July 2007 Kukai Dear Haiku Friends, Here are the results for the July 2007 Kukai, wherein our Kigo subject was "Flea" and our Free Format subject was "Weekend Activity". Congratulations to Paul Hodder, winner of our Kigo section and to Nancy Smith, winner of our Free Format section! The haiku are listed in order of total points received from voters. The numbers reflect the number of voters who gave the haiku either three points, two points, or one point -- followed by the total points for all votes. Those who were given less than three points and who requested anonymity in such a case are so noted. In the listing below, after each poem the author is listed, and then a three digit code revealing how many 3-point, 2-point, and 1-point points were cast for this poem by the other participating poets. (214 = 12) would indicate that the poem above received two 3-point votes, one 2-point vote, and four 1-point votes. July 2007 Results Kigo Theme: Flea Free Format Theme: Weekend Activity First Place -- 34 points flea haiku ~ I scratch my head Paul Hodder (3,4,18) = 34 pts No more than clever, perhaps, but no less. Second Place --28 points sand fleas the bites don't stop at her tan line Susan Constable (1,7,11) = 28 pts Very seasonal without the use of "summer" and great, vivid image. I feel those bites on her covered parts. Of course, it's none of my business . . . I'm not sure what 'tan line' has to do with it, but I am sure the boyfriend had fun checking for more. Third Place -- 25 points flea market the bargainer stops to scratch his head jul (2,5,9) = 25 pts Nice play on words not quite erring on the clever side. Fourth Place -- 24 points summer fleas teaching the dog yoga Marianna Monaco (1,6,9) = 24 pts Charming; dog behavior well-observed and appropriately seasonal. Zenny and funny. Fifth Place -- 21 points on the pillow one flea between us not much else Neil Muscott (3,5,2) = 21 pts I took this at first to reflect the wearing out of love that sometimes occurs, but it could also reflect material poverty. The latter has a more wistful flavor. The former perhaps more bitter. Sixth Place -- 14 points seaside souvenirs — sand fleas Allen McGill (0,4,6) = 14 pts Perhaps a colon rather than a dash? Generally, resort souvenirs are of little more quality than 'fleas' so this is a fitting and ever so brief tribute to them. The brevity and humor here has the almost senryu flavor of commentary. Seventh Place -- 13 points dawn heat fleas along the rim of a doe's eye Joyce Clement (0,3,7) = 13 pts Eighth Place -- 12 points sunlit blanket fleas burrow the wrinkles of a bulldog Collin Barber (1,2,5) = 12 pts Nice textures. flea market — my memories in a new light Ana Cadarin (1,3,3) = 12 pts long after the neighbor's dog a flea Quendryth Young (0,3,6) = 12 pts Ninth Place -- 11 points police siren . . . my cat battles the flea Kathy Lippard Cobb (2,1,3) = 11 pts Tenth Place -- 8 points flea collar the dog's bark looks louder Bill Kenney (2,0,2) = 8 pts after the all-natural flea powder fleas Roberta Beary (1,0,5) = 8 pts I've noticed that modern industrial chemistry often has advantages over traditional remedies. Eleventh Place -- 7 points Beijing sunrise a flea has left its marks and left Tore Sverredal (0,2,3) = 7 pts I really liked this one and would have given it more points except for the last word "left" repeated which seemed to detract from the haiku. Perhaps “gone” would have been better. itching for more we applaud the last act ...flea circus doris kasson (0,2,3) = 7 pts VACANCY VACANCY we check the mattress for fleas Dana D. (0,1,5) = 7 pts midnight thumping . . . our old beagle hosting the flea circus Carol Raisfeld (0,1,5) = 7 pts spring litter the puppies tip