Illawong Haiku Group usually meets seasonally but during isolation and with the use of modern technology we are staying connected. This is good for our mental health, improving our haiku writing and mentoring our newbies.
Our first exercise was writing a commentary on a selected haiku. The second exercise was writing three haiku on the subject of Covid. The haiku were then compiled into a list and circulated for everyone to rank in order of preference for each writer. The best haiku for each writer resulted in this string:
covid spreads
as dad’s memory shrinks…
sadness
Alison Miller
isolation …
the last dodo
looks around
Margaret Ruckert
empty street
teddy bears wait patiently
at the window
Lana Wayne
the sounds of isolation…
peace and quiet
Roslyn Pitt
I dream to stride
the steepest of hills
flattening the curves
Margaret Ruckert
social distancing
my iPhone battery
only 2%
Carol Reynolds
railway car park
two magpies
take up a space
Margaret Mahony
This exercise was a learning curve for some and provided an air of anticipation while awaiting the final result.
We will continue our seasonal meetings when we are able but may stay connected in this way between meetings in the future.
Carol Reynolds
Convenor
IHG
Australian Haiku Society 