The Shiki Monthly Kukai

July 2008 Kukai

Here are the results for the July 2008 Kukai, wherein our Kigo subject was "Firefly" and our Free Format theme was "Documents".

Congratulations to Miriam Chaikin, 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.

July 2008 Results
Kigo Theme: Firefly	Free Format Theme: Documents
First Place – Thirty-nine Points firefly - the night finds its way in miriam chaikin (1,11,14) = 39 Pts Simple . . . and so beautiful. Wish I were there. Second Place – Twenty-four Points first firefly the electrician shuts his toolbox ed markowski (1,5,11) = 24 Pts A delightful association between the firefly and the electrician. I like how "first firefly" gives clue to this person's awakening to the season but I snagged on the author's choice of "electrician". I doubt it was intentional but feels deliberate and clever. Third Place – Twenty Points mind empty a firefly fills it Francine Banwarth (1,5,7) = 20 Pts Fourth Place – Seventeen Points firefly my attention span shortens tom painting (1,3,8) = 17 Pts The short attention span vindicated! Mind and firefly are one. Fifth Place – Fifteen Points dusk... through my fingers fireflies Carol Pearce-Worthington (0,5,5) = 15 Pts This is very pleasant, as if in summer time too may be allowed to slip though our fingers, perhaps also the safety in which the relaxation of sleep may come. Sixth Place – Fourteen Points above the fire a lonely firefly follows the spark Jacek M. (1,3,5) = 14 Pts It reads as a sentence so would normally not get my vote, but it's realistic. porch swing — fireflies rise above the oaks Carmen Sterba (0,5,4) = 14 Pts Seventh Place – Thirteen Points tonight only — fireflies and the moon Garry Eaton (1,3,4) = 13 Pts fireflies now and then the memories AD (1,3,4) = 13 Pts A very effective pivot, with a lovely link between the physical and mental. creaking oars the fireflies echo the stars Tore Sverredal (1,2,6) = 13 Pts Got my vote, though would be improved by dropping the first "the". after the funeral ... a lone firefly, blinking quietly blinking Carol Raisfeld (0,4,5) = 13 Pts Eighth Place – Twelve Points fireflies a worn path to the outhouse Carmel Lively Westerman (1,1,7) = 12 Pts This one mixes 'high' and 'low.' Basho would approve. Very funny mix of high and low, and fireflies would be in the damp spot, so quite truthful. so plain in the morning light ~ firefly Paul Hodder (0,4,4) = 12 Pts It's refreshing to read a firefly haiku that shows us the contrast between day and night. Thank you! Perhaps Issa's perspective. Ninth Place – Eleven Points falling stars — the forest fills with fireflies Nancy Smith (0,3,5) = 11 Pts its light showing the edge of one leaf firefly Ella Wagemakers (0,2,7) = 11 Pts Tenth Place – Ten Points fireflies courting — it's an on and off relationship Nancy Nitrio (0,1,8) = 10 Pts Dawn — my firefly turns into a beetle Gosia Zamorska (0,3,4) = 10 Pts Torn between the two with this theme, but they say different things about life, so I vote for both! Eleventh Place – Nine Points firefly jar – her sleeping bag close to her sister's Ruth Powell (1,2,2) = 9 Pts I love the perfection of this captured moment, with neither the sisters nor the fireflies there except by implication. Twelfth Place – Eighth Points tiny sparks of light flit about my dark garden fireflies or fairies? Ignatius (0,3,2) = 8 Pts Thirteenth Place – Seven Points fireflies — someone wrote haiku in their light Horst Ludwig (1,1,2) = 7 Pts firefly at your gravesite — my watch stopped ARW (0,3,1) = 7 Pts firefly hunt -     almost there                             then                                         the light                                         goes out Laurene (0,3,1) = 7 Pts Perfect would perhaps be no 'out' but just "___" one firefly, two — the small lap-lapping as we drift from shore Lin Geary 0,2,3 = 7 Pts helpless laughter... the Ferris wheel dips us into the fireflies jt (0,2,3) = 7 Pts fireflies light my path to the full moon php (0,2,3) = 7 Pts losing then finding that first thought — firefly Joyce Clement (0,1,5) = 7 Pts Fourteenth Place – Six Points a field of fairy tales — the many lights of fireflies bre (1,0,3) = 6 Pts A standout for economy and mindfulness. like this firefly in this dark night... my life Li Ree (0,2,2) = 6 Pts firefly haze in the rearview mirror — the