160

[digital image credit- gillena cox]

 None of the comments during the kukai are from the kukai coordinator.

 Comments and votes of the players are anonymously stated.

PLAYERS:1. Sheikha A, United Arab Emirates; 2. Ed Bremson, USA; 3. Eduard Tara, Romania; 4. Lakshmi Iyer, India; 5. Ana Drobot, Romania; 6. Mark Gilbert, UK; 7. Fatma Zohra Habis, Algeria; 8. Paul Callus, Malta; 9. Elaine Ashley, USA; 10. Dan C. Iulian, Romania; 11. Jacek Margolak, Poland; 12. Daniela Misso, Italy; 13. Melissa Dennison, UK; 14. Billy Antonio, Philippines

FIRST PLACE

12

a dive in the pool . . .

the fragrance of jasmine

spreads into the night

--Daniela Misso, Italy 

VOTES: 331***SCORE:12

COMMENT 1:A haiku making readers experience fragrances as if they were there with the poet. we hear the sound of the dive and we smell the scent of jasmine. 

COMMENT 2:leaving out the word ‘the’ in the last sentence may improve flow. Nice visual! 

SECOND PLACE

1

pond splash

a frog dives in

butterfly style

--Sheikha A. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

VOTES: 3*2***SCORE:09

COMMENT :A humorous take on the famous old pond poem by Basho

4

dive in and out . . .

the gibbous moon bounces

on a dolphin's nose

--Lakshmi Iyer, India 

VOTES: 221***SCORE:09

COMMENT :There's such palpable innocence and playfulness in this haiku. To me, this alludes to goals and dreams too, a childlike purity in nurturing ambitions held at tender ages, believing everything and anything is possible. 

THIRD PLACE

14

first light at the pond 

the ducks begin 

to dive in 

--Billy Antonio, Laoac, Philippines

VOTES: 121***SCORE:08

RESULTS CONTINUE

2

white noise–

cicadas invite me 

to dive in 

--Ed Bremson, Raleigh,USA

VOTES: 1*2***SCORE:07

3

before diving in -

sending his cormorant

into the twilight

--Eduard TARA, ROMANIA

VOTES: *11***SCORE:05

COMMENT 1:So much mystery and tragedy in this haiku is what I perceive. The questions why he was diving in and into what and why did he release his cormorant first, or is the cormorant a metaphor for death and darkness... stark, probing and mysterious imagery. 

COMMENT 2:I love the tranquility of this, and the timelessness of this fishing method commonly used in China and Japan. It says so much about existence and our relationship with nature.

5

old pond - 

I dive in 

a dream

--Ana Drobot, Bucharest, Romania

VOTES: *1****SCORE:02

6

dive in

enjoy the flavor

drink responsibly

--Mark Gilbert, UK

VOTES: 1*****SCORE:01

COMMENT :I enjoy the humour and the insightful observation of contradictory messages in society. Please spend money, buy a drink, have fun, but not too much. Within limits.

7

first cold rain

the smell of earth

makes me dive in

--Fatma Zohra Habis/ Algeria

VOTES: *12***SCORE:07

COMMENT : An intense atmosphere, of images, scents, and physical sensation. 

8

hunger pains –

cormorants dive in

where frothing waves break

--Paul Callus (Malta)

VOTES: 21****SCORE:04

9

lone eagle hunting 

circles dive-in eatery 

splash! salmon for lunch

--Elaine Ashley, USA

VOTES: *1****SCORE:02

10

blue lagoon −

the pearler dives in

the sky

--Dan C. Iulian, Romania

VOTES: *21***SCORE:07

11

shattered sky — 

a fish's dive in 

the milky way

--Jacek Margolak, Poland

VOTES: 111***SCORE:06

COMMENT 1:I like the imagery in this. To me, reads like a scifaiku, not just because of the Milky Way, but alluding to the zodiac element/constellation of fish (pisces), and the Milky Way to seem like a liquid plane of stars. 

COMMENT 2:I imagine an ocean on a clear night, as a fish dives in to the reflection of the night sky. The juxtaposition between big and small, eternity and ephemera, it's lovely.

