13th December 2025
On the last meeting for the year, the White Pebbles Haiku Group gathered as usual at the Gosford/Edogawa Commemorative Garden on a vibrant summer morning. In its eighth year, Beverley George (founder and convener) was joined by all the group’s members: Colleen Keating, Gwen Bitti, Kent Robinson, Maire Glacken, Marilyn Humbert, Michael Thorley, Pip Griffin and Samantha Sirimanne Hyde.
Before starting our ginko, we enjoyed our customary catch up with each other’s news over a beverage at the Art Centre’s café.
(Thanks to Debbie Robinson for taking our photograph).
Ambling down rambling paths, we followed whichever sights, sounds and scents took our fancy – musing about the plentiful dwarf gardenias, the koi pond, the impressive bamboo grove and spider silk making connections leaf to leaf. The garden buzzed with activity and “aha” moments, such as a brace of ducks seemingly squabbling over nothing and a crawling infant on a sun patch engaging with baby ducks.
Later, we gathered around the table in the gallery’s downstairs meeting room to share recently published haiku as well as poems about wildlife.
Members were encouraged to speak about any new publications they may have accomplished. Colleen spoke about her Ring the Bells – her eighth published book of poetry. A truly impressive achievement to be lauded at its launch next year.
Beverley and Kent spoke of their new poetry publication, Interwoven– an intriguing book of collaborative poetry. Kent chatted about how his love of the various categories of Japanese-influenced linked forms started and how travel to Japan with Beverley and her expert guidance fuelled his interest. We look forward to savouring this collection.
We had the benefit of Marilyn’s mini workshop about “makoto” – the Japanese concept of sincerity in haiku poetics. She acknowledged and reaffirmed inspiring observations made by author and editor, Robert Epstein in a recent paper on this subject. She emphasised the need for the poet to be authentically engaged with nature, to write in simple language and without artifice. A beautiful reminder for us to approach haiku with an open-heart. We thank Marilyn for her insightful workshop.
After lunch, we wrapped up, exchanging season’s greetings and wishing each other well until the next meeting in autumn.
Samantha Sirimanne Hyde
White Pebbles Garden and Pip pondering on haiku in the shade of the Wistaria.