125

[IMAGE from google dot com]


POEMS REMAIN THE COPYRIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL WRITERS

Players: 1. Walter Artificium, Belgrade; 2. Ana Drobot, Romania; 3. Bill Kenney USA; 4. Brendon Kent, England; 5. Keith A. Simmonds, France; 6. Manoj Sharma , Nepal; 7. Pat Geyer, USA; 8. Andy McLellan, UK.; 9. Eufemia Griffo, Italy; 10. Andela Nikolic; 11. Nicholas Klacsanzky, Ukraine; 12. Michael H. Lester, USA; 13. Carol Raisfeld, USA; 14. Jacob Salzer, USA ; 15. Adjei Agyei-Baah, Ghana; 16. Martha Magenta, UK; 17. Devin Harrison, Canada; 18. Justice Joseph Prah, Ghana; 19. Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece; 20. Stella Pierides DE and UK; 21. Vibeke Laier, Denmark; 22. Mark Gilbert, UK; 23. Krzysxtof Kokot Poland; 24. Henryk Czempiel, Poland.


FIRST PLACE

20
world cup final
the old couple holding
hands
.--Stella Pierides Neusaess, DE and London, UK
VOTE:362*** SCORE: 21
COMMENT 1: A warm, touching haiku
COMMENT 2: In a crowded stadium this haiku focuses in on one couple - the word 'final' suggests it might be their last match
COMMENT 3: A modern fairy-tale ending, with they lived ever after. The old couple has won.
COMMENT 4: Sporting tournaments bring people together and you imagine this old couple have been watching their team play for many years. Maybe this is the first time they have attended the actual final.
COMMENT 5: Though this world cup final has not yet been played, I find the poet's imagination is very vivid. A moment of anxiety has been captured vividly.
COMMENT 6: Like #2 (lullaby) in reminding us that there is more in the world than the World Cup (Full disclosure: I’m one half of an old couple myself).


SECOND PLACE

22
a shooting star
plunges into the sea
penalty shoot out
--Mark Gilbert, UK
VOTE:323*** SCORE: 16
COMMENT: 1.strong juxtaposition
COMMENT: 2.This haiku suggests the silence of the penalty shootout. I wonder if anyone noticed that shooting star. Nice image
COMMENT: 3.We all feel for those players who miss a penalty in a shoot-out. It often happens to those who have had an exceptional tournament and their star suddenly plummets in a moment.


THIRD PLACE

16
penalty shootout –
not a breath
of wind
--Martha Magenta, England UK
VOTE:313*** SCORE 14
COMMENT 1: Even the wind is captured by the game.
COMMENT 2: Captures a specific moment with atmosphere and subtlety
COMMENT 3: A natural detail well chosen to suggest the breath-holding tension of the moment.



RESULTS CONTINUE

1
a dream rolls
across the green grass
those beautiful losers
--Damir Damir
VOTE:*1**1* SCORE: 07
COMMENT 1: I love the way it starts with a dream, but finishes with loss.
COMMENT 2: Hope and pain are beautifully portrayed in this haiku.Impressive juxtaposition. The poet is successful in convincing his observations to the reader


2
world cup -
deep inside it
emptiness
--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)
VOTE:311*** SCORE: 08
COMMENT 1: This haiku shows the uncertainty and the expectations involved in the tournament.Nice juxtaposition between line one and line three.Good haiku.
COMMENT 2: I like the expression of attitude through image, even though I don’t entirely share the attitude.


3
Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-a-a-l
guy at the end of the bar
looks up
--Bill Kenney USA
VOTE:231*** SCORE 11
COMMENT 1: I like the ambiguity of the poem. I am not sure whether the attention of the guy at the bar has been caught by the result of the game or by a certain lady.
COMMENT 2: We find the atmosphere of World Cup in the haiku.


