118

[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]

117

[image from google dot com]

Dear haiku friends you are invited to participate in The Caribbean Kigo Christmas Kukai 2017

The Kigo is gift [you may use variations of the word eg gifts, gifting, gifted etc]
SEND one haiku which MUST include the word gift

EXAMPLE
wrapping gifts –
a pause to slurp the last sip
of sorrel
--gillena cox

Deadline for sending entries is December 11th 2017
Deadline for sending votes is December 21st 2017

A voting list will be e-mailed to all players

VOTING
Votes to be scored using a total of 6 points; voters must use all 6 points

EXAMPLE
Haiku#76………3pts
Haiku#34………2pts
Haiku#8………1pt

The example given is just one of several ways you can allot your points

COMMENTS
Comments during voting are encouraged but must be limited to 3 lines [about forty words]. When published, these comments and votes will be given anonymous listings. Comments should be kept in the nature of encouraging the continued good haiku writing practice.

The Co-ordinator retains the right to not include a comment as anonymous and to ask the commenter to post his or her thoughts directly to the blog under Comments.

RESULTS
The results of this kukai will be published here at Caribbean Kigo Kukai on December 23rd 2017. After results have been posted, I encourage your after-words as general comments you can post directly here at the blog, just click on Comments at the end of the post.


CONTACT ME
e-mail your Submission, Vote and comments and Gift Pledges




Should anyone be interested in pledging a copy of a book of haiku poems to the first place winner of this kukai please email me or Comment at the end of this post



much love
gillena

116

Poems remain the copyright of individual writers

Players: 1. Ana Drobot, Romania; 2. Yanda Cox, Trinidad and Tobago; 3. Vasile Moldovan, Romania; 4. Justice Joseph Prah, Ghana; 5. Constantin Stroe, Romania; 6. Pat Geyer, USA; 7. Jim Force, Canada; 8. Walter Artificium, Belgrade, 9. Rita Odeh, Israel, 10. Kwaku Feni Adow, Ghana; 11. Christina Sng, Singapore; 12. Goran Gatalica, Croatia; 13. Adjei Agyei-Baah, Ghana; 14. Mark Gilbert, UK; 15. Shrikaanth K. Murthy, UK; 16. Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă, 17. Keith Simmonds, France; 18. Dan Iulian, Bucharest-Romania; 19. Anthony Q. Rabang, The Philippines


FIRST PLACE
9
first touch-
the way a bud welcomes
a butterfly
--Rita Odeh, Haifa/ Israel
VOTES: 171*** SCORE: 18
COMMENTS: 1. Interesting angle of the subject matter. Different. 2. Have you considered that the poem could be improved without 'the way'



SECOND PLACE
15
a gold carpet
to welcome us home
cassia blooms
--Shrikaanth
VOTES: 332*** SCORE: 15
COMMENTS: I feel in this haiku that autor gives us very good picture of welcome to his home



THIRD PLACE
10
homecoming -
my dog's tail waves
a welcome
--Kwaku Feni Adow, Akosombo, Ghana.
VOTES: *23*** SCORE: 13
COMMENTS: 1. A familiar but heartwarming scene immortalised by this lovely haiku; 2. Nice chimes of vowels and consonants going on.



RESULTS CONTINUES

1
cherry blossoms -
welcoming me in the empty house
the doormat
--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)
VOTES: **1*** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


2
April showers smile
Welcoming new life
Hail golden poui
--Yanda Cox, Trinidad and Tobago
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


3
Under the barn eaves
swallows chirping anew...
Welcome home!
--Vasile Moldovan, Romania
VOTES: 3*1*** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS:


4
spring's rain welcome...
among the leaves
full-quavers
--Justice Joseph Prah, Ghana
VOTES: **2*** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS:


5
In the morning
a buttuerfly on the curtain-
welcome guest
--Constantin Stroe, Romania
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS:


6
i tip toe through
the dew dropped grass...
Spring is welcome
--Pat Geyer
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


7
dishes of oysters
she welcomes me
into her bed
--Nika
VOTES: *41*** SCORE: 11
COMMENTS: 1.There's a lot going on here, including (for me) a lesbian aroma. 2. In this haiku there is good picture of someone emotional memories


8
welcome good child
to my simple spring home -
a refugee dream
-- Damir Damir
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


11
daybreak
the welcome sight
of our lost cat
--Christina Sng, Singapore
VOTES: 52**** SCORE: 09
COMMENTS:


12
welcome springtime -
my mother decorates eggs
with old lace
--Goran Gatalica, Croatia (Europe)
VOTES: 1***** SCORE: 01
COMMENTS:


13
ripened field
an old scarecrow welcomes
birds to party
--Adjei Agyei-Baah
VOTES: 421*** SCORE: 11
COMMENTS: Interesting picture of birds' party on the scarecrow.


