The Shiki Monthly Kukai

May 2010 Kukai

Here are the results for the May 2010 Kukai, wherein our Kigo subject was Fishing and our Free Format subject was Peace.

Congratulations to Michael McClintock, winner of our Kigo section and to Angele Lux, winner of our Free Format section!

Those who were given less than three points and who requested anonymity in such a case are so noted.

(2,1,4 = 12) would indicate that the poem above received two 3-point votes, one 2-point vote, and four 1-point votes.

Voters comments are in italics below the respective poems.

May 2010 Results
Kigo Theme: Fishing	Free Format Theme: Peace
First Place — 34 Points fishing the shallows hip-deep in white clouds Michael McClintock (2,10,8) = 34 pts Second Place — 22 Points fishing alone I cast a thought on the stream Bill Kenney (0,7,8) = 22 pts Nice expansion of the verb "cast" here... love the thought of that thought, arcing out over the water. Third Place — 19 Points fishing a rainbow out of the blue Ben Gieske (2,2,9) = 19 pts A "language haiku" that also works as an image. Well formed and within everyone's experience. Fourth Place — 17 Points watching hour — the crescent hangs in the fish hook Vasile Moldovan (3,2,4) = 17 pts Fifth Place — 16 Points after the splashing... the shape in the heron's neck aom (tim) (0,4,8) = 16 pts Sixth Place — 15 Points sliced lemons — the faint scent of trout still on my hands DeVar (1,1,10) = 15 pts Well formed and within everyone's experience. city dock two gulls ignore the no-fishing sign Roberta Beary (0,3,9) = 15 pts Seventh Place — 13 points fishing together a father and his son... the same line Keith A. Simmonds (1,2,6) = 13 pts fly fishing the shadows cast downstream Darrell Lindsey (0,4,5) = 13 pts Eighth Place — 12 Points annual fishing trip — the salmon story growing longer each year Nancy Nitrio (0,4,4) = 12 pts gathering dusk; the netted trout twitches — one last time. manoj saranathan (0,4,4) = 12 pts montana sky in the arc of the fly rod a rainbow Edward (0,3,6) = 12 pts So many things come together in this moment, suggesting even to a non-angler the powerful lure (pun not intended but acknowledged) of fishing. Ninth Place — 11 Points old trout belly to belly with the sun Nicole Hyde (0,3,5) = 11 pts A bit extravagant, perhaps, but it catches the mood in the moment. As above so below. Tenth Place — 10 Points fish market — an old lady counting her money Juhani Tikkanen (0,4,2) = 10 pts dawn... the first catch spreading sunshine Rob Scott (0,3,4) = 10 pts Eleventh Place — 7 Points lit fish stall open mouths darken in the night martin (1,1,2) = 7 pts Many layers of reading and meaning here. My favourite in both sections this month! breathless pond — just the wiggling ears of a fishing cat Gryta Wansdronk (1,1,2) = 7 pts flooded gulley — he fishes for his sandal with a stick Caleb Mutua (1,1,2) = 7 pts oh so relaxed, the fishing pole just a prop Ellen Romano (1,0,4) = 7 pts opening day . . . her creel overflows with watercress Bill Pauly (1,0,4) = 7 pts The Goddess' own. a perch on the hook — the eyes of my father in his deathbed Origa (0,3,1) = 7 pts I knew from the moment I first read this that there was a good chance it would make my final list. Gut-wrenching and spot on. tug o' war the trout on my line the loon on my trout maxianne berger (0,2,3) = 7 pts Twelfth Place — 6 Points dusk a smallmouth takes the surface plug Tom Painting (1,1,1) = 6 pts family folklore father casts a tall tale to his daughter Anne Curran (1,1,1) = 6 pts High-tide now — the whole ocean where I'd stood casting Keith Woodruff (1,0,3) = 6 pts on the pier a coquette, fishing for compliments Cara Holman (0,2,2) = 6 pts fishing expedition — the little one learning patience Barbara Campitelli (0,2,2) = 6 pts the line crossed one angler curses another Michele L. Harvey (0,1,4) = 6 pts mosquito bites the tip of my fishing rod dips again Laurene (0,1,4) = 6 pts river bank the fisherman concentrates on his day dream Audrey Downey (0,1,4) = 6 pts Thirteenth Place — 5 Points streaks of cloud a salmon darting in and out of shadow Catherine J.S. Lee (0,1,3) = 5 pts cusp of moon . . . tossing fish heads to the pelicans Francine Banwarth (0,0,5) = 5 pts Fourteenth Place — 4 Points backwater fog I enter into the shadow ahead Donna Bauerly (0,2,0) = 4 pts fishing arguing with the earthworm again… dbdewfall (0,1,2) = 4 pts airport approach — a fishing boat and its gulls in the morning haze Isabelle Prondzynski (0,1,2) = 4 pts fly-fishing the slow move of a tail fin og_a (0,1,2) = 4 pts strangers rubbing shoulders on a bridge the salmon run Garry Eaton (0,0,4) = 4 pts with each flash of lightning :::::::GONE FISHING:::::::: on the Barber's door Ron Moss (0,0,4) = 4 pts Fifteenth Place — 3 Points brook trout leaps ringlet to ringlet — hapless mayfly if (0,1,1) = 3 pts the float twitches it's just the new moon unhooking itself Boris Nazansky (0,1,1) = 3 pts our new cat ... urgent restock of neighbour's koi pond andrea (0,1,1) = 3 pts catching my reflection the largest koi j blain (0,1,1) = 3 pts fishermans reflection... catch of the day eric (0,0,3) = 3 pts Fathers Day bright new set of lures same old fishing hat Meredith Stern Cavalieri (0,0,3) = 3 pts morrow moon he fillets his catch of the day on yesterday’s news Angele Lux (0,0,3) = 3 pts Although I might have tightened up the last two lines to "filleting today's catch/on yesterday's news". Still I liked this. Sixteenth Place — 2 Points Clouds dance- the moon safe from the waves from the first trawl Oprica Padeanu (0,1,0) = 2 pts Only fisherman casting rumors into soaking-wet moon Kurt R. W. (0,1,0) = 2 pts dusk already… at the end of the line a plastic bag Barbara A Taylor (0,0,2) = 2 pts morning sun the pelican’s head returns atop the wave C.P. Harrison (0,0,2) = 2 pts fly fishing a water skater makes waves Harvey Jenkins (0,0,2) = 2 pts shrimp boats docked at the harbor... oil on the water A Dharma Bum (0,0,2) = 2 pts Seventeenth Place — 1 Point Hidden behind fronds, winter fish play dead, fishermen leave. Jean Lewis fishing net bulging — cold light in the fishes' eyes John McDonald The carp and the trout are swimming worryless- The fisherman is a poet Dan Norea grey creek — a rainbow trout at the end of fishing line Jacek M overcast morning the subdued glow of fish scales clinging to the net Anonymous fishing we break each night crawler into four pieces Anonymous Two old anglers. Wait. Release. Wait. A boat goes by Ralf Bröker am i fat? he squirms before answering Terra Martin chicken liver on my young son's fish hook — his anticipation... Anonymous children at the puddle with sticks and balls of white bread Diane Mayr gotcha! hooked up by the same thought angler and fish Dejan Pavlinovic rising trout — one mayfly is feathered James Dobson blushing dawn in silver mirrors first spring mackerel Jon Espen Vassbotn I Like how the "silver mirrors" suggest a silver mackerel in the last line. mayflies on the angler's hook rainbows on his mind Amicus heading home seagulls in our wake gutting cod Ruth Powell nibbling my sushi the koi in the tank watch deanna tief paddles at rest over their beds bluegill hover Jennifer Corpe setting day dance lobster fishers with girls in their arms Beth Powell near dusk — filling up my fishing net a dragon fly Kaiser praising it over the picnic table his prize-winning fish carol pearce-worthington No points this time, sorry. naval cadets master the waves in bay — fishing nude R.K. Singh far out fishing 200 meter line at the breaking point Erik Boye leaping out of the river into the pan into the fire miriam chaikin fishing call — a tube shaped net of whale bubbles Jan Jordan dragonfly lilypad jiggles koi snacks Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black flooded park the fisher reels in a spoiled load of bread mechaieh pretty in pink at the senior prom fishing for compliments Mary E. Gray Big old frog Jumps into the pond — Stork is disappointed. Geoffrey A. Landis whip