13

blue splash

a kingfisher dives in

to morning

--Melissa Dennison, UK

VOTES: *2****SCORE:04

HAPPY HAIKU POETRY DAY; APRIL 17TH

156

[famous haiku by Matuso Basho (1644-1694) image made with Bing AI creator]

 

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY APRIL 17th 2025

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

PLAYERS

1. Ed Bremson, USA; 2. Jackie Chou, USA; 3. Mona Bedi. India; 4. Nitu, India; 5. Corine Timmer, Portugal; 6. Marina Bellini, Italy; 7. Ana Drobot, Romania; 8. Daniela Misso, Italy; 9.Melissa Dennison, UK; 10. Eduard Tara, Romania; 11. Tracy Davidson, Uk;  12. Mark Gilbert, UK; 13. Billy Antonio, Phillipines; 14. Amoolya Kamalnath, India; 15.Mohua Maulik, New Delhi, India; 16. Swagata Soumyanarayan, India; 17. Devoshruti Mandai, India;18. Lakshmi Iyer, India; 19.Cezar Florescu, Botoșani, Romania; 20. Cristina Pietraru,  Romania; 21.Henryk Czempiel, Poland

FIRST PLACE

18

stars everywhere 

joining dots in search

of dad's constellation 

Lakshmi Iyer, India 

VOTES: 333***SCORE:18

COMMENT 1:Touchy and can relate. 

COMMENT 2:The poignant yearning in this ku was touching

COMMENT 3:Too many stars or too few and constellations can't be seen.

COMMENT 4:This is something painful yet an acceptance of the same. Simply showing love for Dad.

SECOND PLACE

8

children's laughter -

everywhere I look 

daisies

Daniela Misso; Italy

VOTES: 132***SCORE:13

COMMENT 1:Loved the juxta of the children's laughter to blooming daisies swaying everywhere in the fields. An image that shows the beauty of the poem.

COMMENT 2:The image of the children's laughter is evocative, vivid and vibes with the white and yellow of Daisies. There is a certain simplicity and innocence in both children and its comparison with daisies is so apt!

COMMENT 3:L1 and L3 are exquisitely complementing each other. Beautiful ku.

THIRD PLACE

2

mirrored windows

everywhere I turn 

winter narcissus 

Jackie Chou; Pico Rivera, California, United States

VOTES: 1*3***SCORE: 10

COMMENTS

10

milky way

everywhere memories

about fireflies

Eduard TARA, ROMANIA

VOTES: 24****SCORE:10

COMMENTS

19

lavender field...

everywhere I look

only mom's eyes

Cezar Florescu,  Botoșani, Romania.

VOTES: *22***SCORE:10

COMMENT 1:What a wonderful juxta to depict the lavender to a mother's eyes, the colour, the texture and all that that sums up a mother!

COMMENT 2:The emotion felt by the poet about her/his mother is beautiful and touching. It may be a mother who is living or has passed on but the thought is poignant.   

RESULTS CONTINUE

1

barefoot at the beach,

everywhere I'm picking up

sand burrs

Ed Bremson,Raleigh, NC, USA

VOTES: ******SCORE: 

COMMENTS

3

wayside moon

lingering everywhere 

honeysuckle wind

~ Regards, Mona Bedi.

Delhi, India 

VOTES: 111***SCORE:06

COMMENT 1: Nice short/long/short, nice pivot. I wonder if the key word "everywhere" worked better in the pivot, line 2? nice images, love honeysuckle.

COMMENT 2: Atmospheric, complex, structurally ambiguous. 

4

blossom rain

everywhere 

scent of spring ,

Nitu, India

VOTES: 11****SCORE:03 

COMMENT 1: Nice pivot, great images. We're in the middle of spring here, with all the pollen, and blossoms.

COMMENT 2:This is a quadrum, a poem in which the number of syllables in each line equals the number of lines. The pivot line works to generate a feel of universality.

5

first warm breeze . . .

everywhere birdsong

Corine Timmer; Faro,Portugal

VOTES: 12****SCORE:05 

COMMENT 1:Relatable. With the new season, comes the birdsongs.

COMMENT 2:This is eloquent. Just two sentences that capture a moment of joy. The first warm breeze of spring. Reading this I can feel it. The air alive with bird song. Beautiful. Life returns, along with hope for better days.

