Tan-Renga/Tanka Chapbook Series Book 1, for dreams take one space capsule, features previously published poems linked together to tell a story spanning different realities. REVIEWS: Each poem appears on its own page. This provides the reader with the opportunity to move deeply into each poem. It's worth spending the time because these poems are finely crafted, and there is a remarkable synergy between the two writers. There is humor in some of these poems and always a lot of depth. Both writers are concise in their use of language: there are no wasted words. Some of the poems are quite experimental, both in the liberties they take with the form, and in the topics that are explored. What they have in common is that they are all good! Here are a few of my favorites: hazy moon my footsteps and I pace the length of many dreams For me, as a tanka writer, it's fascinating to compare tanka to tan-renga. Both forms involve two "parts" for lack of a better word. When I write a tanka, I might start with an observation like lines 1 -3 above. I can certainly picture that hazy moon and the consequent focus on the narrator's footsteps. I would usually have some idea of where I might go with the rest of the poem. In tan-renga, the other poet creates the second part, so there is the possibility of going in a more unexpected direction. In the above poem, line 4 could actually be the end of a pretty good haiku. Line 5, however, takes the reader into a different reality, literally and figuratively. How to imagine 'the length of many dreams?' I'm still working on it! I love poetry with a bit of humor. Here's one: making ends meet she buys another pair of stilettos online they don't fit I hear suggestions of a sex worker lifestyle in lines 1 – 3. Line 4 is a logical link, but line 5 is a very humorous shift that leaves me wondering. My sense is that not only do the shoes not fit, but the lifestyle doesn't fit either. I also love poems that deal with religion. This one brought a smile to my face. outriders escort an entourage of ministers traffic jam too much fanfare for such a narrow road Here I'm picturing a group of ministers being escorted through a populated area, causing a traffic jam. Line 4 is a wry comment on the pomp and circumstance involved, but then line 5 introduces the term 'narrow road' - which works beautifully on a literal and metaphorical level. I see references to Basho's Narrow Road to the Interior and also the Christian concept of a narrow path to salvation. The irony in this line is rich indeed! Finally, the title poem: prescription pills . . . for dreams take one space capsule lightyears from its destination There is a wonderful play on the word capsule in line 3. In lines 4 and 5, we are invited to ponder the great distances in space and also perhaps how far we are from our own destinations here on earth. A prescription for dreams, indeed! ~Ken Slaughter, former VP, Tanka Society of America For Dreams Take One Space Capsule is the eclectic first book of the Tan-Renga / Tanka Chapbook Series. Co-authors Christina Chin and M. R. Defibaugh are, of course, widely published and celebrated poets. As brilliance meets brilliance, their collaboration is both innovative and imaginative. Readers will delight in tan-renga chronicling both nature and human nature. A bonus: Humor is woven throughout these pages. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series. ~Roberta Beach Jacobson, Editor, Cold Moon Journal The humble short-form poetry world is quietly experiencing a renaissance of collaboration, the splendiferous fruits of which can, among other glorious places, be discovered and appreciated in the Tan-Renga/Tanka Chapbook series of Christina Chin and M. R. Defibaugh, book 1 of which is arriving this October! While the haiku has found its way into some of the most distant dialects and alphabets, its progenitor collaborative form, the renga, the tradition from whence it was initially derived and perfected, is still not as appreciated and has yet to achieve the same status or familiarity. Chin and Defibaugh, in their inaugural collection, "For Dreams Take One Space Capsule," do a standup job of demonstrating a critical need and imperative for remedying this unfortunate error. I entered "For Dreams" as a tremendous fan and enthusiast for the immaculate writing and artwork of Malaysian legend Christina Chin and in no time was no less enamored with and impressed by the distinctive, pleasantly contrasting work of perhaps the more analytical mind of Virginian phenom, M. R. Defibaugh, writing from a background steeped in hard sciences ('invisible…dilutes'), mathematics ('length…pace'), and business ('making ends meet'). There is a remarkable synergy between these poets that aspirers to the form would do well to remark and take note of closely. Defibaugh and Chin, adept and proficient virtuosos at the tanka form, of which these tan-renga amount, apply their pivoting through cutting verbiage or punctuation within the first partner's section, whereas the answer portion classically encompasses an emotional, subjective reaction of sorts. Rather than two haiku stitched together, as less experienced poets might inadvertently generate, there is a seamless blending, effortless way in which these magnificent writers finish each other's thoughts and sentences between the third and fourth lines! One of the most exhilarating aspects of tan-renga is the resulting yûgen or air of palpable mystery that arises as narratives clash and thought and intention are translated and expounded upon in unexpected syntheses and formations, not unlike two jazz musicians riffing off one another. Indeed, the different identities and characters of the poets create riveting tension as they negotiate for control over each piece. Each work is something to behold and applaud like an album of duets, keeping the reader never far from the edge of their seat! Provocative tension and human drama are described and explored thoughtfully in the poems' contents, which shall remain with me, unforgettably. A wondrous debut, signaling a spectacular and triumphant return full circle to the roots and foundations of the haikai and waka forms, auguring the start of a highly significant series worth following and paying keen attention to! ~Jerome Berglund, haiku poet and award-winning photographer Tan-Renga / Tanka Chapbook Series Book 1, October 2022 ISSN 2833-7972 M. R. Defibaugh Haiku Poetry Chesterfield, VA mrdefibaugh@gmail.com