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         John O'Connor 

John O'Connor is a Christchurch poet and critic. He was co-winner of the New Zealand Poetry Society competition in 1998 and winner of both the poetry and haiku competitions in 2006. In 2000 his fifth book of poetry, A Particular Context, was voted one of the five best books of New Zealand poetry in the 1990s by NZPS members. John is an editor for Canterbury Poets Combined Presses, was co-founder of Sudden Valley Press and founding editor of the journal plainwraps. His book, Parts of the Moon, was published in Australia in November, 2007. His interest in haiku began 20 years ago. John does not have e-mail.

  
mountain-side -
the train climbs its own
sound
  
  
circus dwarf -
so high above his hand
the red balloon
  
  
wedding ring worn thin
she kneads dough
in autumn sunlight
  
  
attic dust
finding my mother's
footsteps
  
  
in
the empty billboard frame
the whole mountain
  
  
past the manikin
the girl with the same
pout
  
  
dusk -
up to my ears
in birdsong
for JK
  
  
boarding house porch -
a lone male
lights up
  
  
'hi' / high
the young hooker s
at everyone
  
  
riveroflightriveroflightsriveroflight

Publication Notes:

mountain-side - : Balancing on Blue.

circus dwarf - : Frogpond (US).

wedding ring worn thin: ibid.

attic dust: ibid.

in: Modern Haiku (US).

past the manikin: Manichi Daily News (Japan).

dusk -: Frogpond (US), chosen as the best of the international issue.

boarding house porch -: Poetry Aotearoa. 

'hi' / high: A Fine Line (NZ Poetry Society newsletter).

riveroflight: ibid.

                                                                              

                                                                               Haiku by John O'Connor, Katikati Haiku Pathway (Sandra Simpson photo).

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