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Picture: Sandra Simpson
February 2010
I had the pleasure this past month of visiting Waihi Waterlily Gardens where the photo above was taken - along with many others. If you're in the Waihi/Coromandel area of travelling from Auckland to Tauranga, the gardens are well worth a visit (there's even a 2-acre lake full of waterlilies and lotus), even if only (or especially) for Sam's home-made custard squares! The hot and humid days we've been having have suddenly turned into rain - and not just that "nice drop" that was coming down yesterday afternoon, but not a real tank-filling downpour. Ah, summer!
This month's article is by John Carley and reflects an interest I have been developing of late - renku (linked verse). John is a thoughtful and wise writer on the subject - even has his own website devoted to the several forms of renku - and has generously offered to lead a linked verse for Haiku NewZ readers who would like to try. His contact email is at the foot of the Monthly Article. I can vouch for his kindness towards beginners, and also the amount of knowledge he is able to impart in an easy manner. Don't forget to say that you read about him here!
Haiku Happenings and Competitions have also both been updated, including details for both the Katikati Haiku Contest and the NZPS International Haiku Contest. Kiwi literary journal Bravado is continuing with its haiku/tanka pages and guest editor for issue 19 is Barbara Strang. Find out how to send poems under Submissions on Haiku Happenings.
Don't forget to consider your own Poetry Society when making charitable donations as it has, once again, been turned down by Creative NZ funders. As a result, your national co-ordinator will remain part-time and the a fine line newsletter must become smaller to cut costs. If you think you can't afford to donate, consider how much you spend on coffee/cigarettes/alcohol/Lotto/ (gasp) chocolate in a year ... and if you're not a member of NZPS, become one today (and sign up a friend). Your Poetry Society needs you! Read about membership here while instructions on how to make a donation are on the NZPS homepage.
As always, if you have articles, details of contests or magazines, or general news and photographs from the world of haiku please send them for consideration.
