Proud to be included in Issue 14 Summer/Autumn 2025 of Echidna Tracks especially with these talented haikuists.
Thank you to the editors Marilyn Humbert and Simon Hanson for their dedication in working to choose the haiku for the journal and especially for their sensitive and thoughtful placing of our work.
northeasterlies . . .
a fleet of bluebottles
sails into Sydney harbour
Corine Timmer
bluebottle tide
silver gulls forage
in seaweed
Vanessa Proctor
ebbing tide— the beachcomber treasures her amble
Colleen Keating
low tide
the setting sun sips
from a salt-rimmed glass
Kathryn Reese
Also wnat to add on my blog Dr. Andy Hede’s haiku published the week later .
voices in the night . . .
the stars maintain
their silence
Elaine Riddell
cloudy night vigil— waiting to see the moon perfectly full
Andrew Hede
peek-a-boo moon
meandering through the creek
a rakali
Corine Timmer
looking for peace—
a rakali carves V-wakes
across the river
Tony Steven Williams
Below is Vol 13 just not sure if I published it before so including here.
by the river corellas scramble for space solitary ironbark
I am very proud and happy to be included in the beautiful new anthology, A Sensory Journey, Haiku Down Under Anthology with my haiku. Thank you to the editors Carole Harrison and Sue Courtney for the beautiful presentation.
holiday cottage
under a sickle moon
a lone dingo howls
Colleen Keating
This photo is the nearest I can find to describe my experience except I was alone in the country holiday cottage for the week ( my choice to write) and it was a dark night hence a small cresent moon only and the dingos howled and howled and I thught a pack was just up on a hill nearby.. It did scare me a little at the time but I have read since that there is nothing to be afraid of as the howling is for a mate. And they don’t come for humans that are not trying to corner them in some way so I tried to show apprehension in the haiku. I hope it works that the reader is not sure!!!
On a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon 25 haiku poets and poetry lovers met in the Gallery, a heritage room in the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre to celebrate the Sydney launch of under the same moon: Fourth Australian Haiku Anthology (Forty South, 2023).
Poets travelled from all over Sydney and from as far afield as the Central Coast, Bathurst, Canberra and Coffs Harbour to attend the event.
Vanessa Proctor acted as the MC, introducing the incoming president of the Australian Haiku Society, Leanne Mumford, to speak about haiku and the AHS. Three AHS presidents were present, one current and two past presidents: Vanessa Proctor and Beverley George. Lyn Reeves, who has recently retired from her role as Vice President after 24 years service to the AHS, was recognised for her tireless work for the Society and for Australian haiku.
L to R, top row: Leanne Mumford, David George, Laurel Astle, Rohan Buettel, Beverley George, Vanessa Proctor
L to R, bottom row: Colleen Keating, Carol Reynolds, Barbara Fisher, Margaret Mahony, Kent Robinson, Jane Gibian
Vanessa Proctor then spoke about the editorial process with co-editors Lyn Reeves and Rob Scott, the aims for the anthology and the process of selecting the haiku. She examined how the strength of this anthology lies in the quality of its work and the way in which it offers a distinctly Australian view of the world.
As the anthology is dedicated to John Bird and Beverley George, Beverley began the readings with Max Ryan’s haiku in tribute to AHS founder John Bird. David George then read Gregory Piko’s haiku celebrating Beverley’s contribution to Australian haiku.
Contributors went on to read their featured haiku and those of poets who were not able to attend.
All present celebrated the occasion with food and wine and enjoyed the views from the balcony of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Books were bought; old connections between poets were rekindled and new connections made. Plans were set in motion for future gatherings of NSW haiku poets.
Vanessa Proctor All photos courtesy of Gavin Austin
A great write up by Vanessa and I just want to add I was proud to read my three published haiku and I enjoyed the beautiful venue of the neighbourhood centre. From the old laced wrought iron verandra we had views of the Opera House and the Harbour bridge. as we sipped our red wine (well some of us ) and we discussed poetry and friendship..
A warm, calm morning greeted the gathering of our White Pebbles haiku poets for our autumn ginko on Saturday 9th March 2024. It was an Indian Summer day. The heady air of gardenias was coloured by a shimmer of dragonflies fussing over the lotus pond with its rush of cascading water. Added to this was chatter and laughter of children. Ducks and koi roiled with enthusiasm as many little fingers dropped pellets of food into the pond from the viewing platform.
