Congratulations to Michael McClintock, winner of our Kigo section and to Angele Lux, winner of our Free Format section!
May 2010 Results
Kigo Theme:
Fishing
First Place — 34 Points
fishing the shallows
hip-deep in
white clouds
Michael McClintock
(2,10,8) = 34 pts
Second Place — 22 Points
fishing alone
I cast a thought
on the stream
Bill Kenney
(0,7,8) = 22 pts
Nice expansion of the verb "cast" here... love the thought of that thought, arcing out over the water.
Third Place — 19 Points
fishing
a rainbow
out of the blue
Ben Gieske
(2,2,9) = 19 pts
A "language haiku" that also works as an image.
Well formed and within everyone's experience.
Fourth Place — 17 Points
watching hour —
the crescent hangs
in the fish hook
Vasile Moldovan
(3,2,4) = 17 pts
Fifth Place — 16 Points
after the splashing...
the shape
in the heron's neck
aom (tim)
(0,4,8) = 16 pts
Sixth Place — 15 Points
sliced lemons —
the faint scent of trout
still on my hands
DeVar
(1,1,10) = 15 pts
Well formed and within everyone's experience.
city dock
two gulls ignore
the no-fishing sign
Roberta Beary
(0,3,9) = 15 pts
Seventh Place — 13 points
fishing together
a father and his son...
the same line
Keith A. Simmonds
(1,2,6) = 13 pts
fly fishing
the shadows cast
downstream
Darrell Lindsey
(0,4,5) = 13 pts
Eighth Place — 12 Points
annual fishing trip —
the salmon story
growing longer each year
Nancy Nitrio
(0,4,4) = 12 pts
gathering dusk;
the netted trout twitches —
one last time.
manoj saranathan
(0,4,4) = 12 pts
montana sky
in the arc of the fly rod
a rainbow
Edward
(0,3,6) = 12 pts
So many things come together in this moment, suggesting even to a non-angler the powerful lure (pun not intended but acknowledged) of fishing.
Ninth Place — 11 Points
old trout
belly to belly
with the sun
Nicole Hyde
(0,3,5) = 11 pts
A bit extravagant, perhaps, but it catches the mood in the moment.
As above so below.
Tenth Place — 10 Points
fish market —
an old lady
counting her money
Juhani Tikkanen
(0,4,2) = 10 pts
dawn...
the first catch
spreading sunshine
Rob Scott
(0,3,4) = 10 pts
Eleventh Place — 7 Points
lit fish stall
open mouths darken
in the night
martin
(1,1,2) = 7 pts
Many layers of reading and meaning here. My favourite in both sections this month!
breathless pond —
just the wiggling ears
of a fishing cat
Gryta Wansdronk
(1,1,2) = 7 pts
flooded gulley —
he fishes for his sandal
with a stick
Caleb Mutua
(1,1,2) = 7 pts
oh so relaxed,
the fishing pole
just a prop
Ellen Romano
(1,0,4) = 7 pts
opening day . . .
her creel overflows
with watercress
Bill Pauly
(1,0,4) = 7 pts
The Goddess' own.
a perch on the hook —
the eyes of my father
in his deathbed
Origa
(0,3,1) = 7 pts
I knew from the moment I first read this that there was a good chance it would make my final list. Gut-wrenching and spot on.
tug o' war
the trout on my line
the loon on my trout
maxianne berger
(0,2,3) = 7 pts
Twelfth Place — 6 Points
dusk
a smallmouth
takes the surface plug
Tom Painting
(1,1,1) = 6 pts
family folklore
father casts a tall tale
to his daughter
Anne Curran
(1,1,1) = 6 pts
High-tide now —
the whole ocean
where I'd stood casting
Keith Woodruff
(1,0,3) = 6 pts
on the pier
a coquette, fishing
for compliments
Cara Holman
(0,2,2) = 6 pts
fishing expedition —
the little one
learning patience
Barbara Campitelli
(0,2,2) = 6 pts
the line crossed
one angler
curses another
Michele L. Harvey
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
mosquito bites
the tip of my fishing rod
dips again
Laurene
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
river bank
the fisherman concentrates
on his day dream
Audrey Downey
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
Thirteenth Place — 5 Points
streaks of cloud
a salmon darting in and out
of shadow
Catherine J.S. Lee
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
cusp of moon . . .
