On this Winter’s Solstice day, I am proud to announce the launch of the new Australian Haiku Society website. The website celebrates both Australian haiku and Australia itself. Our country is showcased not only through poetry, but also through many stunning photographs taken by our members. Our goals remain the same as they have always been, to promote the enjoyment of haiku within Australian and to bring Australian writers to the world haiku community. Continue reading “Launch of New Australian Haiku Society Website – 21st June, 2016”
Category: Members
Simon Hanson wins Jane Reichhold Prize
With the following poem, Australian haiku poet Simon Hanson has won first prize in the Jane Reichhold Haiku Prize, as recently announced at the 14th Annual Ukiah Haiku Festival in the United States:
hallway mirror
a vase of flowers
made of light
Annette Makino of California came second in this contest, with Scott Mason of New York third.
Sandra Simpson and Elaine Riddell from New Zealand both featured among the Honourable Mentions.
The Betty Drevniok Award 2016 Results
First prize – Ruth Powell, Prince George, BC, Canada
Second prize – Owen Bullock, Canberra, Australia
Third prize – Liz Fenn, Wellsville, NY, USA
Honourable Mentions – Rodney Williams, Trafalgar, Australia
See Australian haiku below, along with full results (and judge Tom Clausen’s comments) at this link:
http://www.haikucanada.org/awards/BettyDrevniokAward2016.pdf Continue reading “The Betty Drevniok Award 2016 Results”
Vale Lesley Walter
Lesley Walter, valued member of the Red Dragonflies, sadly passed away on 21st May. Lesley came from a background of mainstream poetry where she was a very well-respected poet. With this grounding, she brought a fresh and innovative spirit to haiku. She had a wonderful sense of humour and was rigorous both in her questioning of haiku ‘rules’ and in her comments on others’ work. The group greatly appreciated her frankness. We will miss her poetry, her insight and her friendship.
Vanessa Proctor
blue-sky day
the way that little girl skipped
when her mum said yes
Lesley Walter
Australians featured in THF’s “re: Virals 34”
Congratulations to Simon Hanson for being named as the latest weekly winner in the “re: Virals” segment on The Haiku Foundation website.
Yet commentaries by two other Australian-based writers – Janet Marsh and Cynthia Rowe – were also posted in response to the haiku given below, along with a further comment from Canadian Garry Eaton.
Written by Rodney Williams, this poem was selected by fellow Victorian Jo McInerney, after she had been named the previous winner in “re: Virals 33”:
glimpse of dolphin
beyond the river mouth …
friends a youth ago
beyond the river mouth …
friends a youth ago
– Rodney Williams
As the latest winner of “re: Virals”, Simon Hanson has selected a bi-lingual haiku from Ireland for comment by THF readers, with responses encouraged through The Haiku Foundation website:
http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/2016/05/05/revirals-34/
Continue reading “Australians featured in THF’s “re: Virals 34””
http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/2016/05/05/revirals-34/
Continue reading “Australians featured in THF’s “re: Virals 34””
Simon Hanson wins Shiki Monthly Kukai – April 2016
Congratulations to Australian haiku poet Simon Hanson for gaining First Place in the Shiki Monthly Kukai for April 2016, with the following one-liner:
both sides of the border autumn moon
- Simon Hanson
Polling twenty-eight points – two more than the second-place winner – Simon was a clear winner in the Kigo section (where the set theme was migration), in a competition which attracted entries from over a hundred poets, across a range of countries and continents.
One voter’s comment about Simon’s winning haiku read as follows: “Definitely topical in 2016, but also universal in its implications. And certainly about migration, all the more powerfully for its stillness. A very strong haiku.”
Continue reading “Simon Hanson wins Shiki Monthly Kukai – April 2016”
Australian haiku poets in THF’s “re: Virals”
As the latest weekly winner for the “re: Virals” feature on The Haiku Foundation website, Australian haiku poet Jo McInerney has selected a poem by another Australian for comment in next week’s segment:
glimpse of dolphin
beyond the river mouth …
friends a youth ago
— Rodney Williams
Stylus Poetry Journal 28 (2008)
http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/2016/04/29/revirals-33/
Readers are encouraged to respond. Continue reading “Australian haiku poets in THF’s “re: Virals””
Further success for Marietta McGregor
Along with four of her poems being recently chosen among the best haiku in “The Mainichi” in Japan for 2015, Australian haiku poet Marietta McGregor has also gained two top-ten placings in the Fourth Annual Haiku Contest run by an American literary magazine called “The Lincoln Underground” – this competition requires that entries comply with a 5-7-5 format:
racing the ebb tide
children dash to write their names
in water color
– Second place
tumbled steambed rocks
playing deep arpeggios…
rivers in spring thaw
– Tenth place
Details can be viewed at this website:
Australian Haiku Society 