The winning haiku can be found here
Write a haiku on any topic and post it in the comments section below. The haiku must adhere to the traditional parameters of a haiku to qualify (and may be deleted if it does not). It must…
1. Be three lines. The first line must have five syllables, the second seven syllables, and the third five syllables. Seventeen syllables total (5-7-5).
2. Contain a nature or seasonal reference: the crumbling leaves, the cold air, the smell of manure, the taste of fresh black berries, the cicadas’ buzzing.
3. Be in the present tense (swims rather than swam).
4. Be subtle and observational.
5. Contain some sort of twist in the third line: a shift in perspective or mood, a surprise, a new interpretation of the first or second line.
Read more about writing a haiku here.
When: Now until Saturday August 8, 2020 midnight EST. Winners Announced August 15, 2020.
Who: Anyone in the world, any age or background, may participate. From within the Society, anyone, including Advisory Board Members, not involved in judging the contest may participate. (If you are outside the United States, you will have to have a PayPal account or a bank that accepts U.S. checks to receive the prize money if you win.)
What: Each entrant may submit up to three haiku. Any topic. Must conform to traditional haiku rules above.
Where: Post your haiku in the comments section below.
Prize: $100.
Judge: Mike Bryant
Entry Fee: None
Falling like snowflakes
The smell of cherry blossoms
The vision of blood
the winter wind blows
the blackbird repeats his call
on a moonless night
again the wrong path,
an eerie stillness, these woods…
sound of falling leaves
stories in the clouds
let all of your secrets go
whisper to the wind
Here’s the background story about my second haiku entry: I read the article “Exposing the Occult Corona-Initiation Ritual” by Makia Freeman. But then I had to go with my family on the annual trip to Redfish Lake in central Idaho. While I was there, I got a few ideas intuitively.
Under cheated stars,
dark rituals upon men
might make them puppets.
(By the first line, I mean astrology being used for evil purposes rather than good ones.)
Imploding spirit
Lost within Suicide’s flood
Reaching out for life.
Crocuses bloom in the freezing place
As women ready to shine
The light of success.
This is not a contest entry, but a suggestion for the entrant, who may decide whether or not to take my advice:
Cold crocuses bloom
and women prepare to shine
the light of success.
The fallen rabbit;
ensnared, but silent, peaceful;
food for the weakened.
I walk through the door
It shuts quickly behind me
And now it’s snowing
Forgot to add my last name
I walk through the door
It shuts quickly behind me
And now it’s snowing
Sunflowers bloom now
Stretching to find the daylight
No darkness can hide
Oh what I would give
Summer rain drifting away
To be that raindrop
Walking in the cold
Opens the body’s window
And lets the light in
A mountain of dew
Gathering on the grass blade
Is moved by your faith
A lover’s finger
As warm as a match’s flame
Is food for the soul
Butterflies
The girl in orange
dances among the flowers,
her wings bent in grace
Dandelion Death
Bright dandelions,
their decapitated heads
strewn upon the ground
They Always Sink
Love is like a stone
Skipping into an abyss
And used to crush hearts
War
Spring’s clean white roses
Blooming purely all alone
Now stained in red blood
There is Still Life
Winter freezes, kills
Cold chokes every living thing
Sun peeks out- soon spring
Robbin Robbing Life
Small bird chirps in nest
Mother gone. One brother’s push,
Falls down to the ground
DESOLATION
Trapped inside myself
Time passing like cold wind
Longing to be me
TWILIGHT
The endless night sky
Burning stars release questions
Morning sun bears none
HEALING
Falling into earth
Heat of the core warms my mind
I am all control
Haiku 1: Blue Crane
Stars in the vast sea
Leaves the feather of blue cranes
Flying toward mountains
Haiku 2: Mystic Deer
The forest of rain
A light twinkle of mist covers
Deer softly appears
Haiku 3: Forest Wind
Relaxed with green life
Wonders of animals pass
As zyphers flow by
at the garden gate
only my shadow passes
the locked entryway
from the bleeding hearts
a hummingbird emerges
humming an old tune
How nice to have a deadline in order to continue to revise.
first day of college:
only my shadow steps through
the front entrance gate
from the columbine
a hummingbird emerges
whistling a blues tune
into this haiku
about a gnarled apple tree
a robin appears
STARRING
Nightingale’s sorrow
resonated in melancholy night
my heart echoed
SAD STEPS
There used to be rose
petals where we stood, now I
can only feel thorns
SELF-DESTRUCTION
My soul is tired
Fighting my worst enemies
Me, myself, and I
Correction to the first poem:
STARRING
Nightingale’s cry
resonates in sorrow night
my aching heart rings
Final correction: decided to only include two haiku poems.
SAD STEPS
There used to be rose
petals where we stood, now I
can only feel thorns
SELF-DESTRUCTION
My soul is tired
Fighting my worst enemies
Me, myself, and I
Sweltering cadence
Seduce me at sea again
Cerulean eyes
Heavy in my chest
An ambiguous request
Taste my earth again
Night in the desert
Encumbered me with this ache
Scorpion kisses
People in my head
Trapped like wind, Howling to be
Released by my pen
Buffeted like leaves
She wanders through the masses
stealing all she can
Trees tell many tales
I see the stories written there
in ink on paper
It rains once more, but
Spring showers bring May flowers
Love is in the air
Summer afternoons
Spent lounging in the hot sun
With someone I love
Leaves fall from the trees
Warm evenings begin to cool
Where has my love gone?
Haiku #1:
bright sunbeams shimmer
twinkling on wavy waters
horizon’s diamonds
Haiku #2:
lollipop flowers
white, scalloped pickets
“no trespassing” sign
Haiku #3:
perfect symmetry
unfolding kaleidoscope
monarch butterfly
Correction: Haiku #2
lollipop flowers
scalloped, white picket fences
“No Trespassing” signs
Haiku #2 Correction:
lollipop flowers
scalloped white picket fences
“No Trespassing” signs
Horses mirror you,
Red sky morning, night in view;
Care they show, you sow.
Pain is a ladder
Shedding skins of dark matter
Climb! Kill the doubter.
I am not a God,
But I know why you are here;
Be true, love, forbear.
“Wonder Over Wander”
How wild the spirit
In all of humanity
Silenced and longing
“Living”
Offering a soul
Where the sunlight beams anew
Waiting on thunder
“Independence”
Burn like July sun
With fire at our fingers
Snuffed out in fall’s rise