6

country lane

everywhere I look

daffodils

Marina Bellini, Italy 

VOTES: *11***SCORE:05

COMMENTS: A visit to a village and the beauty of nature is simply presented

7

everywhere 

the same sun -

globalisation

Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)

VOTES: *21***SCORE:07 

COMMENT 1:The idea of the sun going global is a unique take and i found it amusing.

COMMENT 2:In just 5 words this haiku makes a powerful statement about humanity. This is its strength: brevity. Whoever we are, wherever we are, we are all under the same sun. We are all equal.

9

warm night

everywhere seeing stars...

does someone return our look?

Melissa Dennison, UK

VOTES: 1*****SCORE:01

COMMENTS: The leap from observation to speculation, and the leap in scale

11

an unwanted species 

spreading itself everywhere... 

mission to Mars 

Tracy Davidson, United Kingdom

VOTES: *12***SCORE:08 

COMMENT 1: I wonder if this is more senryu, but I love it, so metaphorical Emoji

COMMENT 2: Science will progress as it must. But one can already visualize the destruction of Mars. A relatable ku that resonated with me.

COMMENT 3: I find this verse both ironic and comical. There is an antagonistic effect with unwanted but everywhere, even reaching beyond where this species now inhabits. It's even more situational now with what's going on at a global level.

COMMENT 4: I A scifaiku covering millions of years.

12

thunder everywhere

rain from nowhere

day moon

Mark Gilbert, UK

13

leaves everywhere

the reunion postponed

indefinitely

Billy Antonio; Laoac, Philippines

14

not just here

but everywhere 

so spotlessly clean

this hospital

 Amoolya Kamalnath, India 

15

quake!

everywhere people running

as nurses steady cribs

Mohua Maulik, New Delhi, India

VOTES: 1*1***SCORE:04 

COMMENT 1:A recent event one cannot forget. Very touchy and poignant, and hence it stands out for me.

COMMENT 2:This verse showcases a huge respect to the frontline workers especially the compassionate nurses. In spite of life becoming tosy-turvy for the whole population, the only thing the nurses care about, even more than themselves or their own families, is their patients, who are like their own babies, not just their patients. A very heart-warming observation.

16

cicada songs

break the still night -

everywhere summer 

Swagata Soumyanarayan, Mumbai, India.

VOTES: 31****SCORE:05 

COMMENTS

17

dusty grey everywhere 

an old man mumbling 

' wars will end soon '

Devoshruti Mandal, India

VOTES: *12***SCORE:08

COMMENT 1: This haiku well describes people feelings during these awful times. 

COMMENT 2:HOPE - the one thing most of us hold on to, all our life, even after experiencing utter hopelessness in various situations in different circumstances.

COMMENT 3:This is poignant and timely. We all crave peace and yet from Gaza to the Sudan to Ukraine, the killing continues. Here an old man stands defiant in the rubble. Hope undimmed. Powerful.

20

nursing home

out of the window

buds everywhere

Cristina Pietraru,  Romania

VOTES: 211***SCORE:07

COMMENTS:A very poignant haiku and the reading picks up a whole circle from last line to the first. A very generalised experience of nursing, maybe the newborns or the aged; love and care are of the same nature!

21

New Year's Eve

fireworks everywhere

except Ukraine

Henryk Czempiel, Poland

VOTES: 111***SCORE:06 

COMMENTS

155

Welcome back to Caribbean Kigo Kukai

Dear haiku friends you are invited to participate in The Caribbean Kigo 'International Haiku Poetry Day' Kukai 2025

The Kigo is everywhere
SEND one haiku,   any form,  which MUST include the word everywhere
Your entry should include your name, and country from which you are sending.

EXAMPLE
the universe -

everywhere we breathe and dream

morning sky
© gillena cox; St James, Trinidad


Deadline for sending entries is April 2nd 2025
Deadline for sending votes is April 10th 2025


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 2025  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 

INTERNATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY IS APRIL 17TH 2025 


much love
gillena

148

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. Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece; 2. Pat Geyer, USA; 3. Dan Iulian, Romania; 4. Wiesłąw Karliński, Poland; 5. Daniela Misso, Italy; 6. Ana Drobot, Romania; 7. Lucia Cardillo, Italy; 8. Paul David Mena, USA; 9. Adjei Agyei-Baah, Ghana; 10. Tony Williams, UK; 11. Mona Iordan, Romania.

