March 2007 Kukai

Kigo Theme: 

Spring Wind

First Place -- 34 pts

spring wind  —

the moon slips by

the open door

hortensia anderson

(4,6,10) = 34 pts

What an evocative and haunting image of the moon.

Great image, very subtle, but strong.

Second Place -- 24 pts

taking the combs

out of her hair

Spring wind

carol bleichert

(1,6,9) = 24 pts

Captures the mythic sense of spring as liberator, linked to a spontaneous, small-scale action; the concentration of real haiku.

Third Place -- 23 pts

spring wind

I catch

. . . my hat

Collin Barber

(0,6,11) = 23 pts

Nice playful spirit.

Fourth Place -- 19 pts

spring wind

between white clouds

a red kite

RD McManes

(1,7,2) = 19 pts

I thought this image was so arresting, and more unusual than many "kite" haiku this time of year....lovely, I wish I'd written it!

Fifth Place -- 17 pts

wine rings

on the café tables  —

spring wind

David Grayson

(2,3,5) = 17 pts

spring wind

the scent of lilacs

before they bloom

soji

(1,3,8) = 17 pts

Spring wind ~

the yellow lining

of his jacket

Paul Hodder

(1,1,12) = 17 pts

A teasing and rather amusing hint of the unexpected revelation, even if we're not sure what's been revealed.

Beautiful!

spring wind

teaching a child

to whistle

Bill Kenney

(0,2,13) = 17 pts

Sixth Place -- 16 pts

spring wind...

my granddaughter's kite

higher than mine

ed markowski

(1,4,5) = 16 pts

Seventh Place -- 14 pts

spring wind

a piece of wool

in its beak

Quendryth Young

(1,3,5) = 14 pts

This is an example of 'detachment' from any emotional connection.

Eighth Place -- 13 pts

spring wind

the snap

of the mousetrap

Francine Banwarth

(0,4,5) = 13 pts

spring wind

the hatless roofer

whistling a tune

Audrey Downey

(0,3,7) = 13 pts

Ninth Place -- 12 pts

spring wind

my only son walks

ahead

Roberta Beary

(1,3,3) = 12 pts

Tenth Place -- 11 pts

spring wind

a sea of daffodil heads

do the wave

Carmel Lively Westerman

(1,2,4) = 11 pts

spring wind  —

the meadow flowers tug

at their roots

Nancy Smith

(0,3,5) = 11 pts

the smell of sheets

dried in the sun

spring wind

Agnes Eva Savich

(0,3,5) = 11 pts

spring wind

a caterpillar climbs

the mailbox flag

Leslie Montgomery

(0,2,7) = 11 pts

Close observation.

spring wind  —

the homework binder

slams shut

aom (tim)

(0,1,9) = 11 pts

This rings so true! I like the definitiveness of the two single- syllable words in the final line.

Eleventh Place -- 10 pts

spring wind

she asks if flowers

commit suicide

Petar Tchouhov

(1,3,1) = 10 pts

spring wind

the tree that came up from seed

stronger now

-- Karen Cesar

(1,2,3) = 10 pts

he tunes his guitar

in the next house  —

spring wind

Israel López Balan

(1,2,3) = 10 pts

sea gulls . . .

a spring wind

from another shore

Marie Summers

(0,3,4) = 10 pts

spring wind  —

no one to open

the window

Ana Cadarin

(0,3,4) = 10 pts

Found myself liking all the light-hearted ones best until i got to (this one) which sent a shiver up the back of my neck.

Twelfth Place -- 9 pts

the wake

of a willow branch  —

spring wind

Ami

(1,2,2) = 9 pts

spring wind

the tiger kite pops

its tail

Darrell Byrd

(0,3,3) = 9 pts

Many fine kite poems; I think the "pops" made this one stand out.

a butterfly

clings to my trellis

spring wind

Pris Campbell

(0,2,5) = 9 pts

"Oh for a bee's experience / Of clover and of noon"--Emily Dickinson.

