The Lyrebird Tanka Circle was formed in Canberra, Australia, in 2021. The group meets regularly to discuss and review tanka and tanka prose. The Circle published its first anthology of tanka prose, Roots that hold, in 2026. The anthology, which was edited by Liz Lanigan, Mira Walker and Tony Steven Williams, presents writing by 14… Read More Lyrebird Tanka Circle: Roots that hold
The Martin Lucas Haiku Award is conducted each year by the Presence Haiku Journal. The Award honours the memory of respected English haiku poet, Martin Lucas. Entries for the 2025 Award closed in January 2026, with the results announced a couple of months later. I was delighted to learn the competition judge, Thomas Powell, selected… Read More 2025 Martin Lucas Haiku Award
The UK-based tanka journal, Quail Eggs, is published online every three months. Founding Editor, Alison Williams, says “quail eggs are small but perfectly formed and contain a surprising richness . . . They are simply delicious little things, just like tanka”. The Quail Eggs journal invites submissions of tanka, and related forms such as kyōka,… Read More Quail Eggs: A Tanka Journal
In late 2025, the Association Francophone de Haïku together with the journals l’estran and seashores released Double Horizon: an international haiku anthology. The editorial team, led by Jean Antonini and Gilles Fabre, also included Amanda Bell, Jean-Hughes Chevy and Françoise Saint-Pierre. The collection was published by The Fishing Cat Press in Dublin, Ireland. Double Horizon is a bilingual anthology… Read More Double Horizon: An International Haiku Anthology
Those who’ve been following this site will know that Australian singer-songwriter, Stu Larsen, embarked on a year of solitude in 2024; writing 12 new songs in 12 different locations around the world. Each of the locations was isolated with rustic accommodation lacking in modern conveniences. Stu has since been in the recording studio, leading to… Read More Stu Larsen: The Solitude Tour, 2026
Neologism Poetry Journal is edited by Christopher Fields. A new issue of this US based journal appears online each month, presenting the work of American poets and writers from other countries. Neologism is always enjoyable to read. Christopher’s selections include a variety of styles and subject matter with the content always being accessible and engaging.… Read More Neologism Poetry Journal
The Japanese haiku master, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), moved to the outskirts of Tokyo in 1680. From that time forward, Basho took his name from the Japanese banana tree, or ‘basho’, planted in the yard of his rustic hut (known as Basho-an). It was here that Basho wrote many of his most famous works including his… Read More 8th Basho-an International English Haiku Competition
The town of Young in New South Wales is well known for the production of cherries. Since 1949, Young has held a National Cherry Festival to coincide with each year’s harvest. Festival activities include a street parade, boutique markets, cultural activities and a fireworks display. For the past 43 years, the local branch of the… Read More National Cherry Festival Poetry Competition