 

FIRST PLACE

7

train from Kiev ...

in the old coat

sunflower seeds

Lucia Cardillo; Italy

VOTES: 124*** SCORE 17

COMMENTS: very topical given the war in Ukraine

 

 

SECOND PLACE

1

 

young sunflower

mother brings home

from the ruins

--Ernesto P. Santiago; Greece

VOTES: 221*** SCORE 09

COMMENTS:

 

3

where sunflowers bloom

bees and wasps and drones share

the same colorful light

--Dan Iulian; Romania

VOTES: 221*** SCORE 09

COMMENTS: 

 

 

THIRD PLACE

4

provincial train

I get off there

where sunflowers bloom

Wiesłąw Karliński; Namysłów, Poland

VOTES: 2*2*** SCORE 08

COMMENTS: 

 

 

RESULTS CONTINUE

2

brushed in rich pollen...

honey bee reflects the gold

of a sunflower

--Pat Geyer; East Brunswick, NJ USA

VOTES: *2**** SCORE 04

COMMENTS:   

 

 

 

 

5

leaving away ...

the path turns into

sunflowers

Daniela Misso; Italy

VOTES: 2*1*** SCORE 05

COMMENTS: 

 

 

6

sunflowers bloom -

I am taught how to use

a Japanese fan

Ana Drobot; (Bucharest, Romania)

VOTES: *1**** SCORE 02

COMMENTS: 

 

 

8

sunflower smile

how quickly

they grow up

--Paul David Mena; Centerville (Cape Cod), Massachusetts, USA

VOTES: 13**** SCORE 07

COMMENTS: 

 

 

9

rural wedding

the newlywed runs through

a field of sunflowers

Adjei Agyei-Baah; Kumasi, Ghana

VOTES: 1***** SCORE 01

COMMENTS: 

 

 

 

10

sunflower

the sum of summer’s

bronzing light

Tony Williams; Scotland, UK

VOTES: *1**** SCORE 02

COMMENTS:  extra credit for alliteration

 

 

11

blue-washed sky

the child picks up the brush

to paint a sunflower field

Mona Iordan; Romania

VOTES: 2***** SCORE 02

COMMENTS: 

A HAPPY AND CREATIVE INTERNATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY 2022

147

haiga above first posted HERE 

Dear haiku friends you are invited to participate in The Caribbean Kigo 'International Haiku Poetry Day' Kukai 2022

The Theme is Where sunflowers bloom
SEND one haiku pertaining to this theme
Your entry should include your name, and location from where you are sending.

Deadline for sending entries is March 30th 2022
Deadline for sending votes is April 10th 2022


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 2022. 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



INTERNATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY IS APRIL 17TH 2022


much love
gillena

142

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. Marina Bellini, Italy;  2. Pat Geyer; USA;  3. Lucia Cardillo, Italy;  4. Krzysztof Kokot, Poland;  5. Giovanna Restuccia, Italy;  6. Daniela Misso, Italy;  7. Willie Bongcaron, Philippines;  8.   Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece;  9. Dan Iulian, Romania;  10. Pasquale Asprea- Italy;  11. Ana Drobot, Romania;  12. Mark Gilbert; UK;  13. Nazarena Rampini, Italia;  14. Nikolay Grankin, Russia;  15. Wiesław Karliński, Poland;  16. Mona Iordan, Romania;  17. Andrzej Dembonczyk, Silesia;  18. Adjei Agyei-Baah,  Ghana;  19. Henryk Czempiel, Poland;  20. Stella Pierides; DE and UK;  21. Cezar Florescu, Romania;  22. Kaiser v Kahn, Germany;  23. Eufemia Griffo, Settimo Milanese, Italy;  24. Billy Antonio, Philippines; 

 

 FIRST PLACE

 21

muezzin's call

the scent of magnolia

enters the mosque

--Cezar Florescu

VOTE: 142*** SCORE: 15

COMMENT: A subtle medley of aromas and sounds.