Thirteenth Place -- 8 pts

spring wind

the scent of jasmine

brings her back to me

Meredith Stern Cavalieri

(1,0,5) = 8 pts

spring wind

wizened hands

plant seeds

Tanya Dikova

(0,4,0) = 8 pts

spring wind

her ponytail

due east

Ann K. Schwader

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

Fourteenth Place -- 7 pts

spring wind

her muddy fingerprints

on the hem of my skirt

Dejah Leger 

(1,2,0) = 7 pts

spring wind

from the garden's side

her song

Dorota Pyra

(1,0,4) = 7 pts

spring wind

the collared dove's breast

flutters

kjs

(0,2,3) = 7 pts

spring wind  —

a parking ticket

in the park

-Rita Gray

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

Fifteenth Place -- 6 pts

first kiss

in the spring wind

eagles soar

doris kasson

(0,2,2) = 6 pts

spring wind...

a leaflet about life

in paradise

--Irene Golas

(0,2,2) = 6 pts

held still

in the spring wind  —

seagulls

-- ushi

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

spring wind

winter trash flutters

on the barbed wire

Edward

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

spring wind

rattling the panes

our first kiss

Michael Baribeau

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

Sixteenth Place -- 5 pts

spring wind  —

the heavy bells sounds

in solitude

Jordi Climent

(1,0,2) = 5 pts

spring wind  —

a buzzard feasts

on a dead hare

max verhart

(1,0,2) = 5 pts

ancient pine  —

a fresh spring wind

just for while

Lech Szeglowski

(1,0,2) = 5 pts

spring wind

in my neighbor's hair  —

she looks younger

Ruth Franke

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

early spring wind . . .

a wave's foam lingers

on a rock

Bruce Ross

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

Wish i could have voted for this one, can see it happening.

spring wind  —

a stranger answers

his phone

carol pearce

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

spring wind  —

a dandelion blooms

by the old man's shack

~ Isabelle Prondzynski

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

Seventeenth Place -- 4 pts

a bit of new growth

through her thinning hair

spring wind

Carole

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

I loved this comparison between the Earth and the old woman!

the warm winds of spring

spread the pollen randomly

bees need no guidance

Mr PC

(0,2,0) = 4 pts

first spring wind

let fly the forgotten

winter leaves

emile molhuysen

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

spring breeze . . .

seeing her dance

my hips sway

Kala Ramesh

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

spring wind  —

ivy vines tighten

in the moonlight

Ron Moss

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

spring wind  —

old man winter

whispers goodbye

Tristan Coleridge

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

spring wind

the kite flies higher

and higher

Grzegorz Sionkowski

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

spring wind lifts

clothes on the line

and my heart

Ruth Powell

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

spring wind  —

the taste of it

in the bow wave

Ellen Compton

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

Eighteenth Place -- 3 pts

spring wind

the chirps of a hungry

mouth

Terra Martin

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

spring wind rising  —

melting ice for water

to mix up my ink

Glen Keener

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

lull in the spring wind

I run through the scales again

waiting to go free

Harvey Jenkins

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

spring wind  —

layers of color

outside the lines

Mary Davila

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

spring wind

a woodpecker's staccato riff

between gusts

Johnye Strickland

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

spring wind

mustard yellow waves

the farmer and his wife together

radhey shiam 

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

it's Spring

wind your watch

ahead

Donna Bauerly

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

early warmth  —

the promise of lilacs

in the spring wind

Warren Gossett

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

spring wind  —

an autistic child

swims with dolphins

Anna Maria Scarpone

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

spring wind...

in her brown hair

white petals

Magdalena Dale

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

spring wind

the knotty pine catches

a rainbow kite

Laura Orabone

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

This brings to mind Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree.

Spring wind

the horizontal

spider silk

Sjs

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

General Comments: Very difficult this month! So many fine efforts.

It really hurt to eliminate some of them.