drive back home sanjuktaa (0,2,2) = 6 Pts To me this suggests the glow of a safe childhood, 'home' as sanctuary. starlight reception . . . the ring bearer brings the bride a firefly Bill Pauly (0,1,4) = 6 Pts Fifteenth Place – Five Points spotting a firefly, the tiny ant stops and mulls... what's wrong with the sun? Abhinav Maurya (1,1,0) = 5 Pts the world a jar firefly through my door mechaieh (1,0,2) = 5 Pts I love the way this turns things inside out in so many ways! summer evening — the random flash of fireflies Mary Lee McClure (1,0,2) = 5 Pts the firefly and i wait for the sunset w. f. owen (1,0,2) = 5 Pts starless night i let the firefly guide me Wojciech Wojnar (0,2,1) = 5 Pts the baby asleep — a reflection of fireflies in the water P M F Johnson (0,1,3) = 5 Pts in tall grass we chase the fireflies — seven sisters Bethel (0,1,3) = 5 Pts I'm always charmed to see an astronomy kigo. home village above the deep well a firefly Lech Szeglowski (0,1,3) = 5 Pts Sixteenth Place – Four Points Firefly has gone Silver lining of the cloud Lit up by his soul. Tanja (1,0,1) = 4 Pts Midnight storm; Where did they suddenly go? Fireflies and the moon manoj saranathan (1,0,1) = 4 Pts A contemplative question that sparks many thoughts. firefly on her hand the cold glow of young widow's ring Dorota Pyra (0,2,0) = 4 Pts after the rain... trees filled with fireflies Christmas in July! Rose Marie Stutts (0,1,2) = 4 Pts mother flashes the porch light — in my cupped hands a firefly's tickle aom (tim) (0,1,2) = 4 Pts Fireflies — a smear of phosphorescence on the toddler's palm Linda Papanicolaou (0,1,2) = 4 Pts Firefly — lantern home for nameless dog Kurt R. W. (0,1,2) = 4 Pts wondering about my ancestors — fireflies max verhart (0,1,2) = 4 Pts wheat field — parade of fireflies at dusk Cindy Bene (0,1,2) = 4 Pts wedding march the flower girl chasing fireflies Melissa Spurr (0,0,4) = 4 Pts Something about the magical firefly that lures us away from 'duty'. Seventeenth Place – Three Points the tot mesmerized — fireflies Zhanna P. Rader (1,0,0) = 3 Pts Fourth of July oh, firefly how can you compete? Barbara Campitelli (0,1,1) = 3 Pts The firefly Alights on my sleeve Ignoring me James Sawers (0,1,1) = 3 Pts scent of sandalwood — a firefly adds to the light of incense gillena (0,1,1) = 3 Pts her face beyond the fireflies moving light Jo McInerney (0,1,1) = 3 Pts silent fireflies in her throat a burning taste of loneliness Elena Naskova (0,1,1) = 3 Pts tree house nightlight the small boy sneaks one more firefly into the jar Edward (0,1,1) = 3 Pts children shouting "look, there's one!" — the sound of fireflies Shelley Krause (0,1,1) = 3 Pts Perseids I recall summer fireflies Harvey Jenkins (0,1,1) = 3 Pts In the dog days of summer, to recall early summer nights when the heat was still welcomed and all of summer was ahead...nicely done. holding flashlights they twirl in the darkness — pretend fireflies Leslie Montgomery (0,1,1) = 3 Pts favorite uncle — we trade fireflies for sparklers John Thompson (0,1,1) = 3 Pts restless mind fireflies strobing all over the meadow Earl Keener (0,1,1) = 3 Pts rain drips more slowly from the porch — fireflies reappear April Serock (0,1,1) = 3 Pts sun rose late this day little time to learn so much life of a firefly 1bodhisattva (0,1,1) = 3 Pts sudden blackout — the old neighbourhood full of fireflies Israel Lopez Balan (0,0,3) = 3 Pts power outage :: a firefly's slow progress across the window timothy russell (0,0,3) = 3 Pts broken curfew she tries to blame the fireflies Susan Constable (0,0,3) = 3 Pts hot night the afterglow of a dead firefly Collin Barber (0,0,3) = 3 Pts flash of shoes children hunting for fireflies Jim Applegate (0,0,3) = 3 Pts absent minded — following the flight of the firefly Jon Baldwin (0,0,3) = 3 Pts firefly hunt galaxies in a jar John Stone (0,0,3) = 3 Pts Eighteenth Place – Two Points fireflies on the camping site kind of blue... marlθne (0,1,0) = 2 Pts darkest nights fireflies light the way summer heat terrytip (0,1,0) = 2 Pts framed by the dark outline of a mock orange this year's first firefly gourdman (0,1,0) = 2 Pts firefly~ a fly flies across the fireplace Apurva (0,1,0) = 2 Pts blazing curlicues not a shy firefly in the bunch Carolyn (0,1,0) = 2 Pts summer gloaming fireflies signal the tranquil moon Frances McCarthy (0,1,0) = 