The Shiki Monthly Kukai Results
November 2011 Kukai
Dear Friends,
First a short reminder that there is still time to participate in
the Nengajyou (New Year) Postcard Exchange. For more information,
please go to this page:
https://sites.google.com/site/shikikukaitemporaryarchives/home/announcements
And Now...
Here are the results for the November 2011 Kukai, wherein our Kigo subject was EUCALYPTUS, and our Free Format subject was BATH
Congratulations to SHELLEY KRAUSE, winner of our Kigo section and to BRENDA ROBERTS, 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 in italics below the respective poems.
Kigo Theme:
EUCALYPTUS
-------------------------------
First Place - 21 Points
-------------------------------
deep breaths —
the old eucalyptus
loosens its bark
Shelley Krause
(2,3,9) = 21 pts
**Multiple angles to this, very engaging.
**A strong image, rich in associations
-------------------------------
Second Place - 19 Points
--------------------------------
winter dawn-
the scent of eucalyptus
filling the silence
Devika Menon
(1,3,10) = 19 pts
-------------------------------
Third Place – 17 Points
-------------------------------
rain all night
the scent of eucalyptus
in my dreams
Stevie Strang
(1,2,10) = 17 pts
**Stronger with each reading; the way it dematerializes as it goes.
AND...
between
eucalyptus leaves
koala eyes
peter pache
(0,4,9) = 17 pts
-------------------------------
16 Points
-------------------------------
eucalyptus shade
a didgeridoo drowns out
the evening rain
John McManus
(1,3,7) = 16 pts
-------------------------------
14 Points
-------------------------------
cold season
the scent of eucalyptus
fills the bus
Michele L. Harvey
(0,3,8) = 14 pts
-------------------------------
13 Points
-------------------------------
eucalyptus grove--
the painting teacher
adds blue to the green
aom (tim)
(0,2,9) = 13 pts
**It's all about seeing.
-------------------------------
12 Points
-------------------------------
firestorm . . .
charred love hearts
in the eucalyptus tree
Ron C. Moss
(1,0,9) = 12 pts
-------------------------------
11 Points
-------------------------------
another argument
a eucalyptus leaf
curled into itself
Paul Hodder
(0,3,5) = 11 pts
**The poem, too, curls into itself.
-------------------------------
10 Points
-------------------------------
blowing in the wind
the sweet scent of memories ...
eucalyptus buds
Keith A. Simmonds
(2,2,0) = 10 pts
scent of eucalyptus
...Mother
missing her still
Rose Marie Stutts
(0,4,2) = 10 pts
-------------------------------
9 Points
-------------------------------
rutting season——
the trunk of a fever tree
scraped bare by antlers
--Kirsty Karkow
(2,0,3) = 9 pts
eucalypso
in dreamtime I dance
with koalas
-- Johannes S. H. Bjerg
(1,2,2) = 9 pts
fever tree
our on again off again
love affair
Gregory Longenecker
(1,1,4) = 9 pts
sound of an axe --
the rising scent
of Eucalyptus
sanjukta
(0,3,3) = 9 pts
-------------------------------
8 Points
-------------------------------
eucalyptus
the woodsy-sweet smell
of my aunt
Tom
(0,3,2) = 8 pts
-------------------------------
7 Points
-------------------------------
eucalyptus
in a moonlit garden
the tao of dreams
Margaret Dornaus
(1,0,4) = 7 pts
winter coat
draped on the radiator --
eucalyptus fumes
mechaieh
(0,2,3) = 7 pts
eucalyptus scent
riding in on the wind
a neighbor's gossip
Barbara Snow
(0,2,3) = 7 pts
autumn leaves
from the eucalyptus
a burst of crows
Tore Sverredal
(0,1,5) = 7 pts
-------------------------------
6 Points
-------------------------------
The dream of long life:
an ancient eucalyptus
in full blossom
Vasile Moldovan
(2,0,0) = 6 pts
wind
in the eucalyptus trees
her healing touch
Alegria
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
sleepless night
eucalyptus fragrance
and my son's cough
mariusz ogryzko (mogri)
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
winter clouds...
still the scent
of eucalyptus
Cara Holman
(0,0,6) = 6 pts
-------------------------------
5 Points
-------------------------------
down under –
her lips as she says
eucalyptus
BILL KENNEY
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
afternoon tea and gossip:
lorikeets chatter
in the blue gum tree
-- Chitra Rajappa
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
first sight
of the Southern Cross...
