THF Monthly Kukai Voting Ballot — October 2024

October 18, 2024
Tom Borkowski
THF Monthly Kukai

This month’s theme:
ribbon

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		“She emerged from the subway, A moon lighting my evening, Crossing the street.”
2		6 — red fire truck 12 — red bicycle 18 — Purple Heart
3		a black ribbon torn nearly in two dad’s funeral
4		a blind man once sang, skies dedicated for love ribbons performing
5		a blue ribbon on her hair sky reflection
6		a bookmark the black ribbon on her black shrug
7		a bunch of old letters tied up with a silk ribbon long braid I had once
8		A child by the phone, Waiting to ring, A love remains unfurled
9		a child lost ribbons of moonlight over the hills
10		A dead tree stands tall, Red ribbon around its trunk — An ax sits waiting.
11		a line of geese where to call home
12		a ribbon that cannot be cut rainbow
13		a ribbon of sadness runs through her joy foster kittens
14		a subtle aroma . . . black satin in her hair
15		a white ribbon flutters in the morning breeze — mother’s funeral
16		a white ribbon in her hair in the rubble
17		aftermath — the creek a ribbon of mud
18		All Soul’s Day a limed ribbon of light
19		although they have passed red ribbons show that we cared never forgotten
20		amber alert . . . her colored ribbon in a roadside ditch
21		among his treasures a bunch of ribboned letters returned to sender
22		ankle deep in sunset white ribbon in her hair
23		another new home the ribbon hides her lost youth
24		anticipation the caramel ribbon through the sundae
25		autumn breeze . . . wearing my hair back with a silk ribbon
26		autumn light — wearing a ribbon to promote breast cancer awareness
27		autumn sunset a ribbon of gold winds through the valley
28		back from the front farm gate squeaks open bow-shaped moon moonrise circus bare-back rider’s gold bar & her stallion
29		battle tanks in the park splattered ribbons
30		believe • hope • fight the sentence on cancer ribbon
31		blossom viewing . . . two red-ribboned plaits prance ahead
32		blossom wind the sprinter’s ponytail with a pink ribbon
33		blue ribbon baby the day you were born
34		Brushing her corn silk hair Strands fall within cancers malodor Bow tied whispers for mercy
35		but for the ribbon your hair
36		Butterfly resting Here, on the morning glory — Fleeting offering
37		button me up like a present tied with ribbons — unwrap me later
38		Car dashboard cam shows where I’m going, where I’ve been: fog, trees, gold ribbon
39		caught in a pink ribbon her funeral urn
40		cerebral palsy cannot tie pretty ribbons favors shorter hair
41		child bride — the zigzag road of countryside
42		color coding death on tuxedo lapels neat little ribbons
43		confused ribbon shining on her chest all my hard work
44		corn silk my hands weaving ribbons into phantom braids
45		cosmic ribbons . . . turning up at the party light-years late
46		counselling sessions my rainbow coloured awareness ribbon
47		crouching to untie and retie her shoe — a frayed ribbon lichen
48		dark monsoon clouds blue wispy ribbons of sky popping here and there
49		daughter’s children encyclopedia ribbon marks love
50		dawn mist a pink ribbon reels above the valley
51		desert stretches stumbles into the green ribbon
52		dexterity test tying ponytail a clueless dad
53		each braid perfectly ribboned morning school bus
54		early peak: first place in the spelling bee
55		empty nest the flash of a child’s lost ribbon
56		fallen leaves a ribbon of red runs through the forest
57		family dinner the imperfect layers of ribbon rice
58		father’s day . . . a red ribbon encircles her neck
59		favorite verse her white hair ribbon marks the place
60		Geese . . . Their ribbon of highway, Signless.
61		Golden stubbled field Before the plough leaves its scars Ribboned path remains
62		golden toad memorial . . . setting sun over charred forest ribbons of loss
63		gossamer ribbon holds everything together tied around her waist
64		grandfather rotates the ribbon stuck in letter z
65		grandma’s candy dish love offering of peppermints
66		green ribbons waterfall over trees kudzu
67		hide-and-seek two pigtails bouncing one pink ribbon missing
68		homecoming — everywhere the pink ribbons
