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Winners announced here.
Write a haiku 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. See traditional haiku requirements here. Note that a haiku is like a a painting of nature. If your 5-7-5 poem is focused solely on human nature and is more cynical or humorous, then it is technically a senryu, not a haiku. However, haiku do concern human activities in relation to nature. The required seasonal word can refer to seasonal sports, holidays, entertainment, gardening, housekeeping, or visits to special places. Although this contest is held in summer, haiku dealing with any season are acceptable.
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WHEN:
Now until Saturday August 28, 2021 midnight EST. Winners Announced September 5.
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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.)
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WHAT:
Each entrant may submit up to three haiku. Must conform to traditional haiku rules above.
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WHERE:
Post your haiku in the comments section below.
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PRIZE:
$100.
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JUDGE:
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ENTRY FEE:
None
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EXAMPLES
See last year’s winning haiku here.
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As deep as the mind
Unseen forces move the wave
Washed of past and future
The first rains or monsoon
Azure skies painted
With wild splattered hues of grey
Earth’s endless thirst: quenched
The tree in winter
barren branches now
– bloodied bark against the snow:
relentless fighter
Autumn leaves
are weak tiny boats
traversing tumultuous
waves in the cool breeze
Autumn smells of death
and it is so beautiful.
Life is changing. Leaves.
Gorgeous gardens bloom.
After months of delicate tending.
Oh no! A Hailstorm!
Crispy frost layers
every li’l nook and cranny.
Ice is in the air.
autumn afternoon –
in the corner of my eye
goldfinches feeding
cool breeze august night
multitude of clouds consume
unwitting blue moon
branches bare of leaves,
tight quince buds are rimed with frost.
dawn—one streak of red.
a box of white cheese
unpacked at the picnic’s end –
nursery-rhyme moon
strawberry’s blossoms
disguise themselves as clover
patient birds wait for fruit
softly falling rain …
on every umbrella
a few pink petals
Inspired by Jindabyne, NSW at various seasons.
I.
Rain falls on a pond
Distorts a soft, serene face
Cleanses winter tears
II.
Silver-lined clouds fade
Shimmer in lengthening dusk
On lonely lakefront
III.
Soft, lonely footfalls
Echo silent through white hills
And wandering soul
The shooting stars light
Rarefy darkness of night,
Granting the wishes.
O swift shooting star!
Carry the light of my wish
Through dreary darkness.
1. sun-drenched estuary
the double-banded plover
settles on a dune
2. greenhouse emissions
a puffer fish tries to hide
in the bleached sea grass
3. the old man’s shelter
a canopy of branches
dusted with snowdrift
Oh marvelous night!
The light of August shooting star
Warms the cockles of heart.
Monday through Friday
The long days of work and school
Going by very slow
Curiosity
Clouds the minds of young children
The world in their hands
Thank you Margaret and Toshiji for your useful advice and comments. There is much to learn. I have ‘gone back to the drawing board’ and composed new haiku poems. Hope these pass muster !!
Cool touch of a mist,
Silky tendril caressing.
Early morning web.
Cool touch of a mist,
Silky tendril caressing.
Spider’s morning web.
Dear Judith,
I’m very glad to see that you responded to our comments quite positively. These new ones seems to me much better. This time as ‘spider’s web’ is a seasonal word in summer and every description finally focus on the word, these haikus are perfectly adapted to the standard rules of haiku. I also hope your success in this contest!
(Strictly speaking, ‘mist’ is a seasonal word in Spring, as Mr. Grave explains as follows.
https://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/2005/06/fog-mist-haze-and-more.html
But even in Japanese kigo list, there is an entry ‘mist in summer’ and the fact that mist is seen virtually every season and the word can be used every season is explained in reference books of haiku. In Judith’s haikus, as main kigo is ‘spider’s web’ and the scene clearly set in summer, I don’t think the use of ‘mist’ is not ‘kigasanari’ [using more than two seasonal words corresponding to different seasons.] )
Sorry, I made a grammatical mistake in the final sentence. I’d like to say as follows, that is , the use of ‘mist’ in Judith’s haiku is acceptable.
I don’t think that the use of ‘mist’ is ‘kigasanari.’
I.
Grey clouds spread across
The sunlit sky. Clear rain turns
To vibrant color.
II.
Moon rises slowly,
She creeps into our beds, and
Wakes the hearts of dreams.
A dream, screams,
Shattering the dark,
Black moon scratching at the doors.
Constantly yearning
For the moon’s radiant glow
Time to suck your blood!..
A lonely mountain
Dormant sleeping giant lies
When will he arise?!
The pale martian moon
stirs resting corn-fields into
fleeting fingertips
1. Fiery Arbour
A mild, serene breeze
Fails to put out the gold fire
Of dewy, cool trees.
2. Winter Throes
Nowhere blooms a rose,
Our thatch is covered with snow,
Hailstorm blows and blows.
3.
Dawn– still the cold stings,
People had a trembling sleep,
Hark! The church-bell rings.
Lightning cracks the sky!
Water falling everywhere,
Washing away heat
Toes hopping quickly
(Before the sand can burn them)
Into the cool waves