Author: Simon Hanson

Ozku Gathering

Due to social distancing Ozku decided to hold their meeting by email.

The agenda was to write haiku about set topics: sunset without mentioning the word sunset, reading, an unusual angle about flowers, a cheeky haiku, and a special experience.

Five out of the six members were able to participate; Bea Yell, Catherine Smith, Dawn Bruce, Joanne Watcyn-Jones and Margaret Conley. We commented in turn on each haiku then the poet replied. Some truly beautiful and fresh haiku evolved.

As one member said it was the best fun she’d had in weeks

Dawn Bruce

White Pebbles Haiku Group update

Although we usually meet only quarterly, current circumstances encouraged us to also have a brief email catch-up in April, sharing current news and at least one haiku each. Members were very responsive and we all enjoyed it so much we have a similar email meeting planned for May. We are looking forward to resuming our ginko and workshop meeting at Gosford/Edogawa Garden when that again becomes possible but meantime we all value being in touch.

Beverley George
Convenor

Cloudcatchers Autumn Ginko # 57

Thursday April 30, 2020

In view of the social distancing imposed upon us, it had to be different this time. Fourteen Cloudcatchers participated in a virtual ginko, each in our own home and/or immediate environment. The period indicated was between 10 am and noon, with 10 am being the time at which each poet thought of all the other poets taking part, doing the same thing at the same time.

The nature of this ginko meant that we could invite past members, now living at a distance, to take part. We were delighted that our beloved patron, John Bird, joined us in thought, and that three past members participated from Burleigh Heads in Queensland, the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria, and the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

Continue reading “Cloudcatchers Autumn Ginko # 57”

Illawong Isolation Exercising

Illawong Haiku Group usually meets seasonally but during isolation and with the use of modern technology we are staying connected. This is good for our mental health, improving our haiku writing and mentoring our newbies.

Our first exercise was writing a commentary on a selected haiku. The second exercise was writing three haiku on the subject of Covid. The haiku were then compiled into a list and circulated for everyone to rank in order of preference for each writer. The best haiku for each writer resulted in this string:

Continue reading “Illawong Isolation Exercising”

Echidna Tracks Submission Reminders

Echidna Tracks will be accepting submissions for Issue 5: Open Theme throughout the month of April. The editors invite your previously unpublished haiku and senryu on any topic that stirs your imagination and that is likely to stir the imaginations of our readers.

Please read the guidelines carefully.

Submissions may be made via the form that will appear on the Submissions page throughout the month of April 2020.

Lynette Arden
Lyn Reeves
Simon Hanson

Echidna SH
Photo by Simon Hanson