daddies hate losing too!

Christina Chin / M. R. Defibaugh

 

 

a spider scampers

across the sheets

skin crawling

 

disappears

under the sheets

 

M. R. Defibaugh / Christina Chin

 

 

spring calls begin 

a riot

of warbler song

 

his punk rock t-shirt

too tight

Christina Chin & M. R. Defibaugh

 

 

no others on the beach

little boys skinny dip 

in the sea

 

they emerge already

making comparisons

Christina Chin / M. R. Defibaugh

M. R. Defibaugh is a Virginia-based poet and haiku enthusiast whose work is influenced by love, loss, disability, and compassion for others and the environment. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, he suffers from severe muscle weakness and relies on a wheelchair. He has degrees in mathematical sciences (BA, University of Illinois at Springfield) and operations management (MS, University of Arkansas). Defibaugh's latest chapbook, the cuckoo always mid-song: haiku & haiga (2021), was done in collaboration with artist Penney L. Mellen and is available from Barnes & Noble Press. His work is also included in various publications, including Frogpond, Modern Haiku, Failed Haiku, and Prune Juice.

Eight Tan-Renga Poems by M. R. Defibaugh done in collaboration with Malaysian poet Christina Chin.