4
beads of sweat
at the penalty spot
a deeper hole
--Brendon Kent, England
VOTE:*1**** SCORE: 02
COMMENT:


5
A flash of lightning
across the World-Cup field ...
two M'Bappé goals
--Keith A. Simmonds; Rodez, FRANCE
VOTE:****** SCORE:00
COMMENT:


6
midnight blue -
face of a coach
on own goal
--Manoj Sharma
VOTE:****** SCORE:00
COMMENT:


7
his slide hugs the field...
celebrating his scoring
loving his tenth goal
--Pat Geyer
VOTE:****** SCORE:00
COMMENT:


8
back yard penalties
two boys take turns
to be Harry Kane
--Andy McLellan; Canterbury, UK.
VOTE:331*** SCORE: 12
COMMENT: Careless but sincere scene of children play


9
penaltys shoot-out
a mother whispers a lullaby
to her child
--Eufemia Griffo, Italy
VOTE:331*** SCORE: 12
COMMENT 1: Both sweet and emotional haiku
COMMENT 2: Beautiful haiku. The moment of grief and excitement is nicely blended with two images of "penalty shoot-out and mothers lullaby". A successful haiku.
COMMENT 3: I’m not sure of the connection between parts, and I suspect that may be the point: even at World Cup time, other things matter.


10
They will carry home
only grass stains on their knees
This year favorits
--Andela Nikolic
VOTE:**1*** SCORE 03
COMMENT:


11
hovering
over the football goal line
summer fog
--Nicholas Klacsanzky
VOTE:2***** SCORE 02
COMMENT: I like the way nature feels like taking part in the game. The fog looks just like another player. Is is about to win?


12
wide-open mouths—
the soccer ball enters
an open net
--Michael H. Lester
VOTE:221*** SCORE:11
COMMENT: I love the juxtaposition of this one with open mouths and the open goal. You can imagine the ball going into those mouths!
COMMENT 2: An amusing parallel that also rings true.


13
the goalie
in a leap of faith
the hero
--Carol Raisfeld; Atlantic Beach, NY USA
VOTE:*1**** SCORE: 02
COMMENT:


14
different country flags
moving in unison---the color
of the wind
--Jacob Salzer
VOTE:3***** SCORE: 03
COMMENT: Beautiful image


15
deciding goal
winners and losers
all shed tears
--Adjei Agyei-Baah
VOTE:11**** SCORE: 03
COMMENT:


17
strategic thinking
uses his head to put the ball
in the net
--Devin Harrison - Vancouver Is, Canada
VOTE:****** SCORE:00
COMMENT:


18
FIFA fair play
an own goal
seals our friendship
--Justice Joseph Prah; Ghana, Accra
VOTE:12**** SCORE: 05
COMMENT: I enjoy how "fair play" signifies balance and respect in friendship. The second line: "an own goal" seems to symbolize humility, and that when you give yourself to a friend, you are also giving to yourself.


19
football real grass
trembling in a light breeze
penalty shootout
--Ernesto P. Santiago Athens, Greece
VOTE:****** SCORE:00
COMMENT:


21
all day tv
a butterfly fluttering by
the window frame
--Vibeke Laier, Denmark
VOTE:1*1*** SCORE: 04
COMMENT: 1. I like the off-centre focus of this haiku, the fluttering butterfly captures a sense of being shut in all day.Haiku #20 In Haiku #22 This


23
whistle's sound -
for some a beginning
for other the end
--Krzysxtof Kokot POLAND
VOTE:4***** SCORE: 04
COMMENT: Beautiful haiku. How a final whistle decides the fate of a team and shatters the dream, is nicely picturised. This haiku is successful in carrying the Zen aspect


24
hot sunset -
muezzin's call is drowned out
by the goal shout
--Henryk Czempiel, Poland
VOTE:41**** SCORE: 06
COMMENT: Lovely image emphasising the global nature of the World Cup. 'Hot', 'out and 'shout' chime, and the latter two rhyme in a subtle way.



BOOK PLEDGE

A gift for the first place winner is pledged from Michael H. Lester
Many Thanks Michael
AND
to the first place winner

[congrats image from google dot com]

124

[ Image from Wikipedia; fair use]

The Adidas Telstar 18 is the official match ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is being held in the Russian Federation. It is designed by the company Adidas, a FIFA Partner and FIFA World Cup official match ball supplier since 1970, and based on the concept of the first Adidas's World Cup match ball


Dear haiku friends, It's time for another special kukai. Yes its World Cup Season 2018. This year, let us celebrate in haiku: our exhilaration, hype, let downs, griefs; all our emotions and experiences.

