On Sunday, I braved the autumn drizzle and a very large group of cyclists and set off along the bank of the Brisbane River along with six haiku enthusiasts on the first of our planned ginko.

While it may not have been the kind of day that pulls you from your Sunday morning slumber, it is amazing how the small world of an umbrella makes you focus. Here’s a haiku sequence I wrote while out walking:
Brisbane River Sequence
dawn river
my head
yet to clear
morning walk
just enough rain
to give the river voice
standing alone
the puddle at the edge
of shelter
waiting for
the 7am ferry
lone cormorant
whistling at the joggers
the old man’s
hearing aide
magpie song
the day brightens
under my umbrella

At the end of our ginko, we gathered together and shared our morning’s work, each poet presenting their favourite haiku of the morning, then casting their vote to select the poem of the trip. The winning poem from the Brisbane River Ginko was written by Cindy Keong.

lingering heat
my sweat beads
on the lawn
Next Sunday we are off to Sandgate for a coastal ginko. Nothing like sea air in your lungs to start the morning.
* all photographs by Cindy Keong