Welcome to the third issue of Australian Haiku Society Members’ News for 2026. In this edition Leanne reflects on dogs and other animals as subjects of haiku, there are links to a review of The Routledge Global Haiku Reader and to the latest Fringe Myrtles Report in which Rob Scott discusses Grant Caldwell’s presentation of fueki ryūko.
- New Secretary & other Committee news
- President’s Message
- The Routledge Global Haiku Reader
- Fueki ryūkō: the unchanging and ever-changing
- Basho-an: a haiku journey
New Secretary & other Committee news
The Committee is pleased to welcome Nick O’Connor as the new Secretary. As well as being a thoughtful poet, Nick brings a wealth of administrative experience to the role.
The AHS Executive Committee met last on 11th May. Among the matters discussed were upcoming events we are planning – a photo haiga contest to mark the Winter Solstice, a second Haiku Reading Event following the Queensland one on 22nd April, and preliminary plans for the fourth iteration of the John Bird Dreaming Award contest, which will open towards the end of the year.
President’s Message
After our previous dog died during the COVID years, my partner and I were not ready for another dog until now. We recently adopted two small rescue dogs, who are bringing chaos and joy to our household. Their arrival prompted me to think about animals in haiku. Domesticated animals are part of our lives, so it’s no wonder they make their way into our haiku.
spring sunshine . . .
how our old dog
would have basked
Leanne Mumford, AHS Haiku String: Spring Equinox 2023
record highs
kelpies caper
in a bore trough
Marietta McGregor, AHS Haiku String: Summer Solstice 2024
ginger cat
curled on my lap
evening falls
Alison Rogers, AHS Haiku String: Winter Solstice 2024
alone on the trail
my attention
horse centred
Myra King, AHS Haiku String: Autumn Equinox 2020
Among the Japanese masters, Issa is known for his compassion for insects. Small creatures that are often overlooked are also to be found in English Language Haiku. During the pandemic lockdowns, when I was working from home, I was fortunate to be able to take breaks outside in my garden. In those days, companionship with any other living thing seemed precious.
skinks and I
warming our backs
shortest day
Leanne Mumford, Modern Haiku 51.3, 2020
loneliness—
becoming a blood brother
with a mosquito
Mirela Brailean, AHS Haiku String International Poetry Day 2020
Of course, nature is a major preoccupation for haiku poets, and there are many poems about wild animals, with birds being perhaps the most frequently mentioned. Although I live in an inner city neighbourhood, at various times of the year grey-headed flying foxes visit my backyard to feed on native flowers.
bat chatter
in the firewheel tree
starry night
Leanne Mumford, A Hundred Gourds 2:4, 2013
a tiger snake
in the tomato patch . . .
dark thunder
Ron C. Moss, AHS Haiku String: Summer Solstice 2018
still water
a jellyfish
kisses the surface
Margaret Mahony, AHS Haiku String: Summer Solstice 2017
three eggs
in a mud nest
peewee duet
Louise Hopewell, AHS Haiku String: Spring Equinox 2020
Previous haiku strings have been compiled into PDF books, which are available to download and browse at any time.
Leanne Mumford
The Routledge Global Haiku Reader
The Routledge Global Haiku Reader, edited by James Shea and Grant Caldwell received an extensive review by Michael Farrell in the Sydney Review of Books.More information about the book, published in 2023, including the table of contents, can be found on the Routledge website.
Fueki ryūkō: the unchanging and ever-changing
Grant Caldwell gave a presentation on fueki ryūkō, ‘the unchanging and the ever-changing’, at the Fringe Myrtles Haiku Group in May that might be of wider interest.
Basho-an: a haiku journey
Duncan Richardson’s new collection of haiku/senryu is out and available as a paperback at Lulu.
Australian Haiku Society 