69		homemade the bard’s wife’s grosgrain ribbon on a sun lounger
70		Horror endured Police ribbon Signature
71		ice cream for one ribbons of caramel mixed with salty tears
72		In her hair the sign of childhood a ribbon
73		Laid to rest On her chest Her final ribbon
74		Lakshmi amma* Braiding red ribbons into my hair And cooing premaaaa*. Our maid ** Word of endearment meaning loved one
75		last goodbye a thin ribbon of words flutters in her throat
76		last loop home . . . a snail ties the night in a shimmer of ribbon
77		last salute yellow pennant flutters from a classic ride
78		late afternoon the giggling way of the sun on the ribboned sea
79		leaves falling as though the ribbon was unfurled shadowing the koi
80		love note — a ribbon of birch bark in the robin’s nest
81		Ma’s sewing tin, ribbon spaghetti brimmed. — now priceless.
82		making a quilt from her ribbons so many blue
83		man in the gutter reaching for his fallen can Pabst Blue Ribbon
84		maypole tangles — jellyfish pulsing by
85		missile contrails across the sky — black ribbon
86		missing letters . . . the curved ribbon banner in the sky
87		Mother’s day a pink ribbon on her cross
88		Muddy ribbon At the school bus stop What we leave behind
89		my father’s ribbons on display — Thank you for your service
90		night-blooming jasmine . . . a wisp of polyester bobs on her buttocks
91		no pink ribbon infant in the bassinet sleeping, gender-free
92		oh! ribbon still in the box tied her head
93		ol’ oak tree in his absence a yellow ribbon
94		on her black, now white hair the same scarlet ribbon
95		once again bridling at results a red ribbon
96		one pink camellia floats in a clear vase — dying for a blue ribbon
97		paradise in the trees ribbon-tailed astrapia
98		parents’ grief a ribbon through this land
99		pink ribbon lest I should forget one in eight
100		pink ribbon the cup size of a scar
101		prize-winning heifer butchers line up at the auction
102		rabbits, trees they taught me to tie my ribbon
103		re-rolling her wire ribbon winter dormancy
104		Reconnecting with roots. Ribbons of bacon all the way down.
105		red ribbon in the braid of a seven year old childhood bound into responsibility
106		red ribbon marking an unnamed child’s grave
107		red ribbon on an old frame holds together my past
108		ribbon of raven black on grandpa’s coffin
109		Ribbon taped to baby’s head hairless
110		Ribbon cake Wait for me At tea time
111		ribbon cake . . . delivery to the aged care! mum’s favourite
112		ribbon of gauze rolls across the floor . . . beyond my reach
113		Ribbon of highway Winding through forest and glen — My journey untold
114		ribbon of life — a peace pact signed on the horizon
115		ribbon with stars a little boy points to the heavens
116		ribbons of blue the phlebotomist chooses a vein in my hand
117		ribbons of brown and grey roads bedraggled by Helene
118		ribbons of cloud tails passing my bathroom window while I try to floss
119		rich in spirit the same ribbons every christmas
120		RIP Kris Kristofferson take the ribbon . . .
121		river’s gentle flow ribbons drifting, lost in time memories surface
122		rust brown ribbons weave through my fingers a nursery for shark pups
123		saved ribbons never used again joyless winter
124		separating a knot in the red ribbon . . . he asks for sharper scissors
125		service ribbon a winter star at dawn leaves silently
126		seven colourful ribbons for seven braided wigs . . . her last autumn
127		she keeps the blue ribbon from her lamb at the county fair grocery store exhibit
128		she pins a pink ribbon to her chest post-mastectomy
129		short truce . . . a little girl with ribbons mourns her doll
130		Shredded ribbons end of innocence
131		silent march the black ribbons do all the talking
132		Silky black ribbon on the gift unwanted. Brutal pain of loss.
133		slithering blue a siren’s song towards the edge peace becomes chaos
134		snail without house — the ribbon of highway ahead
135		sometimes a ribbon just needs to stay twisted ask your DNA
136		son’s first solo flight a river ribbons to the sea
137		sorrowful clouds burst, he tied my scattered soul with love’s rainbow ribbon
138		southward an undulating ribbon of geese
