Most of us have accepted ‘beach’ as a summer kigo. However, participants in the winter ginko of the Cloudcatchers (Far North Coast of NSW) were obliged to re-think that concept, as it was held on Thursday 22 July at Shelly Beach, East Ballina. In spite of the FNC reputation for warm sunny winters, the day was appropriately ‘wintery’, with an overcast sky, a chilly breeze off a grey ocean and even some spots of rain. This did not daunt the twelve poets, who produced as much insightful writing as ever. The tide was low, so the rock pools featured in a number of haiku, along with sleeping gulls, hardy swimmers and the perpetually fascinating ocean. It was Max Ryan, who put into words the thoughts of many: ‘You can go to the beach and wander along it yourself, and write haiku. But you never get as much out of it as you do when you come to a ginko.’ The next step was lunching together at the Shaw’s Bay Hotel, and now the post-ginko round-robin (three each, by email) is in full swing. Our spring ginko will be held on 14 October, and any poet who wishes to join us is welcome. Contact: [email protected]

Posted by Graham Nunn at 01:26 PM | Permalink

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine would like to announce that their "2010 Very Short Fiction Award", "2010 Haiku Pen" & "2010 Think Tanka" writing contest deadlines are fast approaching. Contest deadlines will not be extended again so send your entries while there's still time. The postal address has been posted for writers interested in submitting entries via snail mail.

All writers welcome (read guidelines at their website). If you write powerful short stories of 1000 words or less, you have a chance at winning the current grand prize for "Very Short Fiction". if you have mastered the art of brevity, you have more than one chance to win their haiku and/or tanka poetry contest.

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-zine provides a platform for writers of any background, at any point in their literary careers, to showcase their best writing. They hope to become the highest paying literary publication for short fiction and Japanese short form poetry.

Writers interested in submitting haiku, senryu, cinquain, haibun, tan renga or tanka poetry, are encouraged to familiarize themselves as much as possible with the poetic art form and its history by reading contemporary literary journals that publish haiku, tanka and other historical content. Read the list of their past winners for an idea of what their publication is seeking.

"I truly admire the creativity of many of our contributors like Paul Smith, Claire Everett, Darrell Lindsey and poetry contest winner Ernest J. Berry. Their poems are simply breathtaking; enlightening. They inspire me," states Founder, Raquel Bailey.

If you would like to send an inquiry to the editors, email them. Please be sure to read their guidelines before submitting work for contests or for publication. Electronic entries are encouraged.

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine writing contests help to increase the confidence of each and every winning writer and highlight current achievements especially in Japanese short form poetry; this difficult yet remarkable literary art form.

A list of all poetry and fiction contests are available at the website:

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine would also like to showcase new, original paintings and artwork. They are currently open to submissions of microfiction for 2010.

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine has announced the winners of their 2009 Microfiction Competition. Their list of prize winning writers include, Dustin Putnam, Ruth Schiffmann, Paul Smith (tanka winner), Kathy Lippard Cobb (tanka winner), Ernest J. Berry (haiku winner), Barbara Taylor (haiku winner), Sandra Simpson (haiku winner), Ute Carson, Persephone Vandegrift, James Tipton (haiku winner), Jean Aloe, Christopher Hayes, Barbra L., Timothy Russell, Catherine J.S. Lee, Mr. Kim Chamberlain, Marek Kozubek, and John Bird.

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine seeks contributors whose writing will represent Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine in Best American Poetry, Best American Short Stories, The O. Henry Awards and The Pushcart Prize Anthologies in the near future.

Submit your writing today! Be a part of an outstanding community of writers.

Posted by Graham Nunn at 01:11 PM | Permalink

by Vanessa Proctor

The Katikati Haiku Pathway in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty is an attractive embodiment of haiku, where the abstract becomes concrete. A total of 42 haiku are inscribed onto boulders along the Uretara Stream. Each poem has been carefully selected by a committee to reflect its surroundings, and to walk along the pathway is to literally take a trip into the world of poetry. The brainchild of Catherine Mair, the Pathway was one of New Zealand’s Millennium Projects and recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.