Present at our regular venue, Gosford/Edogawa Japanese Gardens and Regional Gallery, were Beverley George, Gwen Bitti, Maire Glacken, Marilyn Humbert, Colleen Keating, Kent Robinson, and Michael Thorley. Apologies had been received from Samantha Sirimanne Hyde and Pip Griffin
In the weeks prior to our meeting, Beverley, our convener, had emailed a worksheet to use as guidance for reflection and sharing. After gathering for catchup and coffee, we set out at 10.30 a.m. on our ginko walk and gathered at 11 a. m. for our workshop. We began by sharing haiku we had written about white pebbles, then our haiku on the word ‘pathway’.
Next we were asked to ponder the Japanese concept of ma, the contained distance and space between objects. We learnt it also refers to time: the intervals between action and event, between sound and silence. We were encouraged to look into the spaces; observe the small things. It was interesting to workshop this idea and listen to the varied responses, including some haiku ready or nearly ready for publishing.
We proudly read our contributions published in Echidna Tracks, and other haiku published elsewhere. Finally we each shared a haiku written by one of the Japanese Masters that we had brought along. A few were able to stay on for lunch at this lovely venue.
Colleen Keating
Member of White Pebbles Haiku Group
Due to unforeseen circumstances, with weather threatening safe travel, the White Pebbles summer meeting scheduled for December 9th was deferred to January 13th.
Six of our members were present and we were joined by welcome guest, Pip Griffin. Michael Thorley and Samantha Hyde were unable to attend this time and they were missed.
We gathered at 10 a.m. for a catch-up and refreshing cuppa, before setting off on our silent ginko around the garden, looking appreciatively at wider landscapes and into small spaces, listening to natural sounds, sniffing the perfumes of leaves and blossom and alert to the shifting patterns of shadows and reflections.
At 11 a.m. we gathered at an oval table in a quiet room we hire at each meeting for workshopping.
Each member had heeded the suggested worksheet distributed in advance of the meeting, and shared haiku they brought with them relevant to that, in addition to those jotted on the ginko. As always, the sharing of haiku and respect for each other’s work was paramount to the enjoyment of the day and we look forward to our autumn meeting in the gardens.
left to right: Pip Griffin, Gwen Bitti, Marilyn Humbert, Colleen Keating, Kent Robinson, Beverley George, Maire Glacken
White Pebbles Spring Meeting and Ginko 2023
White Pebbles haiku poets gathered at the Edogawa Gardens at the Gosford Regional Gallery and Arts Centre on Saturday morning, 16th September, 2023. Present were Maire Glacken, Marilyn Humbert, Gwen Bitti, Colleen Keating, Beverley George and Kent Robinson, with apologies received from Samantha Sirimanne Hyde and Michael Thorley.
A glorious spring day greeted us. Ducks and koi carp shared the pond and water features of the gardens. As they fed the ducks, children’s laughter echoed among the beautifully manicured flora. Spring blooms of every hue brightened the walkways.
We met in the Gallery’s cafe for a catch-up before a stroll through the gardens. Over coffee, Marilyn Humbert, advised us that, in order to refine our sense of observation as we strolled, we look into the small spaces – distill whatever we saw, and trust ourselves and our senses as we composed our haiku. We strolled the garden, feeling the warmth of the spring sunshine on our faces. The scent of blooms bursting all about and the joy of being immersed in birdsong were intoxicating.
Now it was time for a round table meeting in the niche beneath the art gallery. At the beginning of the meeting our dear friend and valued member of White Pebbles, Gail Hennessy, who sadly recently passed, was remembered fondly. The round table about which we gather is extremely significant to our group. Around it we may share ideas and each single poet is as one with all others. How fortunate we feel, that White Pebbles is such a mutually supportive group!
Beverley George distributed for purchase “under the same moon”, the Fourth Australian Haiku Anthology, in which several White Pebbles members have haiku. (Many thanks to Vanessa Proctor for furnishing Beverley with copies of this fine anthology in advance of our meeting.)
Echidna Tracks 11 was spoken of, with congratulations to all White Pebbles poets who feature therein.
We then moved on to the business of the day. Beverley had asked that we each bring a haiku that had inspired us in the early days of our haiku journey, as well as one of our own that we had composed in those early days. Matsuo Basho featured strongly as an early influence to many.
Next, we considered the haiku and images that had been gathered on the garden walk earlier. This proved an extremely productive exercise. Beverley presented some haiku that Michael Thorley had sent in. Thank you, Michael. Your sensitive haiku were a fine addition to our meeting and very much appreciated by all.
