Month: June 2022

Vale John Bird

23.12.1932 … 22.5.2022

John Bird, Founder AHS

At the Australian Haiku Society we are greatly saddened to hear of the passing of John Bird who, in November 2000, co-founded our society with Janice Bostok. John was much loved and admired as a poet, mentor and friend. His generous encouragement of the writing of Australian haiku continues to this day. The following eulogy by Quendryth Young and tributes from other Cloudcatchers, a group that John began, attest to this. His influence goes far beyond this haiku friendship group that was so close to his heart. Many of us have been touched by John’s impact on our own haiku journeys.

This page will remain open for two weeks for your personal comments and tributes for a man who passionately but humbly steered the development of a uniquely Australian voice celebrating the culture and environment of our place in the world of haiku.

Lyn Reeves

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AHS Winter Solstice Haiku String 2022

The Australian Haiku Society welcomes contributions from haiku poets worldwide to the Winter Solstice Haiku String.

We will be holding this Haiku String during the day of the Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice, occurring in Australia this year on Tuesday, 21st June, 2022. The String will remain open for contributions until Tuesday 28th June to accommodate international poets who may wish to take part.

The string has now closed. Thanks to all the poets who shared their haiku. We are pleased to have contributions from many countries. While comments on haiku are welcomed while the string is open, comments that are not haiku have now been removed to make it easier for readers.

Haiku String – Instructions

The AHS invites you to share with us your original, previously unpublished haiku or senryu on the theme of Climate Change.  We invite you to explore a multiplicity of ideas in the String without necessarily using the term climate change, though you may if you wish.

The haiku will be linked by subject and theme, it is not necessary for each haiku to relate to the one before it.

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Preliminary Notice: AHS Winter Solstice Haiku String 2022

The Australian Haiku Society welcomes contributions from haiku poets worldwide to the Winter Solstice Haiku String.

We will be holding the Haiku String during the day of the Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice, which occurs in Australia this year on Tuesday 21st June, 2022. The String will remain open for contributions until Sunday 26th June to accommodate international poets who may wish to take part. Contributions may be made on the website during these dates only (not before).

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Bindii Zoom Meeting 12 June

Report for 12.06.22 Bindii meeting

Lynette Arden, Stella Damarjati, Steve Wigg and I gathered this afternoon for a Zoom meeting.

Our agenda was writing tanka. We began by discussing the definition of tanka, and Lyn pointed out that the pivot that is so often emphasised in tanka definitions doesn’t have to occur on the third or fourth line, but can happen anywhere. The only requirement is to progress from one image or thought to a different place. It is often helpful to encompass this progression in a sentence, but this is not compulsory.

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Cloudcatchers’ Ginko No.65, 2022

Alstonville (northern NSW) on Thursday 2 June 2022

Because of constant rain, with no hope of a fine day on the horizon of the weather forecast, the autumn ginko was pushed into the first week of winter. As all of our favourite local sites for a gathering were water-logged, knee-high in grass and debris, or otherwise not suitable (pot holes, or water over the access road) we met at the home of Quendy Young in Cedar Court, Alstonville.

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