over scratching their fleas Carmel Lively Westerman (0,1,5) = 7 pts hot summer night the flea escapes again Sjs (Stevie) (0,1,5) = 7 pts Twelfth Place -- 6 points first warm day in May young kittens explore our yard fleas hitching a ride Harvey Jenkins (2,0,0) = 6 pts flea market... a carved coffin waits for its client Tanya Dikova (0,3,0) = 6 pts spring floods — the cat and I scratch one thousand fleas bre :^) (0,2,2) = 6 pts dog days gramps calls his old mutt a flea bag tom painting (0,1,4) = 6 pts A grumpy couple? librarian's dog a flea jumps in the Guinness Book Norsto (0,1,4) = 6 pts flea market — the caged pup scratches his flea collar Darrell Byrd (0,1,4) = 6 pts mid-summer birthday my dog gives mom his fleas Pris Campbell (0,0,6) = 6 pts Thirteenth Place -- 5 points bedroom sunlight a flea’s trail of bites on my stomach martin (1,0,2) = 5 pts Driving my car — The cat’s fleas get a free ride to the vet. Daniela Bullas (1,0,2) = 5 pts Egret stands proudly but ten feet away.... fleas bite my ankle Glenn Laundre (0,2,1) = 5 pts A nice image. Nice contrast of images to show a complete scene. the flea jumps on a greyhound – stowaway Mary Davila (0,2,1) = 5 pts blue eyed kitten< —BR> her wedding dress dotted with baby fleas andrea (0,1,3) = 5 pts I picture a little girl owner is playing 'dress-up' but they both will need a bath more. I like 'kitten' combined with 'baby' fleas, and imagine the girl is very young too. An artful haiku. summer bath the old dog scratches at his new flea collar Edward (0,0,5) = 5 pts Nice contrast and homely. Fourteenth Place -- 4 points do remove my fleas said my mother’s Siamese I’m obliged to please Deirdre Godwin (1,0,1) = 4 pts I'm overcome by the urge to rhyme in haiku every now and again. This is clever enough to get away with it. a boy in the sea washing a brown cow- still fleas Maria (1,0,1) = 4 pts Outstanding! A beautiful image and fine contrast. blessing of the pets a crowd of leashes gives room to the one with fleas Dan Schwerin (1,0,1) = 4 pts morning stroll sand fleas in the flotsam every which way Cherie Hunter Day (0,2,0) = 4 pts kitty's birthday — he shows his daughter how to use the flea comb aom (tim) (0,2,0) = 4 pts so excited she cannot stop kissing him a flea in her ear john Daleiden (0,2,0) = 4 pts I love the "aha" moment in this one. Even knowing ahead of time that the kigo was flea, this haiku made me think of humans first. little fleas children dancing in my room while I sleep Raquel BAILEY (0,2,0) = 4 pts on a clean white bed how can i create haiku without Issa's fleas Paul R. Cassidy (0,1,2) = 4 pts I like the way this reflects the current distance from nature. Without Issa, how gratified would we feel to be writing about fleas at all? fleas in my jacket warmth for the book of Issa Tony A. Thompson (0,1,2) = 4 pts asleep dog on the beggar's hand: a flea Dorota Pyra (0,1,2) = 4 pts Fifteenth Place -- 3 points feral cats wait... scratching their fleas for the soup kitchen's cook Rose Marie Stutts (1,0,0) = 3 pts A flea Circus stopped performing Union strike Ashi (1,0,0) = 3 pts under the granary — the dog scratches its body to remove fleas ~ Samson Onyango (1,0,0) = 3 pts pre-race stretches — a flea bounds away from old legs George Hawkins (1,0,0) = 3 pts beach dogs  — ticks take the place of fleas Audrey Downey (0,1,1) = 3 pts "You'd do this to me?" the cat's eyes ask from the flea bath P. O. Williams (0,1,1) = 3 pts Been there! Monday morning . . . one of my dog's fleas hitches a ride Nancy Smith (0,1,1) = 3 pts winter morning — my only friends fleas wake me up gently Vanja Nikovic (0,1,1) = 3 pts the flea is a summer kigo? ... now I know! Isabelle Prondzynski (0,1,1) = 3 pts he sells it as a package: a