14
welcome
the eye
of the hurricane
--Mark Gilbert, UK
VOTES: 1***** SCORE: 01
COMMENTS:


16.
childhood home
a warm welcome from
the lilac scent
--Cezar
VOTES: 21**** SCORE: 04
COMMENTS: Old homes always have a comforting scent, as does this one, which instantly puts us to ease. This haiku captures the moment perfectly.


17
scent of cherry blooms
blowing in the morning wind...
welcome to spring
--Keith A. SIMMONDS, Rodez, FRANCE
VOTES: **1*** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


18
welcome springtime-
afterlife
in buds
Dan Iulian, Bucharest-Romania
VOTES: **1*** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


19
moving box unpacking -
sleepy cats welcome
the newly weds
--Anthony Q. Rabang, The Philippines
VOTES: 11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS: The sleeping cats lend a bit of calm amid the business of a wedding and a move. Nicely captured!


✿ܓ ADDITIONALLY


This lovely haiku could not be added to the list sent to players for vote and comments since is was posted as a comment to the Kukai notice at post #115

Welcome to Springtime
There are bright blooms everywhere
The rains of April
--Quentin Clingerman




THE BOOK PRIZE NOOK
[reiko butterfly image from google dot com]


Congratulations to Rita Odeh.
A copy of Adjei Agyei-Baah's 'Afriku' will be posted to Rita by snail mail

115

[clip art from Bing dot com]

CKK APRIL SPECIAL - A poem in your pocket 2017

Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

For many in the Norther hemisphere it is Spring a time of budding and blossoming when our earth says welcome once more to seeds you may like for planting. In a more liturgal and as well metaphorical sense it is that time of hope and welcoming newness by virtue of the season of Easter; just around the corner. Whats your appreciation of WELCOME? Today i challenge you to haiku your response


Yes, dear haiku friends, It's time for our special kukai; for
A Poem In Your Pocket Day April 27th 2017
I propose Welcome as our kigo. e-mail one haiku, written in the form of your choice, using the prompted word Welcome ; Have fun, be creative. Enjoy!
Remember you MUST use the word Welcome in your haiku for this kukai

Example:-
welcome sunspots -
morning visits even
before i awake
--gillena cox


Deadline for sending entries is April 18th 2017
Deadline for sending votes is April 25th 2017

A voting list will be e-mailed to all players

Voting:
Votes to be scored using a total of 6 points; voters must use all 6 points
Example:-
Haiku#76………3pts
Haiku#34………2pts
Haiku#8………1pt

The example given is just one of several ways you can allot your points

Comments during voting are encouraged but must be limited to 3 lines. When
published, these comments and votes will be given anonymous listings.
e-mail your vote and comments

The results will be published here at Caribbean Kigo Kukai on April 21st 2016. After results have been posted, any
comments you wish to make can be posted directly here at the blog just click on comments at the end of the post

much love
gillena




Adjei Agyei-Baah has pledged a copy of his book Afriku; which he will post by snail mail, to the winner of this Kukai.

114

RESULTS OF THE 2017 ANNIVERSARY KUKAI



Poems remain the copyright of individual writers

Players: 1. Ana Drobot, Romania; 2. Dan Iulian, Romania; 3.Keith A. Simmonds, France; 4. Precious Oboh, Nigeria; 5. Stella Pierides, UK; 6 Vasile Moldovan, Romania; 7. Krzysztof Kokot, Poland; 8. Rebecca Sanchez; 9. Devin Harrison, Canada; 10. Christina Sng, Singapore; 11. Jim Force, Canada; 12. Cara Holman, USA; 13. Justice Joseph Prah, Ghana; 14. Christine L. Villa; 15. Adjei Agyei-Baah, Ghana; 16. Anthony Q. Rabang, Philippines ; 17. Madhuri Pillai; Australia; 18. Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă, Romania


FIRST PLACE

15
hilltop
a monk empties his thoughts
into the rising sun
--Adjei Agyei-Baah (Ghana)
VOTES: 333*** SCORE: 18
COMMENTS:


SECOND PLACE

10
spring retreat
I disappear into
my bonsai forest
--Christina Sng, Singapore
VOTES: 332*** SCORE: 15
COMMENTS:


THIRD PLACE

14
ripples recede
with all my regrets . . .
riverside retreat
--Christine L. Villa
VOTES: 5*2*** SCORE: 11
COMMENTS: I like the display of water (ripples) as a therapeutic balm in the above piece. Indeed, most people have often taken to swimming as a way of dulling stress and rubbing out “regrets” as a way of finding inner peace. Hence the poet at this point in time will certainly right in his thought and composition.