I was fortunate enough to attend the celebrations on New Zealand Queen’s Birthday long weekend, along with my family. There was an excellent turn out of poets and supporters, including the Japanese Consul to New Zealand and his wife, and we enjoyed viewing an impressive selection of bonsai as well as ikebana inspired by poems on the pathway. Sandra Simpson, Secretary of the Katikati Haiku Pathway Committee, announced the winners of the Katikati Haiku Competition. Particularly striking was the quality of the entries in the junior section. Two Japanese students demonstrated how to wear a yukata, the traditional summer dress of Japanese women, and there was a rousing Taiko drum performance by Wai Taiko.

Then we all ventured out into the rain for the dedication of my boulder, one of the eleven new boulders added to the pathway for its tenth anniversary. Under umbrellas, three Maori elders blessed the rock, which I found to be especially moving. It was a very special feeling to be able to share my poem with others in this public domain. Monarch butterflies were then placed on Paul MacNeil’s boulder ‘seated shadow/a butterfly pauses/on my hat’ and were then promptly placed back into their box due to the conditions. After the blessing, Catherine Mair hosted afternoon tea at her home and it was a real pleasure to see old friends and new and renew my connection with New Zealand.

I can thoroughly recommend a visit to the Pathway for visitors to New Zealand as a place where poetry literally becomes part of everyday life. It is a place of beauty, reflection and the embodiment of the human spirit.

Posted by Graham Nunn at 01:08 PM | Permalink

Sunday 25th July
7 pm to 10 pm
The Fringe Gallery
94 Bawdan Street Willagee
(opposite Webber Reserve)

A multimedia presentation of the contemporary haiga and haiku of Maureen Sexton and Amanda Joy.
Plus Butoh/Taboo dance performance by Roeli Joosten.

Open mike is open to all forms of poetry! But it’d be great to hear your haiku if you do!

“Haiku.. as dynamic in the manner of a single frame of thought.. the flash itself, immeasurable in any time whatever: no time manifesting in time. So the movement of the haiku could be said not to move but to be, totally movement. That movement which because it is not relative, is inseparable from stillness
~W.S. Merwin

Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry that is succinct, minimal and imaginative. It often has a seasonal reference and a ‘cutting word’. In English haiku the ideas can be expressed with a short line, a long line and another short line.

Haiga, in simple terms, is a haiku poem and its image or painting.

Buton/Taboo performance contains the unexpected with no set style but always poignant. Butoh appeared first in Japan after the second world war and was viewed as revolutionary and controversial in its form.

For further details contact Terry Farrell 0412 911 562

Posted by Graham Nunn at 05:25 PM | Permalink

Sunday 15th August 2010, Wild Fig Jam Cottage

What is haiku? Why has it become so popular?

Part I of this workshop will run from 10 am – 12 noon and will address the following topics:

a brief history of haiku
haiku purpose
defining haiku
stopping the mind chatter
are syllables important?
fragment and phrase theory
techniques for writing haiku

the stillness –
soaking into stones
cicada’s cry

-- Matsuo Basho

Part II will run from 1 pm to 4 pm and will include the following:

a ginko (haiku walk)
sharing what we’ve discovered
mixing our words
the ‘aha’ moment
why haiku is becoming so popular

Graham Nunn (Brisbane, Qld) defines haiku as: ‘a short poem that captures the true essence of a moment in time.'

summer storm
shorter than
my cup of tea

-- Graham Nunn

“What is the relevance of Zen to Haiku? … Zen and haiku are about finding one’s way to what is known as haiku ‘spirit’. Zen was present at the very moment haiku came into being. Haiku was Zen in inspiration. … What is the relevance of Zen to haiku today, more than 350 years later? In one word is it is discipline. The discipline of self. The discipline to quiet the chatter of our minds.” This is an excerpt of a much longer article by Jacqui Murray, April 2008 that can be found at - /Zen%20and%20haiku%20jacqui%20murray.pdf

Brought to you by Wild Fig Jam Cottage

Jane Durkin and Liz Stern
Located on Biddle Road, between Geographe Bay and Yallingup Beach. http://members.iinet.net.au/~jane_durkin/

$110 Workshop inc. morning/afternoon tea and lunch

For booking and payment details please call Liz on Mob. 0404 241 132 or Ph. 9755 2221, or Email [email protected]

There is accommodation available if you would like to stay for 1 or 2 nights at special rates that include cost of the workshop and meals, please enquire.