2 Pts long night ~ fanning while looking at fireflies Reza (0,1,0) = 2 Pts fireflies! children and grandparents dart through the tall grass Catherine J.S. Lee (0,1,0) = 2 Pts erratic dance three fireflies compete round a streetlight andrea 0,0,2 = 2 Lighted hermitage — in the moonless night a thousand fireflies Vasile Moldovan (0,0,2) = 2 Pts first kiss fireflies intermingle with the stars N. C. Whitehead (0,0,2) = 2 Pts fireflies. . . shining for my grandson as they did for me Carole (0,0,2) = 2 Pts The good life comes 'round again. fireworks without fireflies a dud fizzles Jennifer Corpe (0,0,2) = 2 Pts Something a bit lacking even in the excitement of fireworks without nature's magic. firefly in a jar the little girl begins to cry Bill Kenney (0,0,2) = 2 Pts time on my hands-and then a firefly Beth Powell (0,0,2) = 2 Pts balancing the books for the wedding reception fireflies . . . . . . . . . . free Barbara Snow (0,0,2) = 2 Pts darker skies — twinkling lies like fireflies in your eyes Jon Vassbotn (0,0,2) = 2 Pts Nineteenth Place – One Point First night home from war fireflies semaphore welcome yositaka hunted for her beauty firefly jill two fireflies on a leaf — they marry! Michael McClintock the flash of the firefly he kisses her on the neck Sjs fireflies! the wonder on my son's face anonymous flowing at skylights fireflies goblet finally rain and fleetingly with it one or two fireflies Bruce Ross summer dusk: a gun is drawn — fireflies Linda Marucci summer performance fireflies take a bow on evening's stage Deirdre Godwin humid, august night erupts with fireflies cicadas sing todd eddy fireflies on my 'to do' list . . . evening heat Alice Frampton the firefly blinks from tree to tree — gleaming Jupiter LGD One ephemeral the other older than life. tea lights... the blush on her cheeks as I talk about fireflies anonymous autumn evening – two children wrangle about a firefly Miorita home for the evening a thermometer under his arm no fireflies this year Leah Ann Sullivan lakeside walk our way lit by fireflies Meredith Stern Cavalieri twilight firefly and small plane wink Donna Bauerly Fooling the poet and the firefly, perhaps. the night air fills with fireflies . . . stardust anonymous late night commute sitting on feathered maple lone firefly Hazel A. Witherspoon Twentieth Place – Sorry, no points this time. firefly riverine tour below the glowing trees laughter of newly weds john tiong chunghoo nightly firefly glows shining rocks guiding ships welcoming dawn Wendy Kabiri Grampi releases fireflies from his wine jug glowing and tipsy Conrad Sienkiewicz On the lake a firefly hovers silence surrounds Angelika Kolompar mid night stroll I fall into a bush to catch a firefly anonymous stars twinkle — at the edge of the lake ripples of fireflies? Daniela Bullas all alone after the birthday bash suddenly a firefly Gautam Nadkarni Evening star a solitary gleam one firefly. Trevor Camp the fourth of july fireworks light the distant sky fireflies signal nearby Mr PC a firefly turns off, turns on — lighting its way Tomislav firefly faeries dancing in the quiet dusk my youth relived fedelmia out the back window a sparkling galaxy — Fireflies Jeff Hanson fireflies lit while flying upward, upward — those optimists Paul O. Williams fireflies around our heads light the way Neil Muscott In the inky darkness, a firefly blinks at distant lights. Kamal the girl with a new glowing ring... fireflies Meggy in your hair a few fireflies you are screaming Geert Verbeke two gold stars on the young child's hand — fireflies rising Ron Moss hot summer night — after the fireflies dance the sky full of stars Grzegorz Sionkowski under the milky way fireflies lighten the path towards childhood Dejan Pavlinovic fireflies in the cemetery blinking eyes of life's desire Ben Gieske how the firefly makes its light —I don't know— bodega haze sAm summer coolness the only fireflies fake ones at Disneyland Deborah P Kolodji my firefly's burning at both ends - left the charger in Israel Reni Bg firefly beacon tripping over the rocks in my path jblain lost in the dark a million eyes light up firefly glow usha hot dogs, fireflies, the sound of bat hitting ball summer is buzzing Penelope Sargent General Comments: This was much more difficult than writing my entries! I ended up creating three lists pruning down my favorites! And I sorely wish I could vote for the ones I left out. Fireflies produced many evocative responses. Good poems. It's something of a surprise that this magical (though traditional) topic seems to have produced relatively few good haiku. I wonder if participants were a bit haunted by the hundreds of years of haiku already written; perhaps such a weight may have inhibited imaginations.	