World Cup 2018 is our THEME [You need not use the exact words in your haiku] e-mail one haiku, written in the form of your choice, on this theme. Have fun, be creative. Enjoy!
Remember you are writing ABOUT World Cup 2018 BUT need not use the exact words in your haiku for this kukai


EXAMPLE HAIKU
a goal almost scored -
a hesitant rain shower
sounds on my roof
© gillena cox 2018 [this haiku was first published at my blog VERSES in a haibun titled NEW WAVE]


DEADLINE DATES
Deadline for sending entries is July 10th 2018
Deadline for sending votes is July 20th 2018

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. 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 and comments.



[gift bag image from google dotcom; fair use]
Should anyone wish to pledge a haiku book prize for this kukai, please email me
much love
gillena

123

[image from google dot com]




POEMS REMAIN THE COPYRIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL WRITERS


Players: 1. Marta Chocilowska, Poland; 2. Michael H. Lester, USA; 3. Anna Cates, USA; 4. Pat Geyer, USA; 5. Bill Kenney, USA; 6. Ana Irina, Romania; 7. Vasile Moldovan, Romania; 8. Martha Magenta, England; 9. Justice Joseph Prah, Ghana; 10. Mark Gilbert; 11. Christine L. Villa, USA; 12. Eufemia Griffo Italy; 13. Ashi Kjær, Denmark; 14. Andrius Luneckas, Lituania; 15. Mercy Ikury, Kenya; 16. Rebecca Sanchez, USA; 17. Marina Bellini, Italy ; 18. Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece; 19. Pasquale Asprea, Italy; 20. Giovanna Restuccia; 21. Cristina Apetrei, Romania; 22. Cezar Florescu, Romania; 23. Henryk Czempiel, Poland; 24. Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy



FIRST PLACE

22
refugee child
in his overcoat pocket
a Disneyland map
--Cezar
VOTES:224*** SCORE:18
COMMENTS: A very moving image


SECOND PLACE

8
deep autumn
the scent of dried lavender
in her apron pocket
--Martha Magenta England, UK
VOTES:712*** SCORE:15
COMMENTS: “dried” and ”apron” may be too much information, but an evocative ku even so.



THIRD PLACE

5
winter sky
full of stars . . .
my empty pockets
--Bill Kenney
Whitestone NY USA
VOTES:431*** SCORE:13
COMMENTS: would have been better …my pockets empty (rather than, my empty pockets.)



RESULTS CONTINUES

1
a visit
the new neighbor's dog
sniffs at my pocket
--Marta Chocilowska, Poland
VOTES:1***** SCORE:01
COMMENTS:


2
a joey
in her kangaroo pocket
Lamaze class
--Michael
VOTES:**1*** SCORE:03
COMMENTS:


3
a sea star
sways in a pocket light . . .
harmonica strains
--Anna Cates, Wilmington, OH. USA
VOTES:****** SCORE:00
COMMENTS:


4
barefoot little boy
jumps over a puddle...
frog in his pocket
--Pat Geyer USA
VOTES:3*1*** SCORE:06
COMMENTS: I am as afraid as curious what he will do with this frog .


6
pocket money -
on the full moon
a few spots
--Ana Drobot (Bucharest, Romania)
VOTES:11**** SCORE:03
COMMENTS: This might have scored higher but for the awkward word order and the unnecessary “full.” I like the avoidance of over-precision in “a few.”


7
before the payday
nothing in my pockets...
only the eastern wind
--Vasile Moldovan, Romania
VOTES:2***** SCORE:02
COMMENTS:


9
jail breaking
the beggar's finger peeps
out of his torn pocket
--Justice Joseph Prah; Ghana
VOTES:****** SCORE:00
COMMENTS:


10
running for the train
warm hamburger
in my pocket
--Mark Gilbert
VOTES:1***** SCORE:01
COMMENTS:


11
not knowing
how I lost him . . .
a hole in my pocket
--Christine L. Villa, USA
VOTES:312*** SCORE:11
COMMENTS:


12
unstitched pockets
all those scars
still open
--Eufemia Griffo Italy
VOTES:411*** SCORE:09
COMMENTS: 1. I won't be surprised if this wins. Love the strong metaphor!
2. A powerful image



13
Once full
Now empty space
My pockets
--Ashi Kjaer
VOTES:**1*** SCORE:03
COMMENTS:


14
valentine's day
in my pocket
two last year chestnuts
--Andrius Luneckas; Vilnius, Lituania
VOTES:11**** SCORE:03
COMMENTS:


15
recently divorced
he pockets his son's picture
and pats the pocket
--I.M
VOTES:****** SCORE:00
COMMENTS:


16
comparing selfies
looking older every year
hands in pocket
© Rebecca Sanchez 2018
VOTES:2***** SCORE:02
COMMENTS:


17
warm breeze
a stone carved by the sea
in the pocket
-- Marina Bellini
VOTES:111*** SCORE:06
COMMENTS: The second “the” could be dispensed with. But the sense of time and space ending in “the pocket” is brilliant.



