THE HAIBUN GALLERY: 30th November 2023 — Gavin Austin, featured poet

hosts: Firdaus Parvez & Kala Ramesh

A Thursday Feature.

poet of the month: Gavin Austin

30th November 2023

Gavin Austin lives in Sydney, Australia. His work has been widely published in anthologies and journals, and he has been recognised in literary competitions. In 2016, Gavin was awarded a Writing Fellow of the FAW NSW Inc., and was the Featured Poet in the January 2016 issue of cattails. Also, he was the Poet in Focus 57, Presence #72, March 2022. The Drifting Sands Special Feature, Girt by Sea was Gavin’s undertaking; a partnership of his photography and poetry from Australian writers. He currently has two published poetry collections: Shadow Play, Dragonwick, Aus., and changing light, Alba Publishing, UK. Gavin was shortlisted for a Touchstone Award 2022 for Individual Poem. He is currently completing a collection of haibun and haiku, which he hopes to publish late 2023. You can find Gavin in The Poet’s Hub Gavin Austin – Drifting Sands Haibun – Poet's Hub (drifting-sands-haibun.org)

Unlocked

Most of his dreams are black and white. Yet, when he is left alone to disappear, falling into the abyss within, he dreams with a kaleidoscope of singing colours. Perhaps his truths should be translated, transcribed into some universal language?

Night finds him propped-up in a doorway, waiting for his dreams; sleeve hitched, belt around his left bicep. A gnawing need, hopeless as the madman’s cries haunting empty winter streets, until the colours explode through his veins; sing in his head.

intersection

a neon sign flashes

its silent tale

Drifting Sands #6, December 2020

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Prompt

Dreams! Talk to us about yours!

Some interesting facts about dreams: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/thinkitthrough/the-psychology-of-dreams-46695/

Haibun outside this prompt is welcome too

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Important: Since we're swamped with submissions, and our editors are only human, mistakes can happen. Please, please, remember to put your name, followed by your country, below each poem, even after revisions. It helps our editors; they won't have to type it in, saving them from potential typos. Thanks a ton!

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PLEASE NOTE:

1. Only two haibun per poet per prompt. Please put your name and country of residence under your poem, it makes the editors' work easier. Thanks.

2. Share your best-polished pieces.

3. Please do not post something in a hurry or something you have just written.

Let it simmer for a while.

4. When poets give suggestions and if you agree to them - post your final edited version on top of your original version.

5. Don't forget to give feedback on others' poems.

We are delighted to open the comment thread for you to share your unpublished haibun (within 300 words) to be considered for inclusion in the haikuKATHA monthly journal.