July 2009 Kukai

Kigo Theme: 

Mold/Mildew

First Place -- 24 points

abandoned house

mold adds its pattern

to the wallpaper

Rafal Zabratynski

(1,4,13) = 24 pts

Such a common occurrence in old houses! A good observation, clearly and simply written.

Second Place -- 23 points

garden path

the old-forest fragrance 

of leaf mold

Catherine J.S. Lee

(2,3,11) = 23 pts

thrift store painting

a pony dappled

with mildew

Melissa Spurr

(0,7,9) = 23 pts

Although I'd be tempted to change the line order and breaks, I love this dappled pony.

Third Place -- 22 points

summer house—

the calligraphy

of mildew

j cully

(2,4,8) = 22 pts

Fourth Place -- 21 points

morning sun-

the delicate peaks

of bread mold

Agnes Eva Savich

(2,4,7) = 21 pts

L1 & 2 set this up beautifully, without feeling at all contrived. And mold, especially under a microscope, is incredibly beautiful!

Fifth Place -- 19 points

moldy cheese -

a full moon glows

in the fog

Darrell

(1,5,6) = 19 pts

Sixth Place -- 18 points

trial separation

I dust her roses

for powdery mildew

Tom Painting

(3,1,7) = 18 pts

Seventh Place -- 15 points

monsoons¬

a row of mold-speckled shoes

at the entrance

Barbara A Taylor

(0,5,5) = 15 pts

August vacation

the forgotten peaches

mold in silence

Edward

(0,5,5) = 15 pts

Eighth Place -- 14 points

the mildew stain

on the ceiling

wedding night

Roberta Beary

(1,3,5) = 14 pts

A haiku so full of so many layers of meaning... of sadness too... but we don't know how the story ends. The third line comes as a real shock. So well composed!

cedar shingle mildew

the same shade of grey

on her hair

Audrey Downey

(0,5,4) = 14 pts

bookbinder’s workshop

he brushes a speck of mold

from my old Shakespeare

Patricia Prime

(0,3,8) = 14 pts

I like the use of the word speck, to resonate attention to detail.

Ninth Place -- 13 points

wartime diary

the smell of mildew

of all my youth

Dorota Pyra

(1,1,8) = 13 pts

Tenth Place -- 12 points

hard times

cutting the mold

off the cheese

gourdman

(1,0,9) = 12 pts

A succinct statement; a direct no nonsense haiku.

first argument ~

on the bedroom ceiling

a blossom of mold

Paul Hodder

(0,3,6) = 12 pts

Not a good way to end the evening, but I think the juxtaposition is well worth it!

Eleventh Place -- 11 points

his love for her

only the love letters grew

old and moldy

Bill Hudson

(0,3,5) = 11 pts

family bible— 

mildew wafts from the pages

my father once turned

Penny Harter

(0,2,7) = 11 pts

Twelfth Place -- 10 points

alone now

mold on the dishes

in the sink

Robert Ertman

(0,3,4) = 10 pts

setting moon . . .

white mold dwindles

the old potato

Mary Davila

(0,2,6) = 10 pts

Thirteenth Place -- 9 points

mildew-

those shoes I always 

threatened to wear

Barbara Campitelli

(1,1,4) = 9 pts

Fourteenth Place -- 8 points

chilly dawn

golden fungi rising

through the leaf mold

Elaine Riddell

(0,3,2) = 8 pts

midlife

the rose leaves touched

by mildew

Beth Powell

(0,3,2) = 8 pts

leaving the hospital

the scent of mildew

on the bus seats

Diane Mayr

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

All-Star Game . . .

my glove from the cellar

musty with mildew

Bill Pauly

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

Spanning time and awakening senses; presenting memories and memorabilia; a good reminiscing haiku.

Fifteenth Place -- 7 points

Guacamole

she tells her mother-in-law —

the moldy tortilla

Karen J. McClintock

(1,1,2) = 7 pts

years have passed

mold has grown

on the lovers' hearts

todd eddy

(1,0,4) = 7 pts

the scent of leaf mold

deep in the forest

a twig snaps

Jennifer Corpe

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

Nice appeal to the senses; the word 'deep' adds intrigue.

Sixteenth Place -- 6 points

mildew

in the bathhouse

scent of chlorine

doris Kasson

(0,2,2) = 6 pts

Seventeenth Place -- 5 points

slow mold in the bank-

My billfold of ideas

grows fat and lazy.

