A big thank you to everyone who entered the Australian Haiku Society’s “Spring Flowers” haiku contest in August. This was the first time we conducted a contest to correspond with the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival. The contest was open to haiku poets around Australia and attracted 54 entries, with all states and the ACT represented (ACT: 3, NSW: 23, QLD: 5, SA: 2, TAS: 6, VIC:11, WA: 4). Poets who entered were a mix of established and less experienced poets, including at least nine children – seven from one school and two siblings.
We were pleased to receive multiple high quality entries. The overwhelming majority of poems entered contained engaging sensory observations related to spring flowers. The poems that really stood out brought fresh images and unexpected approaches to the theme. Many entrants demonstrated a strong grasp of contemporary English-language haiku craft, but about 30% adhered to the outdated 5-7-5 syllable pattern, resulting in poems that were often unfocused, with too much competing detail and choppy rhythm. The winning poems show what can be achieved with succinctly expressed sensory images juxtaposed in a clear fragment & phrase structure.
The lead judge was Vanessa Proctor, former AHS President (2016-2020), assisted by Leanne Mumford, current AHS President. Nick O’Connor, current AHS Secretary, announced the results at the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival at Auburn Botanic Gardens on 24th August 2026.
FIRST PLACE
bush reserve
the bowed heads
of orchid hunters
– Jane Williams, Tasmania
Vanessa’s comment: This haiku by Jane Williams represents an event which is not seen every day, a group of ‘orchid hunters’ busy looking for orchids. As it’s a bush reserve, we can assume that they are looking for these delicate native flowers in order to study and photograph them. They are looking down through leaf litter and their “bowed heads” suggest a reverence for these delicate and hidden flowers and for the wider natural world. It is a collective ‘aha’ that resonates beyond the moment to a particular way of living in harmony with nature. This is a unique and deeply satisfying haiku..
Leanne’s comment: this haiku presents a fresh exploration of the theme. The setting of the opening line presents a place where we may encounter nature in a fairly wild state, so the ‘bowed heads’ of the second line are intriguing. The concluding line shows us the value of the bush reserve that protects rare plants. Besides indicating the concentrated efforts of the hunters, the ‘bowed heads’ may echo the shape of the flowers being sought.
SECOND PLACE
bottlebrush bloom-
a lorikeet leaves
wearing pollen
– Alizetta Dawson, NSW
Vanessa’s comment: Rainbow lorikeets hold a special place in the hearts of many Australians. The cheeky personality of these small parrots is very much evident in Alizetta Dawson’s poem, which leaves us with a comical image of the colourful bird foraging for nectar and pollen, then hopping or flying away from the bottlebrush smeared with pollen.
Leanne’s comment: this is a vivid, colourful poem, very in keeping with the seasonal theme, but approaching it in a fresh and light way, with welcome humour.
THIRD PLACE
magnolia petals
I leave the rake
where it is
– Edwina Cowdery, NSW
Vanessa’s comment: This lovely haiku by Edwina Cowdery presents a quiet moment of personal reflection. We are all so busy ‘doing’ that it is easy to forget to appreciate the world around us, but the poet here stops to appreciate the beauty of the creamy magnolia petals, abandoning the rake and the need to tidy the garden.
Leanne’s comment: the petals have fallen and should be detritus, but their lingering beauty captivates the gardener and distracts her from her task. There is a deep sense of letting nature be to just do its thing at this moment, as the gardener actively surrenders to the experience.
HIGHLY COMMENDED – no particular order
eleven
dotting the i in her name
with a daisy
– Simon Hanson, Tasmania
budding wattle
his wish to live until
the spring
– Jan Dobb, ACT
puffs of wattle
fifty thousand years
of bush tucker
– Catherine Smith, NSW
COMMENDED – no particular order
a golden smudge
on the frosty hillside —
wattle blossom
– Kent Robinson, NSW
a small foot kicks
on the ultrasound
budding cherry
– Marietta McGregor, ACT
scorched petals
in the updraft
bushfires rush on
– Duncan Richardson, Queensland
For poets who are looking to improve the chances of your work being awarded or published in future, we encourage you to make the most of the many worthwhile resources to study and learn from, such as from the Australian Haiku Society: Quendryth Young’s introductory haiku workshop. Various e-books by Australian poets and a wide variety of other resources can be accessed at The Haiku Foundation under the ‘Learn’ and ‘Explore’ menus.
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