A beautiful day with a slight hint of autumn in the air. Just the day to greet poet friends for another gathering @ The Oaks. A chorus of currawongs was hailing our arrival—though perhaps with other things than poetry in mind! Five of us settled down to lunch beneath the trees—Kathy Kituai, Hazel Hall, Gregory Piko, Marietta McGregor and Jan Dobb. We missed Glenys Ferguson this time.
Continue reading “Haiku @ The Oaks, Canberra”How good it was to have full attendance this time after a few months of depleted numbers—Glenys Ferguson, Hazel Hall, Kathy Kituai, Marietta McGregor, Gregory Piko and Jan Dobb. Due to rain, we were not under the trees this time but tucked away in the marquee.
After ordering lunch and enjoying some personal catch-up, we found ourselves admiring a copy of recently published Contemporary Haibun 18 (Red Moon Press) available from Amazon. This led to a clarifying discussion of qualities to aim for in a haibun and the wide scope of content the form offers. Some lively input crossed the table as views and experiences were exchanged.
As suggested last time, a few of us brought some haiku-in-progress for consideration and comment by the group—haiku that invited a further look, haiku that was unfinished or perhaps still seeking that elusive ‘something’. This sparked long, warm, and frank discussion both specific and general, while appreciative of the trust between us as we shared this ‘raw material’. We seemed to glimpse afresh how the melding of inspiration and technique offers so many possibilities.
Where does time go? There was more talk still waiting in the wings, but that will be for next month. The Oaks staff were packing up and we realised we were the only customers left. Outside, the sun had begun drying up the rain.
Jan Dobb
Wednesday 12 October 2022
After all the recent rain, it was a relief to meet on a dry day when we could enjoy lunch together at a table under the trees, albeit in the company of thronging currawongs with similar intentions! Four of us made it this month, Kathy Kituai, Glenys Ferguson, Marietta McGregor, and Jan Dobb. Thoughts were with our two missing companions, Gregory Piko and Hazel Hall.
Wednesday 14 September 2022
The birds, the blossoms and new spring sunshine—the perfect backdrop as we came together for Haiku @ The Oaks. It was a mini-meeting this time, as three of us found themselves unable to attend. We missed Hazel Hall, Marietta McGregor and Kathy Kituai. With them much in mind, the remaining three—Glenys Ferguson, Gregory Piko and Jan Dobb—enjoyed a relaxed exchange of things haiku and literary.
Continue reading “Haiku @ The Oaks, Canberra”Wednesday 11 May 2022
With the leaves of autumn adorning The Oaks and all of Canberra in their seasonal glory, four of us came together in a spirit of kigo—Kathy Kituai, Glenys Ferguson, Marietta McGregor and Jan Dobb. We sorely missed our other two mates—Hazel Hall and Greg Piko—and thoughts were very much with them.
As we ordered lunch and settled down, congratulations were offered to Kathy who has just had a prose poem published in the weekend Canberra Times. We briefly discussed the dynamics of mood change and perspective when we choose to write in different genres
Tuesday 12 April 2022
Due to one thing and another, only three of us found ourselves @ The Oaks this time—Marietta McGregor, Glenys Ferguson, and Jan Dobb. Our thoughts were with our missing three—Hazel Hall, Kathy Kituai, and Greg Piko—as we settled around a small table beneath the autumn trees.
Marietta produced some copies of the attractive American haiku journal Akitsu Quarterly, till now unknown to Glenys and Jan. A browse through these soon led on to conversation with Marietta about her task as guest editor of THF ‘Haiku Dialogue’, and she was keen to express to us the stimulation of reading all the submissions and the satisfaction of readers’ feedback. An exacting and constant project that Marietta excels at.
Tuesday 8 February 2022
Filtered sunshine and leafy shadows—a perfect summer day at The Oaks as we began another year of haiku together. How good to be back again—Hazel Hall, Gregory Piko, Marietta McGregor, Glenys Ferguson, and Jan Dobb. Again though, we missed Kathy Kituai and our fond thoughts were with her.
Hazel arrived with extra copies of our recently published anthology The Ink Sinks Deeper and Marietta took several of these to post off to potential reviewers. As Hazel responded to questions about the Picaro Poets imprint of Ginninderra Press, she encouraged our publishing of personal chapbooks. Meanwhile, we have been delighted with Greg’s review of the Oaks anthology on his website
As another year gets under way, Jan checked on people’s views about our gatherings. Any suggestions? Changes? Preferences? The consensus was to continue as is, enjoying the spontaneity and stimulation of each other’s company and input, and of not being bound by homework or obligatory expectations. All except Marietta—who admitted that she rather likes a bit of homework. With that, she was encouraged to undertake her own and to bring us the results. So that’s exactly what she did—immediately!
Tuesday,14 December 2021
The end of the year already, and what a year! Despite all, it was such joy to welcome each other again as we gathered beneath the bird-squawking trees at The Oaks–Hazel Hall, Marietta McGregor, Gregory Piko, Glenys Ferguson, and Jan Dobb. We missed Kathy Kituai who could not be with us but who was much in our thoughts.
During our relaxed conversations of haiku and life, which seemed appropriate for an end-of-year gathering, little gifts and greetings were exchanged across the table to express our appreciation of the bonding we’ve come to experience. Friendship in haiku is certainly something special.
Then came the big highlight of the day!
Australian Haiku Society 