The summer solstice – when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky creating the longest day and shortest night of the year – has been important to many cultures throughout human history. With the observance of seasons a significant aspect of haiku practice, the Australian Haiku Society chooses to mark the solstices and equinoxes each year. This year for the Southern hemisphere summer solstice we are sharing a few favourite poems submitted to Haiku Strings in previous summers. You can find PDF booklets of most of the Haiku Strings we have held to date on our Resources page .
These twelve poems reflect a range of observations and responses to the season in Australia and beyond. We hope you enjoy them.
the last tick
on my Christmas list
. . . cool sheets
— Quendryth Young, Australia
Summer Solstice 2017
cicada dusk . . .
pine needles threading me
the moon
— Carole Harrison, Australia
Summer Solstice 2017
ocean pool
the scent of salt
and sunscreen
— Louise Hopewell, Australia
Summer Solstice 2024
summer coach
a man brings a beer crate
full of puppies
— Alan Summers, U.K.
Summer Solstice 2016
tapping the tank
until it rings hollow
summer drought
— Lynette Arden, Australia
Summer Solstice 2024
still light at bedtime
the stars come out
in my dreams
— Ron C. Moss, Australia
Summer Solstice 2021
every note of birdsong mountain rain
— Gavin Austin, Australia
Summer Solstice 2024
abandoned headset leaving the world behind the waterfall
— Sheila Barksdale, U.K.
Summer Solstice 2024
crossing the harbour
Christmas lights ferried
over the water
— Simon Hanson, Australia
Summer Solstice 2024
first streak of light
on the dividing range
longest day
— Rodney Williams, Australia
Summer Solstice 2016
longest day in the bush fire engines
— Myron Lysenko, Australia
Summer Solstice 2024
a lone surfer
rides the sunrise
summer solstice
— Neena Singh, India
Summer Solstice 2024
Australian Haiku Society 