Presented by: Maureen Sexton, HaikuOz (The Australian Haiku Society), WA Representative - /

BIO Maureen Sexton:

Born and raised in Perth Western Australia, I have lived here most of my life, except for three years in Adelaide and some time residing in Melbourne and rural WA, including: Kalgoorlie, Bridgetown and Peppermint Grove Beach. My interests are mainly in the arts, environmentalism and social justice. I am a freelance writer, poet, haiku writer, editor, amateur photographer, artist, website builder/designer, and digital media artist.

I have gained vast writer-in-the-community experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing, which I completed at Edith Cowan University, with some of my studies undertaken at Murdoch University and Flinders University.

I was fortunate to be offered, and to complete, an intense mentorship in haiku, with respected haijin John Bird, in 2007, and am currently the HaikuOz (The Australia Haiku Society) WA Regional Representative. My haiku has been widely published nationally and internationally, in such journals as the Heron's Nest, Paper Wasp, Famous Reporter, Stylus Poetry Journal, Haiku Australia Dreaming, FreeExpressions and Creatrix Poetry Journal. I find haiku writing and haiku's awe of nature, to be particularly meditative, healing and inspiring. With the frustration and anger at the continual destruction of the environment, I find haiku is a way of keeping myself calm and in the 'now'.

My poetry has also been widely published internationally and nationally. Believing in the importance of poetry, I have been actively involved in trying to raise community awareness of the relevance of poetry in our lives today. Poets throughout history have also been at the forefront of political and social challenges and changes, and, I believe, need to be more active at this time.

I plan to use my writing, photography and art as a way of voicing my concerns, and hopefully helping to bring about awareness and change.

http://www.maureensexton.com.au

[email protected]

0435 024 616

Posted by Graham Nunn at 01:47 PM | Permalink

Cloudcatchers has become a thriving group of haiku enthusiasts on the Far North Coast of New South Wales. The aim of each participant is to explore haiku in an individual way. For some this is reading; for most it involves writing haiku. A number of us send our writings to haiku publications and to competitions.

The results of the New Zealand Poetry Society International Poetry Competition (Haiku section) 2010 have just been announced. I am delighted to tell you that first and third prizes were won by Quendryth Young, with John Bird and Helen Davison receiving Commended awards; Helen for two of her haiku. Quendryth also won the 'Jeanette Stace Memorial Prize' for Senior Haiku 2010.

I thank Quendy, who has for several years organized our meetings, checked out suitable venues, coordinated post-ginko round robins and kept us all informed of competitions we might enter. I am so happy to see her achievements.

Nathalie Buckland

Posted by Graham Nunn at 12:01 PM | Permalink

Patricia Prime has recently reviewed the Wind Over Water Anthology, Wild Camomile by Own Bullock, Song of an Old Cherry Tree by Giselle Maya, Moonbathing, Eucalypt #7 and Walking Into Autumn by John Bird and Beverley George. These reviews can be read at: http://grahamnunn.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/stylus-poetry-journal-37-reviews/

Posted by Graham Nunn at 09:29 AM | Permalink

ENTRY CONDITIONS
Haiku and Senryu will be accepted.
Entries must be previously unpublished.
Adult entries are limited to 5 per entrant and must all be on one A4 paper.
Student entries are limited to 3 per entrant and must all be on one A4 paper.
The name of the poet must be included at the bottom of the page.
A separate contact sheet must have name and contact details.
The contact sheet must also list the first line of each poem.
Font size to be at least 22pt. Any style is acceptable.
Entries will be judged purely on the text.
Any pictures or decorations must fit on the page with the Haiku.
Entries close Thursday 13 August 5 pm.
Winners listed Mon 31 August
Submit entries: Deliver to the Library, 573 Hay St Perth.
Post to GPO Box C120 Perth 6839 Haiku will not be returned unless
accompanied with a stamped, self - addressed envelope.
Email to [email protected]. The poems must be
sent as a word document attachment.
We welcome entries from overseas, but regrettably we are not able to allocate prizes or forward gift vouchers to overseas entrants.
Adult: 1st - $75 2nd - $50 3rd - $40
High School age: 1st - $50
Primary School age: 1st - $40
Winners will be listed on the Library’s web page and in the Library.
Entries will be displayed on the Haiku Wall in the Library during WA National Poetry Week from 31 August – 5 September
Entries will be judged by Maureen Sexton - WA Representative for HaikuOz – the Australian Haiku Society.

