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Last Chance to Vote in the January 2021 THF Monthly Kukai

This month’s theme:
optimism

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.

The Ballot

1

      1
20
2021
12:01

2

      88 today
I register for vaccine
at the cancer center

3

      a bull belly deep
in the summer pond
yellow lilies

4

 a fresh year
new hiking boots
waiting in the box

5

 a polytunnel
in late autumn
delayed delivery

6

 across the counter
a tumbler . . .
half-full

7

 after earthquake
the little girl drawing her house

8

 after the storm
hovering over fallen flowers
a butterfly

9

 all along the fence
with his ticketytock stick
a dream-humming boy

10

 always half full moon in my glass

11

 an old man
excitedly talks
on future discoveries

12

 An old man walking
Stomps and drags the fine gravel
Walking to heaven

13

 another vaccine
rolling out
my dusty wings

14

 At crowed swamp —
A baby coot
follow its mother.

15

 at the end
of my nightmare . . .
mother’s smile

16

 baboon mates he reaches to feel her behind paw slapped away

17

 balmy afternoon
not yet spring
grasshopper

18

 blooming lilacs
at the crossroad
a new path ahead

19

 break of dawn
the cat sniffs at
first snowdrop

20

 bulbs buried in fall
push leaves up through frozen dirt —
wishful thinking

21

 burial —
in the fresh snow
round trip steps

22

 cactus flower —
each poem I write
a dressing of a wound

23

 cancer ward . . .
at last the moon decides
to leave

24

 changing winds . . .
the snow-peaks
opening slowly

25

 chemo fog . . .
she plants hyacinths
in winter light

26

 chorus line
a skein of geese
pulling grandma’s yarn

27

 Christmas morning
out of the thick snow
the head of a snowdrop

28

 cold champagne . . .
actually writing
a resolution list

29

 cold morning
in the flight of a swallow
pieces of sky

30

 Come back
the child calls
to the rising balloon

31

 crocus buds I choose hope

32

 December daffodils
shiver in my garden —
yellow coffins

33

 desert sun . . .
the caravans sing
a monsoon song

34

 down east
the murmuring chirps
of winter birds

35

 dreaming sparrow
in the middle of winter
cherry blossom

36

 elderly now
still he plants
an orchard

37

 emergency room
hanging from the doorknob
my foolish smile

38

 even in raindrops
the sun shines through . . .
smiling

39

 every place
is Shangri-la
the first time

40

 finally dawn
first dream of the year
bodes well

41

 first green shoots
of spring —
vaccination appointment

42

 first light
the woodpecker’s
drum roll

43

 flies hatching . . . circles
dappling the surface . . .
another last cast

44

 frosty dawn
my old orchid
shows off her new buds

45

 Full moon bludgeoned me
shining like a well-lit dime
my trash cans glowing

46

 garnishing
the canvas tote
carrot tops

47

 Grandmother’s smiles
The sun overcomes dark
Joy overloaded

48

 gum trees
old bark peeling in the sun

49

 Gypsy psychic
Promising me three good things —
Just twenty bucks

50

 heavy
is a
heartbreak

51

 her gentle sway
enticing spring
daffodil

52

 her last line
no
period

53

 icicles
there
outside my window
a pansy

54

 January 15th
I’m still true to my
New Year’s resolution

55

 kaleidobrandscope
kiss, eat, drink, love, buy, fly, smile
all together mood

56

 katydid imago
bursting to sing
this new me

57

 late to work
perfect rain pictures
backup plan

58

 life support . . .
titillating
his foot

59

 lifting spirits
the bittersweet flight song
of a skylark

60

 little memories
eating mud curls and jumping
in puddles

61

 lived amidst
(a)long pandemic
my aged mother

62

 lockdown
a ladybug
on my sleeve

63

 lockdown evening
enough space for a rumba
in our kitchen

64

 low expectations
optimistically
normal’s the new great

65

 meat on the grill —
our dog patiently sits
next to me

66

 meteor
yesterday and today
the same wish

67

 more confident
wearing two masks
her tinder date

68

 my pink glasses
the world smiles
back on me

69

 my reflection
pouring into the gutter
still clings on to me

70

 my writing
slow as that snail
sun tea

71

 new calendar
with clean pages
possibilities

72

 New mirror
the pressure around
my optimism

73

 new year’s day . . .
my gratitude list
lengthens

74

 New Year’s Day —
the calendar
full of promises

75

 New Year’s morning
the look of wonder in
my grandson’s eyes

76

 New Year’s resolution
Whatever Will Be, Will Be
I sing the song

77

 ode to joy
on repeat
vaccination

78

 Of wind and wings
the new day shines.
Let’s start again

79

 on the branch of the tree
fallen in the storm
that damn wren!

80

 opening any-way to light

81

 pandemic blues . . .
and yet the silver line
in her hair

82

 purple sunset
the dancers in wild trance
rushing wind

83

 refugee camp . . .
a wedding sepia photo
in her locket

84

 refugee camp
shrouded by dreams
of early return

85

 rehab session
I’ve still got one he smiles
and hops away

86

 Rose Island . . .
a turtle hatchling
overtaking itself

87

 Rosebud in winter
Blossoming despite the frost
Harbinger of hope!

88

 sawing till dusk
polished table for son
only lineage

89

 seen on our masked walk
a fairy door on a tree —
an entrance for hope

90

 shooting star
actually, I’ll do it
myself

91

 skid row
a Sunday comics kite
flies above the shanty

92

 smiling
kitty waiting
goldfish swimming

93

 snowdrops
out of the ground . . .
sun to come

94

 snowflakes drift
from children’s snow angels
across the village

95

 step by step
the egret
walks on the leaves

96

 Sunflower seeds
turning east, turning west
A storm sprouts bright

97

 suspended
in day fog
the lighted windows

98

 Tears . . . death
rain . . . life
love . . . forever

99

 the leap
from dubious hope
to irrational exuberance

100

 the morning brings light
dark of evening comes early
it is dawn again somewhere

101

 the shearers
strike
. . . a deal

102

 the smallest cacti
bloom largest
fairy garden

103

 there are many ways to get to Rome

104

 third trimester
she knits a blanket
with glee

105

 through an eagle’s feathers . . .
the song of the wind

106

 to do list
persimmon
orchard

107

 twenty twenty-one
starting with the man
in the mirror

108

 under feet
of frozen soil
an acorn awaits

109

 wait, my friend!
below a kingfisher’s branch
ice melts

110

 wheeoo-ti-ti-whee
in the evergreens
the thing with feathers

111

 winter thaw
getting vaccinated
on inauguration day

112

 winter wind
pink balloons tied
to the mailbox

113

 within her pelvis
crib of the universe
sea stone fern dirt earth

 

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!

 

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