On International Haiku Poetry Day I’m pleased to announce the five winners of our 2025 Autumn Equinox Kukai with the theme of ‘Autumn Flowers’. Thanks to all the participants and congratulations to the winners!
First place (72 points): Irina Frolova, Australia
prenatal scan
buds on the camellia
fail to bloom
Second place (41 points): Neena Singh, India
golden wattle…
a girl braids her hair
with sunlight
Third place (40 points): Simon Hanson, Australia
everlastings
the sudden urge
to put flowers in my hair
Fourth place (38 points): Margaret Mahony, Australia
purple pansies
on mother’s grave
a resting butterfly
Fifth place (38 points): Nitu Yumnam, UAE
the squeezed toes
of a newborn
anemone bud
At the close of voting there remained 72 eligible poems. Unfortunately, several participants did not vote and their poems were excluded from the final results.
The winning poem received substantially more points and votes than any other poem.
The kukai was a truly international event, with participants drawn from around the world – 18 countries in total.
Thanks again to all the participants who helped make this event a success.
Leanne Mumford
Convenor, AHS 2025 Autumn Equinox Kuaki
Australian Haiku Society 