THF Monthly Kukai Voting Ballot
This month’s theme:
hope
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 favorites poems at this time. All votes must be sent via The Haiku Foundation’s dedicated kukai email address using the subject line KUKAI VOTING. No other votes will be recognized or honored. All votes must be signed (that is, no “anonymous” votes will be accepted), 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 for one full week. Readers may vote only once per ballot. Administrators of the kukai are ineligible to vote.
A voter may vote for up to three (3) poems per theme. A top vote will receive 3 points, a second-place vote 2 points, and a third-place vote 1 point. Your voting email to us should look something like this:
First Choice (3 points): [your selection number here] Second Choice (2 points): [your selection number here] Third Choice (1 point): [your selection number here]
YOUR NAME
The Ballot
1 11-
She turns a cartwheel
off of her two hands2 a backyard Jedi
on the hunt for Darth Virus
with his lightsaber3 A blackbird chirps
Auspicious song of hope
Time to restart4 a gazelle
hidden by the wall –
hope, hope5 a glimmer of light
gray colors
in the silence6 a long winter ends – –
under my Harley’s seat
young sparrow’s peeping7 a mask imprint
on her tired face
spring breeze8 a microscope
reveals the
bug’s Achilles’ heel9 a reward
one tutti frutti
mischief no more10 a robin’s song
the half-withered branch
gleaming again11 a safe place
the spring
in my hand12 a swallowtail –
hovering until swept back
by the sea-breeze13 a treasured button
four small windows into
a child’s hopes and dreams14 a tulip larger
than the sky and mountain range
my niece’s painting15 after everything predawn light 16 after fire
every gum
plays green sleeves17 after lockdown…
green shoots from
charred trees18 after the firestorm
a rescued koala bear
in the firefighters arms19 after the storm
the sky brighter
than before20 after the tsunami
waiting for next year’s blossoms21 after the tsunami butterflies 22 aftertaste
of ripe pear- – –
my apology23 almond flowers
changing the colour
of my pregnancy test24 almost Summer –
a child is pedaling
without wheels25 always the same
window pane … the moon
it’ s crescent now26 always there
the sun
behind the cloud27 an empty village
of lego bricks …
contagions’ descent28 an open road …
the butterfly resting on
a long-lost glove29 another spring
the widower grows
a mustache30 apple blossoms
a ladder
from his hands31 april fool
the eagle sighting
kept to myself32 April puddles
the flash
of tiny rainboots33 autumn melancholy –
the comforting touching
of the fallen leaves34 autumn windfall
even now she hopes to find
an unbruised apple35 bare limbs
in the wind
spring36 beach plums
the wings of a butterfly
changing everything37 bedridden—
floating in the magic
of the dawn chorus38 before I say it
you know
chestnut tree in bloom39 …better after death.
the myna whistles
at her like he used to40 blind date
a sliver more of moonlight
as the clouds shift41 blooming camellia —
I hope my son will receive
a full scholarship42 blooming tulip—
another day
another day43 bluewater sailing
a bell among the
outermost skerries44 border crossing
the sunlit edges
of dark cloud45 boundary talk
two dogs across the fence
wag tails46 breath by breath
my child holds up her world…
soap bubbles47 brightening sky
a chickadee lands closer
to my open palm48 broken-winged butterfly
I get overwhelmed with
hopelessness49 ceasefire agreement
a mourning dove brings to nest
an olive twig50 cemetery walk-
so much faith
chiselled into stone51 chemotherapy
with the last few strands
I braid hope52 cherished dreams
all the more reason
to try again53 cherry blossoms
on the cut branch
spring lullaby54 cherry bough
I wait
for my turn55 children’s ward
paper angel wings
on the barbie doll56 chrysalis
trusting itself
to transformation57 cicada corpses
my dreams
of another life58 cloudless sky
the dawn warbling
of magpies59 clouds traveling-
each window
has its dawn60 coffee in hand she
flings herself out the front door
into the new day61 cold drizzle
the yellowest green
of early spring62 coliseum
the Christians’ agoreuphoria
quickly fades63 Colonoscopy
his hope after removal
of malignant growth64 coming over
the barbed wire
spring birdsong65 corona virus-
from a peach flower
the day starts66 corona virus. . .