18
cricket chirps
in my toddler’s pocket
his secret
--Ernesto P. Santiago; Athens, Greece
VOTES:311*** SCORE:08
COMMENTS:


19
her phone number
forgotten in the pocket -
old jeans
--Pasquale Asprea - Italy
VOTES:31**** SCORE:05
COMMENTS:


20
crossing the border
his savings in the hidden pocket -
crescent moon
--Giovanna Restuccia
VOTES:221*** SCORE:09
COMMENTS:


21
sharp crash of thunder
a grasshopper leaps into
the scarecrow’s pocket
--Cristina Apetrei
VOTES:211*** SCORE:07
COMMENTS: beautifully and humorously shown fear of the storm


23
handshake
with fist in the pocket
another armistice
--Henryk Czempiel, Poland
VOTES:11**** SCORE:03
COMMENTS:


24
ice cream shop
the little boy offers to pay
with his best shells
--Shrikaanth
VOTES:231*** SCORE:11
COMMENTS: 1. I vote for this haiku, although it does not contain the word "pocket". I guess is that the boy takes the shells out of his pocket and it is very moving scene.
2. number 24 doesn't have "pocket" in it which should not be included due to not following directions.



A HAPPY POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY TO EVERYONE
This is our last Poem In Your Pocket Kukai. Next April and continuing , our April Kukai will be in observation of International Haiku Day 17 April

122

[Image from Pinterest; fair use]


EXAMPLE HAIKU
emptied pockets
washing machine gurgling -
a ten dollar find
© gillena cox 2018

Dear haiku friends, It's time for our special kukai; for
A Poem In Your Pocket Day April 26th 2018. This year, let us use the word pocket as our kigo. e-mail one haiku, written in the form of your choice, using the prompted word pocket ; Have fun, be creative. Enjoy!
Remember you MUST use the word pocket in your haiku for this kukai


DEADLINE DATES
Deadline for sending entries is April 17th 2018
Deadline for sending votes is April 24th 2018

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. 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 and comments.


much love
gillena

121

Although in our tenth year of kukai, here at Caribbean Kigo Kukai, this is the first time an anniversary kukai has been held. Special thank to all players.


Poems remain the copyright of individual writers.

Players: 1. Marta Chocilowska, Poland; 2. Ana Drobot Romania; 3. Ajaya Mahala, India; 4. Damir Damir, Montenegro; 5. Christina Sng, Singapore ; 6. Mark Gilbert, UK; 7.Vibeke Laier, Denmark; 8. Martha Magenta, UK; 9. Christine L. Villa, USA;10. Cristina Apetrei, Romania; 11. Keith Simmonds, France; 12. Brendon Kent, England; 13. Michael H. Lester, USA; 14. Cezar Florescu, Romania; 15. Eufemia Griffo, Italy; 16. Henryk Czempiel Poland; 17. Ernesto P. Santiago, Greece; 18. Pat Geyer, USA.



FIRST PLACE

5
monarch butterfly
discovering how much
I have changed
--Christina Sng, Singapore
VOTES:542*** SCORE:19
COMMENTS: 1. there is a profound connection between L1 and L3. The short life of this butterfly invites people to be better. 2. I love this juxtaposition, and the economical use of words. I get the feeling that this hakuist has metamorphosed into a very beautiful butterfly indeed. 3. A beautiful connection between the butterfly and the way the person changes.



SECOND PLACE

8
cracked ice—
I try to put my pieces
back together
--Martha Magenta Bristol, UK
VOTES:431*** SCORE:13
COMMENTS: Highly introspective, the juxtaposed images give a sense of attempting to integrate some experiences difficult to move on from, which can leave a person feeling "frozen."


9
the way she looks
inside herself for answers . . .
selfie after selfie
--Christine L. Villa, USA
VOTES: 4*3*** SCORE:13
COMMENTS: 1. A modern take on soul searching. Interesting. 2. I believe this would have been stronger if 'for answers' was dropped as 'looking inside herself' says it all.Still a good current haiku for the theme 'introspection'.



