June 2013 Kukai

Milky Way

my baby sucks

his toes

Dorota Pyra

(1,3,12) = 21 pts

**Love how this reaches in multiple directions and is also simultaneously so self-contained

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20 Points 

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warm stream

my son goes barefoot

on the moon

---Highlander

(2,1,12) = 20 pts

**This one is almost surreal. I can’t explain why it connects so well, but it does.

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15 Points 

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beach

the nothingness

of footprints

gogatsu

(2,1,7) = 15 pts

cuckoos calling

grandma dances barefoot 

with a ghost

Karin Anderson

(1,4,4) = 15 pts

** Excellent! Life-affirming images and jux. Another exception to the rule of 3. My apologies to others with entries deserving 1 or 2 points.

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14 Points 

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soapsuds

between each toe... 

Saturday night

--Kirsty Karkow

(1,3,5) = 14 pts

the cake served...

mother-of-the-bride slips

off her shoes

Diane Mayr

(1,2,7) = 14 pts

**simple yet vivid word picture !

frost-framed window—

how small her footprints

in the baby book

–if–

(0,2,10) = 14 pts

lawn sprinkler

the child in me 

runs barefoot

Roberta Beary

(0,1,12) = 14 pts

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13 Points 

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wiggling our toes

in river mud . . .

crickets and stars

Ellen Compton

(1,2,6) = 13 pts

**Ah, bliss!

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12 Points 

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open road

giving the gas pedal

more toe

Michael McClintock

(0,2,8) = 12 pts

**My toes loved this one!

**I wish I had had more points! #29 is pitch perfect. LOVE.

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11 Points 

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the breeze

between my toes

wild roses 

Ann K. Schwader

(0,1,9) = 11 pts

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10 Points 

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his smile becomes laughter

when this little piggy

has none

Edward

(1,1,5) = 10 pts

Cheshire moon

the sound of clipping toe nails

martin gottlieb cohen

(0,4,2) = 10 pts

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9 Points 

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spring noon;

we both have wet feet-

the robin and I !

manoj saranathan

(0,3,3) = 9 pts

season's end

the puddle shrinks

around my bare feet

--Peter Newton

(0,3,3) = 9 pts

rinsing sand

from my feet

summer's end

Bill Kenney

(0,2,5) = 9 pts

**Economical in its invocation of wistfulness

hot sand

reaching the water

just in time

Adelaide B. Shaw

(0,2,5) = 9 pts

wet sands -

these footsteps show

no rags or riches

Vinay Leo R.

(0,1,7) = 9 pts

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8 Points 

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receding sea

a barefoot girl on the beach

wistfully still

natalia kuznetsova

(1,1,3) = 8 pts

barefoot –

the green grass

of childhood

Virginia Popescu 

PHOENIX

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

wading

in the mountain brook-

flat stones

Tuvshinzaya Nergui

Tsetserleg city, Mongolia

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

matted grass 

where the cow slept

warms my bare feet

Zeyda

(0,1,6) = 8 pts

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7 Points 

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circus ring

a barefoot angel loses

her footing

Stella Pierides

(1,1,2) = 7 pts

last day of school...

the barefoot sky

promises so much

Angela Terry

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

came in

and will go out

-- shoeless

miriam chaikin

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

moonless night -

the stone floor near the river

still warm

Israel López Balan

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

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6 Points 

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barefoot

she cannot feel the rocks--

new love

Aalix Roake

(1,1,1) = 6 pts

the tightness of shoes

on the first day of school

barefoot summer

Barbara Snow

(0,2,2) = 6 pts

cycling to work --

the shiny bronze toes

of a statue

~ Isabelle Prondzynski

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

whiffle ball

both pitcher and batter

without any shoes

Michele L, Harvey

USA

(0,0,6) = 6 pts

barefoot

as if it matters

the naturist

LeRoy Gorman

(0,0,6) = 6 pts

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5 Points 

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Barefoot on lunch-hour

teleported to my youth -

ants enjoy my crumbs

Philip Mizener

(1,1,0) = 5 pts

little ballerinas

dancing barefoot

morning dew

maxianne

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

billowing clouds

we stomp the white grapes

for wine

John Daleiden

Phoenix, Arizona

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

**An efficient jux and fresh take, this one really appeals to me. I wonder if "white" is really necessary, though.

heat wave

a naked toddler runs

through the sprinkler

Carolyn Coit Dancy

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

wind rolled thistles

in the monastery door -

a barefoot monk

lavana kray

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

barefoot boys

scramble over the rocks

the tide turning

Beth Powell

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

barefoot 

through the old battlefield -

the ancestors' dream

Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

barefoot moon...

