The Shiki Monthly Kukai

April 2008 Kukai

Here are the results for the April 2008 Kukai, wherein our Kigo subject was "Any Herb" and our Free Format word or phrase was "Rust".

Congratulations to Francine Banwarth, winner of our Kigo section and to Melissa Spurr, winner of our Free Format section!

Those who were given less than three points and who requested anonymity in such a case are so noted.

(214 = 12) would indicate that the poem above received two 3-point votes, one 2-point vote, and four 1-point votes.

Voters comments are in italics below the respective poems.

April 2008 Results
Kigo Theme: Any Herb	Free Format Theme: Rust
First Place – Thirty-one Points gathering thyme . . . the thoughts that come when I'm on my knees   Francine Banwarth (1,9,10) = 31 Pts For me 'thyme' has an echo of 'time' and by extension the timelessness infinity of prayer. What is it about picking fresh herbs that brings us into a contemplative state? A beautifully executed haiku. Second Place – Twenty-three Points tax day— a bit of parsley in his smile Josh Wikoff (2,5,7) = 23 Pts I really like the simple humor of this one, tying in with the innovative seasonal reference of 'tax day'. Third place – Twenty Points lavender — even the old stems fragrant   jill (1,2,13) = 20 Pts Elegant, just like lavender. A perfect little morsel of a poem. moonlit field the cows knee-deep in comfrey larisa (1,3,11) = 20 Pts I don't even know what comfrey looks like, but this haiku conjures up a powerful image of cows, adrift on a sea of leaf. Although I've never experienced this before, I have now. It's a treat for the senses, full of it's own lovely sounds. Fourth Place – Fifteen Points dark clumps of wild onion scent her dreams   Gene Doty (2,2,5) = 15 Pts Fifth Place – Fourteen Points the empty house — chives and parsley gone to seed   Alice Frampton (0,2,10) = 14 Pts A good complementary juxtaposition.  Not sure if there's a 'deeper' meaning for this particular choice of herbs. If so, Google didn't tell me in time. A lovely way to show loss and neglect, while giving us hope that all is not lost, as long as there are fertile seeds remaining. the night she passed — moonlight shadows in wild lavender   Ron Moss (0,3,8) = 14 Pts Sixth Place – Thirteen Points dried spring herbs — I still love her Israel Lopez Balan (1,2,6) = 13 Pts Conveys loss and longing without overdoing it. spicing up the stew she hands me coriander in that dress rob scott (1,1,8) = 13 Pts Great, simple image from everyday life, with a dash of wit! Seventh Place – Twelve Points flowered curtains the scent of lavender drifts through them   Melissa Spurr (0,3,6) = 12 Pts silence of dawn... I stir my tea with cinnamon stick Vanja Nikovic (1,3,3) = 12 Pts Eighth Place – Eleven Points the first season without you — preparing lamb with powdered thyme Joyce Clement (0,2,7) = 11 Pts nettle leaf when I come home late her tongue Norsto (0,2,7) = 11 Pts Ninth Place – Ten Points cool shadows under the cliff swallows' nests water cress Bridget Cougar 91,2,3) = 10 Pts spring cleaning sage retires to a higher shelf   Deb Bauer (0,3,4) = 10 Pts Clever pun. I'm wondering if This 'sage' is a yang element. the discolored Christ in a roadside chapel fresh chamomiles Dorota Pyra (0,2,6) = 10 Pts soaking wet under the witch hazel tree your loud laughter Elena Naskova (1,2,3,) = 10 Pts Tenth Place – Nine Points long afterwards the tang of wild mint on your palms Beverley George (0,1,7) = 9 Pts There is a hint of sensuality in this one. "The tang of wild mint" is a good construction. Eleventh Place – Eight Points always different he names the puppy Mugwort Carmel Lively Westerman (0,3,2) = 8 Pts I love this! spring crossing — ants parade from parsley to thyme Mary Davila (0,2,4) = 8 Pts Love this one! still pond tiny ripples in the mint and marsh grass   mike farley (0,1,6) = 8 Pts The ripples in the mint are beautifully unexpected. Twelfth Place – Seven Points exploring a new trail wild mint at the end w. f. owen (2,0,1) = 7 Pts A beautiful thought, it brought me right to the scene. A brilliant stroke--the one-line format is absolutely perfect for this depiction of a trail, with the word "end" cleverly and appropriately placed at the end.  