August 2015 Kukai

Free Format Theme: 

PATH

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First Place -   23 Points

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well-worn path--

I take my memories

for a walk

Carole MacRury

(1,3,14) = 23 pts

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Second Place -  22 Points

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on the same path…

this caterpillar

and I

D W Skrivseth

(0,3,16) = 22 pts

**I would have preferred something more expressive then “the same.” Very Issa-like, which I enjoy.

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Third Place -  21 Points

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garden path 

the growing quiet 

of twilight birds

Tom Painting

(2,3,9) = 21 pts

**I love the mood that is captured in this ku. I can hear those birds and see the light and dark patches of twilight. Beautifully rendered moment.

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20 Points 

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the shortcut

takes longer than expected

raspberries

maxianne

(1,4,9) = 20 pts

**I was totally charmed by this -- so real and so beautifully written!

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17 Points 

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first light . . .

a young girl skipping

through birdsong

Paresh Tiwari

India

(1,4,6) = 17 pts

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13 Points 

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with no footpath

to follow…

falling leaves

Michele L. Harvey

(1,1,8) = 13 pts

**What an emotionally stirring haiku! Ah, no path to follow, how do we make our way/find our way. Haven’t we all experienced such difficulty. I love the image of “falling leaves,” and they just free fall and create their own path(s).

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11 Points 

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woodland path...

deeper and deeper

into my mind

Anonymous

(0,3,5) = 11 pts

**A strong haiku with a dark edge – I picture the “woodland” with dense full trees where there’s more dark than light. And then probing in the dark “deeper and deeper” into thoughts and feelings, trying to get at the light, to the truth.

along the path

forget-me-nots grow wild...

careless love

Ruth Powell

(0,2,7) = 11 pts

**‘love sprouts’ might make a stronger third line, but I like the allusion.

**Haiku could be stronger by showing “careless love” rather than telling it. Also, not sure which way to take it.

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10 Points 

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path to cemetery

rotten wooden arrow tilted

skyward

Vishnu P Kapoor

India

(2,1,2) = 10 pts

pilgrim path

hundreds of worn out sandals

nailed to a tree

Garry Eaton

(0,4,2) = 10 pts

**How inspiring – “pilgrim path” and how these travelers sojourned long distances to a sacred place. The image of “worn out sandals / nailed to a tree” is fresh. I’ve never heard of people doing this, so I Googled it and discovered it’s a legend rooted in the Native American belief that hanging your shoes on the tree will bring good luck.

only the stars 

keep me company

untrodden path

Anitha Varma

Kerala, Tripunithura

(0,3,4) = 10 pts

pathway to a friend

lined with

forget-me-nots

Frances O'Keeffe

(0,2,6) = 10 pts

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9 Points 

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owls...

an opening

to the deep woods

jennie townsend

(0,1,7) = 9 pts

zen garden

another sign reminds me

to stay on the path

Arkady Elterman

(0,0,9) = 9 pts

**Love the idea that “to stay on the path” can be taken literally and figuratively as the path to enlightenment. 

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8 Points 

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secreted letters

following the path

she never took

Bernard Gieske

(1,1,3) = 8 pts

bird flight -

the sudden edge

of a window frame

Nishant Mehrotra

(0,3,2) = 8 pts

meandering path

ending at the beginning

of our argument

Adelaide

(0,3,2) = 8 pts

**Definitely a ku worthy of points. So true of our arguments and meandering path is a great juxtaposed image against lines 2-3.

children's path

we make our way

back to who we were

Bill Pauly

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

skinny dipping the moon’s path

Nancy Smith

(0,1,6) = 8 pts

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7 Points 

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treacherous trail... 