neighbor’s car won’t
leave the house67 coronavirus
strangers in this strange new land
reach out to help each other68 crocuses
the winter ends
quietly69 daffodil bulbs
left in an empty bucket
bloom anyway70 daffodils
behind the back
will he kneel down71 dandelion tea –
a little bit bitter taste
of this spring72 dark april sky –
each drop
a rainbow73 dark dusty corner
shivering spider hiding
spring cleaning74 dawn
sparrows chattering
among the rubble75 dawn Lights
in every fold
of the flag76 Dawn quietly slips
through the slats of my window shade
A new beginning.77 day after Easter
my son lifts an earthworm
from the wet pavement78 day five
a garden snail peeks
into the rain79 deep in the forest
the silent chorus
of trillium80 deep winter
a stray dog
follows me home81 don’t lose your nerve
because the hope dies the last
but revives the first82 Down in my street
Feeling the crackle of leaves
New day ahead83 drifting clouds
still two rocking chairs
in the veranda84 during covid-19
first signs of well-being
in the garden85 during quarantine
in free-flowing water
spring moon86 each one hoping
for different outcome –
pregnancy test87 each spring
filling in the blank spaces
cherry blossoms88 eagle eyes-
sharpened the sector of distancing89 earthquake
among the bricks
a dragonfly90 Easter morning
a half empty bowl
by the bird bath91 empty shelves
after the storm
the full rainbow92 Falls forgotten leaves –
the daffodils blooming through
regardless93 faulty traffic lights
a girl on the other side. . .
a foggy morning94 flood over…
the rainbow links
a broken bridge95 fog lifts
the road home
revealed96 foregoing family,
doctor on-call waits and prays –
may there be fewer97 forest bathing
under a canopy
of birdsong98 four in the morning
miserable song of a lonely bird
waiting in its nest99 Fukushima
animals thriving
in no man’s land100 full moon laughter
my lock-down neighbours
two meters apart101 full pink moon
hope
slowly opens102 full rainbow—
a four-leaf clover
in the fairy ring103 gently to the door of rainbow picnic less rain 104 giant sequoias
“There’s something you need to hear.”
I stand very still105 glowing sun
daffodils raising their heads
after the snow106 good man
I’ll never find a mile away
metre more107 grandma’s rocker
the comfort
of rosary beads108 green tinge covers
the fire ravaged forest…
a bluebird’s song109 growing sky –
the echo of the first beat
in the ultrasound110 harvest moon above
not a chance of writing
mind slips its moorings111 holding my breath
the last little whelp
makes a sound112 home all day
building
my castles in the air113 home library
wiping down my copy of
The Journal of the Plague Year114 home lockdown
still following the sun
from one room to another115 homebound still
the sound of a letter
through the slot116 hope flying through the storm finding rainbows 117 hope is watering dead grass 118 hope kick starts migration 119 hope takes a look at me
I remove my dark sunglasses
It’s time to try again120 hope with which the meadow greets crocuses 121 hope, flicking your
life’s savings
into a wishing well122 hope, I feel you now
a bright light in the dark sky
better days are coming123 hopefully hungry
the dry fly lands
in a troutswirl124 how they rush
to greet me…
aquarium fish125 icebreaker —
we share more
than coffee126 if only
a painted rainbow
would suffice
…pink moon127 ill in bed
blooming tree in the window,
keep on, keep on128 imagining
the scent of roses
through my mask129 in anticipation
of the first snowfall …
the nacked mountains130 in the bushes
just enough morning
to see the rose131 in the eye
of the storm
mother’s arms132 in the middle
of it all
daffodils133 in the tree’s scar a bud 134 in these dark days
yet I see the light at the end
of the tunnel135 incoming mail –
on gate the song
of a swallow136 inheriting hope…
I adopt the language
from my grandpa137 isolation
my troubled dream ends
with a mockingbird138 isolation –
spring wind
crawling on my body139 isolation —
on the house’s fence
morning glory140 isolation—
the rising sun
freshens my face141 lake
the crane returns
to the same spot142 late spring morning
I risk a walk outside- –
crocus venture their brave purples143 left over hope…
the stony grey eyes
of a toy soldier144 lest we forget
a little boy
washed up on foreign shores145 life on hold, local hairdresser… takes up floral arrangement 146 life support
ivy tendrils around
the bruised twig147 life support
the sunlight moves
from bed to bed148 light shade
of the birch-
oxygen149 lilac days
what scent can do
gets done150 lingering hope…
noticing the flavour
of the breeze151 lockdown
on the crane’s wings
a spirit of hope152 lockdown
in spite of it all:
spring153 lockdown
my daughter’s first
origami crane154 lockdown
we now listen out
for the neighbour’s Eminem155 lockdown –
a kite above
flies higher and higher156 lockdown days
ninety sleeps
to normal…157 Lockdown or not the sun shines 158 Long awaited fecal flight of bees >>>>>>>>>>>>> 159 longing
to find you
a daisy field160 maybe this time first trimester 161 melting snow
the hallelujah chorus
of white crocuses162 melting snow
the road I do not
have to make163 messenger –
