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

PLAYERS:1. Conrad Mitchell, Trinidad and Tobago; 2. Tony Williams, Scotland, UK; 3. Wiesław Karliński, Poland; 4. Eduard Tara, Romania; 5. Sheikha A., UAE; 6. Pegah Rahmati Nezhad, Iran; 7.Marina Bellini, Italy; 8. Dan C. Iulian, Romania; 9. Artur Zieliński, Poland; 10. Daniela Misso, Italy;11. Ana Drobot, Romania;  12. Mark Gilbert, UK; 13. Nazarena Rampini, Italy; 14. Cristina Pietraru, Romania; 15. Nitu Yumnam,UAE; 16. Kezia Jones, Trinidad and Tobago; 17.  Cezar Florescu, Romania     

FIRST PLACE

17

silent night

a carol reverberates

among refugees

--Cezar Florescu, Botoșani/ Romania

VOTES: 323***SCORE:16

COMMENT 1:This haiku reminds us that for hundreds of millions of people, a small, cold stable is still a dream.

COMMENT 2:The silence in this haiku feels like one of fear and watchfulness; having to deliberately keep still and hush lest they get caught, and/or infers to loss and deprivation - - in the wind floats the distant sounds of singing of only those more favoured. 

COMMENT 3:Hope in these dreadful times

COMMENT 4: deeply moving without explanation

SECOND PLACE

4

fireworks

our champagne glasses

gather the sparks

--Eduard TARA, ROMANIA

VOTES: 241***SCORE:11

COMMENT 1:A magic moment celebrated by an optical illusion. We wish to believe in magic with the winter holidays.

COMMENT 2:I am looking for simplicity and a feeling of shared joy!

COMMENT 3:quietly haunting

9

grandpa packs

into the old bag

childhood dreams

--Artur Zieliński, Poland

VOTES: 122***SCORE:11

COMMENT:The winter holidays are a moment of memories from childhood, when everything seemed like magic. Grandpa looks at his dreams, then packs them back.

13

echo of laughs

from the carousel closed -

snowflakes

--Nazarena Rampini, Italy

VOTES: 231***SCORE:11

COMMENT 1:This is a lovely haiku depicting the essence of presence long after the carousel has closed, the cheer of the people and children prevails once the buzzing of the machines turn to silence. 

COMMENT 2:strong seasonal melancholy 

THIRD PLACE

10

bubbly sip . . . 

Christmas lights 

in a glass

--Daniela Misso, Italy

VOTES: *31***SCORE:09

COMMENT 1:A similar moment with the one in haiku no. 4. The holidays atmosphere is in the tiniest details. 

COMMENT 2:This is a quadrum, a poem in which the number of syllables in each line equals the number of lines. It is bubbly and sensual.

RESULTS CONTINUE

1

Sipping punch-a-crème,

The crickets chirping loudly

Ahh black cake baking.

--Conrad Mitchell, Trinidad and Tobago

VOTES: ******SCORE:00

COMMENT:

2

the mildness

of robin song

Christmas morning 

--Tony Williams, Scotland, UK

VOTES: 11****SCORE:03

COMMENT: Such a peaceful moment

3

first Christmas carol

granddaughter turns next pages

of grandma's songbook

--Karliński, Poland

VOTES: 1*****SCORE:01

COMMENT: A beautiful story about tradition and family.

5

morning star

rekindled hearth melts 

prolonged silence 

-- Sheikha A., United Arab Emirates 

VOTES: *1****SCORE:02

COMMENT:

6

in this world

with many Scrooges

souls like Mickey's

--Pegah Rahmati Nezhad, Tehran, Iran

VOTES: ***1**SCORE:04

COMMENT:

7

Christmas eve -

friends make a toast

to the first snow

--Marina Bellini, Italy

VOTES: 1**1**SCORE:05

COMMENT: I am looking for simplicity and a feeling of shared joy!

8

Christmas Eve −

on the old village lanes

just the wind carols

--Dan C. Iulian, Romania

VOTES: 121***SCORE:08

COMMENT 1: A charming, fairytale-like haiku where the wind carries the good news.

COMMENT 2: A lovely picture 

11

their giggles - 

a clue to our humming 

“Jingle Bells”

--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)

VOTES: *11***SCORE:05

COMMENT:

12

Christmas karaoke

for all the family

“they’re called carols”

--Mark Gilbert, UK

VOTES: *1****SCORE:02

COMMENT:

14

Christmas reception -

a row of ants invading

the gingerbread house

--Cristina Pietraru, Romania

VOTES: 1*1***SCORE:04

COMMENT:

15

festive parade

a girl in torn slipper 

keeping the beat

--Nitu Yumnam,UAE

VOTES: 121***SCORE:08

COMMENT: The beauty in this haiku is in the spirit of gratitude - - overlooking lack and becoming a part of the celebrations ongoing. This, to me, infers to self-love and belonging despite undesirable circumstances, keeping a positive mindset and persisting. 

16

Lights twinkle on trees 

Sweet parang is in the ear

Santa drunk on cake 

--Kezia Jones, Trinidad and Tobago

VOTES: *1****SCORE:02

COMMENT: Evokes Christmas through local customs.

LATE ENTRIES 

(You can add your comments for these haiku, here at comments)

1

Christmas snow —

children in pajamas

by the window  

--Tomislav Maretic, Croatia

2

ooh la la laa

around the bonfire

celestial light

--Lakshmi Iyer, India 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BRIGHT AND CREATIVE YEAR TO ALL