RESULTS CONTINUES

1
monastic retreat -
reminding of my touchscreen
the lake's surface
--Ana Drobot, Bucharest, Romania
VOTES: *1**** SCORE: 02
COMMENTS:


2
seven-star comfort-
from the fir bough shelter
looking at Ursa Major
--Dan Iulian, Bucharest-Romania
VOTES: 11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


3
The inner sanctum
where I embrace the Passion …
a meditation
--Keith A. Simmonds, France
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


4
sitting in stillness
in and out of me
a gentle peace flows
--Precious Oboh
VOTES: 121*** SCORE: 08
COMMENTS: I found this haiku the most peaceful, reminding of the simple act of breathing which calms and centres the mind and body. My top choice for the theme.


5
early dusk
I trace the lip
of the jar
--Stella Pierides
VOTES: 42**** SCORE: 08
COMMENTS:


6
Sounding the retreat
bitter tears flowing from
the trompeter's eyes
-- Vasile Moldovan, Romania
VOTES: **1*** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


7
prayer in the mountains -
wind carriers toward the peaks
juniper ashes
--Krzysztof Kokot, Nowy Targ, Poland
VOTES: 31**** SCORE: 05
COMMENTS:


8
the kindness of strangers
the world relies on it
we should not retreat
-- Rebecca Sanchez
VOTES: 1***** SCORE: 01
COMMENTS:


9
holy one
over the water ancient words
march wind
--Devin Harrison – Canada
VOTES: 1***** SCORE: 01
COMMENTS:



11
corpse pose
the rhythmic flow
of his snore
--Nika
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS: This haiku really made me laugh, for I am too familiar with snoring. The use of the word “corpse” tricks us into the ultimate retreat but we are brought back to earth into a meditation so calm, it sent its practitioner to sleep.


12
mountain retreat
old and new friends mingle
around the bonfire
-- Cara Holman, USA
VOTES: 3*1*** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS:


13
summer retreat
on a crowded beach
only my shadow and i
--Justice Joseph Prah, Ghana
VOTES: 12**** SCORE: 05
COMMENTS: Sometimes the best retreat is to be amongst so many people that you simply vanish. Here, only the shadow of the poet remains with the poet in retreat. Or another interpretation could be that the poet disappears into his or her shadow.


16
chapel on a hill –
kissing the ground
his tired knees
--Anthony Q. Rabang, Philippines
VOTES: 111*** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS:


17
into the bush
creek's unhurried flow
solitude...
--Madhuri Pillai; Australia
VOTES: 2*1*** SCORE: 05
COMMENTS:


18.
mountain retreat
even the Milky Way
smells of resin
--Cezar
VOTES: 31**** SCORE: 05
COMMENTS



Congratulations to Adjei Agyei-Baah, who will receive a copy of


Ana Drobot's - 'Japanese Thoughts'; which will be posted to him by snail mail.

113

Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul
-- Marcus Aurelius

In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion
-- Albert Camus

...

Dear haiku friends,
In the fever and agitation of modern life, the need of meditation and spiritual repose impresses itself on the soul, which desires to reflect on its eternal destiny. During the Season of Lent, many Christians pursue this practice of retreat.

How does the practice of retreat fit into your culture or lifestyle? Please share in haiku.

Welcome to our special CKK Anniversary kukai 2017; [The very first CKK kukai was held in March 2009]
I propose retreat as our theme. e-mail one haiku, written in the form of your choice, emphasizing the theme of retreat

Have fun, be creative. Enjoy!

Haiku Example:-
rainforest retreat -
a call to union in male
cicadas singing
--gillena cox


Deadline for sending entries is March 17th 2017
Deadline for sending votes is April 2nd 2017

A voting list will be e-mailed to all players


Voting
Votes to be scored using a total of 6 points; voters must use all 6 points
Example:-
Haiku#76………3pts
Haiku#34………2pts
Haiku#8………1pt

the example given is just one of several ways you can allot your points

Comments during voting are encouraged, but must be limited to 3 lines. When published, these comments and votes will be given anonymous listings.

e-mail your vote and comments

The results will be posted here at CCK. After results have been posted, any comments you wish to make can be posted directly here at the blog just click on comments at the end of the post

much love
gillena


Ana Drobot is pledging a free gift copy of her book 'Japanese Thoughts'; which will be posted by snail mail, to the winner of this Kukai.