Hexapod Haiku - more honorable mention
reading with lap cat
a flea end-stops the sentence
before it is done
a flea end-stops the sentence
before it is done
MaXine Carey Harker
Grifton, NC
Grifton, NC
Judges' notes: What a clever arrangement of words. We can feel the annoyance coming out. Nice twist - cozy/comfy becomes creepy.
Hazakura to
Imomushi do co mo
Tori no yume
literal translation:
vibrant green time of cherry trees and
caterpillars everywhere
bird's dream
Imomushi do co mo
Tori no yume
literal translation:
vibrant green time of cherry trees and
caterpillars everywhere
bird's dream
Charlie Smith
Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, NC
Judges' notes: Definitely most traditional. The vibrant green time of cherry trees and caterpillars everywhere; a bird's dream is exactly right - the feast!
cockroach on the wall -
from the throat of my sister
one hundred decibels
from the throat of my sister
one hundred decibels
Marek Kozubek
Zywiec, Poland
Zywiec, Poland
Judges' notes: We can each point to that exact moment. Technical but easily understood. Love the use of 'decibel,' which brings a tinge of science to this common scene. Hurt my ear drums to read this haiku!
Ancient signals flash -
Through twilight as fireflies ask,
"Where are you, my love?"
Through twilight as fireflies ask,
"Where are you, my love?"
Theresa Dellinger
Blacksburg, VA
Blacksburg, VA
Judges' notes: Great imagery, and it almost rhymes. We love the reference to "ancient signals" in what can be interpreted as a love poem (though the protagonists could be Photuris!); nothing is more ancient in poetry than love. The slow burn of cinders on and off correlates to flashes of passion. Simple but symbolic, and just states the facts...or does it allude to different? The burning embers of desire?
Stabbing pain, hot fire!
Yellow jacket samurai
Have found my soda can.
Yellow jacket samurai
Have found my soda can.
Theresa Dellinger
Blacksburg, VA
Blacksburg, VA
Judges' notes: Great reference to Japanese culture, and so appropriate with respect to the taxon (Vespidae, probably; we envision Vespa mandarinia, of course!).
Siphonaptera
Truly, like my flesh and blood
A drinking buddy
Truly, like my flesh and blood
A drinking buddy
Seth Irish
London, UK
London, UK
Judges' notes: Siphonaptera is a great word for poetry - entomological, euphonious. Layers of irony - truly likes flesh and blood!
Over the gravestone –
a grasshopper is jumping
from shadow to light
a grasshopper is jumping
from shadow to light
Eduard Tara
Iaşi, Romania
Iaşi, Romania
Judges' notes: The poetic imagery here is one of the best in this selection of haiku. Strong images of life vs. death, shadow to light. Good model for transitions.
None other as loud
Seventeen years underground
Empty husk remains
Seventeen years underground
Empty husk remains
Claudia Mello
Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, NC
Judges' notes: We loved the riddle-like quality of this haiku (even though the answer's in the title!). The poet focuses on the unique aspects of cicada biology to challenge our intellect. The near rhyme with lines 1 and 2 was effective.
These are so great--I'm so glad that this is an annual thing!
Posted by bug_girl on April 06, 2009 at 10:33 AM EDT #
Clever sentences
like an echo of the past
Haiku delights me!
Posted by Glen on May 15, 2009 at 03:21 PM EDT #