138

 

POEMS REMAIN THE COPYRIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL WRITERS

None of the comments during the kukai are from the kukai coordinator. Comments and votes of the players are anonymously stated.

Players: 1. Keith Simmonds, France;  2. Vasile Moldovan, Romania; 3. Marina Bellini, Italy; 4. Giovanna Restuccia, Italy;  5. Ana Drobot, Romania;  6. Nikolay Grankin, Russia;  7. Pasquale Asprea- Italy; 8. Billy Antonio, Philippines; 9. Pat Geyer; USA; 10. Nazarena Rampini, Italy;  11. Christine L. Villa, USA;  12. Lucia Cardillo, Italy; 13. Cezar Florescu, Romania;  14. Cristina Apetrei, Romania; 15. Henryk Czempiel, Poland;  16. Kaiser v Kahn, Germany

FIRST PLACE

13

silent night

three little masked magi

watching the stars

--Cezar Florescu

VOTE: 233*** SCORE: 17

COMMENT 1: This is traditional in a new norm kind'a way.

COMMENT 2: The mask has become part of our lives and accompanies our winter holidays spirit. 

SECOND PLACE

10

take off the mask

to tell my deaf mother

wishes

--Nazarena Rampini, Italy

VOTE: 422*** SCORE: 14

COMMENT 1: This shows that loving is not easy these days.

COMMENT 2: A high sadness haiku. At the pandemic that obsesses us all add a severe comorbidity. How to endure the old mother both?!

THIRD PLACE

14

waiting for Santa

behind the children's masks

the same delight

--Cristina Apetrei

VOTE: 132*** SCORE: 13

COMMENT: 

RESULTS CONTINUES

1

Social distancing…

our first Christmas with masks   

among family 

--Keith Simmonds, France

 VOTE: ****** SCORE: 00

COMMENT: 

  

2

Santa”s mask –

I recognize it

from a distance

--Vasile Moldovan, Romania

VOTE: 1***** SCORE: 01

COMMENT: The mask serves as a kigo for our times. Even Santa Claus wears one, to set a good example for children. 

3

festive atmosphere—

a mask with Rudolph's nose

on the shopping list

--Marina Bellini, Bagnolo San Vito (MN) – Italy

VOTE: 21**** SCORE: 04

COMMENT: We accept the fact that we are during the pandemic, we respect the rules and wear masks, yet this does not mean that we cannot have fun. We become creative with the masks as they are here to stay. We turn to the Christmas spirit to help ease our tension and worries regarding the pandemic and the protection of our loved ones. 

4

Christmas lights-

eyes  above the mask  

they look  down

--Giovanna Restuccia; Modena, Italy

VOTE: 3***** SCORE: 03

COMMENT: 

5

together again -

under the Christmas tree

your mask

--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)

VOTE: 2***** SCORE: 02

COMMENT: An atypical Christmas. At the mask of Santa Clara is added, seen or just suspected, the anticovid mask. A very interesting company

6

Christmas masks

the hare chasing

the lion

--Nikolay Grankin.  Russia, Krasnodar.

VOTE: 31**** SCORE: 05

COMMENT: 

7

Misted glasses -

"beautiful the mask" says someone

with the flower design

--Pasquale Asprea- Italy

VOTE: ****** SCORE: 00

COMMENT: 

8

online shopping

even the masks

in holiday colors

--Billy Antonio, Philippines

VOTE: *2**** SCORE: 04

COMMENT: Thin humour. Online shopping  is pandemic specific. But even  in these circumstances, the masks have cheerfully colored, because Christmas is coming.

9

the old shopkeeper

gives his son a Santa mask...

hides it 'neath the tree

--Pat Geyer; East Brunswick, NJ USA

VOTE: ****** SCORE: 00

COMMENT: 

11.

getting more hellos

with my smiley mask

sunny winter

--Christine L. Villa, USA

VOTE: 32**** SCORE: 07

COMMENT: The mask with a smiley face becomes like an avatar on online social media, and no longer serves to hide ourselves but to express ourselves

12

snowflakes 

on her covered lips: 

"Merry Christmas!"

--Lucia Cardillo - Rodi Garganico (FG) Italy

VOTE: 131*** SCORE: 10

COMMENT: This haiku shows the ways in which we adapt our language of gestures to the conditions of the covid-19 pandemic. We adapt our facial expressions to our mask, our mask becomes a means to express ourselves. We use a snowflake on the mask to compensate for the smile hidden by the mask which says Happy Holidays. 

