Paperbark Haiku Summer Ginko

January 2023

Our summer ginko was held on Wednesday 25th January at Swanbourne beach in Western Australia. It was a typical summer’s day with warm sunny weather and a gentle breeze coming in over the ocean.

We enjoyed a coffee and stimulating conversation at the Shorehouse restaurant while haiku from different sources were read and analysed.

Unfortunately, once again there were very few poets in attendance despite the event being reasonably well advertised. Discussion was held on how to improve numbers at forthcoming events. We have changed the day and location of our ginkos but don’t seem to have come up with a popular format.

The group dispersed for approximately forty-five minutes to write their own haiku. Whilst some ventured onto the sand, others used the promenade overlooking the dunes with its views out to Rottnest for their inspiration. A regular contributor, although unable to attend herself, Maureen created her poetry in her garden and forwarded it to the group.

On reconvening each of the poets described their experience of the beach and read some of the haiku they had come up with. As always, the diversity in subject and mood was amazing. It was the first time I think the group had met on the seashore after several inner city or park locations. The rolling whitecaps and Fremantle Doctor gave the poets plenty of scope for their writing.

Rose Van Son	osprey’s nest tip of the Norfolk Island pine in full view	picking up shells— my childhood self left behind
Barry Sanbrook	head down she seeks a haiku	the beach in my sandals high tide
Maureen Sexton	picking tomatoes a caterpillar reaches for the sun	summer heat … the cat spread-eagled on the tiles
Coral Carter	beachside café chat and beats drown the waves	wilderness edge the horizon three shades of blue
Tash Adams	writers block ginko in the toilet	endangered species our numbers grow from three to four

Our next ginko for Autumn will be held in approximately three months, with the venue still to be decided.