International Haiku Day is celebrated worldwide on April 17 each year. Local poet, Myron Lysenko, Victoria’s Regional Representative for the Australian Haiku Society, has organised haiku activities in Woodend throughout April, including a haiku contest, haiku readings, haiku workshops, pop-up haiku poets, and a haiku picnic. Lysenko is the convenor of the monthly spoken word event Chamber Poets, and is an avid promoter, practitioner and teacher of haiku.
1—30 April Haiku contest on the theme of autumn. Under 18 and Open Age sections. Book prizes for the two winners. Free entry. Email one to three haiku you have written to myronlibrary@gmail.com
1—30 April Pop-up Haiku Poets. Poets will give short readings of haiku, or write a haiku for you as they appear spontaneously in public places.
2 April 10am-1pm Haiku Picnic. Meet at the bbq area at the Woodend Children’s Park and learn how to write haiku with the help of experienced haiku poets. Pop in for a few minutes or stay the full time. Bring your own picnic lunch. Free.
12 April 1pm-4pm Chamber Poets #109, Woodend RSL. Featuring internationally renowned poets from the Victorian based haiku group The Fringe Myrtles, plus Open Section and music by Black Forest Smoke. Food and drink available. Entry by $10 donation.
17 April 10am-midday Woodend Library. Free. Celebrate the magical, wonderful world of haiku. Listen to readings or be guided into writing your own.
17 April 1.30pm-3.30pm Woodend Neighbourhood House. Free. Poets will read haiku to you, write one about you or help you write one.
30 April 6pm- 8pm Haiku Dinner at the Victoria Hotel, Woodend. $22 for meal and a drink.
For more information contact Myron at: myronlibrary@gmail.com
Australian Haiku Society 