Tom Staudt

I was born, grew up, had a career and now… Hey! No! Wait! It’s not over yet!

I’m here. I’m alive. After struggling through a severe health-scare I thought there’s so much more to do than cocooning on the couch.

Writing fell into my lap; so to speak. About four years ago a friend suggested a creative writing course, to get out of the house, do something, meet new people. So I signed up and I haven’t looked back since.

Now I am a member of the Australian Haiku Society and have been published in various journals online and in print. I even recently accepted a technical role, formatting poems for publication, right here at Drifting Sands. It is safe to say I enjoy writing very much. Japanese poetry intrigued me especially. My teacher and mentor Gavin Austin saw that I developed a liking for this poetry form and helped me a great deal along the way.
The first time I encountered Haiku I was confused but also fascinated. To be able to create so much impact with so few words. At first I had problems, I tried to be clever but I quickly learned that simplicity is the key for a good Haiku and this is why I like it. Since then I also explored Tanka, Haibun and Tanka prose as well as other forms in the genre, for example Cherita and Rengay.

My grandmother was a keen traveller and I was lucky enough to join her on some great trips. Safari in Tanzania, Desert trekking in Tunisia and once we followed Buddha’s tooth to Sri Lanka. The travel-bug returned in my later life when I worked as a flight attendant for Lufthansa. After the tragic 9/11 terror attacks I took some time off and travelled to Sydney, Australia where I found love and a new home.

Most of my jobs were in the artistic areas. For some years I was a ballet dancer. I danced in Iceland, Germany and for a short time in the USA. Working as a dancer and choreographer I won several prizes; German champion in disco couple division and European champion in jazz dance group division.

Then I started to get creative on other people’s heads, as a hairdresser I owned my own business and worked long hours; cutting, colouring and styling a variety of different hairdos, some of which were for the catwalk. When I was young, I sometimes modelled myself. Nowadays I prefer to be behind the camera. I like taking photos of everything interesting. Nature, people, architecture and the odd funny snapshot.

Feel free to browse my page I will include some examples of my work.

Tom Staudt
Darlinghurst, NSW Australia

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Haiku

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Tanka

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Modern miracle

It’s my first trip there. After the crew briefing I ask the captain if I could sit in the flight deck for final approach and landing. He smiles “First timer, eh?”

After roughly 12 hours, I get a call to come upstairs. I take my seat in the cockpit.

Down below; nothing but high rise buildings. Straight ahead, I can see the famous checker board hill, a marker for the plane to do a sharp right turn. The massive jet passes in-between two skyscrapers, I can see what people are watching on TV. I hold on to my seat. In front of us is a tiny runway. “No stress, I’ll bring us down safely.” The captain looks at me, before we descend, and touch down. 

The reverse thrusters roar, and we come to a halt.
“Welcome to Hong Kong…” the captain announces.

the door flap rattles
my cat squeezes through…
round things fit square holes

Kokako #35 November 2021

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Tanbun

Easy

“It’s simple, just lean forward, raise the heels, and off you go” I say.

What is the problem? Am I special?  

I’m on my way. I enjoy the wind in my hair, when I’m flying.

From the corner of my eye a dark shadow appears. Before I can attempt a soft landing, the darkness fills the sky. Something big is heading straight for me. It hits my face.

skating fast
I leave lines in the ice
a splitting sound
before the cracks
open the frozen pond

The soft padded paw of my cat gently presses on my nostrils. Just enough to make breathing difficult. 

I wake up. What a shame I really enjoy flying.

Contemporary Haibun online #17.2 August 2021

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Photos