a star tortoise
carries the universe
on its back . . .
are we slowly moving
away from each other
2nd Place Tanka
Judge Kenneth Slaughter's comments:
Tortoises and turtles are survivors. The star tortoise, however, is an endangered species because of its beautiful shell. Humans like to collect them. It's an earthbound creature that carries the symbolic weight of the universe on its back. There are many ways to go in lines 4 and 5, and the ellipses give us a moment to ponder the possibilities.
Scientists know the universe is expanding, and everything is moving away from everything else. The poet reminds of this and wonders if, on a human level, we are also drifting apart. The "we" could be a married couple. Or it could be all of us, as we struggle with alienation, loneliness, and a growing distance from one another. This is a very topical poem, suggesting a whole lot in just five lines.
small embers
of rose hips in snow . . .
the look
in mother's vacant eyes
so hard to define
3rd Place Tanka
labyrinth i walk into and out of myself
3rd Place Senryu
Judge Christopher Herald's comments:
Yes! Both! Love it!
Saturday, February 02, 2019
Of Love and War and the Life In Between, Tanka Society of America Members' Anthology 2018
overnight,
filaments of hair ice
grow longer . . .
how tenuous these threads
that bind us to each other
filaments of hair ice
grow longer . . .
how tenuous these threads
that bind us to each other
Ink Sweat and Tears - The Poetry and Prose Webzine - December 2018
The Twelve Days of Christmas Feature
Ninth Day, December 30, 2018
fog deepens
the sound of rabbits
nibbling night
Grand Prize, 2016 World Haiku Competition
on the tundra
caging a winter sky
caribou bones
3rd Place, 2014 UHTS Hortensia Anderson Haiku Awards
snowy field
the owls we thought
were stones
HM, 2017 Irish Haiku Society International Haiku Competition
NeverEnding Story, January 2019
Translated into Chinese by Chen-ou Liu:
glassy lake
flocks of snow geese
pull up the moon
1st Place, 2017 Autumn Moon Haiku Contest
Excerpted from the commentary provided by the Judge, Bruce Ross:
Many haiku have been written about the effect of moonlight and the moon's reflection. This haiku is unique and highly poetic in its expression.
glassy lake
flocks of snow geese
pull up the moon
1st Place, 2017 Autumn Moon Haiku Contest
Excerpted from the commentary provided by the Judge, Bruce Ross:
Many haiku have been written about the effect of moonlight and the moon's reflection. This haiku is unique and highly poetic in its expression.
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