The juxtaposed concepts of "new trail" and "wild mint" are ideal mutual compliments. This is impeccably crafted; a superb haiku. Thirteenth Place – Six Points gaol garden walk — floating in the air a sense of thyme Lech Szeglowski (0,1,4) = 6 Pts sagebrush sea; swishing the scented air- a sparrow. manoj saranathan (1,0,3) = 6 Pts spring sun even the thyme out of the shadow og_a (1,0,3) = 6 Pts A very subtle expression of the magnificent mechanics that tilt the earth on its axis. bitter herbs, apples, walnuts, honey — life goes on Robert Ertman (0,1,4) = 6 Pts I like how this evokes Passover without spelling it out. lonely spring in my herb garden shoots of rue Ruth (0,2,2) = 6 Pts spring wind the rock wall draped in woolly thyme Susan Constable (0,0,6) = 6 Pts Fourteenth Place – Five Points my fingers fragrant all morning mint shoots   Ann K. Schwader (0,0,5) = 5 Pts country stillness — butterflies create wind around spring's yarrow ARW (0,0,5) = 5 Pts changing the baby's diaper mint sprig in her hair   Ben Gieske (0,1,3) = 5 Pts A good combination of sweet and concise. green chives garnishing spring Beth Powell (1,0,2) = 5 Pts wild mint  a real estate agent praises the shopping ed markowski (0,1,3) = 5 Pts spring rain a sprinkle of dried thyme goes into the pot jblain (1,0,2) = 5 Pts mating season the cat's unbridled passion for catnip Jennifer Corpe (0,2,1) = 5 Pts bright morning rosemary spills into the shade Jon Baldwin (0,1,3) = 5 Pts seaward path — each footfall yields the scent of wild thyme   jon davey (0,1,3) = 5 Pts warm neem leaves — the smell of spring forest in my bathwater     kala ramesh (0,1,3) = 5 Pts outdoor ballerinas daffodils flutter in the clover Meggy (0,1,3) = 5 Pts first day of spring — she questions my cooking with tarragon Mike Montreuil (0,0,5) = 5 Pts two drunks pissing on the rosemary April moon   Oliver Mead (0,1,3) = 5 Pts This made me laugh. fresh mint at midnight — first trimester   Roberta Beary (0,0,5) = 5 Pts our old house with its wild mint patch  — all gone now Shelley Krause (1,0,2) = 5 Pts self sown dill escapes his ex-wife's garden tom painting (0,1,3) = 5 Pts Fifteenth – Four Points tainted milk they scour the pasture hedgerow for wild garlic andrea (0,1,2) = 4 Pts While I find the second line a little long, the image is pitch-perfect - just a few words to create a very detailed scene. tea picking a maiden's song on my lips Apurva Iyengar (0,1,2) = 4 Pts chewing fresh mint we kiss over the stove — late dinner David Grayson (0,1,2) = 4 Pts spring term...     sharing a spliff   on the fire escape   Helen Buckingham (0,1,2,) = 4 Pts parsley so green it throbs — spring rain Irene Golas (0,1,2) = 4 Pts just to be blue... in its secluded corner rosemary blooms   Marlène Buitelaar (0,0,4) = 4 Pts rubbing basil between my fingers — the taste of your kiss   Neil Muscott (0,0,4) = 4 Pts the scent of lemon balm in April moonlight heat lightning shimmers patricia a. boutilier (0,0,4) = 4 Pts Sixteenth Place – Three Points backpacking solo the taste of mint tea redefined Agnes Eva Savich (0,0,3) = 3 Pts high tea — her son swaps parsley for cannabis   Allison Millcock (0,1,1) = 3 Pts This one made me actually laugh and go back to read it again. sweet fennel leaves near the river path a down-filled nest Barbara Snow ( 0,0,3) = 3 Pts on a catnip high my cat mistakes my fingers for more lawful prey Deirdre Godwin (0,1,1) = 3 Pts pots of herbs except for