Last Chance to Vote in the August 2022 THF Monthly Kukai
This month’s theme:
water
Voting closes for The Haiku Foundation Monthly Kukai tonight (the 24th) at midnight (east coast time). So make those final decisions and let us know whom you think did the best work this month.
Voting for The Haiku Foundation Monthly Kukai
Shortly after the conclusion of the submission period, an anonymous ballot comprising all submitted poems on that month’s theme will be posted to Troutswirl (The Haiku Foundation blog) on the THF site. Any reader of this ballot is eligible to vote for their favorite poems at this time. A voter may vote for up to five (5) poems per theme. A top vote will receive 5 points, a second-place vote 4 points, a third-place vote 3 points, a fourth-place vote 2 points, and a fifth-place vote 1 point.
Please use the Kukai voting form below to enter your selections, and then press Submit to cast your votes. No other votes will be recognized or honored. All votes must be signed (that is, no “anonymous” votes will be accepted, and the Submit button will not be available until both Name and Email fields are filled in), and no poet may vote for his or her own work. No commentary upon the poems will be accepted or published. Votes will be accepted from the appearance of the ballot on the 18th of that month through midnight of the 24th of that month. Readers may vote only once per ballot. Administrators of the kukai are ineligible to vote.
Note: Anonymity is an essential part of any kukai. If you know who wrote the poem then that entry is no longer anonymous. Please respect the Kukai and do not vote for that entry.
The Ballot
1 | a cracked earth the diamond river carries on | |
2 | a drop of water: | |
3 | a river carrying the same sky and clouds inside oceans | |
4 | a survival camp we learn to drink water from the rolled leaf | |
5 | A tree branch bent into the pond Insatiable thirst | |
6 | a water snake sunning itself midstream stepping stones | |
7 | about to rain a peacock’s moves move close to peahen | |
8 | above and below all planetary waters earth’s sacred precious | |
9 | Across Echo Lake The wind a ripple of snakes Yellow leaves chasing | |
10 | after the rain daffodils drip tiny secrets | |
11 | After the thunderstorm Dew from the leaves smells Blue sunshine | |
12 | amniotic fluid — a little swimmer prepares to jump | |
13 | arctic wind — whipping water into shapes | |
14 | At the river peace enters in | |
15 | autumn how water smoothes grey stone | |
16 | babbling brook the language of water | |
17 | backyard pool wayfaring mermaids above sea level | |
18 | Baltic Sea — waves on the feet — I feel a great thirst | |
19 | basking on green pads turtles drop into the lake’s cool blue underworld | |
20 | becoming bridge — the storm knocks down a tree | |
21 | bluegrass festival the thrum of rain on fiddlehead fern | |
22 | blurry Moon cheeks getting wetter over the empty cradle | |
23 | breaking waves the fetus’ last burst at my seams | |
24 | broken waters you are coming ready or not | |
25 | brook trout rest in an old oak’s shadow thoughts of home | |
26 | bubbles on a puddle more or less | |
27 | circles in the water — a date with him follows me after years and years | |
28 | City nights lit in neon reflecting off the cool wet summer streets. | |
29 | Climate change water set to cover Miami | |
30 | cobble beach time and water smooths people too | |
31 | coin fountain out of pennies I toss in my reflection | |
32 | cot death the hush of snow falling into an ocean | |
33 | Cry me a river a desert storm kind enough to dry my last tear | |
34 | dark river water where others pause pausing | |
35 | deep well — asking for water in a new language | |
36 | dew drops dribble . . . dampen the cricket’s chirp | |
37 | do not let mom’s eyes wet . . . | |
38 | dog days spitting watermelon seeds at my toes | |
39 | down by the river berry after berry the taste of summer | |
40 | dried up old pond looking for another inspiration | |
41 | driftwood washed ashore I caress the woman in me | |
42 | drop by drop becoming a puddle rain cloud | |
43 | drought rain clouds gather over the sea | |
44 | drought moon the lake giving up its secrets | |
45 | droughts and floods on opposite scales the weight of water | |