First Place – Twenty-seven Points rejection letter folding another paper crane Melissa Spurr (1,6,12) = 27 Pts The "making lemonade" approach to rejection slips. This will appeal to non-violent types. For the rest, see ‘third drink’. The two make a great matched set. A nice image! I love the gentle humor - the making of lemonade from yet another lemon. A very creative use for useless paper! Second Place – Twenty Points on the fridge the to-do list you left me Roberta Beary (2,3,8) = 20 Pts Oh, the glare in that last line's eye! Like the W. C. Williams "Plum" poem, this says so much! This made me think of someone returning home after the funeral of their spouse. birth certificate: the name of the father he never knew Catherine J.S. Lee (1,4,9) = 20 Pts Oh, man, does this ever resonate. This haiku expresses so concisely and perfectly the thoughts a person has when contemplating the importance of a mysterious name on a document so official and so personal. Well done! yard sale — the faded diploma of a country doc Carmen Sterba (0,3,14) = 20 Pts Third Place – Eighteen Points will writing . . . a lawn mower strikes a rock Alice Frampton (2,4,4) = 18 Pts For me, it's naming the executors; for others, something else that brings the writing to a halt. root canal ~ staring at the dentist's graduation certificate Paul Hodder (2,2,8) = 18 Pts divorce papers the envelope surprisingly light Neil Muscott (1,6,3) = 18 Pts Fourth Place – Fourteen Points her medicare card in this morning's mail . . . the girl that I married Bill Kenney (1,2,7) = 14 Pts An arresting mix of melancholy and joy - bittersweet. I am indebted to the author for expanding my understanding of wabi/sabi. So much tenderness and nostalgia is expressed in this haiku. Fifth Place – Thirteen Points chopped onions on a new cutting board divorce papers Deborah P Kolodji (1,2,6) = 13 Pts shotgun wedding the invitation arrives by email Susan Constable (0,4,5) = 13 Pts 'Marry in haste; repent at leisure' ;-? Sixth Place – Twelve Points tucked away with her important papers — my first report card Shelley Krause (1,2,5) = 12 Pts wind change — flood water up to the parking ticket aom (tim) (1,1,7) = 12 Pts Doubly damned, but nature's power is greater than officialdom, wryly amusing. death certificate — that's all I hold in my arms Barbara Campitelli (0,2,8) = 12 Pts A poignant haiku; the unsaid says so much. reading the divorce petition — first raindrops Jacek M. (0,2,8) = 12 Pts out of work the framed diplomas collecting dust ed markowski (0,1,10) = 12 Pts Seventh Place – Eleven Points youthful urgency that love letter you wrote me scrawled on a napkin Conrad Sienkiewicz (3,1,0) = 11 Pts marriage license — we squint to read the fine print John Thompson (1,2,4) = 11 Pts Eighth Place – Ten Points in the parchment of my hands — reading the years Donna Bauerly (1,2,3) = 10 Pts Utterly beautiful in all its silence and acceptance! graduation . . . grandma waves her diploma Carol Raisfeld (0,2,6) = 10 Pts I love the surprise of line 3. The surprise contrast is uplifting. Ninth Place – Nine Points the VD clinic — waiting for blood test results I write valentines Mykel Board (0,3,3) = 9 Pts Not to me, I hope. In other words, a most effective senryu. Tenth Place – Eight Points the long awaited letter           says             no Carol Pearce-Worthington (1,0,5) = 8 Pts tired thoughts my diary and the gray noise of a downpour Ella Wagemakers (0,3,2) = 8 Pts Eleventh Place – Seven Points rainy attic . . . Mother's faded birth certificate Bill Pauly (0,3,1) = 7 Pts third drink— framing the rejection slip with my staple gun Lin Geary (0,1,5) = 7 Pts Gratuitous violence. I love it. But is this the only way to deal with rejection slips? See ‘rejection letter’. morning mail — a letter to my son from traffic court Linda Papanicolaou (0,1,5) = 7 Pts power of attorney :: mother tends the garden in the nude Sjs (0,1,5) = 7 Pts Twelfth Place – Six