tossing fish heads
to the pelicans
Francine Banwarth
(0,0,5) = 5 pts
Fourteenth Place — 4 Points
backwater fog
I enter into
the shadow ahead
Donna Bauerly
(0,2,0) = 4 pts
fishing
arguing with the earthworm
again…
dbdewfall
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
airport approach —
a fishing boat and its gulls
in the morning haze
Isabelle Prondzynski
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
fly-fishing
the slow move
of a tail fin
og_a
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
strangers rubbing
shoulders on a bridge
the salmon run
Garry Eaton
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
with each flash of lightning
:::::::GONE FISHING::::::::
on the Barber's door
Ron Moss
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
Fifteenth Place — 3 Points
brook trout leaps
ringlet to ringlet —
hapless mayfly
if
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
the float twitches
it's just the new moon
unhooking itself
Boris Nazansky
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
our new cat ...
urgent restock of neighbour's
koi pond
andrea
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
catching
my reflection
the largest koi
j blain
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
fishermans
reflection...
catch of the day
eric
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
Fathers Day
bright new set of lures
same old fishing hat
Meredith Stern Cavalieri
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
morrow moon
he fillets his catch of the day
on yesterday’s news
Angele Lux
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
Although I might have tightened up the last two lines to "filleting today's catch/on yesterday's news". Still I liked this.
Sixteenth Place — 2 Points
Clouds dance-
the moon safe from the waves
from the first trawl
Oprica Padeanu
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
Only fisherman
casting rumors into
soaking-wet moon
Kurt R. W.
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
dusk already…
at the end of the line
a plastic bag
Barbara A Taylor
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
morning sun
the pelican’s head returns
atop the wave
C.P. Harrison
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
fly fishing
a water skater
makes waves
Harvey Jenkins
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
shrimp boats
docked at the harbor...
oil on the water
A Dharma Bum
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
Seventeenth Place — 1 Point
Hidden behind fronds,
winter fish play dead,
fishermen leave.
Jean Lewis
fishing net bulging —
cold light
in the fishes' eyes
John McDonald
The carp and the trout
are swimming worryless-
The fisherman is a poet
Dan Norea
grey creek —
a rainbow trout at the end
of fishing line
Jacek M
overcast morning
the subdued glow of fish scales
clinging to the net
Anonymous
fishing
we break each night crawler
into four pieces
Anonymous
Two old anglers.
Wait. Release. Wait.
A boat goes by
Ralf Bröker
am i fat?
he squirms before
answering
Terra Martin
chicken liver
on my young son's fish hook —
his anticipation...
Anonymous
children at the puddle
with sticks and balls
of white bread
Diane Mayr
gotcha!
hooked up by the same thought
angler and fish
Dejan Pavlinovic
rising trout —
one mayfly
is feathered
James Dobson
blushing dawn
in silver mirrors
first spring mackerel
Jon Espen Vassbotn
I Like how the "silver mirrors" suggest a silver mackerel in the last line.
mayflies
on the angler's hook
rainbows on his mind
Amicus
heading home
seagulls in our wake
gutting cod
Ruth Powell
nibbling my sushi
the koi in the tank
watch
deanna tief
paddles at rest
over their beds
bluegill hover
Jennifer Corpe
setting day dance
lobster fishers
with girls in their arms
Beth Powell
near dusk —
filling up my fishing net
a dragon fly
Kaiser
praising it
over the picnic table
his prize-winning fish
carol pearce-worthington
No points this time, sorry.
naval cadets
master the waves in bay —
fishing nude
R.K. Singh
far out fishing
200 meter line
at the breaking point
Erik Boye
leaping
out of the river
into the pan
into the fire
miriam chaikin
fishing call —
a tube shaped net
of whale bubbles
Jan Jordan
dragonfly
lilypad jiggles
koi snacks
Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black
flooded park
the fisher reels in
a spoiled load of bread
mechaieh
pretty in pink
at the senior prom
fishing for compliments
Mary E. Gray
Big old frog
Jumps into the pond —
Stork is disappointed.
