Cloudcatchers Spring Ginko No. 79

A rainforest Remnant, at Dalwood, in the hinterland of the far north coast
of New South Wales is one of the Cloudcatchers’ favourite venues. Six of us
gathered there on Thursday 9th October for our Spring experience, and once again walked the boardwalk through this untouched captured remnant of the past, where the Bunjalung people lived so long ago.

We shared ‘spring-inspired’ haiku which we had written recently, commented on haiku that had achieved publication, and offered to lend or give away various haiku journals. Before setting out on our silent half hour of observation and writing, we remembered to acknowledge all those who had ventured on this trail before us, recently and ancient.

Photo at Summerland House, Alstonville
Laurel Astle, Robyn Briathewaite, Richard Watts, Norma Watts, Quendryth Young

forest walk
muted shades of fallen leaves
hide the python

Norma Watts

Robbie: Yes, what a special thing to see! It’s great as it is but I keep wanting to
make it shorter. Could it even be “forest walk / shadows hide / the python”? How much detail can you get rid of before it becomes bland and meaningless – subject for discussion

Quendy: So peaceful, yet there is a hidden python (though they don’t frighten me!) As the implication is of hidden danger, maybe: forest walk/piles of tranquil leaves/hide the python
tranquil forest walk / piles of fallen leaves / hide the python
But I quite like it just as it is.

Laurel: I like the idea of this one but have a bit of trouble with ‘ hide’ because he
couldn’t have been hidden entirely. Could you say ‘python camouflage’ in the third line which is only one more syllable?