Saying Hello, Saying Goodbye

Today marks the beginning of NaHaiWriMo which will see poets all over the globe writing a haiku a day for the month of February. You can find all the information here. I've written two today while out (using the pen and post-it notes I keep in my handbag) and think I might have gotten hubby on board, too :)

To welcome in the new month, here is the February page from my haiga calendar. The haiku placed Highly Commended in the 2008 NZPS International Haiku Contest and was published in the NZPS anthology, Before the Sirocco. The photograph was taken near my parents house in Kihikihi, Te Awamutu, and is very similar to the view I now get to see every day from my hill in Hobbiton, Matamata. (You can click on the photo to see a larger version.)




February 2012 - Kirsten's Calendar of Haiku & Photography

February 1st was also a day to say goodbye: The Grandfather of haiku in New Zealand, Cyril Childs, passed away on 27 January and his funeral was today in Dunedin.

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Cyril at my first Haiku Conference in Christchurch in 2008. I remember his kind eyes and warm smile, the encouragement he gave me, and his passion for haiku. My condolences to his family and friends, and his haiku family and friends in New Zealand and around the world.

You can read some of Cyril's haiku on his Haiku NewZ Showcase page here and read the tributes to this wonderful haijin here. May he rest in peace.

Chinese New Year

January 2012 - Kirsten's Calendar of Haiku & Photography

Regular followers of this blog might remember that I actually set myself a second goal last year: to make a calendar of haiku and photography to be given as Christmas presents to my family.

Well, I did it, and everybody loved it! :)

With the Chinese New Year celebrations upon us, I thought it was about time I showed my readers some of what my calendar turned out like. Above is my January page: a shot I took near my old home of Papamoa Beach, from one of my favourite spots, and the haiku is one that was published in the NZPS Anthology in 2008, Before the Sirocco.

It's probably one of my favourite haiku by me: it was my first play around with form in haiku, and I still think of it every summer when I stretch out my toes and feel that first rush of cool breeze.

I hope the sunny scene warms those of you in the Northern parts of our Earth. And Happy New Year once again!

Can I Have A Drum Roll Please...

In the draw for the taste of nashi (Windrift, 2008) were twenty-two new followers, and the winner is Pamela A. Babusci!

In the draw for Before the Sirocco (NZPS, 2008) were the new followers plus five people who were already followers and had left a message on one of my posts through July, and the winner is Dawn Cagle Apanius!

Thanks to everyone who has joined me here in the past month. A wrap-up of my poetic July coming soon, as well as lots more haiku, senryu and tanka!

It's My Birthday This Month & I'm Giving YOU Gifts!

Yes, July 31st is my birthday and I'm celebrating with you by having a book give-away!

Become a 'follower' of Swimming in Lines of Haiku this month and I'll put you in the draw to win a copy of the taste of nashi - New Zealand Haiku (Windrift, 2008).

standing naked
in moonlight -
the taste of nashi
           ~Sandra Simpson

It's easy!

• Sign up to be a 'follower' via Blogger or Networked Blogs.
• Once you're a follower, please leave a comment on one of my posts and I will put your name in the hat for the draw.
• One entry per person during the month of July, 2011.
• Winner drawn at random on 2nd August, 2011.

As July 31st 2011 is also the 2nd anniversary of my engagment - if I have more than twenty new followers during the month, I'll also draw a winner for a 2nd book, Before the Sirocco - The New Zealand Poetry Society Anthology (NZPS, 2008).

autumn wind
following her footsteps
through the leaves
                   ~Sophia Frentz



Do come and join me at Swimming in Lines of Haiku where I explore my poetry journey and help you with yours by offering discussion and information on competitions/workshops/calls for submissions and websites/books/people of interest.

Sharing a Haiku for NaHaiWriMo - day fourteen

I'm writing a haiku a day for NaHaiWriMo offline. Here at Swimming in Lines of Haiku I'm sharing one of my published haiku each day:

between outstretched

t  o  e  s

summer breeze

Published in Before the Sirocco (New Zealand Poetry Society Anthology, 2008)

Sharing a Haiku for NaHaiWriMo - day one

I'm writing a haiku a day for NaHaiWriMo offline. Here at Swimming in Lines of Haiku I'm sharing one of my published haiku each day:


navigating
these country roads
the curl of her hair


Highly Commended, New Zealand Poetry Society International Haiku Competition 2008
Published in Before the Sirocco (New Zealand Poetry Society Anthology, 2008)