The Shiki Monthly Kukai
December 2012 Kukai
Dear Friends,
Here are the results for the December 2012 Kukai, wherein our Kigo subject was DECEMBER SOLSTICE, and our Free Format subject was DEPARTING
Congratulations to *** ALEGRIA IMPERIAL***, winner of our Kigo section and to ***TOM PAINTING***, winner of our Free Format section!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The haiku are listed in order of total points received from voters. The numbers reflect the number of voters who gave the haiku either three points, two points, or one point -- followed by the total points for all votes.
Those who were given less than three points and who requested anonymity in such a case are so noted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the listing below, after each poem the author is listed, and then a three digit code revealing how many 3-point, 2-point, and 1-point points were cast for this poem by the other participating poets.
(2,1,4 = 12) would indicate that the poem above received two 3-point votes, one 2-point vote, and four 1-point votes.
VOTER'S comments are indicated by "**" below the respective poems.
POET'S comments are indicated by "^^" below the respective poems.
Kigo Theme:
December Solstice
---------------------------------
First Place - 29 Points
----------------------------------
winter solstice
the widow tightens
her braids
Alegria Imperial
(0,10,9) = 29 pts
**Very picturesque and melancholy
----------------------------------
Second Place - 28 Points
----------------------------------
a crow’s call grows longer winter solstice
martin gottlieb cohen
(3,3,13) = 28 pts
**No way to put this other than in the words the poet has chosen.
AND
winter solstice
the weight
of old arguments
gogatsu
(1,4,17) = 28 pts
**Just the sort of thing that might weigh heavily through the longest night.
----------------------------------
Third Place - 27 Points
----------------------------------
solstice
his scent more woodsmoke
than aftershave
Michele L. Harvey
New York, USA
(2,6,9) = 27 pts
----------------------------------
24 Points
----------------------------------
solstice
banking the fire
to last the night
Michael Brock
(1,2,17) = 24 pts
** This reads cozy even though it’s cold outside.
----------------------------------
21 Points
----------------------------------
solstice-
the turtle reverses
its direction
Rita Odeh
(2,3,9) = 21 pts
----------------------------------
19 Points
----------------------------------
solstice
either way
she feels cheated
Tom Painting
(2,4,5) = 19 pts
**I feel like this is an aging woman who feels she is running out of time. So it doesn't matter if the days are long or short, there just aren't enough of them left. Well done
----------------------------------
17 Points
----------------------------------
solstice walk the tide turns us back
Peter Newton
(2,1,9) = 17 pts
**Even the longest walk must finally confront its limits.
----------------------------------
15 Points
----------------------------------
longest night
my third round
of counting sheep
-- Cara Holman
(0,3,9) = 15 pts
----------------------------------
13 Points
----------------------------------
longest day —
a Mayan shadow crosses
the calendar
Hansha Teki
New Zealand Summer Solstice
(2,2,3) = 13 pts
solstice dark
no way to warm
mother's hands
Roberta Beary
(0,3,7) = 13 pts
**A real darkness in this one.
patched blankets
warm from the dryer --
the longest night
Michael McClintock
(0,2,9) = 13 pts
solstice darkness-
the river of stars
slows its journey
Kirsty Karkow
(0,2,9) = 13 pts
**Something enormous and beautiful within the frame of this small poem.
----------------------------------
11 Points
----------------------------------
shortest night —
on the sundial,
a mayfly
Natasha
Resident in New Zealand
(1,2,4) = 11 pts
**Oh, the irony ;-)
winter solstice . .
a man strokes a dog
under the bridge
Sandi Pray
Robbinsville, NC
USA
(0,3,5) = 11 pts
**Something both desolate and warming about this one
solstice-
beyond the night
still night
sanjuktaa
(0,2,7) = 11 pts
----------------------------------
10 Points
----------------------------------
december solstice
the chillness of morning
newspaper
Ramesh Anand
India
(0,2,6) = 10 pts
**Using the sense of touch well in this one. I can feel the morning chill on the newspaper
----------------------------------
9 Points
----------------------------------
sitting alone
I hug myself
winter solstice
BILL KENNEY
(0,3,3) = 9 pts
solstice
the stars twinkle back
at the snow
Katrina
(0,2,5) = 9 pts
----------------------------------
8 Points
----------------------------------
longest day
the evening sun lingers
in the doorway
Elaine Riddell
(0,2,4) = 8 pts
winter solstice:
a flock of sparrows
huddle in the cold
-- Chitra Rajappa
(0,1,6) = 8 pts
----------------------------------
7 Points
----------------------------------
midwinter...
