Best of Volume 7 (7:1 & 7:2)

Judges: Astrid Andreescu and Kristen Lindquist
 
Haiku Moment Award 2024 (Best of Volume 7)
 
this longing
to hold my baby . . .
ghost apples
      Rowan Beckett, USA
 
Comments: (Astrid): It’s rare that a haiku is so strongly poignant and artistic at the same time. Definitely the winner!
(Kristen): This moving haiku demonstrates the perfect marriage of a fresh and evocative nature image with a deep-felt human emotion.
 
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
 
the subtle curl
of a cormorant’s wing tip
 – gathering dusk
      Maxianne Berger, Canada
 
Comments: (Astrid): A beautiful nature haiku observing a minute detail that produced a haiku moment in the author.
(Kristen): The detail of the black wingtip juxtaposed with “gathering dusk” gives this a delicate ambiguity.
 
almost breaking
a vow of silence
first snow
      Shawn Blair, USA
 
Comments: (Astrid): The silence of snow is a bit of a cliché, but this haiku breaks the cliché beautifully!
(Kristen): Is the viewer or the falling snow almost breaking the silence? A resonant moment to linger in.
 
this long journey
to healing . . .
cactus blossoms
 
mahabang paglalakbay
patungo sa paghilom . . .
bulaklak ng cactus
     Alvin B. Cruz, Philippines
 
Comments: (Astrid): The author deftly conveys the suffering of an illness and the joy of healing, finally.
(Kristen): Flowers offer such welcome if infrequent beauty in the desert—a lovely image to evoke a return to health after the long “dry spell” of recovery.
 
late winter storm
the duck’s neck bends
to her wing
      Lynn Edge, USA
 
Comments: (Astrid): Another classic nature haiku with fine observation by the author.
(Kristen): The duck’s bent neck is an image of such vulnerability here we can’t help but empathize.
 
 
 
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
 
wild violets
the deer trail deeper
into spring
     Jenny Ward Angyal, USA
 
 
sunflowers lean
towards the sky
this urge for peace
 
i girasoli s’innalzano
verso il sole
questo bisogno di pace
    Mariangela Canzi, Italy
 
no home
to go back to
spring stars
 
nessuna casa
dove tornare
stelle primaverili
    Concetta Conti, Italy
 
 
a little boy steps
into his father’s shoes
first snow
 
ang hakbang ng bata
sa sapatos ng ama
unang nyebe
      Alvin Cruz, The Philippines
 
 
her voice
in full-throated song
the river at dusk
      Seth Friedman, Canada
 
the glow
of a distant star . . .
her last departure
 
il bagliore
di una stella lontana . . .
la sua ultima partenza
     Eufemia Griffo, Italy
 
 
winter seaside
an empty shell welcomes
my solitude
 
mare d’inverno
una conchiglia vuota accoglie
la mia solitudine
      Oscar Luparia, Italy
​
kingfisher
just enough stream
for a song
     Matthew Markworth, USA
 
starless night
reading bedtime stories
to dad again
 
তারাহীন রাত
ঘুমপাড়ানি গল্প শোনাই
বাবাকে আবার
     Jharna Sanyal, India
 
cherry blossom
the hidden shape
of a birdsong
 
kersenbloesem
de verborgen vorm
van een vogelliedje
     Joanne van Helvoort, The Netherlands
 
morning star
my prayer for peace
inaudible
     Susan Yavaniski, USA