I fall in and out 

of love

Vandana Parashar 

India

(1,0,4) = 7 pts

sidewalk crack

a wayward violet

grows untended

Gerry Bravi

(Canada)

(1,0,4) = 7 pts

early morning

tens of spider webs

form an iridescent path

Doris

(1,0,4) = 7 pts

garden path

a wild rabbit nibbles

between hops

Katrina Shepherd

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

**This made me smile -- the last line is just right!

muddy path --

my footprints join

many others

~ Sammy Musili

(Kenya)

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

an overgrown path

that used to be a shortcut

back home

Bill Kenney

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

grandpa’s cabin

the path to the outhouse

almost a ditch

--Kirsty Karkow

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

garden path-

how I go from flower

to flower

Dawn Apanius 

USA

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

late summer night -

moonlit path across the sea

beckons me home

Natalia Kuznetsova

Russia

(0,0,7) = 7 pts

fireflies

lighting the worn path

to her grave

Kaiser Kahn

(0,0,7) = 7 pts

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6 Points 

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the sun sways itself into the dusk a bullock cart

Jayashree Maniyil

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

shower'send—thepa tchesof foga longthe pathtothemea dow

Rafał Zabratyński

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

**An interesting approach to the theme. I would offer the suggestion of placing the final space so: ‘Pathtotheme adow’; see the word theme, the reference to self, and the allusion to ‘adieu’?

**i actually like the impact of the broken structure

**Superb! I hope to see more refreshing takes like this in future kukai!

scented path --

the start 

of a breeze

James Dobson

Prudhoe, UK.

(0,0,6) = 6 pts

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5 Points 

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path to my dogs' graves mulch deep with memory

Donna Bauerly

Dubuque, IA

(1,0,2) = 5 pts

**I enjoyed reading and re-reading this poem. What a beautiful, emotional, unexpected phrase: “mulch deep with memory.” The phrase is soft sounding, expressing every nuance of tenderness. “[P]ath to my dogs’ graves” sounds like perhaps the path isn’t easy, and this isn’t just a literal path, but also a metaphorical path of the mind and heart – one that leads into the memories and into the feelings. And I feel the coolness and darkness of the mulch – that cold feeling of loss. This haiku works very well as a monostitch, visually leading readers along the path as well. Very touching moment. The emotion is so palpable. Simply beautiful! Love it!!!

A gust of wind

down the garden path… 

scent of lime blossoms

Keith A. Simmonds

Rodez, France

(1,0,2) = 5 pts

middle of night

light on my pillow

moon passing by

jill

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

4AM

under my pillow

the path not taken

Roberta Beary

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

"Footpath"

a new sign

beside the old pub

helge t.

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

longing... 

above the path

Orion

Ana Drobot

Bucharest, Romania

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

**So few words; so much meaning!

**Ah, that longing we all experience and as the expression goes: longing for the stars. And there above the path is Orion (visible throughout the world) – the hunter – trying to find what is being longed after, in this case perhaps love, but it could be anything, physical, emotional, intellectual.

path

alone 

now

oga

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

torrential rain

my path

now a river

mike warner

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

sunflower hulls

the invisible path

from feeder to branch

Barbara Snow

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

a path through algae leading to a turtle

Alan S. Bridges

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

end

of the path

alone

Paul Hodder

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

narrow path --

dew from the grass

wets my shoes

~ AUGUST MUTETI

(KENYA)

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

lone path --

a neat line of ants

across it

~ James Bundi

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

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4 Points 

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on Hiroshiges 

bridge i meet the august night

fish in the water

janisor

(0,2,0) = 4 pts

yellow birch leaves

abruptly on the path

a red fox

Ignatius Fay

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

**Would have been a strong haiku by replacing “abruptly” with an active verb. Love the contrast of the yellow fall leaves with the red fox.

a jogger

pauses on the path –

peony in bloom

Tomislav

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

**I like the “stop to smell the roses” in this haiku, but instead it’s peonies, more precious because they only bloom with help from the ants. I also like the idea of the speaker noticing what someone else is noticing.