Newtown's deep darkness
settles in
S.E. Buffington
(2,0,1) = 7 pts
the longest night -
browsing old letters
by the fireside
Laura Csilla
(0,3,1) = 7 pts
winter solstice -
a cloudy moon above me
all day long
Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu
(0,2,3) = 7 pts
solstice moon;
the wisteria vines too
have withered..
manoj saranathan
(0,1,5) = 7 pts
oh, so carefully
she carries the candle
...the longest night
--Diane Mayr
(0,1,5) = 7 pts
----------------------------------
6 Points
----------------------------------
winter solstice…
the echo of mirrors
slicing dreams
Ted van Zutphen
(2,0,0) = 6 pts
December solstice sparks from the plow
John Soules
(1,0,3) = 6 pts
^^The sparks I had in mind were from the carbide tips of the snowplow (we live in Wingham ,Ont. which is about a 1/2 hour drive from the east coast of Lake Huron and subject to squalls off the lake) but what I love about haiku is that what is important is what the reader brings to the poem and his/her subsequent interpretation and the emotions that are released (unlike when I went to school....long,long ago.....and you analyzed a poem to death trying to figure out what the poet meant.
winter solstice
the warmth of your poem
by the light of the fire
Terry O'Connor
Ireland
(1,0,3) = 6 pts
Shortest day of the year
Memories of you get longer
Day by day
Angelika Kolompar
(0,3,0) = 6 pts
winter solstice—
can you feel
the turning?
Marylouise Knight
(0,2,2) = 6 pts
December solstice
the low rice supply
in the pantry
Audrey Downey
(0,2,2) = 6 pts
solstice
the stable passage
clogged with night
Earl Keener
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
winter solstice,
wishing for the stars
of childhood
- j blain
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
----------------------------------
5 Points
----------------------------------
December birthday
mom’s 92nd solstice
wish for a hundred
Kath Abela Wilson
California, USA
(1,1,0) = 5 pts
solstice-
counting the days
until New Year
Ailoaei Cristina
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
solstice
the old dog and new kitten
share the woodstove heat
Edward
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
solstice snow
his remark about the white
in my hair
polona
Slovenia
(0,0,5) = 5 pts
honeymoon---
even the solstice night
doesn't last long
kash poet
India
(0,0,5) = 5 pts
----------------------------------
4 Points
----------------------------------
snow-capped church domes
glimmering in the moonlight -
the longest night
natalia kuznetsova
(1,0,1) = 4 pts
solstice . . .
luminaria glow
on the dying man's home
Bill Pauly
(1,0,1) = 4 pts
solstice brunch
the redness of
fresh ripe tomatoes
Bill Hudson
(0,2,0) = 4 pts
no solstice for December sorrow
Donna Bauerly
Dubuque, IA
(0,2,0) = 4 pts
solstice night -
missing the warmth
from his body close
Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
(0,2,0) = 4 pts
solstice
boy sitting on a rock
studying ants
Aalix Roake
New Zealand
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
**Seems a perfect way for a boy to spend the longest day of the year.
solstice
only a dollar left
for the carolers
Christine L. Villa
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
december solstice
another excuse for the newly weds
to make love
Quamrul Hassan
Bangladesh
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
longest night-
dried lavender buds
with my letter of amends
Dawn Apanius
Ohio USA
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
solstice
the stars so sharp
and far
Ann K. Schwader
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
december -
deep in the corridor
sunrays
Israel López Balan
Mexico
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
even in the dark
singing from branches
december solstice
Vishnu P kapoor
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
----------------------------------
3 Points
----------------------------------
December solstice
still by the old bagpipe
beating the noise
Ernesto P. Santiago
Philippines
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
through the long dark night
earth turns in her way
toward the light
jill
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
December solstice
buck races across the lawn
past reindeer shapes
Doris Lynch
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
Shortest daylight time,
and library closed early.