SECOND PLACE

7

i couldn't

go wrong...

morning jasmines

--Willie Bongcaron, Philippines

VOTE: 123*** SCORE: 14

COMMENT:

 

 THIRD PLACE

15

agave flower

in a gardener's notebook

last entry

--Wiesław Karliński, Poland

VOTE: 132*** SCORE: 13

COMMENT: So poignant. Cause and effect, or chance

❧✿❧

18

plastic flower

a butterfly's stopover

at the porch

--Adjei Agyei-Baah;  Kumasi, Ghana

VOTE: 132*** SCORE: 13

COMMENT: This amused me. It's a four seasons ku!

 

RESULTS CONTINUE

1

arranging pansies—

the yellow with a purple heart

steals the scene

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

VOTE: ****** SCORE: 00

COMMENT:

 

2

bold forsythia...

mysterious march myst'ry

unfolds in the snow

--Pat Geyer; East Brunswick, NJ USA

VOTE: ****** SCORE: 00

COMMENT:

 

3

the frost

still opens to hope ...

snowdrops

--Lucia Cardillo – Italy

VOTE: 11**** SCORE: 03

COMMENT:

 

4

lily fragrance -

through a tilted window

moonlight

 --Krzysztof Kokot, Poland

VOTE: *22*** SCORE: 10

COMMENT:

 

5

blooming mulberry -

the world disappeared

behind the corner

--Giovanna Restuccia, Modena, Italy

VOTE: 122*** SCORE: 11

COMMENT:

 

6

purple thistles

against the wall

cul-de-sac

--Daniela Misso, Italy

VOTE: 12**** SCORE: 05

COMMENT:

 

8

white mud lily the power of will kicks in

--Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece

VOTE: **1*** SCORE: 03

COMMENT

9

marble flowers -

the mother's grave visited

just my memories

--Dan Iulian, Romania

VOTE: 21**** SCORE: 04

COMMENT

 

10

Plum flowering tree -

my mother's prayer

for my father

--Pasquale Asprea- Italy

VOTE: 3***** SCORE: 03

COMMENT

 

11

cherry blossoms -

I dress up for our date

on Google Meet

--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)

VOTE: 11**** SCORE: 03

COMMENT

 

12

never alone

a wavering orchid

on the clifftop

--Mark Gilbert; UK

VOTE: 1***** SCORE: 01

COMMENT

 

13

new buds

in a larger vase

peonies

--Nazarena Rampini; Italia

VOTE: *1**** SCORE: 02

COMMENT

 

14

autumn sky

a toddler touches a chrysanthemum

with his finger

 --Nikolay Grankin

VOTE: 1***** SCORE: 01

COMMENT

 

16

spring is here --

a red bloom opens

atop my cactus

--Mona Iordan, Romania

VOTE: ****** SCORE: 00

COMMENT

 

17

silence

the scent of roses fills up

funeral chapel

--Andrzej Dembonczyk, Silesia

VOTE: 22**** SCORE: 06

COMMENT

  

19

wild flowers

in my garden

immigrants

--Henryk Czempiel; Poland

VOTE: 5*1*** SCORE: 08

COMMENT

 

20

bluebell wood

we follow the scent

of heaven

--Stella Pierides; DE and UK

VOTE: 111*** SCORE: 06

COMMENT

 

22

silver wedding

in her hair

white camellia

--Kaiser v Kahn

VOTE: 4*1*** SCORE: 07

COMMENT: Beautiful images seeping across the lines.

 

23

cherry buds

my child says mom

for the first time

--Eufemia Griffo, Settimo Milanese, Italy

VOTE: 12**** SCORE: 05

COMMENT

 

24

cherry blossoms

the long list

of baby names

--Billy Antonio; Philippines

VOTE: 2*3*** SCORE: 11

COMMENT: A fresh and poignant take on this favorite topic.

141

Dear haiku friends you are invited to participate in The Caribbean Kigo 'International Haiku Poetry Day' Kukai 2021

The Theme is Flower
SEND one haiku about any flower of your choice
Your entry should include your name, and country from which you are sending.

EXAMPLE
eye of a grackle - -
ixora centers fill the space
in a brick wall
© gillena cox 2009 ... First posted HERE

Deadline for sending entries is March 30th 2021
Deadline for sending votes is April 10th 2021


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 2021. 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



Should you be interested in a zoom meeting  after the results are posted, to read haiku from this kukai, please let me know when you email me your ballots.

INTERNATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY IS APRIL 17TH 2021


much love
gillena

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