November 2011 Kukai

Kigo Theme:

EUCALYPTUS

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First Place  -  21 Points

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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

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winter dawn-

the scent of eucalyptus

filling the silence

Devika Menon

(1,3,10) = 19 pts

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Third Place –  17 Points

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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

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16 Points

-------------------------------

eucalyptus shade

a didgeridoo drowns out

the evening rain

John McManus

(1,3,7) = 16 pts

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14 Points

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cold season

the scent of eucalyptus

fills the bus

Michele L. Harvey

(0,3,8) = 14 pts

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13 Points

-------------------------------

eucalyptus grove--

the painting teacher

adds blue to the green

aom (tim)

(0,2,9) = 13 pts

**It's all about seeing.

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12 Points

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firestorm . . .

charred love hearts

in the eucalyptus tree

Ron C. Moss

(1,0,9) = 12 pts

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11 Points

-------------------------------

another argument

a eucalyptus leaf

curled into itself

Paul Hodder

(0,3,5) = 11 pts

**The poem, too, curls into itself.

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10 Points

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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

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9 Points

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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

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8 Points

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eucalyptus

the woodsy-sweet smell

of my aunt

Tom

(0,3,2) = 8 pts

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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

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6 Points

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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

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5 Points

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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

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4 Points

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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

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3 Points

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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