It will get colder.
Horst
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
winter solstice
holiday cards back and forth . . .
the lost connections
Peggy Heinrich
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
as days shorten
the laundry basket
fills faster
gourdman
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
winter solstice
the sun barely rises
over the snowy roof
Tore Sverredal
Sweden
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
blowing
on dandelion seeds
... a Christmas wish
Anne Curran
New Zealand
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
the shortest day--
outside the school, two boys
eat fresh snow
DeVar
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
solstice night --
fresh snowfall softens
the dark trees
Ruth Powell
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
winter solstice -
on Orion’s shoulder
the Little Owl
Sara Winteridge
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
solstice –
enjoying
more dreams
Virginia Popescu
PHOENIX
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
----------------------------------
2 Points
----------------------------------
baked ham and sorrel
parang* music in the air ...
December solstice
Keith A. Simmonds
Trinidad & Tobago
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
^^“'Parang' is the present Trinidadian interpretation of the Spanish word, parranda . Parranda is the action of merrymaking and also refers to the group of carousers who serenade their friends throughout the year. The word parranda in general Spanish is used mainly in the expression andar de parranda, which in the modern Trinidadian vernacular is 'to go paranging,' akin to the Venezuelan parrandear, meaning not only merrymaking in the original sense, but also 'liming' or enjoying oneself, with or without music, moving from place to place with no time limit in mind. “(Moodie-Kublalsingh 1994, 65-66).
solstice
seed catalogues waken
my appetite
John Daleiden
Phoenix, Arizona
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
warming my toes
in fuzzy red socks
December solstice
Deborah P Kolodji
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
**I liked the quirkiness of this lovely young haiku, which made me feel happy.
solstice -
the winter sun skims the
arctic horizon
Anonymous
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
longest night –
cuddling up with a book
on haiku
Stella Pierides
DE/UK
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
SMS to Santa -
tomorrow night is shorter
come this night please
STOPS
ROMANIA
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
December Solstice...
space station sails overhead
in a cold dark sky
Tom Conally
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
potted plants still
facing south
winter solstice
Carol Pearce-Worthington
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
long night moon
I open another bottle
of wine
Angie Werren
Amelia, OH
USA
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
----------------------------------
1 Point
----------------------------------
solstice
the clearcutting
seeds in the frozen soil
Oddbjørn Aardalen
december solstice -
billions of trinkets
prolong the shortest day
Robert Kania
Poland
in a circle
singing up the sun
sol stetit
Carolyn Coit Dancy
USA
december 2012 solstice
last sunlight quickly fades
into night forever
RD McManes
our briefest day
is your country’s longest
. . . one world
Anonymous
solstice
standing in dad's shadow
his hot son
André Surridge
New Zealand
solstice bushfire
a night sky of embers
and burning stars
Ron C. Moss
Australia
^^I have been out to bushfires in Tasmania as I write this
longest night
my little fellow tries to hide
something
Ralf Bröker
Solstice
picnic basket oozing
hot sticky jam
Karin Anderson
resting
for a while -
solstice sun
Juhani Tikkanen
solstice...
pasqueflowers are seen
in my dream
Tuvshinzaya Nergui
Tsetserleg city, Mongolia
a scent of cookies
in the festive air--
solstice
A. D. Jaden
Des Moines, Iowa
vinter solstice
she flips a coin
before the kiss
Jon Espen Vassbotn
solstice
so short space for some snowflakes
to fall on the grave
Lech Szeglowski
--------------------------------------
No Points This Time, but thank you very much for sharing your haiku with us
---------------------------------------
solstice
cold stiff fingers
stoop and scoop
–if–
return of the light
sun-standing-still...
solstice
dragonfly
tweaking old poems
I switch on the new desk lamp:
winter solstice.