the mint name tags   doris kasson (0,0,3) = 3 Pts city garden plots clay pots of sage and thyme on fire escape steps Edward (0,1,1) = 3 Pts We have to get some parsley, sage, rosemary, and — what else did we need? Horst Ludwig (0,1,1) = 3 Pts Amusing! grass in pot neighbour stares when told it is for cancer   john tiong chunghoo (0,1,1) = 3 Pts so much wild thyme — an early robin chirrups my hoe Lin Geary (0,0,3) = 3 Pts potted herbs in the warming sun — new apartment Marylouise Knight (0,0,3) = 3 Pts dinner guests — the kitchen basil withered   max verhart (0,0,3) = 3 Pts Eighteenth Place – Two Points potted basil waiting for the sun to come in the window Barbara Campitelli (0,0,2) = 2 Pts The Seder Plate we prepare the parsley Passover   Betty (0,1,0) = 2 Pts planning my garden cats eat the basil bre (0,0,2) = 2 Pts breakfast — ginseng dries on the hen house roof Earl Keener (0,0,2) = 2 Pts chewing diviner's sage harvest elaine fields (0,1,0) = 2 Pts first tender shoots I sprinkle chili powder on deer tracks Harvey Jenkins (0,0,2) = 2 Pts fresh-picked Romas parsley, rosemary, basil — I'll make marinara anonymous (0,0,2) = 2 Pts the aroma of cilantro and mint I suddenly know where he's rototilling jt (0,0,2) = 2 Pts April morning — last year's sprig of sage now a bush Laurene (0,0,2) = 2 Pts tequila party the taste of cinnamon on her tongue RaV (0,0,2) = 2 Pts marijuana buds spicy smell of  resin on the wind   shanna (0,1,0) = 2 Pts Garden stones, sage in china pots. Chipmunks hide. Trevor Camp (0,0,2) = 2 Pts Nineteenth Place – One Point winter soup extra wild bay leaves from my summer place anonymous without fragrance but still hanging on the porch sweet alyssum   Bruce Ross bee watch... my nose in the middle of rosemary shrubs Dejan Pavlinovic at the doctor — seven herbs for only a simple running of the nose Don Basilio sun follows rain on the lavender bed fragrance rising Frances McCarthy green chives waving purple balloons I've gone fishing   Jon Vassbotn fragrant sweet basil- in every fiber my years in Greece Leslie Montgomery the spring sunbeam through dad's bottle of rosemary vinegar Li Ree honeybees weave through rosemary and thyme — milady's garden Linda Papanicolaou the lawn a salad dandelions and chives small rabbits feasting   mechaieh at daybreak — the violas blooming under a dry tree Miorita peppermint standing tall waiting for julep   Mr. PC chamomile tea — good for Peter Rabbit, good for me P. O. Williams drizzling roasted and powdered cumin seeds on chilled Lassi Rebba love confession the freshness of the new basil leaves Rita Odeh scent of herbs sweet rosemary by the church door Rose Marie Stutts bud's budding illegal and medicinal — my garden ruthanne the Blue Jay beats the squirrel to the peanut wild sage Sjs  (Stevie) helping a friend plant sets he asks what beer I'd like I say, "Any, Herb" soji wooly thyme after tinting her hair grandmother's color Terra Martin Twentieth Place – No Points wild strawberries . . . we gather sweet woodruff for the May wine Catherine J.S. Lee a magpie sits on a crusty snow drift — new red rhubarb DeVar impromptu wedding a lavender sprig in the bride's hair   Devika feel sorry for them:: peeling the mace from nutmeg and dry separate emile molhuysen spring cleaning —          chickweed greens                             for supper fedelmia fresh cilantro home-made chips and salsa and warmer and evenings frederick gier lemongrass tea – sneezing between sips into his kerchief   Gautam Nadkarni under a gibbous moon a stall of chive and parsley — April night Gillena dogrose — in the plump paczkis source of sweetness goblet leafless coltsfoot blooms in gravel bank at last   gourdman sunrise the geranium bushes are burning ion untaru stomachache — on her palms the scent of mint Jacek M. A top the stone wall Watching over