Points next school report — her pet doll covered by dust Dorota Pyra (1,0,3) = 6 Pts roadside diner on the menu a family history deb koen (0,1,4) = 6 Pts Thirteenth Place – Five Points divorce paper a half of fresh orange in his hand Norsto (1,1,0) = 5 Pts first passport — looking time and again at the photo Horst Ludwig (1,0,2) = 5 Pts a gnat forever at takeoff — the document's clauses page jean cully (1,0,2) = 5 Pts sold with the farm deeds of a lifetime Beth Powell (1,0,2) = 5 Pts again reading his death certificate before I return to nothing Li Ree (0,2,1) = 5 Pts cause of death on the pathology report: God only knows.... Marlθne Buitelaar (0,1,3) = 5 Pts "God only knows" why I like this one but I do. Fourteenth Place – Four Points four hundred years old a monastery Bible I turn the vellum page Rose Marie Stutts (1,0,1) = 4 Pts such a long life and a good one — such a short Will LGD (0,2,0) = 4 Pts Words on a paper Stiletto stabbing a heart; Will and testament. Tanja (0,1,2) = 4 Pts using the Deed as kindling for a campfire after foreclosure gourdman (0,1,2) = 4 Pts prairie drought he stares hard at the horizon divorce papers Edward (0,1,2) = 4 Pts autumn twilight the pauper sits down to write his will Gautam Nadkarni (0,0,4) = 4 Pts This is intriguing; what does the pauper have to will? The juxtaposition feels very right here. the ''to do'' list -- my orderly mind on paper fedelmia (0,0,4) = 4 Pts "on paper" sneaks up on you; quietly effective. A juxtaposition of similarities. Fifteenth Place – Three Points divorce decree child cries on courthouse steps balloon flies free Cindy Bene (1,0,0) = 3 Pts the child stands not knowing which hand to take divorce papers sealed his fate usha (1,0,0) = 3 Pts door closed she hunts for his wallet mechaieh (0,0,3) = 3 Pts Headline — my ex-wife inherits Garry Eaton (0,1,1) = 3 Pts border my passport photo borderline tom painting (0.0,3) = 3 Pts with a kiss I seal an envelope — you touch my red lipstick Daniela Bullas (0,1,1) = 3 Pts forty-eight years now safe in my underwear drawer my PhD Paul O. Williams (0,0,3) = 3 Pts Rolled in a cardboard tube ;-? smiling children receive their certificates — parents' day Beverly Achieng (0,1,1) = 3 Pts forest fires. . . a new lease signed in indelible ink Carole (0,1,1) = 3 Pts pardon me ...the judge hard of hearing Colin Stewart Jones (0,0,3) = 3 Pts The double entendre of L1 is perfect. Thanks for the smile. new year's night inky-black feet touch paper Jennifer Corpe (0,1,1) = 3 Pts reading of his will — the sour expressions on their sons' faces Zhanna P. Rader (0,0,3) = 3 Pts the sky darkens — a hesitation before signing the contract max verhart (0,0,3) = 3 Pts passport control — all he wants to see is her smile Pia Sosua (0,0,3) = 3 Pts Sixteenth Place – Two Points passing a file – the paper trail still stationary Allison Millcock (0,1,0) = 2 Pts out living her birth certificate, she writes for a replacement... octogenarian terrytip (0,0,2) = 2 Pts grandmother diary on yellow leaves list of promises goblet (0,1,0) = 2 Pts a firm handshake — the certificate drops to the floor gillena (0,0,2) = 2 Pts Wonderfully captured moment of youthful confusion. old paper between faded letters Mum's smile Gosia Zamorska (0,0,2) = 2 Pts renewing their vows orchids in the estuary anonymous (0,1,0) = 2 Pts first passport my son thinks I was cute anonymous (0,0,2) = 2 Pts A relationship sketched with a light touch. winter night assignment~ the boss finds a haiku in my document Apurva (0,0,2) = 2 Pts plain brown envelope an end to his vile abuse her divorce papers Ignatius (0,1,0) = 2 Pts Sweep — brown-eyed undocumented jill (0,1,0) = 2 Pts this one final time I will sign my maiden name for better or worse Deirdre Godwin (0,1,0) = 2 Pts full moon comes in the window — she consults her astrological chart Leslie Montgomery (0,0,2) = 2 Pts Is anything added by "comes" that isn't already there? Otherwise, it’s terrific. in her missal a photo of her sons buried unnamed Geert Verbeke (0,0,2) = 2 Pts the owner shows me its pedigree – his found dog hides under my bed Tomislav M (0,0,2) = 2 Pts our marriage certificate the stern Chinese clerk smiles at last Tore Sverredal (0,0,2) = 2 Pts the watermark constellations begin their course Jon Baldwin (0,0,2) = 2 Pts one more search for that lost check a butterfly's