Cristian Mocanu
Deva, Romania
Men in solstice
revolve round money
wisdom disappears
purush-Guntur
christmas
rapidly approaching-
an odd warmth
Casey Southards
a side up egg
slides the arctic railroad track
solstice
Svend A. Doggfall
december solstice
quick trip
more candles
Bernard Gieske
today's snowfall
snowier than yesterday's
-- solstice
maxianne
the longest night:
a deeper darkness, breathing
trance of firelight
--Ginny Hoyle
longest night the fire pit is stoked
D W Skrivseth
a scale pan
heavy with shadow
cold solstice
Eduard TARA
last year's Yule log -
scent of the neighbor's wood fire
and baked ham
Brenda Roberts
Fort Worth TX
Johnny Canuck merrily
slid his toboggan
over crisp snow and winter solst ice
Eric Pet
the solstice lights barely flicker --
our first Christmas
without her
Angela Terry
winter solstice -
the white queen smiles
an hour more
Vinay Leo R.
a break in the clouds
gold spreads out beneath the grey
Sun’s Return has come
Deirdre Godwin
Shortest day,
snow on the driveway
a long haul.
Trevor Camp
last day
snow ends fall
December Solstice
Jim Applegate
winter solstice
stalking red deer
in highland heather
Terri L. French
^^Well that isn't how it's celebrated where I live. But my grandmother's family was from Scotland, so I imagine perhaps my great great grandfather stalked a few deer during the winter solstice!
December Solstice –
watching the movie
Apocalypse now
Petru-Ioan Garda
december solstice
arrives too soon.
no mistletoe.
Jill Campbell
half empty
Solstice wine tasting
full of mirth
Anonymous
December solstice –
now there's more time
for people at bar
Tomislav
gods smiling
in children
december solstice
Tatsuya Onai
midwinter solstice
already we watch
for brightening days
Frances O'Keeffe
sacred solstice
reminding me
from darkness -- light
Jane DeJonghe
December solstice
we don our headlamps
and ski into the long night
Beth Powell
Canada
solstice downunder
my longest day
your shortest
Barbara A Taylor
Mountain Top NSW
Australia
^^Sunshine and humidity, storms, bush fires, cicadas and cricket...this is the sweltering summer downunder.
solstice -
the camellia blooms
stay true to themselves
Anonymous
solstice window...
a christmas orange half in sun
half in shadow
Anonymous
december solstice
both day and night
longer this year
Stevie Strang
winter solstice –
the children making finery
for the Christmas tree
Miorita
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Comments:
**hard to chose from the many lovely solstice haiku
**Once again, so many good haiku that voting has been another challenge.
**This was a hard one! I could happily have voted for many more. Thanks to you all for a beautiful collection.
**Beautiful choices. Happy solstice.
**Thank you for the privilege of entering my thoughts.
** Thanks for a lovely choice of topic.
Free Format Theme:
Departing
----------------------------------
First Place - 23 Points
----------------------------------
lost for words
she unfolds and folds
her napkin
Tom Painting
(1,5,10) = 23 pts
----------------------------------
Second Place - 21 Points
----------------------------------
the part of me
you took with you
fractured moonlight
-- Cara Holman
(1,3,12) = 21 pts
----------------------------------
Third Place - 18 Points
----------------------------------
departing birds
the solitary tree
voiceless again
Eduard TARA
(2,2,8) = 18 pts
----------------------------------
17 Points
----------------------------------
light rain
one suitcase
everything
- j blain
(2,2,7) = 17 pts
**Short and well, not so sweet. This one says. . .everything
----------------------------------
15 Points
----------------------------------
tallgrass prairie
I say goodbye
to what I know
Michele L. Harvey
(1,2,8) = 15 pts
----------------------------------
14 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
13 Points
----------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------
11 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
10 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
9 Points
----------------------------------
silvery sun;
the last skein of geese
leave the lake
manoj saranathan
(0,2,5) = 9 pts
----------------------------------
8 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
7 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
6 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
5 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
4 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
3 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
2 Points
----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
1 Point
----------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------
No Points This Time, but thank you very much for sharing your haiku with us.
---------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!
Thank you for participating in the December 2012 Kukai!
We will announce the January 2013 Call for Submissions on Monday, December 31st. See you then!
With much appreciation,
The Shiki Monthly Kukai Team