15

to see the mask

only on Jim Carrey's face

Christmas wishes

--Henryk Czempiel, Poland

VOTE: 23**** SCORE: 08

COMMENT: Funny in a new norm sad kind'a way.

16

Christmas Eve

red face masks filtering

old carols

--Kaiser v Kahn, Germany

VOTE: 2*2*** SCORE: 08

COMMENT: 

LETS MEET

AT 6:00 PM, Coordinated Universal Time  (UTC)  on December 24th 2020 TO read haiku and COMMENT on this year's Christmas Kukai

meet.google.com/oqv-xpkh-gya

SO SORRY

There were no gift pledges and usually i would then gift one of my books. But since i was told at the Post Office here in St James Trinidad that mail borders are closed there certainly will not be a prize given for this Christmas Kukai. So sorry that the Covid 19 pandemic is doing this to us this year.

 

 

137

Dear haiku friends you are invited to The Caribbean Kigo Christmas Kukai 2020

The theme is A mask for Christmas?
SEND 

one haiku after you have pondered the question - A mask for Christmas? You do not have to use the exact words since the question given is the theme of this kukai. 

Your entry should include your name, and country from which you are sending.

EXAMPLE
scraps of fabric fall
from mother's cutting table -
chalk lines shape a mask
gillena cox, Trinidad and Tobago.


Deadline for sending entries is December 11th 2020
Deadline for sending votes is December 21st 2020


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 24th 2020. 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, Comments and Gift Pledges

LETS MEET

AT 6:00 PM, Coordinated Universal Time  (UTC)  on December 24th 2020 TO read haiku and COMMENT on this year's Christmas Kukai

meet.google.com/oqv-xpkh-gya

136

POEMS REMAIN THE COPYRIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL WRITERS

Players: 1. Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania); 2. Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece; 3. Mona Iordan, ROMANIA; 4. Damir Damir, Montenegro; 5. Marina Bellini, Italy; 6. Henryk Czempiel, Poland; 7. Giovanna Restuccia, Italy; 8. Pat Geyer, USA; 9. Brendon Kent, England; 10. Florin Golban, Romania; 11. Marta Chocilowska, Poland; 12. Cristina Apetrei, Romania; 13. Cezar Florescu, Romania; 14. Stella Pierides, DE; 15.Mark Gilbert, UK; 16. Eddie Lee, Germany



FIRST PLACE
15
each bean
planted four inches apart
the wait
--Mark Gilbert, UK
VOTE: 223*** SCORE: 15
COMMENT: Excellent. I especially appreciate how you've made "the wait" into something concrete that the reader can observe, waiting alongside you.



SECOND PLACE
13
confined at home...
again around the world
with Phileas Fogg
--Cezar Florescu
VOTE: 313*** SCORE: 14
COMMENT: Reading always helps us escape on bad days, all the more so today. Fine contrast between the imaginary travel around the world and our house arrest.
COMMENT 2:The imagination compensates for what is missing in reality. We fulfill our needs in dreams and fantasies
COMMENT 3: I enjoyed your literary reference, and the little lift in the last line.
COMMENT 4: Takes me back to my childhood



THIRD PLACE
9
mother's birthday
my bouquet of flowers
on the doorstep
--Brendon Kent, England
VOTE:512*** SCORE: 13
COMMENT: In these days, the distance from our loved ones is enduring, especially if they are old and alone; even a little gesture can bring them happiness.
COMMENT:Touching and effective



RESULTS CONTINUES

1
lockdown -
only his warm words
reach me
--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)
VOTE: 3***** SCORE: 03


2
spring cleaning
from room to room she carries
her passwords
--Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece
VOTE: 11**** SCORE:03
COMMENT: how sad... in these times the only way to trip is via Internet... social distancing forces us to stay home and dream with open eyes... no dream journey is possible... carrying passwords from room to room highlights the alienation of man who try to find a solution...
COMMENT 2: I like that this demands a bit more of the reader, opening up more than one possibility for interpretation with interesting implications for family dynamics during this challenging time.


3
my daughter’s birthday -
I show her the present
via the video chat
Mona Iordan, Romania
VOTE: 2***** SCORE: 02


4
distant Sun
hides in the pines
a jailbird song
--Damir Damir, Montenegro
VOTE: *31*** SCORE: 09
COMMENT: A well-written haiku, that leaves space to ponder; is it the Sun or is it the song which is hiding? In both readings, we have the feeling of something good that is out of reach, for the present.
COMMENT2: Fresh and evocative, this haiku really swings. I appreciate your play on the spring kigo in "jailbird song".


