Winter Ginko and Meeting June 2025
After a relaxing chat over coffee in the cafe at the Gosford/Edogawa Commemorative Gardens we broke off and wandered into the main area of the gardens for individual meditation. The day was perfectly still with not a movement in the bushes near me, only a lonely butterfly making its wobbly way through the crisp morning.
Moving further into the gardens I came under the spell of the waterfalls, always mesmerising and demanding attention to their rush and movement. And it wasn’t long before a colourful drake came waddling down the path towards me and confidently plunged into the body of water expecting me to move, which I did.
I then saw three ducklings enjoying their first swims near the reeds and in sight of their mother. In their natural element now, they swam beside their mum who fussed a while over them.
Others in our group were sitting quietly nearby scribbling or looking for something out of the ordinary.
The stone lanterns stood as still, silent objects of contemplation. I thought I would like to be here at night when they are lit with oil and take on their real purpose.
After nearly an hour or so we met up in our reserved quiet downstairs room to share our observations, insights and the haiku they had inspired.
Michael Thorley
Photo: Deb Robinson
left to right: Kent Robinson, Maire Glacken, Beverley George, Michael Thorley
Australian Haiku Society 