rail trail

cyclists break the silence

with their bells

--Diane Mayr

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

path sounds

cowbells

at dusk

Jon Espen Vassbotn

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

walking the dry creek

I follow deer prints into

the darkening woods

Penny Harter

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

lonely temple path-

only the wind blowing around

and around

Vidya S Venkatramani

INDIA

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

following the orchard path

the deer

following me

Chandra Bales

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

community garden

vegetables advance

down the right-of-way

Harvey Jenkins

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

water logged street-

we wade through stars

all the way home

Arvinder Kaur

Chandigarh, india

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

narrow path --

a snake slithers

into the bush

~ RODAH KALOKI

(KENYA)

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

muddy path --

I step on round footsteps

of a donkey

~ ANGELA MUTANU

(KENYA)

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

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3 Points 

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the trail's sharp turn up fireweed

polona

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

lost my haiku nerve where the path forked between the rattlesnake’s tongue

kw

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

**Enjoyed the humor in this haiku! And what a great image of the rattlesnake’s forked tongue!

early morning hike

a wild deer crosses

my usual path

Billy Antonio

Laoac,Pangasinan, Philippines

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

perseid shower…

the path i follow

to nothing

Ted van Zutphen

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

the haijin's

last ginkgo...

hospice care

S.E. Buffington

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

at the junction

a signpost reads:

"both ways"

B

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

new moon path 

knowing this mountain

that's grown me

Sandi Pray

USA

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

no path

on the white rocks

- peggy's cove

- ru, canada

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

^^At Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia you are free to wander the rocks on the shore at will, but the black rocks are those where the sea can at any time come up and sweep you away. All the warnings instruct people to stay off the black rocks. And every year, every day even, people fail to heed those warnings, at their peril.

old path;

flake by flake fills

the empty cup

manoj saranathan

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

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2  Points 

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narrowly passing

through whittled outlines...

i channel a path

Pat Geyer

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

path to the tea house –

skipping one stone at a time

a brown singing frog

Daniela Bullas

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

sailing cruise

to lie at anchor

near the milky way

(Ramona)

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

From the shore

her breath sails the path

to the moon.

R. Joyce Heon

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

Nairobi park --

a gazelle runs along

a narrow path

~ DORAH SHAKO

(KENYA)

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

windstorm --

a path fills

with dust

~ LILIAN MUSENYA (KENYA)

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

milky way

the sudden urge

for basketballshoes

hawktalk

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

acacias bloom

on my path he loves me

he loves me not

Dorota Ocińska

Karin

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

autumn breeze -

dragging my feet

along the sandy path

-Priscilla Cook

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

straight path

of the sharpened pencil

l_________ss

Boris Nazansky

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

raindrops

on the glass –

paths of gravity

Anonymous

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

the highway's dream:

to wake

as a path

Oddbjørn Aardalen

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

mindscape. . .

the freeway

unspooling

Samar Ghose

Australia

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

steps uphill --

I follow

an unheard melody

Kumarendra Mallick

Hyderabad India

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

narrow path

from road to house on the hill

I ran this last bit

assu

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

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1 Points

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an old path 

walking in peace

one direction

Michael McClintock

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

the path getting darker

until it split into two byroads:

mine and yours

Lavana Kray - Romania

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

long path -

sun. and moon

share the sky

Israel Lopez Balan

Mexico City, Mexico

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

I follow this path

dutifully, and dutifully

Spot doesn’t

Anne Zooey Lind

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

**Yes, so true of our dogs. Enjoyed the light touch of humor in this haiku.

a moose

runs across our path

June gust

Cyndi Lloyd

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

any path is good --

what counts for our dog

is the walk

~ Isabelle Prondzynski (Ireland)

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

**Yes, so true. It doesn’t matter which direction. It’s the walk and being in the moment. And how well our animals serve as reminders to live in the present. I enjoyed this haiku.

garden path

dogged at every step

by the moon

Gautam Nadkarni

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

dusty path --

using a handkerchief

I wipe my shoes

~ AGNETA AROMO

(KENYA)

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

dusty path --

my black shoes

turn brown

~ ANGELA MWENDE

(KENYA)

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

horse-drawn wagon

we follow it around

a garden of graves

-Deborah P Kolodji

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

“Love’s labour’s lost” -

a narrow path among

old memories

Virginia Popescu 

PHOENIX

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

dragging suitcases-

my childhood's secret path

only summer weeds...