the compost Thyme in full flower   Jeff Hanson spring garden blowing in the air — a borage Keith Simmonds roast chicken with a tarragon cream sauce — start a shopping list LGD a gentle breeze reveals the daffodils beneath the marjoram marian burke Grandma's special sauce with a flourish she adds the bay leaf Meredith Stern Cavalieri first my eye then basil a whiff of spring miriam chaikin forever stamp — the liberty  bell's yoke of slippery elm anonymous herb gathering,   I squeeze and sniff a leaf - asafoetida Narayanan Raghunathan chervil – the first taste of spring peter crock-pot recipe — aroma of mint dances through March night stillness   Philip Mizener sunday morning basil seeds sprinkled in pot praying for spring rain   todd eddy the blackcap's crystal voice from the rainy cherry blossom Tom M. Prayer for health — only a spring herb nothing beside Vasile Moldovan Mint — wafting aroma even when bruised   vishnu kapoor Rabbit nose twitches beneath dainty dill parasol yositaka lemon mint — she crushes a leaf between her fingers Zhanna P. Rader General Comments: So many wonderful haiku from which to choose! A Very savory bunch of poems in this Kigo batch. The majority of the submitted haiku for the April kigo entry had more than one kigo. This multiplication of kigo diluted the effect of the haiku's resonance. Specific Comment: 12th Place: exploring a new trail wild mint at the end By changing the order and getting rid of the verb (which is unnecessary as it is implied in "new"), wild mint is at the end for the reader too.      a new trail... at its end wild mint As I understand it, this time we had to ensure that our herb was to be used as the kigo, which means the haiku must be in harmony with spring. Many different plants were used as herbs, culinary and medicinal, but some excellent haiku unfortunately didn't really harmonize with the season [e.g. 41, 106], which would have been fine in the Free Format category. Some used double-kigo or double kireji and would improve with editing.	First Place – Thirty-six Points night sky the rusted tin roof leaking moonlight Melissa Spurr (3,6,15) = 36 Pts A very lovely image here. Here the pleasant surprise of what is leaked almost overcomes my dismay at the throw-away first line.Moonlight tells us it is night and implies 'sky'. Second Place – Twenty-six Points bullet holes rust bleeds down the old sign Neil Muscott (2,3,14) = 26 Pts I think the image here is just awesome. The word "bleeds" is perfect for this poem. As if the color of old blood might leak from the man-made sign. Again, there is that helplessness before inexplicable, random acts of violence. Thinking of what else might have bled as a result of other bullets makes this thought provoking. "Bleeds' is perfect here. Third Place – Twenty-three Points rusted pickup on the edge of town — prairie wind Beth Powell (1,5,10) = 23 Pts where the barn's tin roof    rusted          through               Mars ed markowski (1,5,10) = 23 Pts Excellent - I loved the contrast between the down-to-earth barn and the planet in the sky. This, to me, is probably the best haiku in this section. So simple, yet evocative and effective! Very effective use of the space of the poem to contribute to the image. Fourth Place – Nineteen Points counting the years since her death the rusty yard swing bre (2,1,11) = 19 Pts Fifth Place – Seventeen Points midlife crisis — a little rust spot on the red sports car Linda Papanicolaou (1,3,8) = 17 Pts Shades of red, the one modifying or contrasting with the other, 'live forever' vs. 