The Haiku poem originated in Japan in the 9th Century. They are always of three lines with five syllables in the first and third lines and seven syllables in the middle line. In essence it was a way of looking at the physical world and seeing something deeper, as in the very nature of existence. The following eight haikus represent eight months of travel through Australia in 2015 although they are not necessarily deep and meaningful.

 

Black Dragon road
From ocean to the outback
All along the track

 

 

 

Red earth, zebra rock
Yellow waters, Kakadu
Horizontal falls

 

 

 

Road trains squeeze the road
Vortex of power and speed
Shrieking and bossy

 

 

 

Aboriginal
Camp fires and rainbow serpents
Chase Bunyip spirit

 

 

 

Rottnest Island boat
White lighthouse, dark history
Cycles in the sea

 

 

 

Beyond Esperance,
Frenchmans Hill, prominent peak-
Sorely tests ones feet

 

 

 

The Nullabor Plain
No trees, no water, no trees
Salt bush all around

 

 

 

Edward and Wylie,
Standing tall, looking afar
Cast in rusting iron