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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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The northern wind comes
Bringing colour to the leaves
And my rosy cheeks
Oh, wee darling buds
Pops of colour in the grass –
a changing carpet
Jacarandas jive
purple-skirted arabesques
Confetti Cascade
Rivers of cheap beer:
where misery goes to float
and dreams go to drown.
Spring turns to summer;
once cooled desires now burn
for new adventures.
Living in your head,
dreaming of nirvanan seas
while your well runs dry.
When the rain-drones drop
Kaleidoscopes explode from
Namaqualand’s soul
Daffodil teacups
Beckon bees and hummingbirds
Sharp frosts now dew soft
Bergwind burgeons, blows
frays tempers like rotted string:
Summer’s dragon breath
Forest skeletons
And trees waiting to be burnt –
Human hands ashes.
The Rose
To feel her beauty
One must see past the sharp thorns
Therein lies her soul
They all fall again
near the walled-in Capitol:
the cherry blossoms.
The young boy splashes
in the backyard swimming pool,
facing subs and sharks.
This is just to say,
this withered chrysanthemum
is too sumptuous.
The middle one resonates with me. Thank you for posting.
Drop of dew frozen
A moment in forever
The grass blade quivers
The sun dazzles my eyes.
The warm rain washes my roots.
I’m mighty Fuji.
May all with deep love
exploring depths of the heart,
experience peace.
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Have been to deep depths.
Stood on the peaks of mountains.
Joy is where you are.
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Welcome to springtime!
Nature in full bloom today,
staring back at us.
Dark columns head north
Wildebeest cross the Mara
Crocodiles’ delight
Together for life
Sharing what comes good and bad:
Two crows on the lawn
One bite at a time
Stay no longer than needed
Bird feeder manners
Jays squabble in tree
Squirrels chatter in distance
The dog sleeps in peace
Monochrome stipples
Disturb the lazy current:
A zebra crossing
I have rethought my first two pieces with some salient feedback and would like to resubmit them:
Have been ocean deep.
Stood on the white mountain peak.
Bliss is where you keep.
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May all who journey
exploring seas and swift tides,
experience peace.
Five minutes scrolling…
‘Bottom of haiku contest.
Nice nature poems!
in the kitchen sink…
the last light of autumn dies
on a carving knife
To cut a rose
a stinging scratch
is a small price
the sudden shower
to break a harmony
start singing songs
static August air
old dog dozes on wood porch
waiting for a breeze
Liquid Ambar glows
sun tea sweats on the tile
five outstretched fingers
3 haiku about water: (Can you tell I live in Florida?!)
1.
A glittering sea:
Sharp sun cuts through blue-blood waves.
The lost ring sparkles.
2.
All is chlorine calm.
Muscles bow to monotone.
Beep! Released limbs lunge.
3. Inner Tube Peace
Relentless salt sprays
Bodies bouncing over wake…
Fingers clutch this day.
I’m thinking about
nights long ago when you could
really see the stars