'decay'. Fifth Place – Sixteen Points priming the pump the first gush rustier than the can Gene Doty (2,3,4) = 16 Points a rusty swing seagull cries on the wind shanna (2,3,4) = 16 Points Good juxtaposition in the similarity of sounds from the swing and seagull's cries. Also the 'scent' link between the two is evocative of the lonely feeling that can come from our helplessness before the passage of time and the vastness of echoing space. Sixth Place – Twelve Points entangled in a rusty rake morning-glory Betty (0,2,8) = 12 Pts rusty wind chimes the wind doesn't mind Elena Naskova (0,4,4) = 12 Pts I love wind chimes! And the repeated use of the long-I sound makes this haiku musical. nursing home visit — same rust stain in the sink Roberta Beary (1,2,5) = 12 Pts rusty shovel he lets his grandson find the worms Susan Constable (1,3,3) = 12 Pts Seventh Place – Eleven Points colonial coin in the rust a young queen john tiong chunghoo (0,0,11) = 11 Pts A keen observation! Eighth Place – Ten Points autumn colors an abandoned school bus rusts in the woods Bill Kenney (01,8) = 10 Pts the neighbors still don't speak rust on the chain DeVar (01,8) = 10 Pts I love the analogy here. Cold war between the neighbors and the rusting chain. What a great way to show a long-standing feud between neighbors. Ninth Place – Nine Points another spring the rusted tractor deeper in the yard Joann (0,2,5) = 9 Pts All those things we want to get around to, yet another year goes by . . . and another and another. Soon we're buried in our "stuff," just like the tractor gets buried through neglect. Route 66 tumbleweed stuck on a rusted gate Sherry Weaver Smith (0,1,7) = 9 Pts Tenth Place – Eight Points a robin splashes in the rusted wheelbarrow lingering rain Catherine J.S. Lee (0,0,8) = 8 Pts weeds — fencing pliers rusted open mike farley (0,2,4) = 8 Pts winter's end a wrinkled hand rubs the fence's rust Rita Odeh (0,3,2) = 8 Pts Eleventh Place – Seven Points rusty sewing needles on faded pin cushion spring cleaning Audrey Downey (0,3,1) = 7 Pts ground fog the rusty aeroplane flies again Jacek M. (0,1,5) = 7 Pts summer passes — the iron gate still rusting Marylouise Knight (0,2,3) = 7 Pts after so much rain, can that be rust in the blue jay's cry? Shelley Krause (0,2,3) = 7 Pts Each time I read this, I hear a different variation on the jay's cry. I'm not particularly fond of sentence haiku or of question marks, but they both work for me with this sense of humor! Twelfth Place – Six Points early spring startled by the voice of the rusty gate Earl Keener (0,1,4) = 6 Pts early spring the old shed door rusted shut Meredith Stern Cavalieri (1,1,1) = 6 Pts weeks of April showers even my bones begin to rust soji (0,3,0) = 6 Pts the recluse her front gate hangs from a rusty hinge tom (0,2,2) = 6 Pts Thirteenth Place – Five Points deep rust on the letter opener hunter's moon Alice Frampton (0,0,5) = 5 Pts Many layers in this one. Love "hunter's moon." the clock above the bar blurred with rust — I order another beer David Grayson (0,1,3) = 5 Pts through the rust of an old bicycle wheel spring nettles grow Frances McCarthy (0,0,5) = 5 Pts old house — wide open rusty gate goblet (0,1,3) = 5 Pts spring breeze open gate's rusty hinges join birdsong Janice (0,1,3) = 5 Pts old iron gate — still holding on to the rust kala ramesh (0,1,3) = 5 Pts I sometimes feel like that old iron gate - holding on to things that are really no longer of use, but wondering what will be left in my life if I give all the unneeded things away. fallen leaves on a rusty merry-go-round a man hurries past Li Ree (1,0,2) = 5 Pts There is a story in this one. Good image. I like the mystery in this, the contrast between things and time. rust on the keyhole cottage for sale Meggy (0,0,5) = 5 Pts autumn rain the abandoned ballpark weeps rust rob scott (0,1,3) = 5 Pts old tree-house . . . a shade of rust in the sunrise Ron Moss (0,1,3) = 5 Pts a maze of rusted nails — a lonely ant Vishnu Narayanan (0,0,5) = 5 Pts two years a widow... his garden tools rust in the shed Zhanna P. Rader (0,2,1) = 5 Pts Fourteenth