Thursday 10 August 2023
This time, we were a full house. After a mid-winter break during July, we re-assembled at The Oaks for lunch, doubly pleased to greet teach other once more—all of us, Glenys Ferguson, Hazel Hall, Kathy Kituai, Marietta McGregor, Gregory Piko, and Jan Dobb. As usual, it was not long before our personal catch-up was morphing into animated haiku talk. How good to be together again!
Marietta had previewed us the day before with news of her appearance as Featured Writer on the Contemporary Haibun Online website, an article which drew our acclaim. Surely an inspiration to all who aspire to write haibun.
This naturally led to further congratulations to Marietta, whom we had noticed as the Focus Poet in the latest issue of Presence 76. A copy, which also includes some Oaks haiku, was passed around and Hazel read aloud some poems.
Other books were presented and appreciated. Greg had brought a copy of Horizon by Aussie poet, Robyn Cairns. Examples of Robyn’s haiku were read, and their delicacy remarked on. An enticing collection available from Amazon.
The haiku journal First Frost was a new one for some of us and we were interested to browse the recent Issue 5, which includes a contribution from our very own Marietta. More information from the First Frost website.
Glenys presented us with a few haiku she is currently working on, and we were honoured to have her seek our reaction and ideas. Some to-and-fro was lively, perhaps sparked somewhat by all our above reading. Thank you, Glen.
Jan had brought a few photocopied pages from a 1960 publication, A Net of Fireflies, Japanese haiku translated into English verse by Harold Stewart. Although the result is scarcely haiku as such, we shared varying reactions both positive and negative to the ‘poetic re-creation’ (cover blurb). Given the date of publication, this is a fascinating glimpse into early English-language responses to Japanese haiku. Alas, the Oaks staff were packing up for the day, so perhaps further discussion about this next time.
What a joy to meet over lunch and share the haiku spirit!
Jan Dobb
Australian Haiku Society 