5
daffodils...
from one window to another
songs of hope
---Marina Bellini - Italy
VOTE:1*1*** SCORE: 04
COMMENT: Lovely, upbuilding images. One can imagine a lone singer moving from window to window to observe spring's flowering; at the same time this evokes the touching exchange of song happening "from window to window" in Italy.


6
closed doors
closed borders
the united
--Henryk Czempiel, Poland
VOTE: 11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENT: Dynamic, layered implications for the impact on families, nations, and political alliances. This minimalistic poem packs a lot of power.


7
tulips
on the smartphone
he is embracing me
--Giovanna Restuccia, Italy
VOTE: 1***** SCORE: 01


8
family...
often seem closer
from afar
--Pat Geyer, East Brunswick, NJ
VOTE:1***** SCORE: 01
COMMENT: A poignant take on the theme.


10
confinement
the cock's song
in D minor
--Florin Golban, Bucuresti, Romania
VOTE: 221*** SCORE:09
COMMENT: I must confess I had to find out what D minor is, discovering that it’s considered the saddest key; so all the poem comes alive, giving a strong sense of melancholy.
COMMENT 2:Through the anxieties of this lockdown, life outside in nature's world carries on...a light-hearted haiku trying to make light of a heavy situation. Nice 'sonic' tone in this brief poem.
COMMENT: I don't think you can say what scale a rooster is using, but I think the idea is that the bird also suffers due to the pandemic too or maybe the man hears it in a different way than as usually, making a shrill noise, to show that he no longer tolerates the self-isolation...


11
an asylum
blossoming almond branch
against a sky
--Marta Chocilowska, Poland
VOTE: 1***** SCORE: 01


12
self-isolation
the plum tree near the window
my only friend
--Cristina Apetrei
VOTE: 121*** SCORE: 08
COMMENT: The isolation imposed can make a person sick... man is not accustomed to stay at home as in a cage, that's why looks for help from nature. a blossomed tree next to the window is a way to don not become insane... its image is a lesson of survival...


14
full pink moon
the mourning dove’s call
for its mate
--Stella Pierides, Neusaess, DE
VOTE: 13**** SCORE: 07
COMMENT: The first part denotes hope, and the second part tells us again that nature does not give up. Further, how romantic this scene is! On a pink background a bird calls for a partner. the instinct of pairing is not affected. The show must continue in the direction imposed by mother nature, now and here...


16
echoes of touch
limb upon limb
of wild plum
Eddy Lee; Germany

VOTE:*1**** SCORE: 02
COMMENT: Dense with pleasing word-sounds


A HAPPY INTERNATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY APRIL 17TH 2019

135

[IMAGE FROM google.dot com]


Dear haiku friends you are invited to participate in The Caribbean Kigo 'International Haiku Poetry Day' Kukai 2020.
Covid 19 has created for us boundaries, barriers, distancing and isolation; with a lot of rules and caution for our safety and well being. Thanks to the gift of technology
our Kukai continues. Please stay healty and safe

Theme for this kukai is social distancing
SEND one haiku DO NOT include the words BUT RATHER let your haiku show something about 'social distancing'.
Your entry should include your name, and country from which you are sending.

EXAMPLE
her tiny hands -
love shapes a heart from her home
to gram ma's home
© gillena cox 2020


Deadline for sending entries is April 5th 2020
Deadline for sending votes is April 15th 2020


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 April 17th 2020. 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 for your Submission, Vote, Comments.

134

POEMS REMAIN THE COPYRIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL WRITERS

Players: 1. Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece; 2. Giovanna Restuccia; Italy ; 3. Damir Damir, Montenegro; 4. Marta Chocilowska, Poland; 5. Rodica Stefan, Romania; 6. Marina Bellini, Italy; 7. Ana Drobot, Romania; 8. Pat Geyer, USA; 9. Pasquale Asprea, Italy ; 10. Brendon Kent, England; 11. Cristina Apetrei, Romania; 12. Cezar Florescu, Romania; 13. Stella Pierides, DE and UK; 14. Mark Gilbert, UK; 15. Rashmi VeSa, India; 16. Billy Antonio, Philippines; 17. Henryk Czempiel; Poland;




