Competition Successes
A number of Australian poets were recognised in various competitions during this last month including Cynthia Rowe and Madhuri Pillai who were Runners Up in the Golden Haiku Contest with:
sugar high
the undulating flight
of a honeyeater
………. Cynthia Rowe
spring bloom
the heady breath
of new jonquils
………. Madhuri Pillai
first daffodil
a song under
my breath…
………. Madhuri Pillai
These poems have been printed on signs where they will grace garden beds in the streets of Washington DC over the coming spring months. These and all other selected poems in this contest can be accessed here.
Congratulations also to Mark Miller who received an Honorable Mention in the esteemed 20th Mainichi Haiku Contest Contest with:
Mother’s Day
folding the sun’s warmth
in her freshly-washed sheets
………. Mark Miller
Book Launches
A number of new works enriched the haiku scene this month with the launch of three Australian collections:
Lyn Reeves collaborated with Hobart painter Luke Wagner to produce Small Worlds; a beautiful collection of haiku paired with paintings of Bonsai exhibited in Tasmania’s Colville Gallery. Bushfire Moon by Ron C. Moss was launched at the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts in Hobart. Bushfire Moon includes haiku, haibun and some photographs relating to Ron’s most interesting and often emotionally powerful experiences as a volunteer firefighter. Vanessa Proctor and Gregory Piko have collaborated in the writing of the highly recommended Blowing Up Balloons: baby poems for parents published by Red Moon Press. Further information on each of these three books and ordering details can be found here.
Group Meetings
A number of groups held enjoyable and productive meetings during March and further information can be found by clicking on the links below.
Red Dragonflies ……. Red Kelpie ……. Bowerbird Tanka Group
Other Events and Activities
The Autumn Haiga Kukai has attracted much interest and many quality entries in both the seasonal and non-seasonal sections. All entries to the current kukai are available for reading here until the results are posted. Results of the previous Spring Haiga Kukai can be found at the same link. Results for the current kukai are forthcoming.
Members of Haiku Bindii performed in an Adelaide Fringe event with readings of haiku in the beautiful Old Onkaparinga Woollen Mill in the historic hills town of Lobethal.
Mari Warabiny held a Have-a-Go stall promoting haiku to the general public during the 1000 Paper Cranes Community Picnic and Fun Day in Perth.
Much has happened over the last month and this of course is by no means an exhaustive list; looking forward to a creative April . . .
many thanks
Simon Hanson
Australian Haiku Society 