path Barbara Snow (0,1,0) = 2 Pts his deed passes hands . . . poker table Mary anonymous (0,0,2) = 2 Pts I was reminded of an old Western. Seventeenth Place – One Point my hands shake as I write the address — registered letter anonymous withered roses — signing my rights away did my hand shake? anonymous Hand shaking from fears of old age and loss of control or from the reason for the signing, very well captured. divorce papers found tear stains blur the date yositaka The paper trail Proved I was dead James Sawers restraining order — the screen door slams on her albatross John Stone broken compass our red passports in a trash can Elena Naskova lofty bill gates rewrote his will left out again Mr PC traffic checkpoint — a bus driver shows his license papers Caleb Mutua passion recalled the hotel bill stuck in his old coat Frances McCarthy a border checkpoint police demands my passport — a stifled yawn Joseph Mutavi swimming contest — I receive my first trophy and certificate Judy Muthengi newspaper curled from the summer's heat . . . this soldier's death Ron Moss rotten apple my pink copy of the court papers anonymous two smiles alike meet between future and past in an old yearbook Dejan Pavlinovic divorce decree used to start fire on cold lonely night Jim Applegate passport photo how is it I look so old? Meredith Stern Cavalieri Eighteenth Place – Sorry, no points this time. broken down in the street past the used car lot signing a bill of sale bre Another obstacle Holiday plan on standby must renew passport Ashi divorce decree a blue envelope in her purse anonymous The sun rises I move house again a new lease Trevor Camp summer haze can not read census of my ancestor Jan Jordan the passport reads Greenfield Mass Greenwich too soon forgotten Carolyn Soon to be fifty I sort through old papers Birth Certificate Jeff Hanson taipei summer streets cicadas blast away with their shrill john tiong chunghoo Tears of joy? Signing our divorce certificate for good and all Vasile Moldovan spring cleaning — mothers birth/death certificate in the roll top Meggy too hard to take the multi-media documentation of last century Bruce Ross border guard frowns glances at my passport says 'Happy Birthday' Harvey Jenkins permits for guns – "noise pollution" subpoena court seizes wind chimes anonymous arrested thief — journalist's ID swings as she takes photos Kelvin Mukoselo sitting cross-legged newly crafted poem in hand the coffee boils todd eddy the pastor requesting my baptism certificate — admission day Vivian Adhiambo Pen held aloft, words rush out. page still blank. Kamal scouts march uniformly as they receive their certificates independence day James Bundi prize-giving day — the principal presenting certificates to the best students Martin Kamau drizzly morning — I discover a lost ID in the street Mary Sharon newspaper leaf kept in the old note book: a document Miorita reading the letter blurred with words streaking tears Ben Gieske entrusted aide ... a single envelope withdrawn from the safe andrea airport security — my passport photo could be a mug shot Laurene narrow road – a doodlebug documents his passing in the sand anonymous through salt tears the pages blur mantle clock ticks Ruth Powell shredding old papers termination documents stick in my hands Hazel A. Witherspoon making ship with B/L ~ cold day reza at the pearly gates, I remember and smile... forgetting passport Abhinav Maurya General Comments: This was much more difficult than writing my entries! ‘autumn twilight’ is the best haiku in both the kukai categories according to me. Reminds me of the masters of haiku and the haiku as it is supposed to be! I ended up creating three lists pruning down my favorites! And I sorely wish I could vote for the ones I left out. I'm always afraid that poems on my short list that don't make the final cut will wind up with zero points, giving the misleading impression that nobody liked them. And I'll try to keep this in mind for my next zero. Some really creative responses to the documents prompt.

Thank you all for participating in the July 2008 Shiki Monthly Kukai.

We will be posting the August Call for Submissions on or about Monday, August 4th. See you then!

With much appreciation,

Robert Bauer, Secretary
Gary Warner, Web Host

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