139		Spider’s silk ribbon, spun with care in midnight’s glow glimmering with dreams.
140		spring garden a girl twirling the ribbon longer than her
141		squirming discomfort a nocturnal itch the ribbon worm remains
142		stuck with dried cello tape
143		Such a warming day, Red leaves in sepia tones Ribbons of sunset
144		Sun typing Morse code sparking the darkening sea bobbing for diamonds
145		sunrise river bending round the hill holding my hopes
146		Swift squadrons Ribbons in flight We will not all meet again
147		that plane gift-wrapping the sky for you
148		the black ribbon on the bouquet of flowers made her faint
149		the cirrus moon spread across the Susquehanna silver ribbon
150		the computer ribbon saves the day copy, paste, edit
151		The cut is A white ribbon snaking Through the land.
152		the double face of her award ribbon . . . pregnant woman
153		the girl’s crumpled ribbon on a bare bush the only witness
154		the last ribbons of river cloud twilight
155		the little black ribbon pinned on the lapel of white suit a sad sign
156		The pigtail ribbon outdone by the dimpled smile.
157		The pride remains A blue sash gathers dust
158		the red ribbon never allowed to braid still in my cupboard
159		the ribbon man’s invention of a butterfly
160		The unknown contained Thought hidden with a flourish Ends tied around joy
161		the white ribbon wrapped around her ring finger where her wedding band had been
162		The widower Tied his daughter’s hair bow With great tenderness
163		thin clouds ribbon through bare branches — late autumn
164		think a flowered breath a bouquet of red roses tied with a ribbon
165		third baby girl I tie another pink ribbon on the family tree
166		third prize at pony club a yellow ribbon her toothy grin beams
167		this sleepless night then dawn comes to my window a ribbon of light
168		tie, untie, tie knots in pink ribbon awaiting test results
169		traditional gifts zipping a curl into the ribbons
170		tree yellow ribbon mustard
171		tying the knot . . . she wears in her hair the ribbon from him
172		typewriter ribbon still waiting to explain that cold winter
173		unraveling her pink ribbon band — first chemo
174		unrequited love held together by typewriter ribbon
175		unspooling ribbon conjugating a pronoun for me to wear
176		untouched by hand the message appears . . . typewriter ribbon
177		upon fading flowers ice ribbons glisten hope renewed
178		war-torn street a broken doll’s white ribbons flutter in the wind
179		Warm tears on cool cheeks Run in ribbons down wrinkles Waiting for endings
180		waving silver ribbons to a full moon an empty shore
181		where were leaves we wake to outstretched trees wearing snow ribbons
182		white plastic prayers for our baby hospital ribbons
183		winter elegance winds through Pocono mountains Delaware ribbon
184		without words — a heart on its last ribbon
185		wrapping me in my childhood grosgrain ribbon
186		Yellow bird Carries long ribbon to its nest What did I come here for?
187		yellow ribbon unpinned your hair tumbling hostage release
188		yellow ribbon — so many different people with the same wishes
189		yellow ribbons ring the tree still hoping for a miracle
190		you tied a ribbon around my heart so softly I didn’t notice
191		young girls sashay pink dresses and ribbons Barbie dolls

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!

Tom Borkowski

Comments (6)

Jim Henderson says:
October 24, 2024 at 7:17 am
I want to cast a vote for Janis McGowan’s thoughtful haiku.
Lakshmi R Srinivas says:
October 22, 2024 at 2:08 am
Hi, I just wanted to check whether while voting for the Kukai, we can just input the serial numbers? Do we need to type the entire haiku?
1. Ivan Georgiev says:
  October 22, 2024 at 1:46 pm
  The numbers only.
Nani Mariani says:
October 19, 2024 at 1:09 am
10
87
107
M Dollinger says:
October 18, 2024 at 1:43 pm
I’m a new member, and my submission to this kukai is not included here. What did I do wrong?
1. Milan Rajkumar says:
  October 19, 2024 at 5:37 am
  I am old here. After submitting, pl wait for a while to see “Your poem has been received…” on a light green background. It had happened to me many times when I was new here.
  All the best.