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WHO
Anyone in the world, of any age or background, may participate. Among members of the Society of Classical Poets, everyone including Advisory Board members may participate, if not involved in judging the contest. The winner, if not a U.S. resident, must have a PayPal account or a bank that accepts U.S. checks, in order to receive prize money.
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PRIZE
$100
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JUDGES
J. Thomas Rimer, Professor Emeritus of Japanese Literature, Theatre, and Art at the University of Pittsburgh; former chief of the Asian Division of the Library of Congress.
Margaret Coats, Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University; retired from a career of teaching literature, languages, and writing that included considerable work in homeschooling for her own family and others.
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WHEN
Now until September 16, 2023, 6 pm EST (New York time). The original Sept. 15 deadline has been extended for those in other time zones. Results to be announced September 29, 2023 (corresponding with Tsukimi—the Japanese Moon Festival).
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WHERE
Post your entries in the Comments below.
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WHAT
Each competitor may submit up to three haiku of traditional form: three lines per poem with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second, and 5 in the third. Entrants are recommended to conform to other traditional haiku requirements outlined HERE.
IMPORTANT: By submitting haiku to this contest, the contestant declares that the poems are his or her own work, and that they were written after July 2022. Please submit using your first and last name, as we may find it difficult to distinguish between contestants who have similar first names.
If you want coaching on haiku features, please read the examples and explanation before submitting your entries. Once entries are posted, they can be revised or withdrawn ONLY by making another Comment. This is permitted until the competition closes, but do take reasonable care to complete work to your satisfaction before you enter it. Please do not use the Comment area as your scratch pad. That is discourteous to other competitors, to interested readers, and to the judge and will disqualify you.
Entries that do not meet basic traditional haiku requirements may be deleted. Anyone who submits more than three entries will have ALL his or her entries disqualified, unless excess entries are clearly withdrawn by a later Comment.
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PAST WINNERS
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The warmth of the earth
rises up and fills my heart
like a friendly cup.
Funeral today
Business as usual
Kidney breakfast
To speak from rich crypts
Fills minds with more than just air
Point made to grand stand
Upon sweeping wind
Wings and pressure start flight
Reflecting sunlight
When i look skyward an old friend looks back at me eternity waits. Life is a river flowing to the ocean immortality.
Middle of winter….the snapping of red fire place…obsorbs books riffle
Middle of winter….the snapping of red fire place…obsorbs books riffle
Butterflies are free
Unlike slaves of long ago
They can fly away
Butterflies are free….Unlike slaves of long ago…..They can fly away
When will the leaves start
To turn: the days are still warm
But the nights are cold
From dying piles of
Almond trees white blossoms are
beginning to burst
Purple with sunrise
Robed in mist Bear Mountain I
wish I could paint you
autumn leaves ablaze
resplendent colors amaze
God giving a gift
slither, startles me
as scared of me as I he
deep breath, heart settles
Haiku is succinct
Paints a picture in few words
Poetic shorthand
My car needs new tires
An oil change and new brake pads
Cars are expensive
Slumbering sweetly
A bird’s song awakens me
I listen and smile
Haiku—Squirrels
tall ancient oak trees
majestic in all seasons
squirrels playing tag
windy snowy day
park benches clothed in bright white
squirrels occupy
cat food in a bowl
intended diners absent
stealthy squirrels feast
“ TRIED TO JOIN MENSA
BUT SEVENTEEN SYLLABLE
IQ ENDS IN HAIK “
Backpack and snow boots
waiting on weather report
girl seen in hike queue
an empty birdcage
the dust in the living room
drifts through the window
the indolent smile
of a summer afternoon
fish poles in the grass
November morning
an early frost on brown leaves
crouching in the sun
(1)
lull of setting sun . . .
last lily of the valley
leaves its shadowed curl
(2)
blue notes of blue hour—
languid lotus lullabies
deeper inky pink
(3)
silver slivers splash
silhouette of sycamore—
mallard in moonglade
Geese know to take flight
With autumn’s lengthening nights
Nature’s pendulum
Dew drops hanging free
From that leaf on summer’s tree
Rainbow refracted
Winter’s thaw is here
Purple crocuses do cheer
Earth awakening
Winter’s thaw is here
Purple crocuses do cheer
Earth awakening
Dew drops hanging free
From that leaf’s summer tree
Rainbow refracted
Geese know to take flight
With autumn’s lengthening nights
Nature’s pendulum
pacific brush strokes
dancing lightly on my skin
no longer ticklish
enlightened firefly
radiant amid ruin
a tenacious spark
lemongrass trimmings
skydiving into my tea
i cry chamomile
The girl and myself
Fell in love under a sky
Where birds can’t fly
Slowly the rain stops
Dark clouds pass to show sunlight
The rainbow is seen
Autumn is upon us
The sun has changed its coat
The leaves have followed suit
Fall is upon us
The sun has changed its coat
The leaves have followed suit
Huge trees wag their heads
Leaves take flight across the air
A storm is brewing