FIRST PLACE
17
tall grass
the scythestone tunes in
with a cicada
--Henryk Czempiel; Poland
VOTES: 323*** SCORE: 16
COMMENTS:


SECOND PLACE
16
the silence
between horse hooves
cobbled streets
--Billy Antonio; Laoac, Philippines
VOTES: 3*4*** SCORE: 15
COMMENT 1: I can hear this
COMMENT 2: A very playful way to capture the mood. I can hear
the happy rhythm of the horses walk.
COMMENT 3:.This haiku brings me to a Mediterranean city in the summer early afternoon.
COMMENT 4: Extremely evocative, with its Dickensian aural image.



THIRD PLACE
12
a cicada's song
the old street fiddler
puts aside his violin
--Cezar Florescu
VOTES: 45**** SCORE: 14
COMMENT 1: A lovely image
COMMENT 2: Nothing compares to natural talent and to the beauty of nature. Sometimes we feel so insignificant in front of nature s beauty
COMMENT 3: Clever metaphor..


RESULTS CONTINUES
1
dripping cobbled streets
her one last gelato
is much more intense
--Ernesto P. Santiago; Athens, Greece
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


2
basil pots-
through the cobbled alleys
sea breeze
-- Giovanna Restuccia; Italy
VOTES: **1*** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


3
rural moon
my late fall shadow
keeping quiet
--Damir Damir, Montenegro
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS:


4
winter stroll
the noiseless owl's shadow
still ahead
--Marta Chocilowska
VOTES: 11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


5
tortuous cobbled streets –
with each turn
a new outlook
--Rodica Stefan (ROMANIA)*
VOTES: **2*** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS:


6
silent shadows
of butterflies—camping
in the meadow
--Marina Bellini - Italy
VOTES: **1*** SCORE: 03
COMMENTS:


7
silent shadows
at grandma's Easter table -
childhood memories
--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS:


8
search for refuge...
healing my loud scars
silent shadows
--Pat Geyer; East Brunswick, NJ USA
VOTES: *2**** SCORE: 04
COMMENTS:


9
hidden cicada
a dream
before opening eyes
--Pasquale Asprea - Italy
VOTES: 211*** SCORE: 07
COMMENTS:


10
a horse's hoof
down cobbled streets
striking sunset
--Brendon Kent, England
VOTES: *3**** SCORE: 06
COMMENTS: Dense imagery, striking soundscape



11
autumn solitude...
the pines' silent shadows
caressing what left
--Cristina Apetrei
VOTES: 411*** SCORE: 09
COMMENTS:A very beautiful and natural ending, the end of a season is like
a good exit from the scene of a show.



13
packed rubber boat—
commotion from the island’s
cobbled streets.
-- Stella Pierides; Neusaess, DE and England, UK
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


14.
spitting watermelon seeds
the screaming
of cicada
--Mark Gilbert
VOTES: 2***** SCORE: 02
COMMENTS:


15
broken earth—
growing into a shadow
the farmer waits
--Rashmi VeSa; Bengaluru, India.*
VOTES: ****** SCORE: 00
COMMENTS:


[image from google dot com]


This anniversary Kukai was in memory of Martha Magenta who died in January this year (2020)

Her last Caribbean Kigo Kukai haiku
tiny cobbled streets
in silent shadows
a cicada
--Martha Magenta




NEXT KUKAI
INTERNATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY IS APRIL 17TH 2019. Our next Kukai will be in celebrations of this day.

133

[lenten lily image from google dot com]


Dear haiku friends you are invited to The Caribbean Kigo Anniversary Kukai 2020 and also to remember Martha Magenta who died in January this year


This is her last Caribbean Kigo Kukai haiku published here
tiny cobbled streets
in silent shadows
a cicada
--Martha Magenta


To submit to this kukai your entry should include a distillation from the above haiku:
1. cobbled streets,
2. silent shadows
OR
3. cicada
SEND one haiku using: set 1. 2. or 3, of the distilled words from Martha's last haiku to Caribbean Kigo Kukai.
Your entry should include your name, and country from which you are sending.


Deadline for sending entries is March 11th 2020
Deadline for sending votes is March 21st 2020


VOTING
A voting list will be e-mailed to all players
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. 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, Comments.

ANNIVERSARY NOTE
Our FIRST KUKAI HERE WAS PLAYED IN 2009

much love
gillena