Tribute to Katherine Samuelowicz
Australian and international haiku poets were saddened this week to hear of the passing of Brisbane poet, Katherine Samuelowicz. Katherine, a talented and free-thinking poet whose haiku, tanka and other poetry was published widely, leaves a huge legacy for Australian haiku, particularly in her role as editor of one of Australian haiku’s most well-known and long running journals, paper wasp (1994-2016).
Katherine’s association with paper wasp began in the early 90’s as a founding member of the paper wasp group which she led for a number of years. From the very first issue of the journal in 1994-95 – a collection of erotic haiku – a feature of Katherine’s editorship was a willingness to engage fresh voices. Many of us are beneficiaries of this attitude, with paper wasp unearthing a generation of Australian as well as international haiku poets.
Katherine was a great supporter of the Australian Haiku Society, serving in its early years as Secretary in 2003-2004. She was a co-editor, along with Janice Bostok and Vanessa Proctor, of the Second Australian Haiku Anthology (2006) and the Third Australian Haiku Anthology (2011) along with Jacqui Murray. In 2013, she also co-edited an anthology of Australian and New Zealand haiku.
Katherine was widely regarded as a generous and compassionate person who enjoyed the company of fellow poets. Her role as a full-time delegate to the 4th Haiku Pacific Rim Conference in 2009 was just one example of this.
Katherine is a significant voice in Australian haiku which deserves to be recognised. Some of Katherine’s publishing details can be found here. The Committee of the Australian Haiku Society wishes to acknowledge her contribution to Australian haiku and express our sincere condolences to Katherine’s family and loved ones.
another glass of wine
twilight carrying
the world away
……..Katherine Samuelowicz
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