Free Format Theme:

Song

First Place -- 30 pts

old songbook

the faint stain of whisky

on a farewell song

Keiko

(3,5,11) = 30 pts

Second Place -- 21 pts

hazy moon  —

a love song

lost to static

Collin Barber

(0,5,11) = 21 pts

Third Place -- 20 pts

dawn

in every direction

birdsong

Bridget Cougar

(1,4,9) = 20 pts

How original!

Fourth Place -- 19 pts

dawn breaking...

fishermen return

with a song

K. Ramesh

(1,5,6) = 19 pts

Fifth Place -- 18 pts

chilly morning

a bathroom crooner

murdering a song

dsnake1

(0,5,8) = 18 pts

Sixth Place -- 16 pts

dying light  —

a song

in Hebrew

-- Karen Cesar

(2,2,6) = 16 pts

anniversary

humming our song

for the piano man

Bill Kenney

(0,3,10) = 16 pts

Seventh Place -- 15 pts

feral cat  —

the cardinal's last song

caught in your throat

Donna Bauerly

(1,4,4) = 15 pts

I like the sharp edge of this one.

blue warbler

the whole body

sings its song

Quendryth Young

(1,4,4) = 15 pts

I can see--and I have seen--just this image. Well captured.

park busker

in all the breaks

birdsong

RaV

(1,2,8) = 15 pts

Alzheimer's

their old song

brings her back

tom painting

(0,4,7) = 15 pts

Eighth Place -- 14 pts

sirens' song  —

still the fisherman

mends his net

Leslie Montgomery

(0,5,4) = 14 pts

Ninth Place -- 13 pts

filling the empty room the only child's song

w. f. owen

(0,4,5) = 13 pts

Tenth Place -- 12 pts

sunrise  —

the cricket's song hidden

between the reeds

Jordi Climent

(1,3,3) = 12 pts

Eleventh Place -- 11 pts

riding my bike

over a cobbled road  —

shake, rattle and roll

max verhart

(2,1,3) = 11 pts

Best use of song title!

A nice surprise!

morning dusk

the full moon lingers

for birdsong

Johnye Strickland

(1,1,6) = 11 pts

deep winter . . .

singing the songs

of her childhood

Susan Constable

(0,3,5) = 11 pts

Twelfth Place -- 10 pts

reaching in song

for the rhythm

her hips already found

marlène buitelaar

(1,3,1) = 10 pts

desert spring

a wind song spills

over the rim

Darrell Byrd

(1,2,3) = 10 pts

country cottage ~

the bedroom window

leaks birdsong

Paul Hodder

(0,1,8) = 10 pts

Thirteenth Place -- 9 pts

first day of spring  —

whistling "Rockin' Robin"

in the potting shed

Tristan Coleridge

(2,1,1) = 9 pts

I'm right there enjoying this.

spring solitude

the song

of an unknown bird

Jeannie Martin

(0,1,7) = 9 pts

plastic flowers  —

the spring song

of the peddler

Ana Cadarin

(0,4,1) = 9 pts

Fourteenth Place -- 8 pts

perfect pitch

at the ballpark

cricket song

Barbara S

1,0,5) = 8 pts

morning dew  —

larksong spilling

over fresh-ploughed soil

jon

(0,2,4) = 8 pts

sparrow's song...

a distant knock

of an ax

Rita Odeh

(0,0,8) = 8 pts

Fifteenth Place -- 7 pts

que sera sera

spring lightning

which tree will it be

Terra Martin

(0,3,1) = 7 pts

One of my favorite songs, from a Hitchcock movie, I recall. Playful and clever, nicely done.

Ode to Joy

my hand-chiseled piece

of the Berlin Wall

Agnes Eva Savich

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

I remember a concert celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall. During the Choral movement of Beethoven's 9th symphony, the tenor shouted "Freiheit" instead of "Freude" -- "Freedom" instead of "Joy."

bird song . . .

through an open window

the scent of earth

Carol Raisfeld

(0,1,5) = 7 pts

peeper's song  —

my boots swallowed

in thawing marsh

-- ushi

(0,0,7) = 7 pts

To the sound of the frog is added the 'squelch' of boots sticking in the mud.

