haikuoz – the enjoyment of haiku
by Janice M Bostok
Perched upon the temple bell
the butterfly sleeps 1
Buson was originally named Taniguchi Buson (pronounced boo-sahn). He later changed his name to Yosa Buson. It appears he had more than one pen-name or ‘go’ throughout his lifetime. (Particularly as there are various seals that he used on his paintings.)
by Janice M Bostok
Most of you who have heard of the short Japanese poem haiku will no doubt have heard of the haiku master Matsuo Bashõ. He is considered the first of the four Japanese masters who are the pillars of the development of the haiku poem. In the west, we are probably first introduced to him in translation and many of us say we fell in love with haiku because of Bashõ’s work. Of course, there has been much more development of the haiku over the years in Japan, but this is the starting point where we are introduced to haiku and become serious about wanting to write it in English.
Judge: Billie Wilson, Juneau, Alaska
FIRST PLACE
summer dawn
the bones of the bonfire
charred black
~Kate Bosek-Sill, Rochester, NY
A new day is dawning, and the remains of this fire remind us that yesterday is gone forever—as fully consumed as the wood (the “bones”) of that bonfire. There is a nice edge of wondering why the fire was built. The use of “bones” is not only intriguing within the haiku, but within the context of etymology, since “bonfire” comes from the medieval “bone-fire.” This is an excellent poem to be read aloud. The inner play of the long “o” sound of “bones” with the short “o” in “bonfire—the near-rhyme of “dawn” and bonfire”—and the alliteration of “b” words in the second and third lines—add layers of pleasing sound.
SECOND PLACE
whaling station—
the weight of rust
on the snowline
~Ron Moss, Tasmania, Australia
An unusual topic. The freshness of the material is appealing, and the juxtaposition is compelling. Even in abandonment, the very existence of this station “weighs” heavily against human history. The damage done is powerfully captured in understatement: that feather-light rust is like blood against the snow.
Continue reading “RESULTS FROM 2007 ANITA SADLER WEISS MEMORIAL HAIKU AWARDS”
And the congratulations keep coming… Haiku Oz would like to congratulate Peter Macrow for his recent success in the Rain Haiku competition.
Peter’s haiku:
waiting
for spring rain to stop
I clean the shower
has been selected to be published in a forthcoming anthology of the winning entries.
And the congratulations keep coming… Haiku Oz would like to congratulate Peter Macrow for his recent success in the Rain Haiku competition.
Peter’s haiku:
waiting
for spring rain to stop
I clean the shower
has been selected to be published in a forthcoming anthology of the winning entries.
Haiku Oz would also like to announce the success of another Australian haiku poet, Ynes Sanz. Ynes is also one of the eight poets selected to have their haiku published on a haiku umbrella as part of the rain Haiku competition.
Her haiku:
under the thunderhead
throwing a last stick
to the dogs
Congratulations Ynes!
Haiku Oz would also like to announce the success of another Australian haiku poet, Ynes Sanz. Ynes is also one of the eight poets selected to have their haiku published on a haiku umbrella as part of the rain Haiku competition.
Her haiku:
under the thunderhead
throwing a last stick
to the dogs
Congratulations Ynes!
Australian haiku poet, Lynette Arden, has recently had one of her haiku selected to appear on a haiku umbrella as part of the Rain Haiku competition. Lynette’s haiku is one of only eight selected from the one thousand haiku received.
Her selected haiku:
city lunch in rain
neon lights flick colours
across the menu
HaikuOz congratulates Lynette on this fine achievement.
