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DEAR KUKAI FRIENDS MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
Here are the results to our 2018 Christmas


POEMS REMAIN THE COPYRIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL WRITERS

Players: 1. Marina Bellini, Italy; 2. Michael H. Lester, USA; 3. Brendon Kent, England; 4. Giovanna Restuccia, Italy; 5. Keith A. Simmonds, France; 6. Carol Raisfeld, USA; 7.Mark Gilbert, UK; 8. Pasquale Asprea, Italy; 9. Martha Magenta, UK; 10. Nikolay Grankin, Russia; 11. Vasile Moldovan, Romania; 12. Christine L. Villa, USA; 13. Ana Drobot, Romania; 14. Doris Pascolo, Italy; 15. Tomislav Sjekloća, Montenegro; 16. Marta Chocilowska, Poland; 17. Christopher Calvin, Indonesia; 18. Cristina Apetrei, Romania; 19. Adjei Agyei-Baah, Ghana; 20. Rashmi Vesa, India; 21. Pat Geyer, USA; 22. Cezar Florescu, Romania; 23. Henryk Czempiel, Poland.


FIRST PLACE
13
homeless -
above the shopping cart
a sky full of stars
-Ana Drobot (Romania)
VOTE:537*** SCORE: 32
COMMENT: 1. such a nice and sad image
COMMENT: 2. The haiku is poignant, brings home the glaring irony of stereotypical festive celebrations. Festivity has acquired materialistic connotations- shopping, gifting, merry making ,linked to purchasing power of which the poor and the homeless have none. But they do have the power of dreams and the haiku seems to allude to that.


SECOND PLACE
19
Christmas shopping
the bowed head
of a naked mannequin
- Adjei Agyei-Baah; Kumasi, Ghana
VOTE:413*** SCORE: 15
COMMENT: suggests association with the crucified Christ and the connection between Christmas and Easter. Very moving.



THIRD PLACE
4
Christmas shopping -
in my coat pocket
his cold hand
--Giovanna Restuccia, Italy
VOTE:54**** SCORE: 13
COMMENT: expresses, in my view, the idea that money cannot buy warmth and affection. However, there are chances for the cold hand to become warm inside the pocket as Christmas with its gifts is an occasion to connect with the others

AND

2
Christmas shopping—
humming the tune Jingle Bells
non-stop for five weeks
--Michael H. Lester, USA
VOTE:1*4*** SCORE: 13
COMMENT:



RESULTS CONTINUES

1
compulsive shopping -
a new pair of boots
to walk alone
-- Marina Bellini, Italy
VOTE:5*1*** SCORE: 08
COMMENT:




3
toy market...
the shopping list
redundant
--Brendon Kent, England
VOTE: 3*1*** SCORE: 06
COMMENT:



5
last-minute shopping…
my Christmas list keeps growing
longer and longer
--Keith A. Simmonds; Rodez, FRANCE
VOTE:2***** SCORE : 02
COMMENT:


6
store sign . . .
"no window shopping
prices better inside"
--Carol Raisfeld, New York, USA
VOTE:3***** SCORE: 03
COMMENT:


7
last minute shopping
the sparrow dives through
a gap in the blackthorn
- Mark Gilbert, UK
VOTE:23**** SCORE: 08
COMMENT:


8
Christmas shopping -
my indecision
the gift for you
- Pasquale Asprea – Italy
VOTE:222*** SCORE: 12
COMMENT:


9
gift shopping
in the East End—
shooting star
- Martha Magenta, UK
VOTE:21**** SCORE: 04
COMMENT:


10
holiday shopping season
an aquarium fish stares at the buyers
with its big eyes
- Nikolay Grankin, Russia
VOTE:****** SCORE:00
COMMENT:


11
Shopping day-
the brimful basket and
your empty wallet
-Vasile Moldovan, Romania
VOTE:11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENT:


12
holiday shopping
my urgent email
to Santa Claus
- Christine L. Villa, USA
VOTE:1***** SCORE:01
COMMENT:


14
Christmas shopping-
Santa's reindeer
eats cookies off a tray
-Doris Pascolo, MILANO – ITALY
VOTE:11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENT: points A light hearted haiku, referring to a commonplace sight during festivities in supermarkets and sidewalks.


15
supermarket revelation
shopping list
left at home
-Tomislav Sjekloća, Montenegro
VOTE:11**** SCORE:03
COMMENT:


16
Santa's shopping bag –
listening out for the steps
on the stairs
-Marta Chocilowska, Warsaw, Poland
VOTE:2***** SCORE: 02
COMMENT:


17
Joyful December
Crowds in on and offline stores
gold-shopping fever
-Christopher Calvin, Indonesia
VOTE:****** SCORE: 00
COMMENT:


18
Christmas shopping -
my kids look for the best diapers
for the infant Jesus
-Cristina Apetrei
VOTE:****** SCORE: 00
COMMENT:


20
gossamer web
a spider’s shopping cart
becomes mine
- Rashmi Vesa; Bengaluru, India
VOTE:11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENT:.


21
Christmas shopping...
what to gift exploring
the Amazon
- Pat
VOTE:3***** SCORE: 03
COMMENT:


22
brainstorming -
adding multiple items
to the shopping list
-Cezar Florescu
VOTE:2***** SCORE: 02
COMMENT:


23
jewellery shopping
guy with the face claw marks
chooses a brooch
-Henryk Czempiel
VOTE:2***** SCORE: 02
COMMENT:



BOOK PRIZE

Since no one else has pledged a book prize. I will gift a copy of my 2018 publication to the first place winning haiku
congratulations Ana!!! you have won your self a copy of Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas



much love
gillena