Cloudcatchers Ginko No. 72

DATE: Thursday 8 February (summer)
PLACE: Missingham Park, Ballina at 10 am

Cloudcatchers’ Summer Ginko (No.72) was held between raindrops on the southern bank of the mouth of the Richmond River in Ballina, on Thursday 8 February 2024, with the group assembling at 10 am. Missingham Park is adjacent to the Skate Park, which subsequently featured in a few of our haiku.

The group of six comprised: Angela Smith, Robyn Braithwaite, Norma Watts, Laurel Astle, Vivien Royston and Quendryth Young, with two others who were not well enough to be with us, participating from their homes in a virtual ginko at the same time … Nathalie Buckland and Helen Davison. Robbie led us into the silence by reminding us of the Bunjalung people, original custodians of this land.

During our previous ginko we had experimented in the choosing of a featured common interest, with everyone writing as a response to the same image. As that had proved to be productive and amusing, an attempt was made to write in response to some similar common depiction. And there was a dad in bare feet, trailed by a toddler wearing his little gumboots. So that became our image for the day. Quite soon the little one obligingly jumped in a puddle, evoking at least one haiku from each participant.

We lunched together at the Ballina Bowls and Sports Club. A Round Robin followed, with poets contributing at least one and up to five haiku from the day, with subsequent responses to at least one poem from each poet. The composite document was distributed to all participants.