Last Chance to Vote in the February 2024 THF Monthly Kukai
This month’s theme:
wheat
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 | 200 kg wheat — the weight of feeding us on father’s shoulder | |
2 | a child’s leftover pizza in the trash bin another child’s dream | |
3 | a goldfinch on the wheat stalk too much glitter in son’s project | |
4 | A grain of wheat that dies and is put to the sickle: abundant life | |
5 | a minister shelves the wheat import bill — gluten intolerance | |
6 | a new dance form swaying wheat in windy fields | |
7 | a sprouting wheat grain after our walk among the fields last year | |
8 | a tilted hat above straw-stuffed sleeves newly sown field | |
9 | a wave of shivers spreads through the dry wheat darkening sky | |
10 | a wheat field in full flush two teenagers in love | |
11 | after the party we pop the balloons as silently as we can. | |
12 | all the gold that is lost gradually — field of wheat | |
13 | all these years separating the weeds from the wheat | |
14 | amber grain waving a last goodbye to the buffalo | |
15 | amber waves kernels of truth in the wind | |
16 | amber waves dancing yeast mingles bubbles transform golden showers flow | |
17 | amber waves of grain immigrant dreams | |
18 | Amber waves of grain stretching to the horizon harvesting the sun | |
19 | Amidst golden fields, Whispers of sustenance grow, Life’s hidden bounty. | |
20 | army tank tracks across wheat fields wildflowers in parallel rows | |
21 | autumn squall a wave of gulls in the combine’s wake | |
22 | backyard gold wheat fields past life images linger old hands kneading dough | |
23 | bloody sky in a field of wheat masks scattered | |
24 | braided wheat the sway in her hips | |
25 | breaking bread with her family — a cat purrs | |
26 | breaking of bread around the table . . . so good for the heart | |
27 | Breath of life bread roti croissant wheatfields of van Gogh | |
28 | breeze’s dance, in the golden fields under the sunlight | |
29 | budding wheat . . . all the haiku not yet written | |
30 | bundle of wheat — on the child’s palm toothpicks | |
31 | chaff :-) | |
32 | chaff left behind, it became the breakfast of champions | |
33 | coffee break at work a coalition unites in valuing of a good loaf | |
34 | communion wafer still struggling with forgiveness | |
35 | cooking lessons she teaches her son how to treat the dough | |
36 | cream of wheat grandmother confuses nutmeg with cinnamon | |
37 | crop circle hummingbird pecks each rung of jacob’s ladder | |
38 | daily bread a ploughman’s in the wheat sheaf shade | |
39 | daily bread the covid ritual | |
40 | Demeters chthonic seeds East of the burial tree Wheat erupts by yahweh hand | |
41 | die to be born again — wheat seed | |
42 | dotted poppies who knew war is waged with wheat | |
43 | dough rising on the bread board day moon | |
44 | Dried wheat in a barrel by the door. Why hold on to the past, Granny? | |
45 | dried winter the baker’s children full of flour | |
46 | drying wheat the sun’s glint off the pitchfork | |
47 | dusk over August wheat a harvester, or a scythe buttery crackers | |
48 | eggnog doughnuts in front of the door a beggar on his knees | |
49 | evening whisper . . . sparrows pecking at mother’s shadow | |
50 | far farmers’ grit freshly made roti in our kitchen | |
51 | field mouse climbs wheat stem eats modified genome seeds cereal killer | |
52 | field of wheat golden billowing sea man and mouse in limbo | |
53 | fields of golden wheat yield to meander of train — Green Revolution | |
54 | fluttering wheat spikes pure gold sea against blue sky — memories fades out | |
55 | food box whole wheat white flour in a brown sack | |
56 | from feather pillow to breakfast table — shredded wheat | |
57 | giving us our daily bread some of us | |
58 | glittering wheat all the waves all the goodbyes | |
59 | global place of seed separating good from bad fights winter’s old guard | |
60 | Gluten-free’s Enemy | |
61 | Gold field of wheat ripens | |
62 | grandma’s kisses the gentle warmth of wheat fields | |
63 | grandpa’s voice when the wheat was taller than me | |
64 | green beard growing on the hillside’s cheek — winter wheat | |
65 | grinding animal feed we dream of golden ears of wheat | |
66 | harvest moon a blend of bird songs in a wheat stubble field | |
67 | harvest sustenance kneaded nutrition of variation | |
68 | harvest time the girl is weaving ears of wheat into her hair | |
69 | heat wave a clump of poppies in a wheat field | |
70 | her pantry shelf of good intentions expired jar of wheat germ | |
71 | horses neighing coffee birds chirping in the morning walking the wheat fields | |
72 | in a world of change your core values remain . . . wheat | |
73 | In every sense, Truly a golden harvest — Fields of ripened Wheat. | |
74 | Melting moons Fill every crevice English muffin | |
75 | melting snow reveals brilliant green rows of winter wheat | |
76 | Merciful Lord God provided divine grass Wheat our staple food on Earth | |
77 | millstones the sound of gold becoming snow | |
78 | mist rises from winter wheat nesting pheasants | |
79 | moon-washed . . . ripples weave westerly across the wheat | |
80 | mother’s dreams winnowing grain the wind still in her mind | |
81 | near the fence profound sadness in that bitch’s eyes | |
82 | no popcorn in this cold world other explosions | |
