September Round-Up - An Inspiration of Cherry Blossoms

Two activities hit my personal poetry Refresh button in September: an afternoon with my local poetry group 'Pacific Poets' in Papamoa and a brief spot of cherry blossom viewing in Greerton Village. I came back reinvigorated from both with a steady flow of poetry for days afterwards. It always amazes me how a small change in my routine or environment can make such a positive difference to my writing. I'm grateful to have been well enough to appreciate the experience.

Here's how I'm doing on my 2011 goal of submitting poetry to a publication or competition every week:

• week thirty-five - submitted ten haiku to The Heron's Nest, awaiting outcome
• week thirty-six - submitted ten tanka to Notes from the Gean, one tanka accepted!
• week thirty-seven - submitted ten haiku to Notes from the Gean, one haiku accepted!
• AND submitted six tanka to Simply Haiku (first time submitting here), two tanka accepted!
• week thirty-eight - submitted two haiku to the HIA Contest
• week thirty-nine - submitted ten haiku to DailyHaiku (first time submitting here), awaiting outcome

Lots of submitting this month, but not much coming out as Notes from the Gean and haijinx are still working on getting their respective issues out. I look forward to seeing my poetry in these journals, both for the first time, in a matter of days; and in Chrysanthemum and Simply Haiku in mid October, also both for the first time.

At the beginning of September I had one haiku appear in The Heron's Nest, an image feature as cover art on Kokako and my first haikai column in a fine line. I've been working on my second column throughout September and am almost ready to put it to bed. Happy October 1st all and a warm welcome to my new readers!

Greerton Village Square - September 27, 2011
Both photos by Kirsten Cliff

The Devastation of Earthquake and Processing Through Poetry

Christchurch, in New Zealand's South Island, suffered a major earthquake this week.

Many people are displaced, injured, missing or deceased.

Many buildings are battered and broken, streets ripped apart, possessions lost forever.

I have been deeply moved by this event, although I'm not in the earthquake zone and am safe.

A chest x-ray I'd had recently came back clear this week: a small victory for me on my medical journey.

But all I kept thinking was of those in Christchurch who are just beginning their life-changing journey through the medical system with spinal injuries, amputations, and so on.

May they receive the same excellent level of care and attention that I received (and am still) on my journey through leukaemia.

Poetry has played a part in my healing process, and poems have already begun emerging from the earthquake rubble: one here by haiku poet Dick Whyte.

I have written a tanka and sent it in to Haiku News, and am sure I'll write more poems as the full extent of the tragedy unfolds for us all.

Pacific Poets, which meets next Sunday in Papamoa, will be sharing our grief at the devastation through poetry also.

I welcome you in sharing your poems in response to the Christchurch earthquake in the comments section of this post. (See 'comments' below for haiku from me and several by Michael Dylan Welch)

Information about how the poets in our haiku family are doing can be found here on Haiku NewZ. Thank you, Sandra Simpson, for keeping this updated.

Sending much hope and many prayers to the people of Christchurch and all affected by this disaster. Kia kaha.