The Society of Classical Poets announced the winners of its 2021 Haiku Competition, judged by Margaret Coats. This year saw a significant increase in submissions, with 339 poets contributing their work, showcasing the growing appreciation for this concise and evocative poetic form. This article explores the winning haiku and several noteworthy runners-up, highlighting the artistry and seasonal nuances within each piece.
Contents
The Winning Haiku: A Tapestry of Light and Shadow
Joe Tessitore’s winning haiku paints a vivid nocturnal scene:
Fog enshrouds the night
Woven in the heavy mist
A thread of fireflies
The image of fog as a shroud evokes a sense of mystery and the quiet stillness of the deepest part of the night. The word “woven” further emphasizes the dense, tangible quality of the mist, transforming it into a dark, ethereal fabric. The final line, “A thread of fireflies,” introduces a glimmer of light, not only illuminating the scene but also completing the textile metaphor. The fireflies become golden threads embroidered onto the dark backdrop of the fog, creating a delicate tapestry of light and shadow. This haiku transcends the purely descriptive, hinting at deeper themes of beauty persisting even in darkness.
Runners-Up: A Symphony of Seasons
The runners-up, presented in seasonal order, offer a diverse range of perspectives and poetic techniques:
Spring’s Renewal and Loss
Sean Hickey’s haiku cleverly intertwines the natural world with social commentary:
Spring in the hedgerows
Magpies busy canceling
Fresh twitter accounts
Germain Droogenbroodt captures the ephemeral nature of beauty and freedom:
How short is freedom
Gained by the cherry blossom
Released from the branch
Tracy Davidson’s haiku presents a poignant image of vulnerability:
Wearily she waves
The white flag of surrender
Cobwebbed butterfly
Summer’s Sensory Delights
Ravi Kivan evokes the simple pleasures of a summer afternoon:
Wisteria bloom
Along a sidewalk café
Coffee in the air
Rachel Nel captures the vibrant energy of a monsoon:
Boughs froth with new blooms
When the monsoon rain sweeps through
Trees toss their bouquets
Roy E. Peterson’s haiku introduces a sense of unease into a peaceful scene:
Bear cubs watching men
Walking through a sylvan glen
The forest shudders
Autumn’s Subtle Transformations
Lisa White’s haiku utilizes a subtle riddle to depict the season:
Hundreds of faces
Turning to sun and to seed
Imperceptibly
Bruce Dale Wise uses a child’s imagination to evoke a summer feeling:
The young boy splashes
In the backyard swimming pool
Facing subs and sharks
Darrell Lindsey offers a whimsical take on autumnal chores:
Watermelon patch
I let the weathered scarecrow
Try on my straw hat
Winter’s Quiet Reflections
Mark Philip Stone pays homage to the Japanese haiku master Issa:
Issa, tonight you
Hold the honored place at my
Table, hungry fly
Several other haiku explore themes of remembrance, fleeting beauty, and the solace of winter: Toshiji Kawagoe’s haiku on the atomic bomb day, Vita’s falling stars, Marek Kozubek’s tranquil lake, Martin Elster’s cricket concert, Mia P. Solomonides’s books, James Ripley’s lonely mallard, Spencer Green’s urban snowfall, and Daniela Misso’s icicle. Linette Eloff closes the seasonal cycle with a haiku hinting at the stirrings of new life beneath the bare branches of winter.
The Art of the Seasonal Reference (Kigo)
Judge Margaret Coats emphasized the importance of the seasonal reference, or kigo, in haiku. She highlighted how the winning haiku and several runners-up effectively integrate seasonal elements, not simply by using specific words from a list, but by creating evocative imagery and allusions that resonate with the reader. This demonstrates the skill and artistry of the poets in capturing the essence of a particular season.
Conclusion: A Celebration of Haiku
The Society of Classical Poets’ 2021 Haiku Competition showcased a rich tapestry of poetic talent. The winning haiku and the diverse collection of runners-up demonstrate the power of this concise form to evoke profound emotions and capture the ephemeral beauty of the natural world. These haiku invite us to pause, reflect, and appreciate the subtle nuances of each season. They remind us of the enduring power of poetry to connect us with nature, with ourselves, and with each other.