Sixteenth Place -- 6 pts

monday morning

the song of the city

assembles

Bill Hudson

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

her Victrola . . .

the old love songs

in a worn-out needle

Francine Banwarth

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

"La Montanara"

the old man

turns up the radio

Ruth Franke

(0,1,4) = 6 pts

I like the accuracy of the observation that a favorite song gets played louder than others.

Seventeenth Place -- 5 pts

mockingbird greets

spring with song  —

all night long

Elizabeth Fanto

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

after divorce court

she hums on the freeway:

california dreamin'

Lech Szeglowski

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

The wittiest and, I'd say, the deepest of the "song title" entries.

an old lady

sprinkles salt into her coffee  —

the long and winding road

Mary Davila

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

summer breeze  —

kids making out

under the bridge

Ami

(0,2,1) = 5 pts

I assume this is the beautiful Seals and Crofts song, a classic!

Very evocative... Oh, to be young again.

songs of seduction

the bird's nest

...still empty

Sjs

(0,1,3) = 5 pts

New Year's eve

I sing a song to myself

in my native tongue

Audrey Downey

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

Rather awkwardly expressed ("my native tongue" borders on telling; haibun material, perhaps?), but the moment is real and poignant.

Touching!

Galveston...

the street musician's

thread bare mackinaw

ed markowski

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

sparrow's song

in a brown hedge

at the drive-thru

Beth Powell

(0,0,5) = 5 pts

Eighteenth Place -- 4 pts

freesias bloom

through the old window

a new love song

kjs

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

a worn violin

pilgrimage comes to an end

I hear a great song

Harvey Jenkins

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

soft rain

bossa nova  —

waters of March

Ann K. Schwader

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

99 Luftballons ...

another name

chiseled into stone

Anna Maria Scarpone

(1,0,1) = 4 pts

funeral song  —

the hibiscus flower

sheds its white

Ron Moss

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

the mourning dove's sad song

. . . . on the sidewalk

a baby robin

brephoenix

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

Tune of an old song

Keep my memories alive

Though the words are gone

Edith

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

that song  —

when you sing it like that

your hair shines

Michael McClintock

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

lunch hour  —

heedless of the radio

a sparrow song

aom (tim)

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

praise song

a tone-deaf girl

raises the roof

George Hawkins

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

the quartet

leans in close

sweet adeline

Michael Baribeau

(0,1,2) = 4 pts

Good for a laugh!

morning song  —

the gardener whistles

while he cuts

Israel López Balan

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

the little girl

mimics his song

chick-a-dee-dee-dee

carol bleichert

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

steady rain

tonight all the love songs

are blue

--Irene Golas

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

above the spray

a soaring gull  —

song of the sea

Nancy Smith

(0,0,4) = 4 pts

Nineteenth Place -- 3 pts

the sun goes down

traces in the sand

deeper and deeper

Dorota Pyra

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

surrounded by song

I weep at the memories

the music invokes

Deirdre Godwin

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

checking my cd's

I found a song about you

seems like teen spirit

Mr PC

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

old song

on his car radio  —

her first orchid

-Deborah P Kolodji

(1,0,0) = 3 pts

over the boat

hidden between the reeds

the cricket's song

Jordi Climent

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

dandelion fluff

the song of the skylark

surrounds the meadow

Jacek

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

half awake  —

the dawn chorus stirs

my silent dreams

~ Isabelle Prondzynski

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

favorite song ...

trying not to hear it when

tone-deaf woman sings

ChristineOC

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

waiting for

the song of the house finch  —

where is spring?

Barbara Campitelli

(0,1,1) = 3 pts

April crickets

their slender songs

echo each other

Laura Orabone

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

wind song

at my window,

lost steps

Magdalena Dale

(0,0,3) = 3 pts

with booming voice

the peddler's song

arrives before he does

Meredith Stern Cavalieri

(0,0,3) = 3 pts