Cristian Mocanu

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

unknown path-

flight of his pet bird

guiding her

Munia Khan

Dhaka, Bangladesh

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

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No Points This Time, Sorry. 

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Empty silent butte.

The lone ranger rides along

looking for his fay. 

Horst Ludwig

the path

to enlightment

is in one's mind

Tom Conally

Gibsonville, NC

an unwilling bye 

grasses on both sides interlock

on my return path

Ajaya Mahala,

Pune, India

tangled tree roots

conspire to trip me

on the path that leads to you

Anonymous

canyon hike

mom reminds me again

to take Nellie's fork

Edward

evening path 

covered by 

dots of starlight

Barbara Campitell

edged by the path

scent of the for-get-me-not's

leads the way

Bill Hudson

shadows--

stalking my heart

in a back alley

Alegria Imperial

chilly wind

slithers on the neighbourhood lane

a noodle vendor

Ken Sawitri

(Jakarta Indonesia)

skyline —

the path begins from

full moon

Kanavu Nila

Bangalore, India

temple path

no spider lilies, but

wild boar footprints

Yukiko Yamada

cutting through...

swallowed by the jungle

the trail behind

Dejan Pavlinović

Pula, Croatia

this morning

walking into sunshine - 

the prison's gate closes.

dsnake1

 Job losses , 

thick forest, rocky ground, compass set -

new muscles formed

Phil Mizener

path not taken

phrase reverberates in me

where else but forward?

Deirdre Godwin

Follow the right path

and you won't be

Left

Paul Cassidy

wide path --

at the farthest end

it seems narrow

~ SAMUEL NZUVE

(KENYA)

the sound of cicadas

on the path

as the new moon sets

Jone Rush MacCulloch 

Portland, Oregon

I accidentally step

into fresh cow dung --

farm path

~ Marcy Mukosia

(Kenya)

fireflies floating

highway to Milky Way

begins here

Anonymous

got lost? 

the path not returning 

from an old forest

Juhani Tikkanen

 screams from the path -

slithery snail

...her bare feet

John McDonald

Edinburgh Scotland

A sea shore -

the path of the snail cut short

where a hungry gull lands.

Anonymous

 the birder explains flight paths

in a way

I've never thought

--Peter Newton

on this path

the dark the city 

sleeps to hide

Hansha

sun in the clouds –

in the middle of the path

a chicory

Miorita

geometric ice designs

top path's

muddy puddles

Jane DeJonghe

You carry our feet,

Baggage of hopes, dreams, deeds—

We are your guests...

James Thoune

Bowling Green, KY USA

Milky Way-

our path only upto

the grave

--- Kashinath Karmakar

India

bike trail with friend . . .

peaceful exercise, seemingly effortless

70 kilometers today

eric p.

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General Comments:

**This seemed to be a banner month, particularly in the Free Format section. Made me wish I had more votes to share!

**Hard to choose all so good.

**Wow, it was really difficult this time choosing which haiku to award points to. What a great moment each of these poems shared with me.

**Unusually, for me, I found myself drawn to those that gave the theme a metaphorical spin.

**Enjoyed reading the so many good haiku on this edition. Really tough to give out the points.

**Some really great haiku in this batch.

**"Two roads (actually, six) diverged...." And could have been many more! Great entries. Again, many thanks to all of you who help us "judge."

**I'll be interested to see how many of the "path" entries point forward and how many (like mine) look back.

**Our students are very familiar with paths, using them every day!

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