Edition 2 of the online journal Catchment – Poetry of Place was published in June 2024. Catchment publishes tanka and longer poems that convey a sense of location. Many of the poems are inspired by scenes and experiences within Australia, though there are always a number of poems relating to other countries. I was pleased to have one tanka and one slightly longer poem selected for inclusion in this edition.

My tanka relates to the Eiheiji Zen Buddhist temple in Japan. Eiheiji was established in the year 1244 and is one of two main temples in the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism. The monastery is a beautiful complex of buildings nestled among tree-covered hills. It is still an important training site for Buddhist monks today.

quiet stream . . .
inside the monastery
a monk
runs down timber stairs
in soft leather slippers

The banner photograph above this post shows some of the newer buildings at Eiheiji set among tall trees and moss-covered rocks. Many of the older halls and temples are built on the side of a hill with a long timber staircase providing access (see the photo below).

My second poem is about the village of Sudavik in Iceland. The village is located in the Westfjords region where steep mountains slope down to the fjords. Being a fishing village, Sudavik is located on the water’s edge which places is at risk of avalanche during the winter.

Sudavik, Iceland
(16 January 1995, after the avalanche)

searching for life
under rubble
under ice

under darkness

the team struggles
in from the blizzard

collapsing
seeing at last
the fear

in the eyes

of the rescue
dog

In January 1995, an avalanche in Sudavik killed fourteen people, eight of whom were children. Rescue teams worked through severe snowstorms to find and free survivors. Following this event, the village was rebuilt further along the fjord in a safer location.

You can read more poems from Edition 2 of Catchment – Poetry of Place here. Catchment invites submissions of poetry from Australian residents, you can find the submission details here.