December 2012 Kukai Results

Free Format Theme:

Departing

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First Place -  23 Points

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lost for words

she unfolds and folds

her napkin

Tom Painting

(1,5,10) = 23 pts

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Second Place -  21 Points

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the part of me

you took with you

fractured moonlight

-- Cara Holman

(1,3,12) = 21 pts

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Third Place -  18 Points

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departing birds

the solitary tree

voiceless again

Eduard TARA

(2,2,8) = 18 pts

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17 Points

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light rain

one suitcase

everything

- j blain

(2,2,7) = 17 pts

**Short and well, not so sweet. This one says. . .everything

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15 Points

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tallgrass prairie

I say goodbye

to what I know

Michele L. Harvey

(1,2,8) = 15 pts

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14 Points

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snow moon --

the warmth left in my hand

when you let go

Angie Werren

(0,5,4) = 14 pts

this morning

the coffee pot

only half full

maxianne

(0,3,8) = 14 pts

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13 Points

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twilight hush —

birdsong withdraws into

the shadows

Natasha

(1,3,4) = 13 pts

departing . . .

the heaviness of

mother’s hug

Ramesh Anand

(1,1,8) = 13 pts

all that

she left behind

low tide

Paul Hodder

(1,0,10) = 13 pts

departing crows

nothing for me either

on this treeless hill

Michael McClintock

(0,3,7) = 13 pts

**The objective made subjective.

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11 Points

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salty air

already the beach

feels empty

Michael Brock

(1,0,8) = 11 pts

first funeral

my child says goodbye

to his hamster

John McManus

(0,1,9) = 11 pts

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10 Points

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a stone skips

across the mill pond...

memories ripple

Vinay Leo R.

(1,2,3) = 10 pts

train station

taking off our gloves

for a goodbye kiss

Marleen Hulst

(0,2,6) = 10 pts

**Well, what is the etiquette in this situation? Anyway, the oddities of human behavior observed with a cold but not unfriendly eye.

this man I once knew

departing brain cell

by brain cell

Elaine Riddell

(0,2,6) = 10 pts

**I really liked this one, but might consider putting "brain cell by brain cell" altogether on the last line for more of a surprise element.

not knowing it was goodbye the thinning treetop

David Grayson

(0,1,8) = 10 pts

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9 Points

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silvery sun;

the last skein of geese

leave the lake

manoj saranathan

(0,2,5) = 9 pts

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8 Points

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leaving

the house

door ajar

Bernard Gieske

(0,3,2) = 8 pts

a child leaves

without asking the way--

stones upon stones

Terri L. French

(0,3,2) = 8 pts

last remnants

her departing footprints

leave with the snow

–if–

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

cold departure breath still hangs in mid air

D W Skrivseth

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

**A very vivid image

how to say goodbye...

on a crossword puzzle

dad's last words

Christine L. Villa

(0,0,8) = 8 pts

**Quite unique and poignant

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7 Points

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wilted roses:

... the room

still fragrant !

-- Chitra Rajappa

(1,1,2) = 7 pts

^^I would like to dedicate this to Robert Bauer. He will be missed by all of us who have participated in the Shiki Monthly Kukai.

parting gift . . .

a hooker removes

her makeup

Hansha Teki

(1,1,2) = 7 pts

flickering candle-

the wind

shifts direction

Casey Daniel Southards

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

autumn's edge

more than summer

to put away

Donna Bauerly

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

the wind. . .

separating two trees

growing together

Mirko Varga

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

empty cocoon --

a young butterfly stretches

and flies away

~ Patrick Wafula

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

time to go...

the dragonfly clings

to a dewdrop

sanjuktaa

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

**Lovely image. it brings forth that reluctance to leave.

farewell speech--

the ticking clock lengthens

his silent pauses

kash poet

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

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6 Points

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falling leaves starting over

John Soules

(1,0,3) = 6 pts

**This feels as though something has been left out, but that is oddly appropriate to the theme.

funerals -

the rain turns

into snow

Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă

(1,0,3) = 6 pts

^^My poem (in memory of Robert)

the acacia blossom

becomes clearer and clearer --

departing darkness

~ James Bundi

(0,3,0) = 6 pts

empty gutter -

the wind sweeps along

my last paper boat

Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu

(0,2,2) = 6 pts

naked trees…

letting go

of a branch

Carol Pearce-Worthington

(0,2,2) = 6 pts

sinking sun…

a frozen pond blinds

my reflection

Ted van Zutphen

(0,2,2) = 6 pts

vesper bells -

instead of the prayer

his last haiku

Laura Csilla

(0,0,6) = 6 pts

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5 Points

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waving goodbye -

the quiet moon

in a blue sky

Israel López Balan

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

Christmas night

...the sounds of car doors

closing

--Diane Mayr

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

**A universal experience--Christmas is over. The beginning of the post-season doldrums.

at the train station --

running out of time to hear

each other's stories

Shelley Krause

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

departing...