a hint of eucalyptus
Angela Terry
(0,0,5) = 5 pts
-------------------------------
4 Points
-------------------------------
kookaburra nest
lined with eucalyptus leaves
-- distant laughter
bre
(0,2,0) = 4 pts
rainbow lorikeets!
a murmuration rises
from eucalypts
Merrill Ann Gonzales
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
fire in forest —
a squirrel hiding
under a eucalyptus
alex
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
spelling bee
e-u-c-a-l-y-p-t-u-s
the tie breaker
Carolyn Coit Dancy
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
early morning
autumn rain dusting off
the eucalyptus
Barbara Campitelli
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
Eucalyptus ——
the wind whips strands of hair
across her eyes
Carmel Lively Westerman
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
haiku walk --
a dry leaf falls
from the blue gum
~ FAITH OWILA
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
-------------------------------
3 Points
-------------------------------
the windless night
a green shivering
eucalyptus fever
Oddbjørn Aardalen
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
Day of the dead —
eucalyptus shadow drapes
her pale gravestone
Cezar F.C.
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
chainsaws wail
smell of eucalyptus
scents the air
shanna
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
** A fine and successful juxtaposition. Sadly, I know the scene well...
the child’s trampoline
swept two miles away
high in a gumtree
Barbara A. Taylor
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
ornamental tree
mislabeled eucalyptus
gives ten feet of shade
Harvey Jenkins
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
dirndl skirt--
the tiny waist of the
eucalyptus blossom
Terra Martin
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
dawn light —
a pair of doves shiver
eucalyptus leaves
Darrell Byrd
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
Giant Eucalyptus —
scratching on the belly
a little koala
Petru-Ioan Garda
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
whiff of eucalyptus ——
a commuter on the bus
unwraps a sweet
--gillena cox
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
evening breeze --
a eucalyptus leaf drifts
on the dusty lawn
~ Stephen Macharia
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
sweet scent of
eucalyptus
the porch at dusk
Frances O'Keeffe
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
sudden leap --
the blue gum negotiates
an eagle's weight
~ Joshua Kaweto
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
Eucalyptus twilight
shadows fade into the wall
martin gottlieb cohen
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
a full moon
drifts in and out of cloud
the ghost gum
Elaine Riddell
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
riverside walk --
the wheezing sound of
blue gum leaves
~ Margaret Ndinda
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
-------------------------------
2 Points
-------------------------------
termites
hollow the wooly butt euc.
didgeridoo
Bill Hudson
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
eucalyptus mound
the Everglades
pull back
Alan S. Bridges
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
a birthing cry
under the eucalyptus
and a didgeridoo
Earl Keener
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
road trip . . .
with each passing eucalyptus
my son jumps numbers
Anonymous
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
i'm always
chasing rainbows
through eucalyptus trees
eric p
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
cold mist brings
eucalyptus fragrance
distant bell chimes
Narayanan Raghunathan
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
eucalyptus trees
layered in sun and dust
the wind on the field
Michael McClintock
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
a sneaking cat --
scent of eucalyptus
lingering
Juhani Tikkanen
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
eucalyptus
permeates my room
like an old lover
toni dalton
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
Sydney tourist trap
in their eucalyptus trees
cardboard koalas
Edward
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
outback flight . . .
a line of River Red Gums
marks the watercourse
Anonymous
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
blue gum forest —
the thrum of crickets
turns up the heat
Liz Rule
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
cool twilight
the quilt of mist covers
eucalyptus trees
---Jacek M.
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
making gift baskets
fresh cut eucalyptus
fills the living room
Hazel A. Witherspoon
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
mid-winter --
the warmth of eucalyptus
on my chest
kawazu (Cliff Roberts)
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
-------------------------------
1 Point
-------------------------------
darkened room
the scent of eucalyptus
her labored wheezing
if
winter haze...
hot eucalyptus, mother
rubs into my chest
Ramesh Anand
eucalyptus incense
curling smoke envelopes
a moth
Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black
atop the eucalyptus
in the falcon's eye
hunter's view
Ben Gieske
wind
through the eucalyptus ——
song of the didgeridoo
John McDonald
a eucalyptus
hugged by a koala
camera-ready
Anonymous
blue gum --
hammering a bent nail
through its timber
~ Douglas Kaucho
ended wedding —
only eucalyptus flavour
sailing through the sky
Manuela Dragomirescu
a ghost in the scent
of eucalyptus...
the child asthma claimed
Anonymous
sweet memories --
ethereal breeze
of eucalyptus
Virginia Popescu
scented room --
a heap of drying
eucalyptus logs
~ ANDREW OTINGA
anglers don't take
care on the eucalyptus
over their head
Tomislav Maretic
-------------------------------------
No Points This Time. Sorry.