Posted by Graham Nunn at 09:25 AM | Permalink

A Haiku Celebration

Hosted by The Bodhi Tree Bookstore and Café as part of A Celebration of Writing.
Celebrate haiku and related forms at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore Café, on Sunday 1st August from 12 noon. You will be rewarded with: Haiku readings/performances, demonstrations of the deep and powerful connections in Haiga, the beauty of the combination of Haiku and silk art, and the hauntingly disciplined movements of Butoh dance. The winners of the Bodhi Tree Haiku Competition will be reading their winning works and there will be an open reading, so bring along yours or your favourite haiku to read.

Presenters:
Haiga – Maureen Sexton, Amanda Joy
Haiku – Amanda Joy, Maureen Sexton, Ross Bolleter, Rose Van Son
Butoh – Roeli Joosten
Haiku and Silk Art – Annie Otness

Hear for yourself the influence of Zen in Haiku, Haiga and Butoh.

“What is the relevance of Zen to Haiku? … Zen and haiku are about finding one’s way to what is known as haiku ‘spirit’. Zen was present at the very moment haiku came into being. Haiku was Zen in inspiration. … What is the relevance of Zen to haiku today, more than 350 years later? In one word is it is discipline. The discipline of self. The discipline to quiet the chatter of our minds. The discipline to see things are they are, as they exist in this Eternal Now.” This is an excerpt of a much longer article by Jacqui Murray, April 2008 that can be found at - /Zen%20and%20haiku%20jacqui%20murray.pdf

Organisers: Maureen Sexton (HaikuOz, The Australian Haiku Society, WA Rep, /) and Amanda Joy, in conjunction with The Bodhi Tree http://www.bodhitree.net.au and WA Poets Inc http://www.wapoets.net.au.
For more information and a copy of the full program (available soon), go to: http://www.bodhitree.net.au/events-calendar/celebration-of-writing
For Haiku information, go to:
http://www.wapoets.net.au/pages/creatrixhaikusubmissionguidelines.html
For Haiga Information, go to:
http://raysweb.net/haiku/pages/haiga-definition.html
For Butoh Information, go to:
http://www.zenbutoh.com/
http://www.rebeccawalker.com/blog/2009/03/17/my-body-my-butoh

Haiku Competition

Entries close 5pm Friday 23 July 2010.
Prizes: 1st Prize – Basho: The Complete Haiku
2nd Prize – Haiku Mind: 108 poems to cultivate awareness & open your heart
3rd Prize – The British Museum Haiku
Open to poets residing in the Perth metro area only.
For guidelines and entry form, go to:
http://www.bodhitree.net.au/Text/1276588625412-0226/pC/1214367693359-7635/uploadedFiles/1276588620694-4588.pdf
Brought to you by The Bodhi Tree Bookstore Café and WA Poets Inc

Posted by Graham Nunn at 09:21 AM | Permalink

The new issue of CHO, edited by Ken Jones, Jim Kacian and Bruce Ross is online:
http://contemporaryhaibunonline.com/

Posted by Graham Nunn at 11:43 AM | Permalink

BINDII MEETING 3 JULY 2010 report to HaikuOz

Present: Marilyn Linn, Lynette Arden, Susan Kay.

Apologies: Alain and Elsa Rozanes, Pam Brow, Alex Ask, Margaret Dingle (Fensom), Athena Zaknic.

As there were so few members attending the meeting we decided to concentrate on extending knowledge of the haiku form, with examples of haiku taken from the book resources at the meeting, and also by taking another look at some of the guidelines for writing haiku. This more in depth approach was felt by members present to have increased their understanding and I gather was very helpful. A number of haiku presented by members were workshopped.

August Meeting will be held at the Box Factory on Saturday 7 August at 10.30 am – 1 pm. Activity will be decided on the day.

Lynette Arden 3 July 2010

Posted by Graham Nunn at 11:30 AM | Permalink