the tendency to say

it like it is

Kirsty Karkow

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

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4 Points

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the beauty

of a hummingbird

for just a brief moment

Bill Hudson

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

the stillness

within my cat's eyes

a shadow on snow

Svend A. Doggfall

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

silent night . .

she kisses the furrow

on his brow

Sandi Pray

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

in his death throes

escaping like a butterfly

from its chrysalis

gourdman

(0,2,0) = 4 pts

departing

broken string

red balloon in blue sky

Vishnu P kapoor

(0,2,0) = 4 pts

a huge meteor

flashes across our dark sky

a bright light behind

Keith A. Simmonds

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

the letter

from the future

my trembling hands

Oddbjørn Aardalen

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

departing

he holds a light

that shows the way

Beth Powell

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

my letters to you

returned--address unknown . . .

icy moon

A. D. Jaden

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

scent of rain

in the wind

departing year

BILL KENNEY

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

you leave forever

without saying a word--

withered reeds

John Daleiden

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

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3 Points

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wilted blue

forget-me-nots

his parting words

Polly W. Swafford

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

long days departing

leading to long cold nights...

I pull up the quilt

Tom Conally

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

final farewell ...

come back to me

as my son

Tuvshinzaya Nergui

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

her ship

fading... in the first

autumn rain

Tomislav

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

Fleeing.

A last look up the hill

to the church.

Horst Ludwig

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

departing again from the grave shadow play

martin gottlieb cohen

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

dearly departed -

she tunes out

the sad words

carmel lively westerman

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

one last farewell drink

before my ship sails again

into the unknown

Deirdre Godwin

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

celebrating life

with eulogies and hymns

a radiator hum

Elizabeth Warren

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

once more

reminding myself

its better this way

Hazel

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

saying goodbye

my comatose father

squeezes my hand

Carolyn Coit Dancy

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

my dark grief . . .

the sum of those small things

missing from each day

Beverley George

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

summer visit

they wave goodbye

through the sunroof

André Surridge

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

departure lounge

calling her for the last time

for the third time

Quamrul Hassan

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

empty space...

falling into

sorrow.

Jill Campbell

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

**Nice word play

parting gift

favorite flowers

on casket

charlie smith

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

leaving home -

in the rearview mirror

mom's wave

Ruth Powell

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

**A lovely and tender image

silent snowfall

in the dead of night

her soul departs

Tore Sverredal

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

a leaf

races in the wind

after him

Alegria Imperial

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

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2 Points

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they left

i saw them go

-- they're all still here

miriam chaikin

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

fresh flowers

the ground snow covered

goodbye old friend

RD McManes

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

this lovely dream

slowly heads downstream

reluctant to wake

Peggy Heinrich

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

light departing

from my being

in which I am

Ernesto P. Santiago

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

snowy tree -

a skylark flew away

long time ago

Robert Kania

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

first flight -

the clouds level with

my seat

Brenda Roberts

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

drafted ...

wife waves back

from her pane

gogatsu

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

torn moon

my reddest rose

quivers goodbye

Karin Anderson

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

a whole life waiting

for “her ship to come in” …

until the end

Marylouise Knight

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

The year's gone.

Again it'll be good

to feel spring.

Trevor Camp

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

all kinds of regret meeting in departures

Sara Winteridge

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

still missing you.

in the bare sky a vapour trail

of a jetliner

dsnake1

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

hoping the rain

conceals my tears -

your departure

Anonymous

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

arlington cemetery...

how dad would have loved

laptop computers

Anonymous

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

**Tugs at the heart

silent night

sending a nengajo

to her address anyway

Kath Abela Wilson

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

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1 Point

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the choirmaster departs

choristers fill the empty space

his beloved songs

---Aalix Roake

death song . . .

the acorn still warm

from their hands

Ron C. Moss

departing steps

dying out in the mist

now...memories

natalia kuznetsova

 ^^With prayers for Robert

he waves good-bye

as he takes the last seat --

dusty road

~ Febril Suzat

his long boat burning

on the outgoing tide

only memories

Angela Terry

the long goodbye

he stares at the new holes

in his sleeping bag

Stella Pierides

falling snow meditating between snowflakes

Robert Henry Poulin

 ^^ Just be silent within yourself, and the way of the haiku will find you.