Geoffrey A. Landis
whip of the line
a Royal Coachman
in the eddy
Barbara Snow
clouds over the lake :
a kingfisher emerges from the shadow
with the catch
vishnu p kapoor
fishing lines cast
waist-high in water
anglers wait
Frances McCarthy
rainy morning —
a child trying to catch fish
at the damside
Stephen Macharia
otter from far shore
swimming toward
my fish!
Kaylene
a flurry of fish
high above gannets
line up for the catch
Elaine Riddell
wood chip smoker
on the patio —
salmon not yet caught
Leslie Montgomery
an osprey floats high
above river edge treetops
fishing
gourdman
Garden pond,
cat strokes the water —
fish wave back.
Trevor Camp
hold full of herring
storm’s lone survivor limps in
price is high this year
Deirdre Godwin
boy watches heron
watching for a glint
on the water
Alegria
cast, reel, tug —
my line empty
the pelican's bill full
Terri L. French
spreading nets
in a tranquil river
creates ripples.
bushra naqi
chasing goldfish
to clean the tank —
fleeting sun
Marylouise Knight
flowing river —
fishermen casts their nets
deeper
Edith Peacock
clouds scud —
a may pole angling
toward pisces
Anonymous
a tug on the line —
I smile at his excitement
but still think: weeds
Anonymous
Storm on the sea —
the fisherman leaves for home
by the empty net
Miorita
preening older man
fishing for compliments
from the ladies
Hazel A. Witherspoon
pelican flying over
unaware of
goo-goo-eyed fishermen
Stella
Free Format Theme: Peace
First Place — 22 Points
window moon —
the quiet sound between
tick and tock
Angele Lux
(1,5,9) = 22 pts
Second Place — 19 Points
in the garden
that was her life ...
birdsong
Carol Raisfeld
(3,2,6) = 19 pts
"the garden / that was her life" says a lot. A genuinely touching tribute.
Third Place -- 16 Points
evening walk —
leaving the house
to come home again
Marylouise Knight
(0,3,10) = 16 pts
Such sweetness here, both in the freedom to leave and in having a home to return to.
Fourth Place — 15 Points
Memorial Park —
alone with the silence
of the fountain
Isabelle Prondzynski
(1,3,6) = 15 pts
Fifth Place — 14 Points
new roof
the steady rhythm
of raindrops
Terra Martin
(0,3,8) = 14 pts
Lovely. To lie back safely dry and enjoy the soothing sounds.
Sixth Place — 13 Points
wishing well —
moonlight deep
into the water
aom (tim)
(0,2,9) = 13 pts
This suggests more than it says, which is entirely appropriate to the theme.
sudden shower —
silence of the
lawnmowers
andrea
(0,2,9) = 13 pts
Seventh Place — 12 Points
summer breeze
his ashes swirl
in figure eights
tf
(1,2,5) = 12 pts
quietly rocking
away the day
new grandmother
Roberta Beary
(1,1,7) = 12 pts
Evocative - I can see, hear, and feel this so clearly.
morning fog
trapped inside
the quiet
rob scott
(1,0,9) = 12 pts
sunset . . .
my silent
amen
Francine Banwarth
(0,2,8) = 12 pts
Awesomely simply.
Eighth Place — 10 Points
the scent of lilacs
drifts through the screen porch
mom closes her book
Edward
(0,2,6) = 10 pts
A moment away from a moment away - lovely.
first snow
before daybreak
the silence
C.P.Harrison
(0,2,6) = 10 pts
Been done before? Well, yes, but rarely more elegantly.
So soft, so snug, this serenity.