Place – Four Points a parking meter with a bit of rust but not enough Barbara Snow (0,0,4) = 4 Pts missing dad sandpapering rust off his old tool box dsnake1 (1,0,1) = 4 Pts I really liked the combination of looking back _and_ moving on. on the red wagon his name in rust Lin Geary (0,0,4) = 4 Pts spring again rusty tools from last year Mr. PC (0,1,2) = 4 Pts cold evening — April rain falling through the rusty roof Stephen Nzomo (1,0,1) = 4 Pts You can really feel the desolation and chill in this place. Fifteenth Place – Three Points pottery shed — rusty water sputters from the faucet Ami (0,0,3) = =3 Pts searching for the cat through wrecked cars covered with rust wind whistles and moans ARW (1,0,0) = 3 Pts final anchorage... sunset and rust on old fisherman's hands Dejan Pavlinovic (0,0,3) = =3 Pts all rusty in the newly turned compost pile the missing trowel fedelmia (0,1,1) = 3 Pts on the ring more than one rusty key Francine Banwarth (0,0,3) = =3 Pts clapboard shack the tap splutters out a flake of pipe Josh Wikoff (0,1,1) = 3 Pts roadside Christ — where the gilt was rust max verhart (0,1,1) = 3 Pts pomegranate faded to rust still clings to her branch miriam chaikin (0,1,1) = 3 Pts my key screeching in the rusty padlock — April rain Patrick Wafula (1,0,0) = 3 Pts spring sun — the rust on the bicycle comes off easily Pia Sosua (0,0,3) = =3 Pts Sixteenth Place – Two Points farm auction her antique milk churn leaves a trail of rust andrea (0,0,2) = 2 Pts Also telling a story, with a hint of sadness. blustery wind leaf shadows dancing on the rust colored bark Barbara Campitelli (0,0,2) = 2 Pts tackle box spearmint wrapper, rusty hooks his favorite Ben Gieske (0,1,0) = 2 Pts back again the mail post metal frog with a little rust Bruce Ross (0,1,0) = 2 Pts rusty nail — it keeps bending after each hit Caleb David Mutua (0,1,0) = 2 Pts Original and funny! The determination of both the nail and its user, I love it! old guy tries to drink it WD-40 doris kasson (0,1,0) = 2 Pts late spring rains; under the waist-high grass a rusty mower frederick gier (0,0,2) = 2 Pts old chimpanzee doing time at a zoo — rust on the bars Gautam Nadkarni (0,0,2) = 2 Pts rusty spade... grandpa on the back step rolling smokes anonymous (0,0,2) = 2 Pts rusted fire escape the droop of a yellow ribbon jblain (0,0,2) = 2 Pts rust on the burn barrel a robin alights Jennifer Corpe (0,0,2) = 2 Pts old wren house streaked with rust — fresh twigs anonymous (0,0,2) = 2 Pts winter's end — he checks his vintage Beetle for more rust LGD (0,0,2) = 2 Pts left to rust in rain an old pair of pliers returning to ore P. O. Williams (0,1,0) = 2 Pts chickens gone, the wheelbarrow red with rust Robert Ertman (0,0,2) = 2 Pts airport delays writing poems with a rusty nib Rohini Gupta (0,0,2) = 2 Pts rust on the cogwheel his arthritic knee Sjs (0,0,2) = 2 Pts a little crab hides every time when I swim up to the rusty buoy Tom M. (0,1,0) = 2 Pts Seventeenth Place – One Point April rain — the nails in the roof turn brown Caren Cheptoo Reads just as well, maybe even better, if "the" is deleted. I like this poem's simplicity and the fact that the meaning is clear even without the word "rusty." faint smear of ochre a sign of old endeavours marks where humans stove Deirdre Godwin car tires squeal his Macpherson struts show through the rust Harvey Jenkins a rusty nail in stagnant water — April rain Irene Oketch balmy night — the rusty gate creaks to homecoming steps anonymous grandmother beside a rusty brazier — chilly morning John Mwangi so long, old Rob you served us well may you rust in peace Jon Vassbotn a streetboy carrying rusty scrap metals — windy evening Joseph Mutavi old swing — rust stains on everyone's hands Laurene drought the red wheelbarrow now glazed with rust N. C. Whitehead a new shining axe turning brown — April