83 | nothing wasted from the harvest . . . straw in a bluebird nest | |
84 | Now warmth touches skin Sounding echoes from beyond But the wheat is tall | |
85 | On the floor, an empty cereal box . . . nearby, a few scattered raisins | |
86 | Once the staff of life Technology tweaks for longevity Now makes bellies hurt | |
87 | ongoing wars the empty shells of wheat | |
88 | online dating separating wheat from chaff | |
89 | Paths through wheat fields Lead to bread Some do not get fed | |
90 | peaceful winds caress every blade of grass while wheat sprouts among land mines | |
91 | Pita, boule, baguette Ubiquitous Golden chameleon | |
92 | playing in the wheat field child of the wind | |
93 | poppies among wheat poppies on the battlefield peaceful flowers | |
94 | ripe wheat — a sudden storm steals its fragrance | |
95 | ripening wheat the hailstorm deepens worry lines | |
96 | rising above Saskatchewan wheatfields the abandoned grain elevator begins to list | |
97 | rising dough a little brown house swollen with life | |
98 | rolling on rippling wheat an astray hat | |
99 | rolling over the prairie wheat waves | |
100 | Running through the fields, Golden wheat, a young pup’s fur. Now, white, old, a slow trot. | |
101 | selling the good wheat harvest — confirms his survival | |
102 | separating the wheat from the chaff — pre-interview jitters | |
103 | she gleans enough wheat for a single loaf . . . drought year | |
104 | shredded wheat the summer hum of combine harvesters | |
105 | Sitting with Dad searching for worn wheat penny memories wrapped in faded red paper | |
106 | snow-dusted field — a murmuration of starlings | |
107 | soft hiss rises announcing autumn harvest long shadows fall | |
108 | Spica . . . from a starry night the whispers of wheat | |
109 | spitting kernels the baler moves across the fields summer wheat | |
110 | spring zephyr . . . wheat fields doing the “wave” | |
111 | stand in golden field Gram takes my hand whispers someday | |
112 | starlit sky . . . the dog’s whiskers immersed in wheat dust | |
113 | swaying wheat field . . . describing to my mother the Black Sea again | |
114 | sweeping the clouds thanks to its tropical breeze hazy IPA | |
115 | tender grass mature kernels feeding the world | |
116 | The grain that Assembles the smell Of the raw earth | |
117 | the old farmer’s weathered face . . . harvest time | |
118 | the pastor waters both wheat and tares | |
119 | the sky a shroud a flock of crows drops on a field of wheat | |
120 | the war — harvesting lives instead of wheat | |
121 | The waves carry us. Our lives are short, our wave wheat. Our time to harvest. | |
122 | This winter’s wind once made the wavy wheat break be- yond the horizon. | |
123 | undulating ripened wheat lipstick | |
124 | Van Gogh’s wheatfield the thunderstorm inside his head | |
125 | waves of wind rippling long prairie wheat . . . meadowlark song | |
126 | weeding in yellow many sunflowers and wheat ears | |
127 | west winds ripple across the sea Kansas fields | |
128 | Wheat an essential food absolut in daily drink manna from heaven. | |
129 | wheat baguette still warm crispy | |
130 | wheat crop success measured by too little or much | |
131 | wheat ears . . . what words do the sunlight whisper | |
132 | wheat editing Roman emperors to gluten bellies — our Midas touch | |
133 | Wheat field as far as the eye can see gold for everyone | |
134 | wheat field still with open arms scarecrow | |
135 | wheat field the amber waves of war | |
136 | wheat field . . . the bright colour of poppies | |
137 | wheat field in fog — all things translucent then gone | |
138 | wheat fields Van Gogh’s glowing halo of sun | |
139 | wheat fields of Russia among the gleaners my little mother | |
140 | Wheat for birds; On the edge of the barn Your voice echoes | |
141 | wheat grass only one hostage kiss the ground | |
142 | wheat harvest a scarecrow placed on the pounded stone | |
143 | wheat harvesting old scarecrow retires without farewell | |
144 | wheat moon the pain of reaping an alien field | |
145 | wheat offering the monk counts prayer beads | |
146 | wheat pack the curved grace of her neck | |
147 | wheat panicles in the shape of a sickle the farmer | |
148 | wheat plantation an AC/DC jacket to the scarecrow | |
149 | wheat springs forth amidst the mines | |
150 | Wheat stalks Mixed with bright flowers Grandpa’s coffin wreath | |
151 | Wheaties unfrosted uneaten | |
152 | where the wheat was eaten down to the ground hoofprints | |
153 | where the wheat fields were now wind | |
154 | white wheat for our daily bread baked in my heart oven | |
155 | wilted fields In my eyes . . . the children I have to feed | |
156 | wind in the wheat the rustle of her wedding gown | |
157 | windblown wheat field waves of blonde in the convertible | |
158 | winnowing fallen back wheat — my lessons on gravity | |
159 | winnowing wheat — I slowly let go of the undesirable | |
160 | winter evenings — roadside chapati makers’ patient deal | |
161 | winter storm scent of sourdough in her rustic cabin | |
162 | winter wheat a hoof-pawed clod of snow | |
163 | winter wheat just up across the road his & her graves | |
164 | winter wheat waving goodbye for the last time | |
165 | yesterday’s noodle stops the rolling pen but not the haiku |
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!
