Leanne Mumford

CATCHMENT – POETRY OF PLACE

Submissions closing 21st May & Public reading 19th May

With its first edition (from December last year) well received, Catchment – Poetry of Place will release a second issue on 21 June 2024. Again, it will publish both tanka and longer free-verse poems, showing a sense of location. Since the submission period is set to close soon — on 21 May — poets resident in Australia are encouraged to make contributions, using the following link:
https://www.bawbawartsalliance.org.au/catchment2/on-line-submissions/

Urasenke Sydney Haiku Collaboration

Lilly Sievers is once again collecting haiku for her ongoing column in the Urasenke Sydney quarterly magazine. She would like to express her gratitude to the many Australian Haiku Society members who have contributed to prior columns and would love to continue featuring contemporary haiku.

Paperbark Haiku holding an Autumn Ginko on 3rd May

Meet at 10am on Friday 3rd May at Afendi’s Coffee, 162 Colin Street, West Perth, within sight of the City West station. Bring pen and paper, hat, sun protection, water, a haiku book to swap or give away and your haiku mind. After meeting we will walk a short distance to Henry Boas Gardens, write, then return to Afendi’s to review.

Contact: Coral Carter (coralacarter@gmail.com)

Report on 5th Gadigal Ginko

16th April 2024

The fifth Gadigal Ginko took place on the eve on International Haiku Poetry Day. Nine poets gathered outside the Art Gallery of New South Wales, in front of the new building: Gavin Austin, Gwen Bitti, Subha Goonaratne, Marilyn Humbert, Margaret Mahony, Alison Miller, Leanne Mumford, Jan O’Loughlin and Tom Staudt.

Seeking ‘rhubarb’ poems for public display

Jenny Macaulay, of the Portarlington Haiku Society, is offering a unique opportunity. The Bellarine Historical Society (Victoria) is holding a fundraising day (expected to be 6th July) called ‘Rhubarb Rhubarb.’ It involves a baking competition, including relish/chutney, etc and an art competition for local artists. In amongst the exhibits Jenny would like to display haiku related to rhubarb and is calling for contributions. The haiku will be displayed along with the author’s name. It is purely for fun, and to promote haiku awareness.

If you have rhubarb haiku you’d like to contribute, please use the AHS Contact Secretary form to be put in touch with Jenny by email.

Sydney Anthology Launch 14th April 2024

On a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon 25 haiku poets and poetry lovers met in the Gallery, a heritage room in the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre to celebrate the Sydney launch of under the same moon: Fourth Australian Haiku Anthology (Forty South, 2023).

From the new President

Haiku’s origins are social. The ‘hokku’ provided the starting point of collaborative linked poetry known as ‘renga’. While our haiku often arise from moments of solo observation and quiet reflection, writing of haiku also flourishes through interaction with other poets, whether reading or hearing their work, engaging in workshopping by giving and receiving constructive criticism, or discussing poems and techniques. International Haiku Poetry Day on 17th April encourages connection with fellow haiku poets, from simply sharing our enjoyment of the form to allowing ourselves to be challenged to experiment with different approaches. I know that many poets have planned activities to mark the occasion in various ways, whether on the day or close to it.

Reminder – Sydney Launch of Anthology Sunday 14th April

The Fourth Australian Haiku Anthology Sydney launch will be taking place this Sunday 14th April at Kirribilli. For full details, please see the post of 22nd March. Please be aware that there will be Trackwork impacting Milsons Point station on Sunday (buses replace trains between Hornsby and Wynyard on the T1 North Shore line), so allow sufficient time to arrive at the venue for 2.30pm. If you need to use the small lift at the Kirribilli Centre to access the first floor, please enter the centre via Bligh Street.