of the line a Royal Coachman in the eddy Barbara Snow clouds over the lake : a kingfisher emerges from the shadow with the catch vishnu p kapoor fishing lines cast waist-high in water anglers wait Frances McCarthy rainy morning — a child trying to catch fish at the damside Stephen Macharia otter from far shore swimming toward my fish! Kaylene a flurry of fish high above gannets line up for the catch Elaine Riddell wood chip smoker on the patio — salmon not yet caught Leslie Montgomery an osprey floats high above river edge treetops fishing gourdman Garden pond, cat strokes the water — fish wave back. Trevor Camp hold full of herring storm’s lone survivor limps in price is high this year Deirdre Godwin boy watches heron watching for a glint on the water Alegria cast, reel, tug — my line empty the pelican's bill full Terri L. French spreading nets in a tranquil river creates ripples. bushra naqi chasing goldfish to clean the tank — fleeting sun Marylouise Knight flowing river — fishermen casts their nets deeper Edith Peacock clouds scud — a may pole angling toward pisces Anonymous a tug on the line — I smile at his excitement but still think: weeds Anonymous Storm on the sea — the fisherman leaves for home by the empty net Miorita preening older man fishing for compliments from the ladies Hazel A. Witherspoon pelican flying over unaware of goo-goo-eyed fishermen Stella	First Place — 22 Points window moon — the quiet sound between tick and tock Angele Lux (1,5,9) = 22 pts Second Place — 19 Points in the garden that was her life ... birdsong Carol Raisfeld (3,2,6) = 19 pts "the garden / that was her life" says a lot. A genuinely touching tribute. Third Place -- 16 Points evening walk — leaving the house to come home again Marylouise Knight (0,3,10) = 16 pts Such sweetness here, both in the freedom to leave and in having a home to return to. Fourth Place — 15 Points Memorial Park — alone with the silence of the fountain Isabelle Prondzynski (1,3,6) = 15 pts Fifth Place — 14 Points new roof the steady rhythm of raindrops Terra Martin (0,3,8) = 14 pts Lovely. To lie back safely dry and enjoy the soothing sounds. Sixth Place — 13 Points wishing well — moonlight deep into the water aom (tim) (0,2,9) = 13 pts This suggests more than it says, which is entirely appropriate to the theme. sudden shower — silence of the lawnmowers andrea (0,2,9) = 13 pts Seventh Place — 12 Points summer breeze his ashes swirl in figure eights tf (1,2,5) = 12 pts quietly rocking away the day new grandmother Roberta Beary (1,1,7) = 12 pts Evocative - I can see, hear, and feel this so clearly. morning fog trapped inside the quiet rob scott (1,0,9) = 12 pts sunset . . . my silent amen Francine Banwarth (0,2,8) = 12 pts Awesomely simply. Eighth Place — 10 Points the scent of lilacs drifts through the screen porch mom closes her book Edward (0,2,6) = 10 pts A moment away from a moment away - lovely. first snow before daybreak the silence C.P.Harrison (0,2,6) = 10 pts Been done before? Well, yes, but rarely more elegantly. So soft, so snug, this serenity. Ninth Place — 9 Points early morning peace coffee steam curls in the sun j blain (0,3,3) = 9 pts snow flurries . . . the spaces between a mother’s soft words Ron Moss (0,2,5) = 9 pts Tenth Place — 8 Points after the quarrel harmony and red lips dbdewfall (1,2,1) = 8 pts Sunday morning campus the cathedral of old trees Audrey Downey (0,1,6) = 8 pts Eleventh Place — 7 Points day’s end an offshore breeze dimples the lake Tom Painting (1,1,2) = 7 pts together the silence of the stars listening Elaine Riddell (0,1,5) = 7 pts Twelfth Place — 6 Points peace on the sign of each protester Beth Powell (1,0,3) = 6 pts easter moon still the rising not forgotten Barbara A Taylor (0,2,2) = 6 pts This must be the Irish Easter Rising. A lovely enigmatic and very memorable haiku. dusk — in lilac bush roosting sparrows Alegria (0,2,2) = 6 pts zen garden — the eternal sameness of movement Nancy Smith (0,2,2) = 6 pts rolling seas