Marilyn Humbert had prepared a presentation entitled “The Art of Discovery”. She advised us in composing haiku to observe light and shade at different times throughout the day, different seasons, different weather conditions, different sounds and different moods. And to be aware of the ephemeral things – feathers, stones, bird calls, the shapes of twigs and leaves, tree trunks and bark, rough and smooth. To trust our senses. Helpfully, Marilyn supplied a number of examples of haiku written from different points of view. Many thanks to Marilyn for a most informative and thought provoking presentation.
At this point, towards the end of our meeting, we acknowledged our members who have recently had books published.
* Gwen Bitti has had a novel entitled “Between Two Worlds” published by Ginninderra Press. Gwen spoke of the writing of “Between Two Worlds” and furnished each White Pebble poet with a sachet of fragrant herbs, a snippet of silk and one of hessian to enhance sensory perception, as she spoke.
* Colleen Keating’s carefully researched book, “The Dinner Party” was also published by Ginninderra Press and we enjoyed hearing about it.
* And we recalled that only recently, in 2022, Samantha Sirimanne Hyde’s book “The Lyrebird’s Cry” was published.
Congratulations All!
This concluded the White Pebbles Spring meeting 2023. The general sentiment was all are looking forward to our summer ginko.
Kent Robinson
Back, L to R: Colleen, Kent; Front, L to R: Beverley, Maire, Gwen, Marilyn
Echidna Tracks Issue 11 edited by Gavin Austin and Marilyn Humbert. Thank you to them for the time and passion for haiku and thanks especially to Lynette Arden for the joy Echnida Tracks gives us daily at 6.30 am as a new gift arrives in our inbox
roosting lorikeets
chatter into the night
moon glow
Colleen Keating
among clouds
spoonbills
sweep the shallows
Colleen Keating
sickle moon—
barefoot around
a crescent beach
Colleen Keating
an ocean
to the other side
refugees
Colleen Keating
Love this direction for The Elements
Whether you are drawn to the ancient categories of Earth, Air, Fire and Water or are more at home with chemistry and current ideas in physics and cosmology; our theme deals with nature in the raw, the fundamentals of existence. Stone, soil, sea, wind and sky come to mind, as do energy, light, matter, electricity, space and time. Perhaps your world is an enchanted one; animated by spirit and containing magical and miraculous elements. You might also be open to the idea that the universe is composed of mind stuff, the stuff of which dreams are made, or is it all a mystery beyond words (though as aspiring poets we shall try). There is scope here to explore our place as thinking, feeling and social beings immersed in immensities and carried along in the flux of it all; the possibilities are endless and go to the heart of haiku. Take us into the heart of your universe, share your visions and wonder – leave us adazzle, quietly reflective and moved in one way or another…
Editors for Echidna Tracks Issue 11: Elements will be Gavin Austin and Marilyn Humbert.
Today it is exciting to receive this equisite Haiku Anthology, under the same moonand so proud to have three of my hailu included with many well known haikuists.
‘Alive with birds and frogs, suffused with the threat of bushfires and floods, these haiku sing with the uniqueness of Australian life. The skill on show is breathtaking , as distinctive individul voices lay bare moments of joy, loss, awareness and connection to inner and outer landscapes. ” Esther Ottaway
Colleen Keating I am excited to have three of my awarded haiku over the past few years published .
on my doorstep
a single rose softens
lockdown
birds and frogs
harmonise at dawn
Kakadu billabong
spring backburn
smells of last summer
waft on the wind
In the blurb on the back cover the well known poet Kevin Brophy writes: “And just as the butterfly puts so much effort into being light, you’ll wonder, does the haiku compress or expand the world ?. Does it vanish into its possible meanings or is each haiku, like autumn leaves, competing to be the most strangely beauitful object on the forest floor? “An amazing analogy, And amazing how 17 syllables or in the Japanese way 17 beats of sound can tell us a cosmic story from the minute nano size story to the universe expanding vision.
An example of this is from Dr Andrew Hede . His haiku expresses the grandness of the moment of experience ‘virgin forest’ to the humble minuteness by the age read in the time line of growth.
It speaks of the loss of our virgin forests which are disappearing and the reality of the time to grow and the moment of cutting down it with the fresh-cut stump,
virgin rainforest ninety-four rings on a fresh-cut stump
Andrew Hede Page 44.
Below is the back cover with the blurb I qouted from and my page of haiku.
Thank you to the editors for the new Anthology for its beautiful sensitive presentation and choice of haiku.