C Johanson

(1,1,0) = 5 pts

Southern hospitality

mildew in my shoe

Carolyn Coit Dancy

(1,0,2) = 5 pts

garbage can —

the stray dog wolfs

the moldy meat

Gautam Nadkarni

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

the foxing

on an old print

bearded lady

Barbara Snow

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

sixtieth birthday

a little mildew forming

on the shower tiles

Tom Genovese

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

musty smell 

from the mildewed pages-

I read the book anyway

Ellen Romano

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

table for two-

besides a strong espresso

a mildew rose

oana posnaies

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

turned daily

the ripening wheel

of Stilton blue

Alan S. Bridges

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

St. Patrick's Day...

a green coat of mold

at the back of the fridge

Elinor Pihl Huggett

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

Eighteenth Place -- 4 points

sunny memories gawk

through a toothless smile

of a pale moldy photo

Nalini Hebbar

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

grief stricken hunger

dug hand deep rain soaked garbage

blossomed musty mould

Rajgiri Hebbar

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

a live kitten . . .

the dead soldier's

mildewed boot

Michael McClintock

(0,2,0) = 4 pts

camp out

we pick the mold 

off the bread

carmel lively westerman

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

apple molds

in blue and gray

the academy

Garry Eaton

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

front stoop

mildew creeps up

the stairs

Meggy

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

summer rain

last year's moldy gourds

even softer

Robin Beshers

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

Nineteenth Place -- 3 points

By my garden gate

a whole forest of mold,

shadow on gingerbread.

mechaieh

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

Wet and moldy

Babbling ditchwater serves

As my only companion

James Sawers

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

jungle outpost - 

the last soldier, 

mildew in his boots

A. Dharma Bum

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

after the rain -

a crack in the moldy wall

pushes out a weed

gillena

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

under the banyan

mildew in the shape

of buttocks

Nancy Smith

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

mildew -

the sound in the night

of a mosquito

ARW

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

farmer's angst:

acres of vineyards

in downy mildew

Keith A. Simmonds

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

This line 1 is a winner.

summer house

mildew and silverfish

run riot

Ruth Powell

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

the ex-wives—

he scrapes some mold

off the cheese

DeVar

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

beach resort—

a mold-shaped mouse

on the gluetrap

anonymous

Free Format Theme:

Boat/Ship

First Place -- 32 pts

in the shipwreck

a china doll

with open eyes

Karen J. McClintock

(3,5,13) = 32 pts

I like the surprise in Line 3.

A doll is skillfully used here to help us imagine the fear onboard. Good job!

This one is extraordinary: resonant, evocative, minimal to good effect. The haunting image lingers in my mind.

Second Place -- 29 pts

show and tell

for the AA meeting —

ship in a bottle

— andrea

(4,3,9) = 27 pts

This gave me a chuckle.

Third Place -- 24 pts

evening hush

a kayak parts

the duckweed

Susan Constable

(2,4,10) = 24 pts

Fourth Place -- 20 pts

moonlit marina

the boats lightly rub

against each other

Rafal Zabratynski

(0,5,10) = 20 pts

Fifth Place -- 19 pts

unzipping

the world in two

a ship's wake

Dejan Pavlinovic

(1,5,6) = 19 pts

Sixth Place -- 18 pts

my rowboat

adrift in the blues

summer's end

Tom Painting

(1,4,7) = 18 pts

Seventh Place -- 17 pts

after Katrina

a pirogue weaves

down Bourbon Street

Alan S. Bridges

(1,3,8) = 17 pts

Eighth Place -- 16 pts

going home

all the gulls follow

the fishing boat

Bruce Ross

(1,2,9) = 16 pts

Ninth Place -- 15 pts

the silence

after stowing oars-

boat in mist

Agnes Eva Savich

(0,3,9) = 15 pts

Tenth Place -- 14 pts

hauled into the boat the slap slap slap of a salmon

Andre Surridge

(1,4,3) = 14 pts

I like the alliteration in this one.

autumn sea . . .

a sail sways among

the whitecaps

Darrell

(1,2,7) = 14 pts

her name

on a moored boat

summer ends

Petar Tchouhov

(0,2,10) = 14 pts

Ah . . . perhaps not just the summer has ended. The touch of mystery is interesting.

Eleventh Place -- 12 pts

summer night

a freighter’s horn lengthens

through the fog

Catherine J.S. Lee

(1,2,5) = 12 pts

L2 with 'lengthens' at the end helps us hear what the poet heard.