does he have

my password

Anonymous

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

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4 Points 

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my foot steps

in the morning dew --

sudden shiver

~ Primrose Jedidah

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

barefoot sounds

in the morning dew

prints of happiness

Oddbjørn Aardalen

(0,2,0) = 4 pts

pebbles walk

the faces of ouch

in the hotness

Ramesh Anand

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

wide-eyed

first visit to the mandir

ornate tiled floors

--gillena cox;

St James, Trinidad

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

barefoot

on hot tin roof

day moon

Reza- Semnan

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

a fox cries . . 

the curl of my toes

on moonlit grass

Sandi Pray

North Carolina, USA

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

playground --

a barefooted footballer

hits a stone

~ Regina Robby

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

rain is gone...

the barefoot children

collect the snails

Tomislav

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

you had me

the first time

I kissed your toes

baby's breath

Stevie Strang

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

barefoot

our teen takes a wave

in stride

Tom Painting

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

**Nice little snapshot from life's movie

footsoles

tinged with blue

hospice

Doris

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

**Quietly tender

shingle beach

the arches

of my feet

polona

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

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3 Points 

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forever barefoot walking midnight blue

S.M. Abeles

USA

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

barefoot…

up close a mockingbird’s

mocking

Alegria Imperial

Canada

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

counting stars

I tramp on tender wheat

barefoot

Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

hot asphalt...

the barefoot runner's

ashen face

S.E. Buffington

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

freshwater

the friendly fish

exfoliate my feet

Ernesto P. Santiago

Philippines

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

the feel of cool grass

between my toes

when did I get too old?

Brenda Roberts, 

Secretary 

Fort Worth Haiku Society

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

Hot beach pebbles -

the bathers'

hesitant steps.

Zhanna P. Rader.

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

tiny toes

peeking from a covered stroller

I smile

Bill Hudson

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

**playful haiku that rings a bell …

tiny first buds

of a morning glory . . .

the newborn toes

Ron C. Moss

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

barefoot--

in the desert

each pebble a boulder

Jone Rush MacCulloch

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

shards of glass --

he wraps his sole

with rags

~ Mango Junior

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

a blue crescent on each bare toe

- ru, canada

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

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2 Points 

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patterns in the sand

made by time and wind and wave

and my shoe-free feet

Deirdre Godwin

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

Bare feet in the grass

Me and my daughter

First summer rain

Steliana Cristina Voicu

Ploiesti, Romania

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

the sat nav whispers:

grass with morning dew ahead 

stop car, take off shoes

Jon Espen Vassbotn

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

shimmering sun --

a barefooted mother

fetching water

~ Velma Adhiambo

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

confused goslings -

her toes

white in the sand

mike warner

(0,1,0) = 2 pts

walk nature lover

barefoot amongst the flowers

in chaste purity

Keith A. Simmonds

T & T

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

barefoot peasant...

teaching me how to feel

larger than life

Rita Odeh

Nazareth, IL

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

Cyprus beach

and behold, barefoot

Aphrodite

Irena Szewczyk

Warsaw, Poland

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

light rainfall —

barefoot on wet grass

childhood calls

Gautam Nadkarni

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

Gobi desert...

it does not touch my toes

the thunderstorm

Nadalsuren Purevdorj

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

noon beach

skittery skips to the

shoreline

Allen McGill

Ajijic, Mexico

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

rows of clean feet --

Muslims kneeling on mats

for midday prayers

~ Patrick Wafula

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

shallow river --

barefooted fishermen

dragging nets

~ Esther

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

barefoot in the park -

a colony of snails stretching 

our shadows

Sebastian Lucacs

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

after rain -

running through puddles 

barefoot

Ailoaei Cristina

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

barefoot -- 

the warmth 

of the sun-kissed steps

-- Chitra Rajappa

(0,0,2) = 2 pts

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1 Points

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hot coals...

her sole

on my breast

- hyohakusha

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

a morning dew - 

trembling grasses

and I barefoot

Robert Kania

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

barefoot murmurs

sound on kitchen tiles

dawn-rising toddler

Frances O'Keeffe

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

barefoot hiking---

feeling the heat

degree by degree

kashinath karmakar,

Durgapur,India

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

Sea side visit

sand between the toes

barefoot walk.

Trevor Camp

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

a barefooted child

collecting scrap metals --

village dump

~ Irene Wangari

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

barefoot

through shallow water

urchin's crying

Gabriele

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

hens chasing termites

leave footprints behind --

afternoon rain

~ Lynn

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

shivering --

this  cold cemented floor

of my room

~ James Bundi

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

fresh cut grass

tickles our summer feet …

years ago

Ruth Powell

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

rush of sand

between my toes –

holding back my summer dream

Jayashree Maniyil

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

barefooted --

her traditional dances

on the cold floor

~ Ezekiel Mbira

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

my barefoot trail

on the dewy lawn--

home alone

DeVar

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

sunrise -

I walk alone through

the wet grass

Miorita

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

by summer’s end

we’ll walk the gravel driveway

barefoot

Shelley Krause

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

summer vacation

the boys bare feet curl

over bike pedals

kawazu

(0,0,1) = 1 pts

**Can absolutely see and feel this

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No Points This Time, Sorry. 