--------------------------------------
unexpected visitor
i spread eucalyptus to drown
smells of cabbage cooking
miriam chaikin
eucalyptus—
couple on the bench
with one, each
gogatsu
Sweetheart roses
and sprigs of Silver Gum
she's growing up
maxianne berger
the aromatic scent
of roadside eucalyptus --
sunset walk
~ Patrick Wafula
A Koala hides
behind the Eucalyptus.
Have no fear my friend.
Robert C. Howard
my sister’s cold --
mother boils blue gum leaves
for treatment
~ Collins Omuganda
taking a bath
and thinking of fever trees...
so cold outside
natalia kuznetsova
Eucalyptus
a mouthful
for Koala and me
Donna Bauerly
grey-green eucalyptus
their porcelain-smooth trunks
shedding sun-peeled bark
Ed Higgins
a native drum--
gum trees through winter moonlit
faintly in oil spill
s.d.
far from midnight
eucalyptus
babbles
Ralf Bröker
lemon tea with
eucalyptus honey
I feel better already
Meredith Stern Cavalieri
gum tree oil
the insects fly away
peace at last
Trevor Camp
sewer line --
a haijin proves a blue-gum
by sniffing its leaf
~ Isaac Ndirangu
eucalyptus leaves
rustling in the sun-seared wind
country waits for rain
Deirdre Godwin
eucalyptus vapors . . .
the distant blue haze
of her mood down under
Bill Pauly
green flowers' burst
huge eteric perfume spray -
eucalyptus
Gheorghe POSTELNICU STOPS
long nights
of eucalyptus
cold season
Ann K. Schwader
office elevator
reeks of eucalyptus
...cold season
Diane Mayr
autumn night
standing guard to the garden
the eucalyptus trees
quamrul hassan
In the room
eucalyptus fragrance —
he has high fever
Miorita
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Comments - Kigo Section:
**Interesting haiku in this mini-volume. Everyone of them is engaging and as usual, it's a challenge to make a vote. I love the references to healing in varied cultures.
**I have to say that selecting six is nigh unto impossible... so many good ones must be neglected.... There should be a vote at the end of the year for the ones that got away!
Free Format Theme:
BATH
--------------------------------
First Place - 21 Points
--------------------------------
first bath
the mother crying
with her child
bre
(0,6,9) = 21 pts
--------------------------------
Second Place - 17 Points
---------------------------------
bath-time
father scrubs away
my sins
Roberta Beary
(2,2,7) = 17 pts
AND...
windswept clouds
the water in the birdbath
changes shape
Bouwe Brouwer
(1,1,12) = 17 pts
--------------------------------
Third Place – 15 Points
--------------------------------
cloudless night --
only the frozen moon
in the birdbath
--Jacek M.
(1,3,6) = 15 pts
-----------------
14 Points
-----------------
first light –
a layer of ice
on the bird bath
Liz Rule
(0,3,8) = 14 pts
----------------
13 Points
----------------
hot afternoon
a cat slowly drinks from
the bird bath
Paul Hodder
(2,1,5) = 13 pts
** Beautiful. Every word just right. Thank you for a delightful scene.
------------------
12 Points
------------------
New Year's Eve—
sharing my resolution
with the bath spider
John McManus
(1,1,7) = 12 pts
**Something like this happened to me with a giant centipede New Years Eve in Hawaii…that was definitely a year full of surprises…
-------------------
10 Points
-------------------
only child——
she pulls her naked doll
into the bath
--Kirsty Karkow
(0,3,4) = 10 pts
deep winter
a crack
in the bird bath
Alan S. Bridges
(0,2,6) = 10 pts
moonlight bathing --
the birch tree stands
even whiter
-- Johannes S. H. Bjerg
(0,2,6) = 10 pts
------------------
9 Points
------------------
bathing
in the sparrow's puddle ——
waxing moon
Juhani Tikkanen
(0,1,7) = 9 pts
------------------
8 Points
------------------
severe drought
bird bath
has no sky in it
shanna
(0,2,4) = 8 pts
first romance novel
slowly...page...by page...by page...
