BHS SPRING GATHERING, SATURDAY 19 MAY 2018 11 AM – 5 PM
KENSINGTON CENTRAL LIBRARY, 12 PHILLIMORE WALK, KENSINGTON
This year the BHS Spring Gathering took place in the Meeting Room at the Kensington Central Library. There were four main parts to the day:
(1) Spring Gathering Haiku
In the morning session led by Debbi Antebi, participants wrote haiku on the theme of ‘spring gathering’. There were many different perspectives and approaches to the same theme, as will be seen from the examples below.
spring gathering
its wits and me –
royal wedding
— Alan Summers
Spring Gathering haiku
spring gathering
around the old oak
a mass of daffs
— Andrew Shimield
spring gathering
i scribble something
& cross it out
— Caroline Skanne
Coffee break between the activities
the sound of bicycle tyres
down lanes in spring
with my many selves
— Colin Blundell
spring gathering…
the squirrel always first
at the bird feeder
— David Bingham
spring gathering my strength for a haiku
— David Jacobs
Kensington Gardens
spring gathering
the scent of wisteria
at my doorstep
— Debbi Antebi
a gathering
finding fellowship & fun
lambs gambol
— Di Davy
spring gathering
my muse didn’t visit
the park today
— Frank Williams
spring gathering
Zebedee, Dylan and all,
boing!
— Howard Colyer
sunny breakthrough –
in the poplar fluff
a mini rainbow
— Iliyana Stoyanova
David Bingham and Mark Gilfillan
spring gathering
hares on the hill
some boxing
— Kate B Hall
a gathering of eggs
the cuckoo
cracks first
— Mark Gilbert
along platforms
little groups of flag-wavers
spring gatherings
— Mark Gilfillan
spring
gathering of crows
at dusk
— Paul Hickey
I find my way
by unfamiliar routes
spring gathering
— Susan Lee Kerr
(2) ‘Whoku’ Session
This session was led by Mark Gilbert, who informed us about a relatively new form of haiku/senryu in which one line (or part of a one-line poem) consists of the name of a person who is alive, dead, real or fictional. Some examples of the form were shared, and participants were asked to try their hand at writing whoku.
Mark Gilbert
Rachmaninov
the impossible shine
of his shoes
the wren’s song is perfect
the wren’s song is improvised
Leonard Cohen
Lionel Hampton
raindrops
on iron
— Mark Gilbert
(3) Ginko and Kukai
Frank Williams
We were fortunate to have a sunny afternoon for the ginko in Hyde Park, which was led by Alan Summers. Upon our return, we shared the haiku that had been produced and held a haiku contest (kukai). The winner of the contest was Frank Williams, who received a haiku book prize.
Here is his winning haiku:
perfect day
the sat on log has
its own rhythm
(4) Haibun Time
The day finished with a haibun activity led by David Bingham, who discussed different ways in which haibun may be written and shared strategies for crafting strong pieces. Participants were then asked to write their own haibun based on their ginko experience and to share their writing within their groups.
BHS poets at the Spring Gathering 2018
Overall, it was a great day filled with haikai activities, and the feedback received from the participants was very positive.
Write-up by Debbi Antebi
Photos by Debbi Antebi, Frank Williams, Howard Colyer and Iliyana Stoyanova