dog and its fleas Zhanna P. Rader (0,0,3) = 3 pts summer festival the main attraction a flea circus! Meredith Stern Cavalieri (0,0,3) = 3 pts flea on the cat on my lap sunbathing Beth Powell (0,0,3) = 3 pts I'd put an article in line 1, but I like the sense of acceptance in this. Quite Dr. Seuss-y. proudly sitting at the flea market  — the stray dog Petar Tchouhov (0,0,3) = 3 pts General Comments (Kigo Section): You really challenged us this month! Nice entries! First Place -- 34 pts long weekend… the gardener cultivates his shadow Nancy Smith (4,5,12) = 34 pts The sun constantly at his back. Could describe many moments, but manages to keep it to one. Second Place -- 28 pts packing … unpacking … weekends with dad Nancy Nitrio (2,5,12) = 28 pts You can hear the weariness in this. Simply captured and original. A familiar routine for so many. The bit in between is sadly lacking. Third Place -- 27 pts jazz festival . . . the glint of a sax at sunset Carol Raisfeld (2,3,15) = 27 pts I can almost hear this one! Fourth Place -- 18 pts Sunday dad ~ in his pocket a dying daisy Paul Hodder (2,3,6) = 18 pts Very evocative of the 'single dad' trying to pack fathering and Dating anew into his weekend - or perhaps still carrying a torch or 'daisy' for his ex-wife. Also a hint of the competition for children's affection which can arise between divorced parents. I also like the alliteration of the 'hard' 'd' sound between 'dying' and 'daisy' - almost like the sigh of finality that separates regret from acceptance. Point of view a bit shaky here (What are we doing in his pocket?), but a real and poignant moment comes through. Sunday morning — a lawn mower drowns out church bells Neil Muscott (1,3,9) = 18 pts Fifth Place -- 15 pts Sunday at the beach three kites holding a conversation Bill Kenney (1,2,8) = 15 pts Sixth Place -- 14 pts potluck a little bit of everything on my plate Beth Powell (2,3,2) = 14 pts darkening skies sudden raindrops sizzle on the grill soji (0,2,10) = 14 pts cool saturday I walk from grave to grave Jacek M. (1,2,7) = 14 pts Seventh Place -- 13 pts another husband following his wife into the bead store P. O. Williams (1,3,4) = 13 pts family gathering — hidden in the garden I write haiku Vanja Nikovic (1,3,4) = 13 pts The counsel is often given not to write about writing, as too many writers do. Yet in this case I like the suggestion of 'the secret garden' of our minds, as we are mostly introverts. Neatly suggests the complexities of family relationships. We are not obliged to approve of the poet's behavior. Eighth Place -- 12 pts the Monopoly board with hotels on Park Place summer rain Cherie Hunter Day (1,2,5) = 12 pts Ninth Place -- 11 pts sunday walk our hands on the stroller Dorota Pyra (1,1,6) = 11 pts A precious moment, perfectly captured; a triumph of understatement. the lord's day a lengthy drive to the first tee tom painting (0,3,5) = 11 pts Humans may worship many strange gods, but the worship is sincere. opera booming she sips chilled wine and folds warm laundry Leslie Montgomery (0,2,7) = 11 pts A pleasant contrast between 'chill' and 'warm'. I envision a woman trying to lighten a mundane chore with her favorite pastimes. Good contrasts in this one! Performing a routine chore and making the moment hers; effectively sensuous. Tenth Place -- 10 pts Saturday concert her clear voice soars over the vacuum cleaner Petar Tchouhov (1,1,5) = 10 pts I love haikus that deal with sound. This is beautifully balanced and every detail counts. Eleventh Place -- 9 pts sunday going out barefoot jul (0,3,3) = 9 pts sleeping in the dog's damp nose on my cheek Irene Golas (0,2,5) = 9 pts Cozy and evocative. I can almost smell puppy breath. Twelfth Place -- 8 