her bath turns cold
Edward
(0,2,4) = 8 pts
--------------------
7 Points
-------------------
starlit tadpoles—
tiny toes rippling
the bath water
Ron C. Moss
(0,2,3) = 7 pts
bubble bath --
my brother's boat
sinks my rubber duck
Michele L. Harvey
(0,2,3) = 7 pts
in the stream
moths burst from the sedge
as she bathes
Alegria
(0,2,3) = 7 pts
random thoughts
the bath water
gone tepid
BILL KENNEY
(0,1,5) = 7 pts
morning bath --
white steam drifts
from my body
~ Patrick Wafula
(0,0,7) = 7 pts
---------------
6 Points
----------------
a hundred islands
glide from my bath
into the snow
mechaieh
(2,0,0) = 6 pts
**a haiku with a surprising and intriguing opening of view - for once: not one I expected
evening bath --
steaming in the soft strums
of a koto
~ Isabelle Prondzynski
(1,0,3) = 6 pts
hot jacuzzi bath --
the bubbling memories
of her younger years
Zhanna P. Rader
(0,1,4) = 6 pts
-------------------
5 Points
-------------------
loud splashes
in the morning sun ...
a bird bath
Keith A. Simmonds
(0,2,1) = 5 pts
**i would have preferred reading 'the bird bath' making the moment sharper
On the stone bridge
looking at the whirling waters
fairies at the bath...
Adina Enachescu
(0,2,1) = 5 pts
autumn afternoon
bathing in the sea
with the sun
quamrul Hassan
(0,2,1) = 5 pts
lemonade break...
the sound of sparrows
bathing in dust
Diane Mayr
(0,1,3) = 5 pts
separated
after a long soak
I pull the plug
Tom
(0,0,5) = 5 pts
dark clouds --
the donkey’s last bath
in the dust
~ Isaac Ndirangu
(0,0,5) = 5 pts
-----------------
4 Points
-----------------
bath time
the stripped bark
of the madrone
Cara Holman
(1,0,1) = 4 pts
snowed in
a bath, a glass of wine
and thee
Stevie Strang
(1,0,1) = 4 pts
claw-foot tub
sharing the bath
with my brother
Carolyn Coit Dancy
(0,1,2) = 4 pts
waiting to bathe
in the star filled pond-
a frog's call
Narayanan Raghunathan
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
grandma's bath tub ——
hand made braided rugs
on the worn plank floor
Carmel Lively Westerman
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
Hot summer--
two sparrows take a bath
in the road dust
Constantin Stroe
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
tea on the porch
pine needles clutter
the bird bath
Tore Sverredal
(0,0,4) = 4 pts
---------------------
3 Points
---------------------
daughter, you enter
the moon, baptized
in bathwater
Bill Pauly
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
Sudden awakening—
a bath of dew for
two sleepy eyes
Vasile Moldovan
(1,0,0) = 3 pts
eyes reflecting
candle's flames
he joins me in the tub
Rose Marie Stutts
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
children play marbles
where sparrow
had his sand bath
John McDonald
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
downpour
an outcaste bathes
in the overflow
Earl Keener
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
one dog, one bath
one leap
the whole house showered
Frances O'Keeffe
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
skunks on the prowl~
the pup gets his first
tomato juice bath
S.E. Buffington
(0,1,1) = 3 pts
scorching sun --
a pair of weavers bathing
in stagnant water
~Consolata Akoth
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
onsen—
the monkeys look
relaxed
gogatsu
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
garden fountain
a house sparrow
dips with a rhythm
Ramesh Anand
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
donkey bath --
dust fills the air as it rolls
over and over
~ Gacugu Johnson
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
nightjar calls
moonlight bathes
barren branches
Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
one year old
when he takes a bath
everyone gets wet
Elaine Riddell
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
mud bath —
old pig seems to suffer
by rheumatism
Petru-Ioan Garda
(0,0,3) = 3 pts
--------------------
2 Points
--------------------
in the birdbath
beating flapping songbird
water music
Ben Gieske
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
roadside --
a street girl takes a bath
in stagnant water
~ Chris Meshack
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
**the image is vivid - I can smell the dust & dirt and the (maybe) not so pleasant smell of the water. A haiku with a social angle.
old bones
cold night small comforts
hot bath
Merrill Ann Gonzales
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
I looked to the east
beyond the Catskill ridges
bathed in dawn light hues
Robert C. Howard
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
Eve bathing
dropping her half-eaten apple...
