Thrilled to receive the following awards:
sunbeams sift
between the bones
of our barn
mucking out stalls
has never felt so holy
Runner-up, The Linda Jeannette Ward Tanka Award
Judges' comments:
Opening with a gentle shasei, this tanka assumes a deeper meaning in the closing metaphor. Cleaning straw and manure from animal stalls takes on a new meaning in the glow of light between the boards; honest labour becomes devotion. A 'Hand of God' moment we liken to when fall-streaks appear through clouds. The tanka has subtle alliteration with a solid structure. It has a satisfying elliptical ending as the sense of a holy task links back to the sunbeams often seen in classical religious paintings. The author is unobtrusive, and there is sufficient dreaming room for the reader to insert themselves into the scene.
—David Terelinck
The same tanka also received an Honourable Mention in this contest...
Through this beautiful tanka, the poet demonstrates that wonderful moments of enlightenment and grace are not limited to structured times of church and prayer. If we stay connected to the moment, we can find a poetic truth that transcends time and place.
—Bryan Rickert
(note: there were 203 tanka submissions for this contest)
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