Twelfth Place -- 11 pts

leaky boat -

just you and me

and the river

Marianna Monaco

(1,2,4) = 11 pts

a fishing boat

rambling upon the sea

towed by the moon

Keith A. Simmonds

(0,4,3) = 11 pts

Thirteenth Place -- 10 pts

the ferry’s wake

amidst a swirl of city lights

her scribbled number

John Thompson

(0,2,6) = 10 pts

Fourteenth Place -- 9 pts

beach panhandler

the ribs of a wrecked ship

jut from the sand

Melissa Spurr

(0,2,5) = 9 pts

goodbyes said . . .

tasting salt

in the boat's wake

Ellen Compton

(0,2,5) = 9 pts

Fifteenth Place -- 8 pts

a lone white sail

breaching the horizon

. . . . then another

Ed Higgins

(1,1,3) = 8 pts

slipknot

the red rowboat

carried out by the tide

Meredith Cavalieri

(0,1,6) = 8 pts

Sixteenth Place -- 7 pts

...when our ship comes in...

a family built on 

decades of hope

Merrill Ann Gonzales

(2,0,1) = 7 pts

I thought this was philosophical, abiding, and interestingly written.

calla lilies

a crone rows a skiff

around the lake

Carolyn Hall

(1,0,4) = 7 pts

waving goodbye ~

the ship's

widening wake

Paul Hodder

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

A very well observed scene, which also brings out the feelings of sadness as one watches others leave on a ship.

summer still-life

she colors the rusted boat

purple

Devika

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

alone on the beach

watching a ship disappear

into nothingness

natalia kuznetsova

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

waterline . . .

boats tilting

toward open sea

Patrick M. Pilarski

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

Seventeenth Place -- 6 pts

rippling pond

paddle boats swish by

the water lily

Frances McCarthy

(1,0,3) = 6 pts

crashing waves-

the warship

now a coral reef

A. Dharma Bum

(0,0,6) = 6 pts

Eighteenth Place -- 5 pts

boating dock -

the anchor holds

broken rope

Alexander "Lex" Joy

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

overturned boat,

drawn high on the shore –

drumming of rain

Tomislav

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

A lovely watery haiku. I particularly like the word "drumming" here, as it shows how ample the rainfall is.

a boat rides on a river –

hitchhiking on my shoulder

a butterfly

Daniela Bullas

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

shimmering moonlight

tethered boats

rocking with the stars

Ben Gieske

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

waiting for the wind-

the next paper boat sails

into the sunset

Jacek M.

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

morning mist

a departing boat

betrayed by its mast

Tom Genovese

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

Nineteenth Place -- 4 pts

Cape Cod June—

in the sun

all the boats are new

Marylouise Knight

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

laughter—

tiny boats float

in the kiddie pool

Meggy

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

origami ship

drifts downstream

crescent moon

Terra Martin

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

a red kayak

dipping into the rapids

water ouzel

Barbara Snow

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

Nile wind 

fills the felucca’s sail

time travel

Ann K. Schwader

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

Charred boats on the shore.

I, too, have to continue

my journey.

Horst Ludwig

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

rock pool

reflections of rippled light

inside the shipwreck

Elaine RIddell

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

Twentieth Place -- 3 pts

we say, "I do"

in the cruse ship chapel

gardenia scent

John Daleiden

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

there is no-one but

footprints on the beach

from the ship wreck

Washi

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

iron jaws open

to swallow the next ship...

Soo Locks

Elinor Pihl Huggett

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

after the storm

an empty boat floats

towards the beach

D.V. Rozic

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

fireworks ended —

red and green lights

return to the harbor

Deanna Tiefenthal

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

goose bumps . . .

a pirate ship drifts

in the shallows

Jennifer Corpe

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

ocean voyage-

the ship heading for

a double rainbow

Barbara Campitelli

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

sailing

halfway down the drainpipe

his toy boat

doris kasson

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

sail boats line up

to enter the harbour -

we leave with the sun

Mike Montreuil

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

his new boat

the “Swan Song”

Carolyn Coit Dancy (0,0,3) = 3 pts

howling night winds. . . 

a catamaran arrives

on a wave

_kala

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

We're left to fill in the story for ourselves: did the boat come in with, or without, its passengers onboard? Nicely done.

canoe moves

slowly in circles

she doesn't get it

Diane Mayr

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

shipwreck -

on the waves

only a bottle

Virginia Popescu

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

General Comments:

This is always fun, thank you!

As usual the haiku were very difficult to pick from. They are all so well written and evoke lasting impressions.

A hard choice this time, made only slightly easier by ruling out the haiku which did not use "mold" or "mildew" as a genuine kigo.

This theme seemed to produce a fair number of desk haiku and some picture book scenes a bit too twee for haiku. There still remained excellent haiku to take the points!