46 | drying out the shoes it rains again splashing water | |
47 | drying pond . . . still accommodates moon and stars | |
48 | each drop of morning dew — reveals the spider’s web | |
49 | Early morning loon Breaks deafening silence, From water lily pad. | |
50 | early sunlight greedy koi flashing in lotus blooms | |
51 | eau de cologne at the corner’s barber shop war stories | |
52 | end of summer the fountain goes on holiday | |
53 | everywhere yet dry drops | |
54 | following the road — a river of phlox and the river | |
55 | Forced into stillness The murkiness increases I’d rather run free | |
56 | free spirit . . . the burbling of a brook makes me laugh | |
57 | garden hose . . . so close a bee thanks me for the freshness | |
58 | glacier melt . . . an unwritten book left on the mountain side | |
59 | grandfather salmon says to bashō’s frog you call that a splash? | |
60 | green hose has a leak it sprays the wrong flowers my holy water | |
61 | Heads bowed, guests enter the tearoom welcomed by sounds of water gurgling. | |
62 | heat wave day moon lingers in the watering trough | |
63 | her blank stare at the palliative care window . . . soundless rain | |
64 | hook cast through the air floating in unknown waters the taught line trembles | |
65 | hot wind the bird bath now a turbo tub | |
66 | immersion site a wave curls around my hand one last time | |
67 | in the cold sand the sea had weaved its flames — water landscapes | |
68 | in the trees when the rain stops wind whipped rain | |
69 | insomnia — the ensuite tap drip drips into my mind | |
70 | it’s raining today puddles, gutters, squishy leaves I like my new shoes | |
71 | jet black pond alive with emerald eyes cacophony of frogs | |
72 | just a sip — the soldier’s last words into the air | |
73 | lake in autumn . . . still carrying bucketfuls of your memory | |
74 | lake’s edge her eyes well up below weeping willows | |
75 | landing on my nose a dragonfly shares the view | |
76 | Last month’s skimpy rain: does any remain deep down, where my well thirsts? | |
77 | lifeless — six feet under, saw thy living waters. Baptized in thy arms. | |
78 | little little goslings waddling behind Mom | |
79 | lonely evening watering a wildflower | |
80 | low river uncovers stones — vulture circles | |
81 | low tide barnacles holding their breath | |
82 | low water level — discarded bicycles are visible | |
83 | Lush green leaves the dancing lilies announce the coming of rains | |
84 | marine litter in a PET bottle a SOS message | |
85 | melting ice breaking the silence of stars | |
86 | midnight opening a window to the sound of rain | |
87 | monsoon mist the milky cleavage of a green mountain | |
88 | morning’s first blush slips through the mizzling mist, dawn’s chorus begins. | |
89 | mosquito infestation — the stormwater overflows in sewage | |
90 | Niagara Falls plastic raincoats dripping | |
91 | no fragment or phrase in the flood | |
92 | no water in the lake the dry river’s parched mouth | |
93 | no water — no purity, no zest no energy, no life | |
94 | Ocean waves splatter Sea water washes my face Salt tears burn my eyes | |
95 | oh to live on a humble houseboat befriending pelicans | |
96 | On the yellow leaf a bright blue marble of yesterday’s rain. | |
97 | one feather mallard passes by ripples on the pond | |
98 | one hydrogen atom said to the other — let’s play with Oxygen . . . | |
99 | only silent rain on a summer afternoon surrounds you and me | |
100 | our reflection in the lake mud cracks | |
101 | overcome by illness — after a bottle of living water he is back to life | |
102 | parched corn field my hopes evaporate | |
103 | passing place a river meets the sea | |
104 | Pebbles in the stream Worn smooth by the equation Of water plus time | |
105 | petrichor kissing the color from a plum | |
106 | pond stillness an ibis shatters its image | |
107 | pond water all these lives within | |
108 | pond’s edge — a swan family nibbles on my reflection | |
109 | Ponds, Summer showers, Hot baths Waters hold healing power. | |
110 | prolonged frost a wilting wallflower holds its breath | |
111 | quick rain another rainbow born dead | |
112 | rain puddle our dark shadows in color | |
113 | rain water puddle pining for the roaring river it once was | |
