December 2006 Kukai Dear Haiku Friends, Here are the results for the December 2006 Kukai, wherein our Kigo subject was "Starry Night" and our Free Format subject was "Memories". Congratulations to Ron Moss, winner of our Kigo section and to Polona Oblak, winner of our Free Format section! The haiku are listed in order of total points received from voters. The numbers reflect the number of voters who gave the haiku either three points, two points, or one point -- followed by the total points for all votes. Those who were given less than three points and who requested anonymity in such a case are so noted. In the listing below, after each poem the author is listed, and then a three digit code revealing how many 3-point, 2-point, and 1-point points were cast for this poem by the other participating poets. (214 = 12) would indicate that the poem above received two 3-point votes, one 2-point vote, and four 1-point votes. December 2006 Results Kigo Theme: Starry Night Free Format Theme: Memories First Place -- 25 pts starry night . . . what's left of my life is enough ron moss (3,7,2) = 25 pts ** This haiku hits the mark completely. Reading it, I immediately felt the radiance of it's fullness and richness. Well done! Second Place -- 18 pts starry night the fox's eyes in the headlights Polona (2,4,4) = 18 pts ** that swift narrowing of focus, and it's all about light counting the ways I could have said goodbye ~ starry night Paul Hodder (1,5,5) = 18 pts Third Place -- 15 pts starry night breathing deeper and deeper Grzegorz Sionkowski (2,3,3) = 15 pts starry night . . . she adds another name to the family tree Francine Banwarth (1,1,10) = 15 pts starry night . . . hot popcorn in white paper cups Carol Raisfeld (1,4,4) = 15 pts ** WOW, It conjures blockbuster entertainment, shared experience, awe, even hunger and satiation; its original and easy for a reader to associate. And then a little more detail - white paper cups - takes it to another level. Very Nice. Fourth Place -- 14 pts starry night a jet blinks across the empty spaces Bill Kenney (1,4,3) = 14 pts starry night the scarecrow's hat gleaming with frost Jacek (1,2,7) = 14 pts starry night: lowering our voices Linda Marucci (1,2,7) = 14 pts Fifth Place -- 13 pts starry night I smooth the goosebumps on her arms RaV (1,2,6) = 13 pts Sixth Place -- 12 pts starry night hearing the snow underfoot Ann K. Schwader (1,3,3) = 12 pts starry night ice crystals sparkle on the sidewalk Warren Gossett (0,3,6) = 12 pts Seventh Place -- 10 pts starry night wail of a trombone from the ninth ward Ellen Compton (1,3,1) = 10 pts starry night; the coolness of quarters while ringing you koast (1,2,3) = 10 pts starry night . . . the scent of fresh snow fallen on the mountain --Michael McClintock (1,1,5) = 10 pts starry night an angel peers through the theater curtain Earl Keener (0,3,4) = 10 pts slice of skates on the frozen lake starry night Ruth Powell (0,1,8) = 10 pts Eighth Place -- 9 pts starry night counting the sleeps until Christmas Susan Constable (0,2,5) = 9 pts ** A clever pun with sleep/sheep instead of a groaner starry night — I locate Polaris through my breath Audrey Downey (0,2,5) = 9 pts Ninth Place -- 8 pts starry night - drifting snow alters the constellations MAM (1,2,1) = 8 pts starry night - - the shimmering riverside lantern procession Daniela Bullas (1,1,3) = 8 pts ** The lights below mirror the lights above-nice visual. starry night... one light missing in the jeweler's neon Keiko Izawa (0,3,2) = 8 pts starry night my neck is tired from looking up Bill Hudson (0,2,4) = 8 pts starry night snow angels and footprints dot an open field -- Karen Cesar (0,0,8) = 8 pts Tenth Place -- 7 pts lighting off the candle on the villa's terrace -- starry sky Tom Maretic (1,1,2) = 7 pts starry night-- the perfume of white flowers Autumn Moon (0,1,5) = 7 pts ** Yes! Yes! We best not disturb them in their peace and quiet. starry night the sparkle in her eyes Meredith (0,1,5) = 7 pts starry night the red kettle filled with pocket change tom painting (0,0,7) = 7 pts Eleventh Place -- 6 pts starry night . . . on every single twig, an ice crystal rainbow mike farley (1,1,1) = 6 pts sleepless night - I scribble a poem amidst the stars Kala Ramesh (1,1,1) = 6 pts cold little hands slip inside my mittens a starry night Barbara Snow (0,2,2) = 6 pts starry night even the crickets are silent only the wall clock Johannes Manjrekar (0,3,0) = 6 pts starry night - the old man counting his years miorita (0,1,4) = 6 pts starry night over new snow trees crack Mike McCulley (0,1,4) = 6 pts starry night -- she blows out the candles with one breath Ana Cadarin (0,0,6) = 6 pts Twelfth Place -- 5 pts starry night -- the doe's breath