The Society of Classical Poets (SCP) has revealed the winners of its 2024 haiku competition, judged by esteemed poets J. Thomas Rimer and Margaret Coats. This prestigious competition showcases the beauty and depth of traditional haiku in English, attracting entries from around the globe. Explore the winning haiku and insightful commentary below, and delve into the world of evocative imagery and concise expression.
Contents
2024 Winning Haiku
middle of winter—
an old friend and I part ways
before a black bridge
—Jason Mackey
Judges’ Commentary on the Winning Haiku
Mackey’s winning haiku paints a stark and poignant picture of loss and transition. Set in the depths of winter, a season symbolic of dormancy and endings, the poem captures the somber parting of two old friends. The “black bridge,” a powerful image of the unknown, serves as both a physical and metaphorical divide. Is it a burned bridge, representing irreparable damage to the friendship? Or does it symbolize a point of no return, a threshold each friend must cross alone? The ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations, adding to the poem’s depth and resonance. The placement of the parting “before” the bridge suggests a shared recognition of the finality of their separation, leaving a lingering question about the future of their relationship.
Runners-Up (in Seasonal Order)
Spring
five red petals fall
stain Demeter’s sobbing snow;
pomegranate Spring
—Emily C. A. Snyder
the first drop of sap
hitting softly the bottom
of an old steel pail
—Jeffrey Ferrara
the start of spring break
all those heavy books stay still
deep in the backpack
—Sebastian Chrobak
a leaf and a worm
lying wet on the wayside
after a spring storm
—Koichi Kazama
Summer
Foam, flashing white, red
Spirit over the waters
Ten thousand fishes
—Aaman Lamba
standing smug and louche
the dandelion strikes a pose
on my well-coiffed lawn
—James Presley
Meadow daisies bow.
Eagles soar, clouds pause, taps play
Rain mingles with tears.
—Catherine Posey
hands scratched and juice-stained
after blackberry picking
spiders re-spin webs
—Mantz Yorke
A flash of lightning
In awe of Mother Nature,
I count the seconds . . .
—Halli Steinberg
I sprint to dinner
warm rain spatters my sweater
leaving cheetah spots . . .
—Cindy Greene
submerged paper boat
the toddler retrieves his tears
from the puddle’s edge
—Nitu Yumnam
Autumn
waves unearthing shells
deeply buried in the sand—
those words left unsaid
—Alvin B. Cruz
Resinous bombshell
Explodes my hammocking daze
A falling pinecone
—Talbot Hook
where stubbled fields wait
cloying mists haunt low hollows
slow plows brow the earth
—David John Etchell
Pumpkin orange moon
perched alone on a tree branch—
nothing rhymes with you
—Mary H. Sayler
Swooshing from red woods
train hoots at curved viaduct
near my parents’ grave
—Miodrag Kojadinović
Winter
Souls lost in shadows,
Chasing echoes through the dark,
Fires fade, cold remains.
—Hannah Xman
mother’s braided hair
the exposed roots of an oak
covered in fresh snow
—Ngo Binh Anh Khoa
Stiff cracks split cold glass
Breaking wintry calm under
Furry moccasins
—Skye Campbell
Further Reflections from the Judges
The judges highlighted the diversity of themes and styles present in the submitted haiku. From the somber reflections on loss and mortality to the playful observations of nature and everyday life, the competition showcased the expressive power of the haiku form. They commended the poets for their skillful use of imagery, sound, and concise language to create evocative and memorable poems. Snyder’s “pomegranate Spring,” for example, draws on classical mythology to create a vibrant image of renewal, while Khoa’s winter haiku beautifully juxtaposes a mother’s braided hair with the exposed roots of an oak tree, layering time and familial connections into a single, poignant image.
Exploring Haiku Further
For those interested in delving deeper into the art of haiku, the SCP recommends several resources, including:
- Haiku Happening by Mary Harwell Sayler
- Mastering Japanese Form Poetry and the American Haiku by E. Owen
- Kyoto Dwelling by Edith Shiffert
- Haiku: The Last Poetry of Richard Wright by Richard Wright
Several translations of classic Japanese haiku are also available from Peter Pauper Press, including Japanese Haiku (free online from the Haiku Foundation), The Four Seasons, Cherry Blossoms, and Haiku Harvest.