the long line of lights inside the harbor Michael McClintock (0,1,4) = 6 pts silent night — my cat rubs her head on my knuckles Vivian Adhiambo (0,1,4) = 6 pts What cat lover could resist this? peace rally . . . candle to candle we pass the light Bill Pauly (0,1,4) = 6 pts Thirteenth Place — 5 Points I leave alone the leaves on his grave mechaieh (1,0,2) = 5 pts peace the cricket finally sleeps April Serock (1,0,2) = 5 pts This brought a rueful nod of recognition. lightning flashes birds and crickets halt their song Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black (0,1,3) = 5 pts cool breeze moonlight rippling my way Bill Kenney (0,1,3) = 5 pts I love "rippling my way" Fourteenth Place — 4 Points At dead of night the crickets' chirp dies down- peace and quiet Vasile Moldovan (1,0,1) = 4 pts evening sighs the sound of wind through pines Cara Holman (0,1,2) = 4 pts uneasy peace — together in bed one back faces the other vishnu p kapoor (0,1,2) = 4 pts in the spider web the last twitch Ben Gieske (0,1,2) = 4 pts soundless in the night museum Wyeth’s boots Nicole Hyde (0,1,2) = 4 pts just as I was thinking of everything wrong with the world — cherry blossoms! John Thompson (0,0,4) = 4 pts first killing frost at last I can stop gardening Donna Bauerly (0,0,4) = 4 pts Every gardener will recognize this. I Love this honest perspective on gardening as both a pleasure and a series of never-ending 'shoulds' flowing from mother's breast nightly silence Dejan Pavlinovic (0,0,4) = 4 pts wind chimes at dawn I note my newborn's Buddha smile Amicus (0,0,4) = 4 pts Original Face koan so much more comforting than Original Sin. dark night stepping out the back door into peace Ruth Powell (0,0,4) = 4 pts Resonant for me - "into peace" as its own line has a "just right" feel. Fifteenth Place — 3 Points frightened, i turned on the light nothing there . . . miriam chaikin (1,0,0) = 3 pts beer in hand over the bones of thousands boasting peace R.K. Singh (0,1,1) = 3 pts clash the moment she smiles Ralf Bröker (0,1,1) = 3 pts drifting clouds — a tree swaying silently from side to side Samuel Pirias (0,1,1) = 3 pts new song for a new day — the rain washed thrush carol pearce-worthington (0,1,1) = 3 pts Robin's song... the baby finally drifts off to sleep Michele L. Harvey (0,0,3) = 3 pts Sixteenth Place — 2 Points the white dove flies -- a dark shadow over an orphan's tear Lucas Graczewski (0,1,0) = 2 pts Guns are still, weeds grow in silence where her home once stood. Jean Lewis (0,0,2) = 2 pts cherry blossoms floating upon the dawn ~ peace offerings Keith A. Simmonds (0,0,2) = 2 pts calm grey rain pink mallow in a clay pot seeking nothing Sheila K. Barksdale (0,0,2) = 2 pts It's the last line that raises this one. the gentle creaking from the old rocking chair... peaceful memories eric (0,0,2) = 2 pts stolen afternoon... toes and other things lost in the sand Diane Mayr (0,0,2) = 2 pts no barking in the countryside — lime trees in blossom Kaiser (0,0,2) = 2 pts TV turned off in the carpet sunspot a cat belly-up Anonymous (0,0,2) = 2 pts Seventeenth Place — 1 Point now that you are gone the house is strangely quiet and oh so peaceful if flickering incident tape - peace lilies sway in the breeze john McDonald The sky in water — the mild sun by the lotus flower Dan Norea venetian blind cutting swaths of yellow the sun drifts in maxianne berger unpracticed year anticipating good things accepting what comes Barbara Snow eternal flame at the war memorial... piercing quietude natalia kuznetsova twilight fades birdsong stills night cloaks the garden Frances McCarthy graduation after the party deafening silence Anonymous baroque music — the serenity of making rosaries Barbara Campitelli spring breeze — another turtle arrives to the pond Israel Lopez Balan quiet day at the cemetery a mockingbird sings Anonymous children asleep — tranquility shines on our house James Dobson after a dinner a sudden fart — then a deep peace Juhani Tikkanen vernal