the snake retreating
Ed Higgins
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
windswept palms
the river rings around
a bathing girl
Anonymous
(0,1,0) = 2 pts
cold bath --
my goose pimples
grow bigger
~ Gloria Kerubo
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
marathon . . .
a fancy footbath
for deserving feet
Karen J. McClintock
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
fourth of July--
finches flutter
in the fountain
Barbara Snow
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
landfill —
under old bath
sparrow nest
Andrzej Dembonczyk
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
in the twilight —
only a old man
takes a bath
Miorita
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
frozen pipes --
reluctantly taking a bath
in mom's old wash tub
kawazu (Cliff Roberts)
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
---------------------
1 Point
---------------------
my scented bath
almost as good as
the first sip of a martini
miriam chaikin
rubber duck
in the baby's bath
the colors of sunlight
Angela Terry
Summer morning
a green treefrog plops
into the bath tub
Barbara A. Taylor
hot springs . . .
taking a bath sitting
on a volcano
-Michael McClintock
a flute of champagne
and a hot bubble bath --
cheers!
Maxianne
holiday ends
neighbor’s cat relaxes
in our bird bath
Harvey Jenkins
a white dog
takes a quick dive --
school pond
~ Andrew Otinga
moonlight bathes
my study room --
dim candle
~ Synaidah Kalahi
steam rises
from the tub
I picture his face
Meredith Stern Cavalieri
Bath, England
the chill in the mist
martin gottlieb cohen
watching the spider
busy above the sink
warm bath
Gregory Longenecker
november
the spotted owl
over the bathtub
Oddbjørn Aardalen
rain-
time to give the car
a free bath
Barbara Campitelli
sultry heat —
the Little Dipper into
the birdbath
Cezar F.C.
a flock of sparrows
taking bath in the sand -
sound of wings
Tomislav Maretic
-----------------------------------
No Points This Time, Sorry.
------------------------------------
aging bathtub
neglect and mildew
our failed marriage
if
(0,0,0) = 0 pts
guys spoil
romantic baths
by cannon-balling
eric p
Around the bird bath
Hummingbirds flit and hover
A Summer's day
Angelika Kolompar
a dog shakes off
the excess bath water now ——
his owner showered
--gillena cox
steam slowly rises
a drop from the spout
echoes in the room
Bill Hudson
bathtub drains
the tomcat's paw-prints
evaporate
~Alexander B. Joy
"Hurry up, Marianne!"
said the assisted living caretaker
Mom's first tub time in years
Donna Bauerly
drops from my wet hair
to the empty bath basin --
crackling sound
~ James Bundi
the blue of her bath
on a bubble
sesame street
Ralf Bröker
for a moment
all people one colour —
rose petal bath
Manuela Dragomirescu
school day--
ears into the bathwater
to avoid the dinner call
Anonymous
bath night again
more shampoo on hair
clean again
Trevor Camp
how could you do it
this cruel act against me
I am a wet dog
Deirdre Godwin
foul bathtub bubble
together my palms defy
the laws of nature
-Páll I. Kvaran
summer heat --
doves under the sprinkler flap
a cool bath
Darrell Byrd
on her shower shelf
'Nivea for Men – Sensitive' —
my unmarried friend
Anonymous
whisky, gin, wines
full of liquid You Tube —
Bath Tub?
Gheorghe POSTELNICU STOPS
towel around breasts
her hair in the bath water
whirling counterclockwise
Boris Nazansky
fourth floor
bath class for new parents —
hospital's bright spot
Anonymous
His painful feet —
thinking of a warm bath
with Dead Sea salt
Virginia Popescu
sunbathing —
the glow on the mallard's wings,
the tan on me
Anonymous
spent—
bubbles and a glass of Merlot
schloffs the week's drama
Hazel A. Witherspoon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Comments - Free Format Section:
**General comment: Bird baths brought out some excellent haiku! Altogether a lovely theme with more haiku to vote for than I had votes...
**It's never easy to pick what I think is the best from a great number of good haiku. How telling that quite a number of entries focused on a bird bath. I wonder what thought on observation versus reflection in haiku writing could be posed on this.
**I repeat...this category was particularly difficult to choose which ones to give points to... and perhaps some very good ones are neglected simply because they were variations of one mindset causing almost repetition. But I did the best I could...
**Gosh, so many sparrows and koalas!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for participating in the November 2011 Kukai!
We will announce the January 2012 Call for Submissions on Monday, January 2nd. See you then!
With much appreciation,
The Shiki Monthly Kukai Team