Haiku in Hobart

Hobart is experiencing a wave of haiku events just now, beginning with the launch of Under the Same Moon: Fourth Australian Haiku Anthology at Fuller’s Bookshop on 16^th February. The launch was held as part of the bookshop’s 104^th Anniversary. There are ten Tasmanian contributors to the anthology. Those poets who were present, Ross Coward, Lorraine Haig, Simon Hanson, Leanne Jaeger, Irene McGuire, Peter Macrow, Ron C. Moss and Lyn Reeves, read their work. Lyn, who emceed, read the haiku of those who couldn’t attend the event, (Jane Williams, Judith EP Johnson and Nathan Sydney). The inimitable Michael Fortescue, former double bass player of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and improviser par excellence collaborated with the readings with delightful musical interpretations of the words. It was a night of great enjoyment for all.

A few days later, on February 20^th, Irene McGuire form Watersmeet, was a featured reader at “Seasonal Poets”, also held in the Fullers Bookshop Café. She gave a wonderful reading of her very fine haiku. Irene’s history with haiku goes back to the 1980s in Canada.

Coming Haiku Events – 23^rd March – Tasmania Reads Week