equinox neighbors together tear down the spite fence Catherine J.S. Lee drizzling morning — ants slowly rebuild their soggy nest together Patrick Wafula morning breeze — water lilies swaying on stagnant water Abraham Muuo green land — two weaverbirds building a nest together Beryl Achieng red-winged blackbird feet slightly wet standing on a lily pad Stella In the garden — my grandma listens the bird’s song Miorita Asleep on sun-baked shingles, well-fed stray Kurt R. W. end of war the world seen through eyes grown older Ellen Romano No points this time, sorry. Israel's P.M. welcomes progress towards peace talks talks Horst Ludwig in conversation Bono, Blair, and Gates leave the economic summit Anne the soldier — the girl saying no his peace away Gryta Wansdronk After convalescence Husband back at work Quiet house Mary E. Gray collecting scarred memories cobalt blue sea glass Garry Eaton spring rain the fresh colors of flowers on my hippie van Jacek M hide and seek — children secretly agree where to hide James Bundi lotus blossoms morning pond untouched dew Jennifer Stefanow warm calm day watching ladybugs sunbathing Kaylene headphones during her surgery — Bach cello suites Leslie Montgomery lilac bloom enters a third week while spinach graces the table gourdman Make a Zen garden, move pea gravel all day long. The stone Buddha smiles. Trevor Camp quiet zendo; moving from zafu to zafu- spring sunlight ! manoj saranathan woodstove afternoon outside fog and dripping trees warmth and love within Deirdre Godwin stained glass display the church choir sings Hallelujah Harvey Jenkins Bombing in Baghdad fields growing fat on corpses Mark Lonergan in a verdant valley serenity sits pondering on itself bushra naqi imagine butter melting on top of your head warming ears lids lips William a green bike against the red brick wall at last, no wind DeVar traffic jam roll down the window a whiff of honeysuckle--ahhh Terri L. French new pet — the rhythmic dove coos under our bed Caleb Mutua golden dawn — birds singing among sesbania trees Annastacia Muthini breezy morning — six kids pull wheels in the mud Alex Wanambisi no peace in the house until he can get outside, check on his seedlings Anonymous a board book and the baby's warm head autumn rain Jennifer Corpe drama roomie gone palpable peace permeates a wearied house Hazel A. Witherspoon a dove alights upon the trellis... the scent of newborn roses A Dharma Bum my nap cut short by my neighbor’s mower all tranquility lost Meredith Stern Cavalieri General Comments The theme, Peace, brought out a number of interesting variations. Many haiku in the free format section had very nice images, but needed better editing to be contenders for me. #59 could have an interesting 2nd line pivot if the dash was removed & an "a" was added. #74 needs to be pared down to essential words. e.g. ants rebuild / their soggy nest / . . . morning drizzle OR soggy morning . . . / ants rebuilding / their nest. Others had evocative images, but when read closely, all 3 lines were really part of one single image rendered basically as a sentence (free format #18, 91, 97 - kigo #57). These all have potential - they just need some more technical editing! I had a more difficult time writing and judging this one. Peace can be difficult to define and to capture in words. There were so many different aspects of Peace portrayed in each one of these haiku gems that it was very hard for me to pick the best ones. I narrowed my choices down but I would have given all the points to several more of them if I could. have. Nice work done by each poet. It isn't fair, I tell ya--some of these people have actually gone fishing! There were many good ones in the Kigo section this time. I had a hard time choosing!

Thank you for participating in the May 2010 Kukai!

We will announce the June Call for Submissions on Sunday, June 6, 2010. See you then!

With much appreciation,

Robert and George

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