Ninth Place — 9 Points
early morning peace
coffee steam curls
in the sun
j blain
(0,3,3) = 9 pts
snow flurries . . .
the spaces between
a mother’s soft words
Ron Moss
(0,2,5) = 9 pts
Tenth Place — 8 Points
after the quarrel
harmony
and red lips
dbdewfall
(1,2,1) = 8 pts
Sunday morning campus
the cathedral
of old trees
Audrey Downey
(0,1,6) = 8 pts
Eleventh Place — 7 Points
day’s end
an offshore breeze
dimples the lake
Tom Painting
(1,1,2) = 7 pts
together
the silence of the stars
listening
Elaine Riddell
(0,1,5) = 7 pts
Twelfth Place — 6 Points
peace
on the sign
of each protester
Beth Powell
(1,0,3) = 6 pts
easter moon
still the rising
not forgotten
Barbara A Taylor
(0,2,2) = 6 pts
This must be the Irish Easter Rising. A lovely enigmatic and very memorable haiku.
dusk —
in lilac bush
roosting sparrows
Alegria
(0,2,2) = 6 pts
zen garden —
the eternal sameness
of movement
Nancy Smith
(0,2,2) = 6 pts
rolling seas
the long line of lights
inside the harbor
Michael McClintock
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
silent night —
my cat rubs her head
on my knuckles
Vivian Adhiambo
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
What cat lover could resist this?
peace rally . . .
candle to candle
we pass the light
Bill Pauly
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
Thirteenth Place — 5 Points
I leave alone
the leaves
on his grave
mechaieh
(1,0,2) = 5 pts
peace
the cricket
finally sleeps
April Serock
(1,0,2) = 5 pts
This brought a rueful nod of recognition.
lightning flashes
birds and crickets
halt their song
Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
cool breeze
moonlight
rippling my way
Bill Kenney
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
I love "rippling my way"
Fourteenth Place — 4 Points
At dead of night
the crickets' chirp dies down-
peace and quiet
Vasile Moldovan
(1,0,1) = 4 pts
evening sighs
the sound of wind
through pines
Cara Holman
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
uneasy peace —
together in bed
one back faces the other
vishnu p kapoor
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
in the spider web
the last twitch
Ben Gieske
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
soundless
in the night museum
Wyeth’s boots
Nicole Hyde
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
just as I was thinking
of everything wrong with the world —
cherry blossoms!
John Thompson
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
first killing frost
at last I can stop
gardening
Donna Bauerly
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
Every gardener will recognize this.
I Love this honest perspective on gardening as both a pleasure and a series of never-ending 'shoulds'
flowing
from mother's breast
nightly silence
Dejan Pavlinovic
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
wind chimes at dawn
I note my newborn's
Buddha smile
Amicus
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
Original Face koan so much more comforting than Original Sin.
dark night
stepping out the back door
into peace
Ruth Powell
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
Resonant for me - "into peace" as its own line has a "just right" feel.
Fifteenth Place — 3 Points
frightened,
i turned on the light
nothing there . . .
miriam chaikin
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
beer in hand
over the bones of thousands
boasting peace
R.K. Singh
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
clash
the moment
she smiles
Ralf Bröker
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
drifting clouds —
a tree swaying silently
from side to side
Samuel Pirias
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
new song
for a new day —
the rain washed thrush
carol pearce-worthington
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
Robin's song...
the baby finally drifts
off to sleep
Michele L. Harvey
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
Sixteenth Place — 2 Points
the white dove flies --
a dark shadow over
an orphan's tear
Lucas Graczewski
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
Guns are still,
weeds grow in silence
where her home once stood.
Jean Lewis
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
cherry blossoms
floating upon the dawn ~
peace offerings
Keith A. Simmonds
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
calm grey rain
pink mallow in a clay pot
seeking nothing
Sheila K. Barksdale
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
It's the last line that raises this one.
the gentle creaking
from the old rocking chair...
peaceful memories
eric
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
stolen afternoon...
toes and other things
lost in the sand
Diane Mayr
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
no barking
in the countryside —
lime trees in blossom
Kaiser
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
TV turned off
in the carpet sunspot
a cat belly-up
Anonymous
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
Seventeenth Place — 1 Point
now that you are gone
the house is strangely quiet
and oh so peaceful
if
flickering
incident tape -
peace lilies sway in the breeze
john McDonald
The sky in water —
the mild sun by the
lotus flower
Dan Norea
venetian blind
cutting swaths of yellow
the sun drifts in
maxianne berger
unpracticed year
anticipating good things
accepting what comes
Barbara Snow
eternal flame
at the war memorial...