rain Paul Omondi rust stains like tear streaks nails in the tree Rose Marie Stutts heat of the hood rust crumbling into the backs of knees ruthanne old rusty key... opens the secret door of my memory Vanja Nikovic grandmother sipping porridge in a rusty cup — cold morning Verah Ndehoya Eighteenth Place – No Points dead end — the trees all gold with rust Allison Millcock sunlight through the old shed wall rusted nails Ann K. Schwader winter rain ~ the closed door rusts Apurva Iyengar new bird house fresh rust on a little nail in morning dew drop Boris Nazansky the old fashioned way — iron rust and black walnuts crushed for ink Bridget Cougar spring prom she shaves her legs with a rusty razor blade anonymous lying in the dewy grass — rusty razorblade Caroline Wanjiku tireless rust — the mark of our own impermanence D. D. McGee neglected shovel spinach sprouts ironed by winter's rust Deb Bauer azaleas in bloom by the spokes of his rusted bicycle Devika rusty signpost leaves of fall swirl around Dorota Pyra old tools great-grandpa sands away rust whittles new handles Edward night ends, morning glories blooming rust reds elaine fields rust in my knees just minutes to remove it every morning emile molhuysen my father sharpening the rusty axe — wet morning Fatuma Katana due to rust metals turning brown — heavy rainfall Gladys Kathini under a train horn through a grimy window rust factories gourdman leaking phone box... years of rain and blossom anonymous Russet potatoes, — that's not what you're looking for. Well, ain't got no rust. Horst Ludwig the blue tole pot — lightning rust streaks offset straggling potentilla anonymous rust on my bike while it squeaks the sun sets slowly Israel Lopez Balan hard to turn the rusty water tap — sunny afternoon James Njoka Moth and rust Consume the everyday, What is left? James Sawers The wise old farmer Maintaining tools and himself The steadfast rust Jeff Hanson feigning interest she strokes the cinnamon brown pustules of rust Jon Baldwin pop's rusted tools he swears they'll shine with use jt things fall apart... metamorphosis rust in the air Keith Simmonds my grandfather's house turns brown — rusty roof Kelvin Mukoselo veteran's rusty veranda — staring up beneath starless sky at the stars and stripes Lech Szeglowski spring sunrise — she hauls out her rusting bicycle Leslie Montgomery the rusty brown of a squirrel's fur — remembering my youth Marlene Buitelaar rain rinses petals off the magnolia rust crimps their edges mechaieh middle-aged — our intimacy    rusty after years of neglect Mike Montreuil rusty padlock at the kitchen garden — the old man missed Miorita lovers' windchimes — through  the green patina a fleck of rust anonymous abandoned ... rust on the cadillac behind the barn og_a cherry blossom clinging to rust-coloured hair like my grandmother Oliver Mead reading Basho at the body shop the mechanic removes rust patricia a. boutilier nail of rust swallowed by the ash peter forgotten shortcut the slanting DEAD END sign eaten by rust RaV stagnation — I tie and dye my scarf in tones of rust Rebba rusted cage — nightingale sings Joyfully Reza garden spade by the compost bin winter rust Ruth partly visible hidden among the weeds a rusted chevy todd eddy Late spring walk rust on the highway both legs ache. Trevor Camp Green ivy hanging from the roof eaten away with rust — autumn colours Vasile Moldovan creak- the veneered door rusted hinges vishnu kapoor After rust removal old bicycle shines Yositaka General Comments: Wish I had more points to spent. A fine selection of haiku! These were especially difficult to choose, as many were very good.

Thank you for participating in the April 2008 Kukai! We will be posting the May Call for Submissions on Monday, May 5th. See you then!

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