THIRD PLACE

14
valentine's day
unfolding an old
love letter
Cezar Florescu
VOTES:222*** SCORE:12
COMMENTS: The poem - the starry sky - shows the beauty of haiku and why we keep writing ...



RESULTS CONTINUES

1
Ash Wednesday –
a view of memento mori
on Valentine's Day
--Marta Chocilowska, Poland
VOTES:2***** SCORE:02
COMMENTS


2
emptiness -
the scent of cherry blossoms
fills my childhood home
-Ana Drobot (Romania)
VOTES:22**** SCORE:06
COMMENTS: The poem describes the feeling of an empty home - but the scent of cherry blossoms is always there in your mind.


3
alien city
the day I shall own
my shadow
--Ajaya Mahala, Pune, India
VOTES:1***** SCORE:01
COMMENTS


4
geese are gone
in the lake
grimace of this lonely fool
--Damir Damir
VOTES:1*2*** SCORE:07
COMMENTS


6
the chime of a spoon ...
he peers through the froth
of his life
--Mark Gilbert
VOTES:3***** SCORE:03
COMMENTS


7
her last hours
the silence from
moon stones
--Vibeke Laier
VOTES:23**** SCORE:08
COMMENTS


10
old diary
between pages a faded
Valentine heart
--Cristina Apetrei
VOTES:2***** SCORE:02
COMMENTS


11
After carnival
a profound soul-searching ...
Lenten retreat
--Keith Simmonds
VOTES: ****** SCORE:00
COMMENTS


12
wild daffodils
comparing random
afterthoughts
Brendon Kent
VOTES:4***** SCORE:04
COMMENTS: Nice juxtapostion of images. The way wild daffs tend to pop up where they will, just like our thoughts do. 2. Have you considered removing 'after'? I thought this might make it lighter and less complicated.


13
who am I
to doubt my own existence—
mirror image
--Michael H. Lester
VOTES:4***** SCORE:04
COMMENTS:


15
melancholy ...
the silence of snow
into my silence
Eufemia Griffo, Italy
VOTES:32**** SCORE:07
COMMENTS


16
starry sky
above me - within me
haiku
--Henryk Czempiel Poland
VOTES:2*1*** SCORE:05
COMMENTS: I like this paraphrase of Emmanuel Kant “the starry heavens above me and the moral law


17
silently sitting in
an open field — a self-help book
to fit
--Ernesto P. Santiago Athens, Greece
VOTES: ****** SCORE:00
COMMENTS


18
soul searching...
my forty day journey
brings me peace
--Pat Geyer, USA
VOTES:11**** SCORE:03
COMMENTS

120

Dear haiku friends the first ever Caribbean Kigo Kukai was posted in 2009 with a kigo Lent. That was nine years ago. Back then CKK was a monthly event. In February 2015 our last kukai was announced. Following this, requests for continuation flooded in and Special Events Kukai were then started.

I now wish in the spirit of looking back, and of continuation to have an Anniversary Kukai during the Season of Lent every year.

Please join me in our first anniversary-celebration kukai which will reflect our first ever kigo Lent, but our THEME for this kukai will be INTROSPECTION. This means our haiku will be about introspection, but we do not absolutely have to use the word in our haiku.

EXAMPLE
between sips of tea
reflections on worth of love -
St Valentines's Day
© gillena cox 2018

Deadline for sending entries is February 23th 2018
Deadline for sending votes is March 4th 2018

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. 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 and comments.


much love
gillena

119

Sad to say that Caribbean Kigo Kukai has lost a haiku friend. Johnny Baranski passed away after a short stay in hospital, Thursday 25th January 2018.


"...father peace activist, pacifist, published haiku artist, father of three, father in law to three, grandpa to three, friend of many, devout Roman Catholic and Catholic Worker walked across the lake with Jesus. He is with his maker now. May he rest in God’s eternal peace"
--Margo Williams, the eldest daughter of Johnny Baranski



May he Rest In Peace



9
blossoming spring
I long to return to
a simpler time
-- Johnny Baranski
Ckk#33April 2012

14
brazier smoke
unaware of his fate
salted fish
--johnny baranski
Ckk#32 March 2012

7
always welcome
at the hilltop shrine
my muddy feet
Johnny Baranski, Vancouver, Washington USA
Ckk#28 September 2011