Edition 2 – Catchment

Bios > Longer Poetry > Tanka

FOREWORD
Welcome to the second release of Catchment – Poetry of Place.
In April, impetus towards this edition came from a writing workshop, inspiring work published.
Held in Drouin – in regional Victoria – during May, a poetry reading gave further momentum.
Incorporating tanka & longer poems, it showcased writing from our first issue.
Along with local writer-presenters, our program included Melbourne-based poets as readers.
One contributor visiting from interstate helped make up a large, receptive audience.
Giving an introductory outline, I posed the question: ‘Why poetry of place?’

In response I identified a need to respond creatively to locations where we live, work, travel & play, since places stir memories; trigger emotions; spark reflections.
Such writing might be kindled by thoughts of home, especially from younger days; or a fresh place, irresistible in its beauty; even a location imbued with loss.
Another question I addressed was: ‘Why call it Catchment?’
On the country of the Kurnai people, in West Gippsland, I live between the Strzelecki Ranges & Mount Baw Baw.
Collecting run-off from opposing slopes within its valley, the Latrobe River flows west to east.
This journal acts as a catchment too, juxtaposing poetry in contrasting genres: one as free verse, from European origins, in the West; the other a short-form, from Japanese traditions, in the East.
We respect cultural difference through sharing varied styles & voices, prompted by locations across this country & overseas, urban & remote, contemporary & historic, real & imaginary.
Yet we can only accept submissions from Australian residents, since our team is small.
My gratitude goes to all offering support, but particularly the crew helping to deliver Catchment.
Editorial assistance from Jennifer Fell & Jo McInerney remains generous, acute & constructive, with feedback from Joe Garrow & Meg Long also valued.
In IT, Mike & Marlene Ogden work tirelessly to improve this website, addressing challenges thrown up by innovations, digitally speaking.
From Baw Baw Arts Alliance, others backing this project include Sue Murphy & Jeff Thege.
With our reading, Off the Leash Theatre gave great support, through Jeannie Haughton (as facilitator) & Kellie Brae (as compere), along with Kieran Murphy & Mandy Waters (as readers).
Thanks also to Amanda Allan for helping there.
Deep appreciation goes to Paul Strickland for making recordings for broadcast via 3BBR-FM.
With contributors listed alphabetically again here, our roll-call has expanded to 78 poets.
Through promotion by the Bbaa, the Australian Haiku Society, the Australian Writers Resource, Gippsland Writers & Ballarat Writers, we received work from almost 90 contributors (an increase).
I am grateful to Gregory Piko for featuring Catchment in his own poetry site.
Some poets also appeared in Edition 1; others are new to us; some are novices with tanka (receiving support) – a few are being published for the first time: we feel proud of all that.
Hopefully varied & evocative, emotive & thought-provoking, may these poems take you places.