(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Haiku @ The Oaks – Australian Haiku Society

Category: Haiku @ The Oaks

Haiku @ The Oaks, Canberra

Thursday 9 May 2024

A showery day, so no trees and magpies for us this time. Instead we enjoyed the cosiness of a table inside with a view of dripping leaves beyond the window. Four of us settled in—Hazel Hall, Gregory Piko, Marietta McGregor, Jan Dobb—and we missed Kathy Kituai and Glenys Ferguson.

As usual we chatted informally, noting the bond that has developed since the six of us first came together, a number of years ago, to share our journeys with haiku. We appreciated the continuing contribution of Marietta’s photography to the enhancement of Echidna Tracks; a sensitive visual reflection of ET’s Australian essence. Consequently, we felt a growing concern about the recent intrusion of AI and its threat of producing mere universal images.

The highlight of the afternoon was our welcome back to Greg who has been absent from our recent get-togethers. Greg has been in Japan. He intrigued us with thoughtfully prepared travel tales about finding himself ‘in the steps of Basho’—though not consciously looking for them! His delightful and inspiring presentation evoked enthusiastic response. Thanks a lot Greg. We, too, enjoyed the journey.

Until next time. . .

Jan Dobb

Haiku @ The Oaks, Canberra

Thursday, 11 January 2024

So good to be back together in the shade of bird-busy oaks —Kathy Kituai, Glenys Ferguson, Hazel Hall, Greg Piko and Jan Dobb.  We missed Marietta MacGregor, who was out of town

With a new year starting up, it seemed appropriate to assess any ‘suggestions, preferences, or complaints’ about our direction for the future months. Immediate unanimity—keep going just the way we are!  Our unstructured informality suits very well indeed.  Accordingly, we got under way. . .

Due to our curiosity at a previous gathering when Hazel spoke of Sedoka, she had kindly prepared a detailed introduction for us, complete with examples and notes to take away and ponder at leisure. . . and maybe have a go at writing?  A lively discussion was immediately under way.  For most of us this old Japanese form is new territory, even though it incorporates some familiar techniques. Again, we admired Hazel’s explorations of—and her beautiful writing of—the less familiar forms. She urged us to visit the Songbirds Sedoka Journal on the UHTS website.

Jan then produced a small book with yellowing pages that she had picked up by chance at a second-hand book fair—James Hackett: Haiku Poetry, volume three (1968).  As the book was passed around the table and various examples of Hackett’s verse were read aloud, the subsequent history and development of English language haiku became apparent.  However, we did wonder at times whether some of the ‘old’ ways are re-appearing today as ‘acceptable’ after all.  Haiku remains fluid. Hackett’s sense of wonder at things ordinary is obvious and, at times, Issa-like.  An early pioneer to be valued as ELH continues to evolve.

As we leave the table, the currawongs descend for their round of spirited interchange—this time it’s all about cold chips!

Jan Dobb 

Haiku @ The Oaks, Canberra

Thursday 9 November 2023

How quickly the months come around, and here we are again @ The Oaks, this time with rain falling and puddles filling. So, an inside day it is.  Just four of us to lunch—Gregory Piko, Glenys Ferguson, Marietta McGregor and Jan Dobb—our thoughts turning to missing chums, Kathy Kituai and Hazel Hall.

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Haiku @ The Oaks, Canberra

Thursday 12 October 2023

Spring sunshine, carolling currawongs and a table for six beneath shady trees. A full house @ The Oaks this month—Kathy Kituai, Hazel Hall, Marietta McGregor, Glenys Ferguson, Gregory Piko and Jan Dobb—all of us ready for this month’s spell of lunch, chat and friendship.  With haiku well in the mix, of course.

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Haiku @ The Oaks

Thursday 10 August 2023

This time, we were a full house.   After a mid-winter break during July, we re-assembled at The Oaks for lunch, doubly pleased to greet teach other once more—all of us, Glenys Ferguson, Hazel Hall, Kathy Kituai, Marietta McGregor, Gregory Piko, and Jan Dobb.  As usual, it was not long before our personal catch-up was morphing into animated haiku talk.  How good to be together again!

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Haiku @ The Oaks

Thursday 15 June 2023

Warm greetings and a table near a heater—just the right tone for a haiku lunch on a crisp winter day. Five of us this time—Kathy Kituai, Hazel Hall, Greg Piko, Glenys Fergusen and Jan Dobb.  We missed Marietta McGregor.  Another chum, though, was a local magpie who insisted on remaining inside with us despite the staff’s attempts to evict her. 

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Haiku @ The Oaks

Thursday 11 May 2023

A monthly lunch @ The Oaks is one of those bright spots in our calendars. Once a month we bond in friendship and haiku, wondering where our agenda-less meeting might lead us. On Thursday, five of us greeted around the table—Kathy Kituai, Hazel Hall, Gregory Piko, Marietta McGregor, and Jan Dobb. We missed Glenys Ferguson, who is out of town.

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