114 | redbird drinks from a water basin and sees a rival! | |
115 | reservoir hike kneeling to dip my hand and bless myself | |
116 | returning geese flock the lake that was . . . old blood calling | |
117 | rhythm of the rain fox dashes across the lawn lightning flashes | |
118 | Ribbons shine Gurgle into loch Silent splash. | |
119 | rigor and rhyme in its seasonal flow her garden pool | |
120 | rising creek all those stones now covered i swallow my disappointments | |
121 | rising sea levels . . . and not a drop to drink | |
122 | river’s bed upside down . . . floodwater | |
123 | Rivers; lakes overflowing with painful tears Women still crying for freedom! | |
124 | Rock skipping one, two, three wintersplash | |
125 | Rubber boots Puddle Time machine | |
126 | rush hour the last woman counts the pots in the row | |
127 | saturated sky the drenched front of a new mom’s shirt | |
128 | scent of flowers in the spring rain Virginia’s last letter | |
129 | seaside walk — an ocean rages within me around me | |
130 | setting off on that ancient journey — creak of oars | |
131 | shrinking reservoir the billionaire still fills his pool | |
132 | snake in her eyes and mine Minoan splendor | |
133 | soaking in spray that reaches sky — waterfall | |
134 | solitude autumn river speaks to me of meanings | |
135 | steadily losing its voice autumn creek | |
136 | sturgeon moon . . . waiting for the leap that breaks her waters | |
137 | Submerged in the need Blasts of cool in each droplet Quickly pouring out | |
138 | summer storm tempting puddle splash | |
139 | sunset reflection of the heron conquers the river | |
140 | sunset sail diamonds sparkling on the water | |
141 | sunset the whisper of waves stirs the stillness | |
142 | surfing on waves sail the seas scraps of sunshine | |
143 | sweet reflection — drowned in a bird bath a honey bee | |
144 | sweltering summer dancing through the hydrant’s spray a scream of kids | |
145 | syneseasia | |
146 | the blush of new buds spring rain | |
147 | the keeper of life . . . float, quench or drown. | |
148 | The old rain Held up by a Lily pad | |
149 | the sinking feeling of walking on water run Joey run | |
150 | this desire to be a blade of grass dancing in the rain | |
151 | through the gray of a steady all day rain a flit of goldfinch | |
152 | tide pooling just a glimmer of water between me and the stars | |
153 | unfulfilled dream the brimming water bucket full of stars | |
154 | walking in rain eyes closed . . . the touch of a stranger | |
155 | waning moon I am slipping on a waterslide | |
156 | watching the water of the Mississippi River now a new river | |
157 | water ballet — rain on the river | |
158 | water lilies cover the pond your kisses | |
159 | water striders moon walking . . . old pond | |
160 | water supply shrinks and farmers grow less while torrents of water wreak havoc elsewhere — climate crisis on mother earth | |
161 | waterfall . . . only few words between us | |
162 | Watering eyes, Not just sadness, Signs of aging. | |
163 | watering potted chrysanthemums weather or not | |
164 | Waters reflection; Mirrors our loss of the other, walking away. | |
165 | wet feeding time now all flowers in my bedroom smiling silently | |
166 | white water a cascade of wild phlox beside the creek | |
167 | wild beach an affair story told by the l(eft)overs | |
168 | With one step into The waves of my childhood Benjamin Button | |
169 | withering roses the leaky hosepipe soaks her toes | |
170 | you rowed me across the lake drifting in reeds timeless water moments | |
171 | your name . . . the joy of a river sound |
Kukai Results
On the first day of the following month, results of the tally of the kukai will be announced. The top vote-getters as voted by readers will be posted, along with the number of points each poem tallied, and each poem’s authorship will be revealed at this time. Winners will be invited to select from a list of prizes provided by The Haiku Foundation. The theme for the new month will be announced at the same time, and the process repeated. Poems remain the copyrighted property of their authors, but The Haiku Foundation reserves the right to publish, display and archive all submitted poems for this and other purposes at its discretion.
Congratulations to all our participants!
