Autumn Equinox Haiku String
The recent AHS Autumn Equinox Haiku String attracted a record number of contributions of which we are most grateful. As usual, haiku came from near and far around the globe, including our first offering from China-which is fantastic. If you wish you can revisit the Haiku String here.
Echidna Tracks Issue 7 Submissions Are Now Open
We are fortunate to have Gavin Austin on the editorial team for this upcoming issue of Echidna Tracks: Australian Haiku. Previously unpublished haiku and senryu are invited around the theme of Light & Colour, both natural and artificial; the lights around us and the lights and visions within — illuminations of every kind. There is scope here also to explore darkness, night, shadow and shade. Let your words make a picture, tell a story, show what you see, how you are feeling, leaving room for readers to conjure their own. The submission period for Issue 7 will be open throughout April 2021. Please read the guidelines carefully. We look forward to your submissions.
Creatrix Haiku
For your diary please note the following submission deadlines for the online Western Australian journal Creatrix
- 10th February for the March issue
- 10th May for the June issue
- 10th August for the September issue
- 10th November for the December issue
Haiku Foundation Poet of the Month – Janice Bostok
Among the numerous valuable resources held in the Haiku Foundation Digital Library is an impressive collections of works by and about Janice Bostok—it would be difficult to overstate the value of this collection. Janice Bostok was recently celebrated as The Haiku Foundation’s Poet of the Month.
fetching firewood
i open the door
to moonlight
Janice M. Bostok
(1942 – 2011)
Groups and Gatherings
Feel free to catch up on the some of the latest happenings in the regional groups listed here.
New Zealand Poetry Society Completion 2021 Open for Submissions
Our friends across the ditch – the New Zealand Poetry Society -are holding their annual competition including sections in haiku for Open and Junior categories. Guidelines and further information can be found here.
Congratulations
British Haiku Society David Cobb Haiku Award
Judged by Sandra Simpson & Charles Trumbull
Among the selections Owen Bullock and Ron C. Moss received honourable mentions with:
slow night
at the kebab shop
they watch us eat
Owen Bullock
first hailstones
a farrier hammers
the darkness
Ron C. Moss
All selections and judge’s comments can be found here.
Touchstone Individual Poems Long List
A number of Australians have made the long list for the Touchstone Individual Poems Award for 2020 including:
a cloud becomes a cat the dr i f t of th in g s
Lorin Ford, Presence 68
tideline . . .
a breaker delivers sea glass
to an old sailor’s feet
Beverley George, Kokako 33
bloodwood moon
a starving dingo paces
the rain shadow
Ron C. Moss, Failed Haiku 49
The Touchstone Distinguished Books Award Short List for 2020 can be accessed here.
Finding peace and contemplation…
Marietta McGregor was recently guest editor for The Haiku Foundation’s regular feature Haiku Dialogue. You can enjoy her refreshing selections and commentaries here, well worth a read.
I Wish – Hailstone Publications
Ordering details for I Wish, the latest publication from the Hailstone Group based in Japan, along with their many other publications can be found here. This website is well worth exploring.
Haiku in Musical Form
And for something quite different, yet reflective of the common ground underlying all art forms—a young Italian composer and pianist, Marco Bedetti, recently contacted us to share his renditions of haiku in musical form. These very short compositions began as inspirations from written haiku poetry which then developed in way guided by musical expression. It seems he may have touched upon something of the spirit of haiku in a wordless and rather novel way— enjoy.
Haiku should be just
small stones dropping down a well—
with a remote splash
James Kirkup (1918-2009)
Australian Haiku Society 