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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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you can be my sun
and moon and stars but to you
i am merely dust
Unrequited love? forsaken god? Haunting metaphors
A line not to be crossed
From lovers to friends
Love meets its tragic end
Listen to the voice of your heart
Choose those who choose you
No one should thirst for love
A midsummer night’s dream
Moonbeams hypnotize two bewildered hearts
Love comes unforeseen
Spring rose perfume drifts
from petals brown at the edge
Severed stems beneath
The realization of cut flowers, beautiful but slowly dying
Mayfly in Junecloud
Over Marlay lake
In a maelstrom of sunsparks
Mayfly mill and moil
Lavender’s sweet blooms
welcome bees humming their thanks
for summer’s harvest
Patient, the sun waits
a new birth. An unhurried
fragrant eruption
Between sea and sky
the jagged cliffs surrender
battered by the waves
MIGRAINE
Bright light, shattered sky
Lightening flashes; mouth is dry
Overwhelming pain
Vivid description.
How short is freedom
gained by the cherry blossom
released from the branch
Speaks to the transitory nature of life
The moon hangs in the trees.
Crystal cold air mists our breath.
The joyous dog runs.
Joyful dog even in bitter cold, beautiful juxtaposition
Web spans a corner.
Delicate spider waiting.
The duster ends it.
Poor spider, we’ve all done it!
Catch a pearl of rain
like a diamond wedding ring
stylishly adorned
Up there or down here
no matter shine, swim or crawl
bring wonder and awe
Swishy swirly shore
she sparkles in the sunshine
kissed by waves of blue
Feel the soft raindrops
Patter against the windows
Of ones hopes and dreams
Leaves clinging to trees
Determined not to fall dead
Reminds me of us
Love trying to hang on…
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A seagull staggers
in awe of the rippled mate
he has bent to kiss.
II
Yellow the petals
to a waking touch, yellow
the field to slumber
III
A dove wakes beside
A dreaming fountain that loves
A blossom’s white wings.
These are beautiful! I love them!
Like smoke rising from
mournful funeral pyres
grey low-slung clouds swirl.
barking dogs nearby-
I feel the tearing teeth of
winter’s bitter wind
The dog’s feel it too!
I visit the grave
of the dearly departed,
memories of youth
Summerrain falling
replenished thirsty nature
with water of life.
Mogalakwena
river of the crocodile
once part of summer.
The city fog whirls:
Denizens walk the dark streets—
The lamplights flicker.
The moon’s light descends
Into city thoroughfares
And floods the dank road.
Cherry tree blossoms:
The sight of pale-pink petals,
Eagerly falling.