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summer's heat

kids without shoes walked

on the grass

Michaelb2005

my soaked sandals

my drenched dress

my naked feet

mechaieh

barefoot

through sharp summer grass

one more round

Horst

compulsive hoarding -

his footprints on the pavement

are fading away!

Daniela Bullas

walk through puddles

one mom two kids three pairs

safe in hands

Vishnu P Kapoor

Chennai India

highway gravel

I tried my soles in high school

summer

assu

littered beach

a trail of bloodied footprints

behind the jogger

Barbara A Taylor

Barefoot doctor

Clearly diagnoses

long drawn disease.

purush Guntur

swarming sweat bees

lounging in barefeet

after my jog

Bernard Gieske

a barefoot tiger 

escaping the red dragon up

to the wintry mountains

Juhani Tikkanen

toes in cold water

of mountain lake

forget a swim

Jim Applegate

Roswell, NM

barefoot everywhere -

from place to place the sand

cools down a bit

Cristina Oprea

fireflies at play

it’s my turn to walk

across white-hot coals

Harvey Jenkins

Nanaimo, BC Canada

barefoot Amish boy

toes his initials into

the gravel road

Jerome Cushman

winter denial

barefoot children in shorts

order ice creams

Elaine RIddell

spring grass

childhood memories glisten

barefoot in the past

RD McManes

barefoot

running through ashes

oh my soles, embers

donna bauerly

a barefoot child

makes her first

mudpie

Anonymous

trailing barefeet . . .

sunset

and warm sand

Kat Creighton

 boots removed

I step gingerly

barefoot onto snow

Jane DeJonghe

my feet winter-chilled

on wooden floor-boards --

village yoga

Anonymous

barefoot call girl - 

folding the map on the shore 

covered teacher spy

STOPS

one dog

racing one--we run

barefoot too

Chandra Bales

mead moon ...

sweet river runs

barefoot

dragonfly

naked steps

miss my friend the

stone in the shoe

Trygve Johnsen

hot afternoon --

a barefooted traveller

wipes his dusty feet

~ Eluyilah Barkhita

socks off...

fishes fleeing 

before my feet

Dejan Pavlinovic

Pula, Croatia

milling crowds --

a barefooted madwoman

on Moi Avenue

~ Naomi Andauza

dimpling rain % mud squelches between the toes

Anonymous

scorching sun --

a man pulls a hand cart

barefooted

~ Mercy Amunze

heartbeat

a race that scores

clover between our toes

Anonymous

football pitch --

students walk barefooted

to the field

~ Caroline Wanjiru

bare feet 

hot from asphalt streets 

the porch swing squeaks

Angie Werren

Amelia, Ohio

USA

 warm spring day

a bee under a barefoot

pain

Tom Conally

she jogs along the edge

damp sand

between her toes

James Dobson

barefoot on the beach

the shy woman bares

her sole tattoo

Bill Pauly

Dubuque, IA USA

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General Comments:

**I was surprised by how many people mentioned firewalking! Is it a popular activity, or just a deep-seated desire?

**Many good ones. Thanks again for this opportunity.

**There are many good entries to the kigo section this month. As I read through them I thought it might be useful to relative newcomers to list some of the reasons I could give some no points, even if I’d been allotted more than 6. If you chose to include these perhaps others (yourself also) may care to add theirs. My feeling is that few voters will take much time to understand a single poem so the meaning needs to be quickly clear: 

. 

· Don’t understand the image or the juxtaposition

· Good image but needs a more picturesque word choice

· A ‘so what’ poem

· Often an exclamation point covers the poets instinctive knowledge of a ‘so what’ poem or line

· Could be said more simply

· Lines in wrong order

· laundry list

· Simply uninteresting

· Implausible

· Unknown word

· No resonance for me 

**As i had expected, many beautiful entries. Had a hard time voting...

**Thank you for providing this Kukai opportunity.

**So many good ones, hard to choose.

**So many beautiful and powerful verses. Tough one as always. Well done, everybody!

**Lots of bare feet to consider!

**Thank you for this wonderful kukai

**Thanks again for this wonderful invitation to participate.

**First time in ages that I have written a haiku specially for the Shiki Kukai! I enjoyed watching out for bare feet... :)

**Here's my kigo ("barefoot") entry for June. I just composed it in the shower, and I'm sending it right along, before the second thoughts begin.

**Alas, I had half a broken bottle stuck in the sole of my foot once, a lifetime ago when I was very very young. I remember how scared I was...five stitches!!!!

**General comment : I enjoyed looking for bare feet this month, and found them in the more unusual places (e.g. the statues in the park). I particularly appreciated reading haiku from places where bare feet are a matter of neediness rather than choice…