an advent rengay written between Gillena Cox and Reason A. Poteet
(see notes below)

Stock of Jesse

November rains-
looking forward with joy to
a drier December        

hopeful pilgrims set their
watch for the returning King        

buying candles
for the seasonal wreath-
and one white        

time for reflection
the Light of the World
outshines injustice        

the clock on the wall chimes
outside the early darkness        

as the time draws near
wise men listen for His voice
with oil aplenty        


Start Date: 19Nov08; End Date: 03Dec08
Mode: via e-mail
Theme: Advent
Link: 1-2 looking/watch
Link: 2-3 returning/seasonal; white candle/Christ our King
Link: 3-4 candles /light
Link: 4-5 time/clock, injustice/darkness
Link: 5-6 chimes/listen
Link: 6-1 oil aplenty/joy

There are many other links, both conceptual and thematic throughout the poem 'Stock of Jesse',  a rengay between Gillena Cox – Trinidad and Tobago who composed the first, third and fifth verses and Reason A. Poteet – US who composed the second, fourth and last.
Note: The Rengay; a 6-link collaborative poem, is a North American variation on the Japanese linked verse form. It was invented in 1992 as a synthesis of: Ren (linked) and Gay (the last name of its inventor, poet Garry Gay)