A Different Distance: A Renga by Marilyn Hacker and Karthika Naïr

A COLLABORATIVE POETIC DIALOGUE BORN FROM THE SILENCE OF LOCKDOWN.

What happens when two poets, separated by circumstance, turn to the ancient Japanese art of renga to bridge the distance? A Different Distance is a profound, beautifully crafted correspondence in verse between Marilyn Hacker and Karthika Naïr, begun in March 2020 as the world retreated into the uncertainty of the global pandemic.

Living miles apart, these two friends used their poetry to chart the "differents and sames" of a year suspended in time. Through alternating tankas, they document the "plague spring" and the seasons that followed, marked not just by the waxing and waning of the virus, but by the relentless rhythms of life itself. From the physical battles of cancer and chemotherapy to the aching distance from loved ones in the U.S., Lebanon, and India, these poems bear witness to grief, solidarity, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Why this book is a masterpiece of collective wisdom:

• The Power of Connection: An inspiring example of how art can thrive in isolation, turning a "strange new kind of solitude" into a shared human experience.

• Ancient Form, Modern Context: Reimagines the traditional Japanese renga—a collaborative, linked poetic form—to make sense of a singular moment in history.

• Compassionate & Playful: While dealing with the weight of the pandemic and personal illness, the verse remains at turns poignant, witty, and deeply life-affirming.

• Global Perspective: A moving reflection that spans borders, connecting local experiences in Paris with the global challenges felt by communities worldwide.

A Different Distance is a testament to the fact that even when we are kept apart, our humanity—like "atoms of water, each captained by protons of hydrogen"—continues to hurtle forward together.