In his departing

A search for new things

To replace him

Angelika Kolompar

unspoken goodbye-

winter wind shaped leaves

that haven't fallen

Dawn Apanius

 graduation day

she promises to call

the taxi honks twice

Edward

**This works only if we read lines 2-3 as forming a single unit ("phrase" in Jane Reichhold's terminology), but I'm willing to do that.

Shadows of hands

moving on the walls-

departing hour

Vasile Moldovan

waxing moon, almost full

brightens an entire landscape

then slips behind clouds

Jane DeJonghe

once more

this memory puzzle

of your virtual remains

Jon Espen Vassbotn

how long has it been?

still you sit undisturbed

in my In box

Barbara A Taylor

 ^^Sunshine and humidity, storms, bush fires, cicadas and cricket...this is the sweltering summer downunder.

the loneliness

of a train whistle

departing

Stevie Strang

his empty seat

a Christmas mug

that says “Grandpa”

Deborah P Kolodji

instead of farewell

just a tear

washed by the rain

Virginia Popescu

 **A very poignant image

it’s raining –

I look at the passenger boat

who goes away

Miorita

his eyes

gather small movements

winter stillness

--Peter

susuki,

along the road's edge -

from nowhere to nowhere

Drago

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No Points This Time,  but thank you very much for sharing your haiku with us.

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Tears roll down

wetting my apparel

she departs quick

purush-Guntur

turning the calendar page...

seeing certain dates

has new meaning

dragonfly

closed-down channel-

the last test picture flickers

shaped like a tear.

Cristian Mocanu

parting...

a tank destroyer crosses

the rice field

Rita Odeh

we say goodbye

as if for the last time

rustling oak

Anonymous

so far, yet so close

you stay with us

like the moon

Earl Keener

running dark

the great gray ship

disappears

--Ginny Hoyle

I see the dying tree

before the hospice

time to say goodbye

Urszula Wielanowska

departure zone

at home surrounded

by loved ones

Anonymous

August moon --

Lake Victoria shimmers

as we take off

~ Isabelle Prondzynski

grueling week . . .

in courtroom sharktank . . .

separation at last

Eric Pet

they hug tightly

at the road junction --

final exam

~ Isaac Ndirangu

patterns of frost

a little boy kisses Ken

goodbye

Ralf Bröker

Christmas holiday --

my lovely black rabbit

passes on

~ Barrack Elung'ata

grandson departing

new life in army

will be missed

Jim Applegate

what separates our lips // the butterfly we tear halfway

old pajamas

chime -

the old globe-trotter depart

for the last time

Petru-Ioan Garda

predating departing -

possible sometimes in love

and alphabet soup

STOPS

annual lunch

the departing club member

sits with her group

Anonymous

a lover's departure

his scribbled letters

fill a shoe- box

Anonymous

his departing ceremony---

making

a sign of the cross

Tatsuya Onai

leaving mama--

I pet her dog one more time

blink back tears

jill

funeral -

flowers on the grave

all my farewell

Małgorzata Miksiewicz

graveside

celebrating

lifelong friendship

Frances O'Keeffe

empty desks

in the quiet school--

goodbye, goodbye

DeVar Dahl

flakes on the birdbath

robins riding

the north wind home

Bill Pauly

his exit . . .

the sea drops out

from under my feet

Lech Szeglowski

left the quay -

the wake not yet

smoothed out

Juhani Tikkanen

departures gate

in every short silence

a longer kiss

Terry O'Connor

 ^^My condolences on the loss of your friend and colleague. I hope I am not too late to enter my poems in this tribute to Robert ?

A shooting star

disappears –

our hands slowly drop…

krw

December leaving

last fly tumbles

onto the windowsill

Doris Lynch

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General Comments:

** Whew. Never had that happen before. There were so many good ones under Free Format that when I finally got it whittled down to six I was afraid to look back for fear I'd missed even one more.

**Close to closing time for December Shiki, but I had several choices too many in each category and it took time to whittle them down.

**Thanks again for this great opportunity to read some good haiku and vote on them, too.

**Lots of love-lies.

**This was quite a gloomy collection, maybe due to the sad occasion we commemorated. Very few haiku showed that a departure can be the start of a brand new adventure, a happy beginning, a new day or a new life. It was these haiku that I liked best.

**I think that Robert would be glad and - somehow - he will read all of those haiku.

**How very sorry I am to hear about Robert's passing. Please accept my sincere condolences. His memory will live on in our Shikimonthly, that is for sure.

**It will be interesting to see how many types of departures there will be in your haiku collection!