piercing quietude
natalia kuznetsova
twilight fades
birdsong stills
night cloaks the garden
Frances McCarthy
graduation
after the party
deafening silence
Anonymous
baroque music —
the serenity of
making rosaries
Barbara Campitelli
spring breeze —
another turtle arrives
to the pond
Israel Lopez Balan
quiet day
at the cemetery
a mockingbird sings
Anonymous
children asleep —
tranquility
shines on our house
James Dobson
after a dinner
a sudden fart —
then a deep peace
Juhani Tikkanen
vernal equinox
neighbors together tear down
the spite fence
Catherine J.S. Lee
drizzling morning —
ants slowly rebuild their soggy
nest together
Patrick Wafula
morning breeze —
water lilies swaying
on stagnant water
Abraham Muuo
green land —
two weaverbirds building
a nest together
Beryl Achieng
red-winged blackbird
feet slightly wet
standing on a lily pad
Stella
In the garden —
my grandma listens
the bird’s song
Miorita
Asleep
on sun-baked shingles,
well-fed stray
Kurt R. W.
end of war
the world seen through eyes
grown older
Ellen Romano
No points this time, sorry.
Israel's P.M.
welcomes progress towards peace
talks talks
Horst Ludwig
in conversation
Bono, Blair, and Gates
leave the economic summit
Anne
the soldier —
the girl saying no
his peace away
Gryta Wansdronk
After convalescence
Husband back at work
Quiet house
Mary E. Gray
collecting
scarred memories
cobalt blue sea glass
Garry Eaton
spring rain
the fresh colors of flowers
on my hippie van
Jacek M
hide and seek —
children secretly agree
where to hide
James Bundi
lotus blossoms
morning pond
untouched dew
Jennifer Stefanow
warm calm day
watching ladybugs
sunbathing
Kaylene
headphones
during her surgery —
Bach cello suites
Leslie Montgomery
lilac bloom enters
a third week while spinach
graces the table
gourdman
Make a Zen garden,
move pea gravel all day long.
The stone Buddha smiles.
Trevor Camp
quiet zendo;
moving from zafu to zafu-
spring sunlight !
manoj saranathan
woodstove afternoon
outside fog and dripping trees
warmth and love within
Deirdre Godwin
stained glass display
the church choir
sings Hallelujah
Harvey Jenkins
Bombing in Baghdad
fields growing
fat on corpses
Mark Lonergan
in a verdant valley
serenity sits
pondering on itself
bushra naqi
imagine butter
melting on top of your head
warming ears lids lips
William
a green bike
against the red brick wall
at last, no wind
DeVar
traffic jam
roll down the window
a whiff of honeysuckle--ahhh
Terri L. French
new pet —
the rhythmic dove coos
under our bed
Caleb Mutua
golden dawn —
birds singing among
sesbania trees
Annastacia Muthini
breezy morning —
six kids pull wheels
in the mud
Alex Wanambisi
no peace in the house
until he can get outside,
check on his seedlings
Anonymous
a board book
and the baby's warm head
autumn rain
Jennifer Corpe
drama roomie gone
palpable peace permeates
a wearied house
Hazel A. Witherspoon
a dove alights
upon the trellis...
the scent of newborn roses
A Dharma Bum
my nap cut short
by my neighbor’s mower
all tranquility lost
Meredith Stern Cavalieri
General Comments
The theme, Peace, brought out a number of interesting variations.
Many haiku in the free format section had very nice images, but needed better editing to be contenders for me. #59 could have an interesting 2nd line pivot if the dash was removed & an "a" was added. #74 needs to be pared down to essential words. e.g. ants rebuild / their soggy nest / . . . morning drizzle OR soggy morning . . . / ants rebuilding / their nest. Others had evocative images, but when read closely, all 3 lines were really part of one single image rendered basically as a sentence (free format #18, 91, 97 - kigo #57). These all have potential - they just need some more technical editing!
I had a more difficult time writing and judging this one. Peace can be difficult to define and to capture in words.
There were so many different aspects of Peace portrayed in each one of these haiku gems that it was very hard for me to pick the best ones. I narrowed my choices down but I would have given all the points to several more of them if I could. have. Nice work done by each poet.
It isn't fair, I tell ya--some of these people have actually gone fishing!
There were many good ones in the Kigo section this time. I had a hard time choosing!