Cloudcatchers Haiku Sequence in the Wake of Cyclone Debbie

During the April ginko held by the Cloudcatcher group, it was suggested by our patron, John Bird, that we each submit haiku images regarding the local flood situation experienced in the wake of Cyclone Debbie, as our response to the disaster.  Some of these have been crafted into a sequence, edited by Nathalie Buckland.

You can read the sequence by clicking on the link below.

Debbie Sequence

Quendryth Young

eBook Launch: Ancient Bloodlines: Australian Collaborative Rengay by Simon Hanson & Ron C. Moss

A new collection of Australian themed rengay by Simon Hanson & Ron C. Moss has been launched and published by Caroline Skanne and is now available for free download at wildflower poetry press and at hedgerow: a journal of small poems. Ancient Bloodlines is accompanied by the evocative watercolours of Ron C. Moss and features a particularly innovative style of text formatting he has developed. With “delicate touches of humour and delight, with tones that range from serious and sombre to playful and respectful. Enjoy the paths they have made for you in Ancient Bloodlines, but also lose yourself in these vivid verses so you can find your own” (from the foreword by Michael Dylan Welch).

Ancient-Bloodlines-(web)

https://wildflowerpoetrypress.wordpress.com/e-books-free/

https://hedgerowpoems.wordpress.com/

Launch of Bushfire Moon

L1020181
Ron Moss and Heather Scandrett at the launch of Bushfire Moon

On the 24th March, in the beautiful surrounds of the Allport Library in Hobart, I had the honour of launching Ron Moss’s recent book, Bushfire Moon, with the following words:

I first met Ron about seventeen years ago when his friend Ross Coward brought him along to a meeting of the then recently formed haiku group, Watersmeet. I remember sitting around the long table in the Salamanca Arts Centre meeting room. We had each brought along an object from nature as a prompt for writing, and when it came to sharing our jottings I was struck by the detailed observation and insight in the pieces Ron read out. I can still see the trail of tiny black ants Continue reading “Launch of Bushfire Moon”

Cloudcatchers Ginko No.45 (autumn)

Brunswick River NSW           Thursday 6 April 2017

Amid the anguish of the flooding caused by Cyclone Debbie, the Cloudcatchers group on the Far North Coast of New South Wales held its autumn ginko on Thursday 6 April. Some of the members had suffered damage to home and property, some were cut off for days by flood waters, experienced power blackouts, and some were still involved with the arduous and heartbreaking job of cleaning up.

The visit to this venue had been planned for over eighteen months. We were anxious to repeat an experience shared in 2011 of exploring the mangrove tidal flats of the Brunswick River, 40 km north of Ballina. For this we needed a low tide at the right time of day, on the right day of the week, in the right month of the season. Eventually the date was established, but after weeks of heavy winds, rain and flooding, the gathering was in doubt. Continue reading “Cloudcatchers Ginko No.45 (autumn)”

Winner of AHS Autumn 2017 Haiga Kukai: Non Seasonal

 

key

wet weekend . . .
my grandfather’s life
unfolds

 Joanne Watcyn-Jones

 First Place

My final selection of poems all feature links to the interesting collection in the image. We keep things close to us for all sorts of reasons and this theme is explored by the poets in different ways. I selected Joanne Watcyn-Jones’ haiku for the different levels of linking and the succinct language she uses. Many of us can evoke a memory of doing such a thing on a wet day. The haiku and image work together seamlessly to bring about a collaboration that  goes to another level. Each one is also capable of standing alone, which is an essential ingredient of a good haiga. Continue reading “Winner of AHS Autumn 2017 Haiga Kukai: Non Seasonal”

Winner of Autumn 2017 AHS Haiga Kukai: Seasonal

Park (002)

autumn rain
the blurred pattern
of falling light

 Jenny Fraser

First Place

I really enjoyed the mood and interplay of light suggested in this haiku. It works very well with the image and sets the scene to explore the different layers in the haiku and the B&W image. There is also a clever use of language and ‘falling light’ and ‘blurred patterns’ capture the feeling right away and draw one into the scene. Jenny Fraser has written a fine haiku that combines very well with the image to create a successful haiga. Continue reading “Winner of Autumn 2017 AHS Haiga Kukai: Seasonal”