steams above the ice as she drinks Angela (1,0,2) = 5 pts starry night-- when the meteorite flashes she holds me tighter --LGD (1,0,2) = 5 pts starry night- I blow warmth into the wings of the rescued bird. Cristian Mocanu (0,2,1) = 5 pts starry night Cassiopeia breathing diamonds --Jazmine (0,2,1) = 5 pts one day these bones will lie apart -- starry night Sue Stanford (0,2,1) = 5 pts last call he walks into the starry night aom (0,1,3) = 5 pts starry night . . . in my new Zen book I flip to any page Andrew Riutta (0,1,3) = 5 pts ** a genuinely witty juxtaposition. Starry night your icy toes startling my thigh Yositaka (0,1,3) = 5 pts starry night-- blossoms embroidered on blue silk Tristan Coleridge (0,1,3) = 5 pts starry night fulfilling wishes we never had emile molhuysen (0,0,5) = 5 pts starry night after each pause the cricket a higher octave Bruce Ross (0,0,5) = 5 pts ** After some hesitation, I was won over by what I came to hear as the complexity and expressiveness of the rhythm. Thirteenth Place -- 4 pts starry night-- the window is wet against my cold finger tips Michael (0,2,0) = 4 pts starry night - searching the internet for constellations robert naczas (0,1,2) = 4 pts starry night galaxies of frost in his hair Andria Plowman (0,1,2) = 4 pts starry night I try to listen through Van Gogh's ear Darrell Lindsey (0,1,2) = 4 pts starry night - they are ever so old her grandson explains Jim Swift (0,1,2) = 4 pts ** And I can see Gramma's patient smile as he does this. ** Most kiddy ku are cute or sentimental; this one rings true. Evensong, the church doors open, starry night. Trevor Camp (0,0,4) = 4 pts one last ornament for the listing pine starry night Pris Campbell (0,0,4) = 4 pts starry night under the blanket a flashlight w.f. owen (0,0,4) = 4 pts Fourteenth Place -- 3 pts starry night - my small hand firmly in dad's big paw max verhart (1,0,0) = 3 pts again hand in hand; starry night Magdalena Dale (1,0,3) = 3 pts a cold and starry night with the moon high overhead we wonder what is out there Mr PC (1,0,0) = 3 pts starry night the tugboat's noise fades on the playground martin (0,1,1) = 3 pts starry night - Venus close to the moon il.balan (0,1,1) = 3 pts starry night-- snow's overture William M. Gottlieb (0,1,1) = 3 pts ** I love the anticipation of the snow keenly felt by the word "overture". Beautifully done. Winter landscape so clear in my mind starry night Ashi (0,1,1) = 3 pts the scratch a wool scarf on the back of my neck-- starry night DeVar (0,1,1) = 3 pts starry sky the scream of the owl D.V. Rozic (0,0,3) = 3 pts starry night the moon shivers in the chill Sjs (0,0,3) = 3 pts starry night the twinkle in her eyes when she smiles Karen Briggs (0,0,3) = 3 pts starry night i count my blessings Roberta Beary (0,0,3) = 3 pts First Place -- 25 pts dusty seashell the words he whispered in my ear Polona (1,5,12) = 25 pts Second Place -- 23 pts All Souls' Day I open my father's black umbrella Petar Tchouhov (2,4,9) = 23 pts ** The moment a memory is triggered. "open" is such an eloquent word here. Third Place – 20 pts gran’s handwriting I email my daughter her recipe -- ushi (0,6,8) = 20 pts ** Finding the recipes brings out a daughter’s memories of her mother, and then the email brings out the granddaughter’s memories of two people. Well done! . Fourth Place -- 14 pts memories-- wondering if all of them are true Mary Lee McClure (0,4,6) = 14 pts **Bravo. I'm not sure all mine are true! Reading this I had to LOL. So true, so true. Fifth Place -- 13 pts falling star his last words in a foreign tongue Susan Constable (0,6,1) = 13 pts box of crayons how hard I tried to keep within the lines --Irene Golas (0,4,5) = 13 pts Sixth Place -- 12 pts frosty morning the children smoke pretend cigarettes -- Karen Cesar (0,1,10) = 12 pts retirement - no need to remember the name of today Jim Swift (0,1,10) = 12 pts Seventh Place -- 11 pts stalactite the first time my heart was broken Agnes Eva Savich (1,4,0) = 11 pts ** Would have given you more pts. if possible. Ouch, the sharp pain....so simply yet fully captured. **A stalactite will do it if anything will. But the poet lets us define the exact connection. fallen leaves - two names carved upon the tree il.balan (1,2,4) = 11 pts talking about her... a trace of honey on your lips Ana Cadarin (0,3,5) = 11 pts Eighth Place -- 10 pts memories grandma asks who I am Carmel Lively Westerman (1,0,7) = 10 pts Ninth Place -- 9 pts relapse- these wet streets just as dark Andrew Riutta (1,1,4) = 9 pts **It may help if you've been there, but I find this incredibly powerful. memories: I open the door; no one there Linda Marucci (0,3,3) = 9 pts wedding photo i tell myself we were happy -Roberta Beary (0,2,5) = 9 pts Tenth Place -- 8 pts his high school picture still in my wallet MIA 1972 Sjs (1,1,3) = 8 pts obituaries... was it seventh or eighth grade English class we shared Joann (1,1,3) = 8 pts remembering him a leaf falls a butterfly rises brephoenix (0,3,2) = 8 pts empty house once filled with voices winter day Beth Powell (0,1,6) = 8 pts Eleventh Place -- 7 pts depressed wild flowers between the leaves of a book; my first tryst Magdalena Dale (2,0,1) = 7 pts sand beaches surviving in these sandals; Indian summer koast (2,0,1) = 7 pts Christmas Day-- wood smoke and memories mingle in the fireplace Tristan Coleridge (1,1,2) = 7 pts trembling hands dad points out where each ship was Pearl Harbor Edward (1,1,2) = 7 pts ** A great theme addressed and powerfully worded too. "Alzheimer" -- a snowflake winks into the sidewalk Earl Keener (0,2,3) = 7 pts leaving ... my mother's hand colder oga (0,0,7) = 7 pts Twelfth Place -- 6 pts granny's funeral our tears run swifter than memories john tiong chunghoo (1,1,1) = 6 pts every day ~ passing the street where she died Paul Hodder (1,1,1) = 6 pts memories -- the old woman's mouth closed like a drawstring bag Sue Stanford (0,2,2) = 6 pts ** Wonderful visual. Imitating this Ku I find feelings of sadness and loneliness. Wonderful job. fireflies twinkle in the old milk jug that first kiss... Pris Campbell (0,1,4) = 6 pts after the funeral we serve food on Mom's favorite platter Leslie Montgomery (0,1,4) = 6 pts graduation remembering her first baby steps Meredith (0,1,4) = 6 pts I can't remember struggling so hard before to remember Johannes Manjrekar (0,2,2) = 6 pts gift wrappings blaze in the fireplace again gourdman (0,2,2) = 6 pts no snowflakes only a few notes of silent night Jul (0,2,2) = 6 pts Thirteenth Place -- 5 pts memories - in granny's flat-iron sepia photographs D.V. Rozic (1,1,0) 5 pts eating kale - back at grandma's table longing for home max verhart (1,1,0) = 5 pts memories changing like the leaves the truth fades DJK (1,1,0) = 5 pts old home place - a blackened chimney twined in wisteria Nancy Smith (1,0,2) = 5 pts new mattress arrives your indentation goes out with the old one Elizabeth Fanto (1,0,2) = 5 pts tearful stare she holds the old letter from western union Bill Hudson (0,2,1) = 5 pts he always sang rummy tum tum rummy tum tum my tipsy caroler doris kasson (0,2,1) = 5 pts Evening, thoughts of yesterday. We both smile. Trevor Camp (0,2,1) = 5 pts ** Very good. I (we) have done this often. coffee trees... thick with white blossoms memories of snow shanna (0,2,1) = 5 pts Closing the eyes - I meet again my childhood miorita (0,1,3) = 5 pts old photo your face as a child little sister Ruth Powell (0,1,3) = 5 pts wedding anniversary-- remembering how we used to do it ash of moth (0,1,3) = 5 pts Fourteenth Place -- 4 pts I carry it home after my brother's wake his mushroom basket Francine Banwarth (0,2,0) = 4 pts carved jade mother buries in my hand a good luck charm Audrey Downey (0,1,2) = 4 pts memories linger... sunsets we no longer share MAM (0,1,2) = 4 pts over the minefield autumn wind bending the grass ... and my memories Boris Nazansky (0,1,2) = 4 pts late winter children's fridge art now pastel Alice Frampton (0,0,4) = 4 pts spring alley -- old lilacs breathe seventeen Ann K. Schwader (0,0,4) = 4 pts Fifteenth Place -- 3 pts nursing home my father turning over a memory tom painting (1,0,0) = 3 pts Valentine's Day- on her coat an immortelle just since then Vasile Moldovan (1,0,0) = 3 pts Christmas past river traffic lights up the window rain martin (0,1,1) = 3 pts baby's bib -- my father learns first steps again miriam chaikin (0,1,1) = 3 pts new puppy curled up with a clock fast asleep --Senile Butterfly (0,1,1) = 3 pts sandpiper tracks decorate the beach then high-tide Mike McCulley (0,1,1) = 3 pts that first bite of the wild apple -- old, old memories Michael McClintock (0,1,1) = 3 pts writing my memoirs: so much of the forgotten gets recollected Zhanna P. Rader (0,1,1) = 3 pts Thanks to all the poets who participated in the December kukai. We wish you lovely holidays! Those who signed up for the Nengajyou card exchange, thank you! We are looking forward to receiving them. The January Call for Submissions will be posted on or about Monday, January 1. We look forward to hearing from you then! Thanks again to you all! With appreciation, Robert and Jennie, co-secretaries Gary Warner, web host Participate in the Shiki Monthly Kukai by choosing a link below How it Works Most Recent Results Current Kukai Topics Kukai Archives An explanation of how the kukai functions. The results of our most recent month! Click here to learn about THIS month's kukai. Previous month's results.