pts satin sheets — the alarm clock doesn't ring Laurene (2,0,2) = 8 pts Sensual! I love how the silent alarm clock says it all and implies so much...well done. still drunk — waking at noon with my shoes on Collin Barber (0,0,8) = 8 pts weeding — a ladybug lifted from leaf to leaf Ann K. Schwader (0,0,8) = 8 pts Thirteenth Place -- 7 pts fresh coffee at the water's edge sunday city marlène buitelaar (0,1,5) = 7 pts I love the imagery this haiku presents: a slow and easy weekend. serious work oiling his bike chain a crow critiques Ruth Powell (0,1,5) = 7 pts Two serious guys, a nice portrait. Fourteenth Place -- 6 pts driving the kids to church yelling Roberta Beary (1,0,3) = 6 pts Poets angling... instead of fish Basho's frog Vasile Moldovan (1,0,3) = 6 pts backyard badminton the new puppy runs away with the shuttlecock Edward (0,2,2) = 6 pts Fifteenth Place -- 5 pts picking saskatoons wearing my best church outfit with purple fingers Harvey Jenkins (1,0,2) = 5 pts I had to look up saskatoons though it was pretty clear from the context that they are a sort of berry. Weekends are often like this - hurrying from one 'leisure' activity to another. I like the juxtaposition of berry stains and church finery. weekend anglers — a carp-shaped kite takes to the air ito (0,2,1) = 5 pts Anglers, carps, and kites, nice connections. lingering day . . . a different daydream with each household chore Marie Summers (0,1,3) = 5 pts Saturday grind villagers against a cart wheel recycle gossip Kala Ramesh (0,1,3) = 5 pts Sixteenth Place -- 4 pts seaside ice cream more on my child than the cone Meredith Stern Cavalieri (1,0,1) = 4 pts Sunday dusk, caught watching the barn swallows whirl ~ so much yet to do Shelley Krause (1,0,1) = 4 pts a last chore — deadheading the geraniums the scattered petals Bruce Ross (0,1,2) = 4 pts at last getting to know each other... me and the rain sanjukta (0,1,2) = 4 pts rainy weekend — even the snails abandons the orchard miorita (0,1,2) = 4 pts yawning... sunday wakes up lazily Tanya Dikova (0,0,4) = 4 pts church bells tolling — the love we make before breakfast max verhart (0,0,4) = 4 pts sunday comics . . . the cats and I just chillin' Kathy Lippard Cobb (0,0,4) = 4 pts cottage evening — my new pen lost underneath the deck Mike Montreuil (0,0,4) = 4 pts Seventeenth Place -- 3 pts sails slat — searching for cat's-paws in Chesapeake calm Glen Keener (1,0,0) = 3 pts all the homely things packed into my leisure time once just “woman’s work” Deirdre Godwin (1,0,0) = 3 pts Saturday service — in a converted church we attend salsa lessons Daniela Bullas (0,1,1) = 3 pts sunday evening... a big soap bubble from her loop K. Ramesh (0,1,1) = 3 pts second-hand smoke — forced off my deck by my neighbor's barbecue =LGD (0,1,1) = 3 pts sunrise each weekend my blind friend kayaks bre :^) (0,0,3) = 3 pts weekend to do list wash the dog clothes and kids Carmel Lively Westerman (0,0,3) = 3 pts This evokes a usual activity for a working woman. On weekends one washes 'everything' often wishing it all could be dumped in together - rub-a-dub-dub. weekend shopping mom's arms are loaded and so is dad doris kasson (0,0,3) = 3 pts sunday afternoon — i join our dog sleeping in the sun anonymous (0,0,3) = 3 pts GENERAL COMMENT (Free Format Section): Sunday afternoon was the right time to read these. I had a hard time with this one! This part was very hard to select for voting as there were some excellent entries that I enjoyed very much. Thank you for participating in the July kukai! Please note there will be no kukai this August. We will be resuming in September. Look for the Call for Submissions on Monday, September 3rd. 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