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[image from google dot com]


Poems remain the copyright of individual writers

Players: 1. Vasile Moldovan, Romania; 2. Christina Sng, Singapore; 3. Keith A. Simmonds, France; 4. Gennady Nov, Russia; 5. Brendon Ken, England; 6. Judith Gorgone, USA; 7. Ana Drobot, Romania; 8. Justice Joseph Prah, Ghana; 9. Goran Gatalica, Croatia; 10. Precious Oboh, Nigeria; 11 Doris Pascolo , Italy; 12. Mercy Ikuri, Kenya ; 13. Cezar Florescu, Romania; 14. Cristina Apetrei, Romania; 15. Mark Gilbert UK; 16. Marta Chocilowska, Poland; 17. Ajaya Mahala, India ; 18. Pat Geyer, USA; 19. Adjei Agyei-Baah, Ghana; 20. Christine L. Villa, USA


FIRST PLACE

14
waiting for gifts
in the beggar's hands
first snowflakes
--Cristina Apetrei Romania
VOTES: 414*** SCORE: 18
COMMENTS: This picture is awakening our conscience. It calls to my mind the Andersen's fairy tale “The Little Match Girl”.


SECOND PLACE

13.
Christmas gift ...
trying on for my mom
a chemo wig
-- Cezar Florescu
VOTES: 431*** SCORE: 13
COMMENTS:



THIRD PLACE

5
adoption day...
everyone sharing
unwanted gifts
--Brendon Ken Southampton, England
VOTES: 231*** SCORE: 11
COMMENTS: This is heartbreakingly beautiful; it made me smile with sadness. I admire the ability to flip the wabi-sabi coin and elicit mixed feelings with a bittersweet tinge in the last line.


16
Christmas Eve . . .
a gift in my arms
quietly meows
--Marta Chocilowska, Poland
VOTES: 421*** SCORE: 11
COMMENTS: A living, breathing gift! Being used to inanimate gifts, reading this haiku felt like opening a gift in itself; nice surprise in the last line.



RESULTS CONTINUES

1
Please, receive as gift
on the Thanksgiving Day
my heart itself!
--Vasile Moldovan
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


2
surprise gift
from our tomcat
newborn kittens
--Christina Sng
VOTES: 1*1*** SCORE: 04
COMMENTS:


3
a tiny infant
born in a lowly stable ...
priceless gift to man
--Keith A. SIMMONDS Rodez FRANCE
VOTES: 3***** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


4
New Year
night arrives with a present
and fireworks
--Gennady Nov
VOTES: *1**** SCORE: 02
COMMENTS:


6
santa’s gift
a twinkle in their eyes
unwraps
---judith gorgone
VOTES: 1*1*** SCORE: 04
COMMENTS:


7
gift unwrapping -
still covering my footsteps
fallen leaves
--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)
VOTES: *11*** SCORE: 05
COMMENTS:


8
re-wrapping the gift
she widens the puddle
to trap a moon
--Name: Justice Joseph Prah ; Country: Ghana
VOTES: 22**** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS:


9
altruistic gift -
on the organ's donor card
my daughter's name
Author: Goran Gatalica, Croatia (Europe)
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS: 1. This should read on the 2nd line 'on the organ donor card' as 'on the organ's donor card' means the card belongs to the organ.
2. No take back on this gift! “organ donor’s card” maybe? Haiku uses minimal punctuation so when you do use it, it can take away from the haiku if wrong.


10
winter night -
the gift of
togetherness
--Precious Oboh
VOTES: 3*1*** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS: Ah, the warmth of others’ company as the year ends in cold. This haiku captures the need and tendency to be with others during the holidays well. Would be delightful as a monoku/one-liner, don’t you think?


11
Christmas lights-
reflect the rainbow
over the gifts
--Doris Pascolo MILANO – ITALY
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS: A subtle and delightful observation of the effect of happy Christmas lights on gifts-I can imagine- wrapped in shiny paper. What do you think of "casting a rainbow" for the second line to better bring out that effect?


12
reindeer gift wrappers
finally flying off
the shelves
--M.I
VOTES: 1***** SCORE: 01
COMMENTS:


15
tiny sounds of life
from the bird’s nest —
winter’s gift
--Mark VOTES: 24**** SCORE: 10
COMMENTS:
Gilbert UK


17
Christmas gifts
the costliest goggles frame
for her blind son
--AJAYA MAHALA
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS


18
my morning gift...
snow birds across the field
sing minstrel songs
--Pat
VOTES: 1***** SCORE: 01
COMMENTS


19
family vacation
daddy's gift of sand castle
left to waves
--Adjei Agyei-Baah
VOTES: 31**** SCORE: 05
COMMENTS: This haiku reminds me of happy holidays with my dad, when I was a child.


20
exchange gift
we gaze at each other
across the room
--Christine L. Villa, USA
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS: 1. An interesting scene that stimulates the imagination and builds tension.
2. I like the subtle hint of romance here. The alliteration of “gift” and “gaze” further draws out the suggestion of the longing look. So maybe not so subtle after all :)




Congratulations
Cristina Apetrei

No one else has pledged, so I pledge to the winner of this Kukai a copy of my latest Children's illustrated story - Third Planet From The Sun [which ends with one haiku]