First Prize Winner
white meadow is still -
under snow the russet fox
trains ears to the earth
— Anne Louise Ennis
Judge’s Comment: “The tone of stillness and the contrast of colors speak loudly in this haiku. Strong, memorable images.”
— Barbara Krasner, finalist judge
Second Prize Winner
Daffodils awake
In soil salted by fresh dew
Atop mother's grave
— Elaine Su
Judge’s Comment: “In this haiku we get nature, the spring season of daffodils, peppered by a human element. Strong sensory images.”
— Barbara Krasner, finalist judge
Third Prize Winner
Lazing in my bed,
thinking it is Saturday
School bus just zoomed by...
— Josiah Lim (fifth grader)
Judge’s Comment: “This haiku takes a modern turn with humor and a relatable situation.”
— Barbara Krasner, finalist judge
Finalists
Cursive signatures
Little boys growing older
Box up their toys now
— Manuel Torres
Judge’s Comment: “A child’s milestone coupled with a simple chore becomes a touching metaphor for maturing.”
— Mike Toth, preliminary judge
In the summer sun
Near the pond with lily pads
Sits a little boy
— Michael Zholudev (sixth grader)
Judge’s Comment: “This lovely haiku contains enough details to conjure a clear image yet remains uncluttered, allowing the reader room to fill in the gaps. The poet sets the scene; the reader brings it to life. The way the haiku grows more specific with each line serves as an arrow pointing to the little boy, hidden away in line 3 — small in the landscape, but the focus of the poem.”
— Bill Waters, preliminary judge
hibernal solstice
the tufted titmouse and I
fluffing up our coats
— Sneha Sundaram
Judge’s Comment: “A gentle moment where birds and humans mirror each other, capturing the quiet unity between nature and us.”
— Sharon Wang, preliminary judge
looking at the stars
i see them as they once were
past and present merge
— Joanna Livne
Judge’s Comment: “In a world full of changes, it’s nice to take a moment to appreciate eternal beauty.”
— Andrew Punk, preliminary judge
Goldenrod in bloom
swaying in the slanted light
Summer waves goodbye
— Kathleen Nash
Judge’s Comment: “A colorful and distinctive end-of-season sight, creatively cast as a bittersweet parting of friends.”
— Mike Toth, preliminary judge
Even cracked paths bloom
each breath is a quiet win
I walk on, still here.
— Nymere Whitaker
Judge’s Comment: “A vivid reminder that resilience and endurance can take quiet forms, creating striking imagery of persistence through hardship.”
— Sharon Wang, preliminary judge
A hummingbird lands
lightly on a taut clothesline
savoring stillness
— Allison Hargraves
Judge’s Comment: “We can learn something from a fidgety bird about stopping and enjoying nature.”
— Andrew Punk, preliminary judge