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:13
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
THIRD PLACE
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
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
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.
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