a ladybug landing
on my sleeve164 milkweed in bloom
the monarch caterpillar
eating its way165 millions of midges
whirlwind down the slough––
overcome we will166 months of yearning pass,
finally her belly swells –
she hopes for a girl167 moon cools the sigh of relief 168 morning
the lift
of the great blue169 morning breeze
following
the butterfly170 morning coffee
the chickadees
return171 morning stillness
on my window box
a butterfly172 morning walk
a ripple of gold
in every puddle173 mother’s voice
the gospel air
I breathe174 moving apart
we still hope to share
long silences175 My throat constricts
Breath caught between words
The final proclamation uttered176 nature overtakes
the highest hillside castle
bramble by bramble177 nestled
between crooked branches
a robin’s nest178 new dawn dew
in every tiny drop- –
hope179 new grandma
shaking hands crochet
baby booties180 new mown field…
the killdeer rebuilds her nest
for a saved egg181 nightmare or earthquake
there’s ten seconds of hope
until waking up182 no sundresses, no Stetson hats
on country roads
yet… bluebonnets bloom183 no words
like your words
fruit basket184 noticing
the buds
are not stopping185 nurse log
you hold me close
on the forest path186 nurseries closed
nation in lockdown
seeds, saved and sowed187 oh to dance again new moon 188 old pond
we share haiku
via zoom189 on the dunes
now lilies are blooming…
condominium court190 on the seventh day
of self-isolation…
cherry blossom191 Once there was a way back home
Everything has changed
but you still hold me.192 only the sound
of distant bird song
I sit and wait193 opening the memory
of the lime-green
hummingbird194 outside temple
in the name of god
stretched hands195 pandemic graph’s
growing curve
new branch of my bonsai196 pandemic resuscitating the catatonic collective conscience of we 197 Pandora’s Box
the last gift to leave –
also contagious198 panning perhaps some paydirt for her ring 199 parting clouds
the field of wild flowers
a rainbow200 (((Passover moon any old satellite moon))) 201 paying off my loan
all at once
daffodils bloom202 Peekaboo pollution
Mother thinks about
shedding her mask203 pensive way
between shadow and reflection
cherry blossoms204 Performed act of Hope
Bought flower seeds for planting
When plague is over205 pewter sky
the sudden accent
of a yellow finch206 pink moon
my hand opens
to your voice207 planting the tree
a powerful great oak
I hope again208 playful smile
from a stranger
first cherry blossom209 prayer flag harvest
fields of winter wind
temple bells call the priest210 puzzle pieces
in a plain cardboard box––
inset hope here211 quarantined spring..
pondering the next puzzle tile
of my life212 rain dance
drought makes me become
a shaman213 rains over…
ants patch their hills
in morning light214 recovery – –
in the window box
first tulip215 regardless the river wren song flowing 216 remnant
scraping vessel to core- his
hope of survival217 resurrection…
an empty cathedral
fills with a blind man’s song218 retirement village
rec-creating till the wee hours
of the afternoon219 rope bed,
waking up to her smile —
spring bud220 rotten leaves
the rising grass
beneath221 saint valentine’s day
faded rose at the florist’s
hoping to be picked222 sandscaping nationalities into world citizenry viral gaze 223 scented memo
unspoken love of a woman
daybreak224 searching the
doctor’s kind eyes
second opinion225 second crush…
as if these cherry blossoms
will never fall226 sequestered spring
less noise in the city
more birdsong227 shattering
the night, a pinhole
of light228 she changes
her lucky number
tenth IVF229 she walks around her lake
the morning after
that leaf still hanging on230 sheltered in place
every day a new challenge
overcome231 sidewalk chalk
a heart in the middle
of each slab232 silent prayers
the steady glow
of her votive candle233 Silent wait
Stay together to dream
The city inside234 sleepless
at four in the morning
a song thrush starts singing235 small boy petting
for-sale puppy
four hopeful eyes236 snow melt
the wait
for new buds237 so many people died
but not the hope
not yet238 social distancing
the spaces between us
draw us together239 social distancing . . .
but just above her face mask
a wink240 some early some late
the dusk falls around us
as stars241 song thrush chicks
singing the new world
a prima vista242 sowing garlic –
head turned
to the moon243 spring breeze—
Granny’s hope chest
produces a frisbee244 spring clouds
continuing the massage
to his heart245 spring garden
I know I am not
alone246 spring morning
peeling the price tag off
a new book247 spring thaw
the sound of birds
warming up248 spring time pandemic
just me and my fiancé. . .
on the altar249 Springtime’s hidey-holes
in the tattle of songbirds
all will be revealed250 sprouts in the silence resound life 251 starry sky
her words
in future tense252 starting over
the new moon rises
with me253 statewide quarantine—
my neighbor finally
says hello254 step by step
forget me nots on the path …
blue breath255 summer brook –
tiny fish swim against
the slow stream256 summer morning –
the coffee flavour
greeting the first rays257 sunlight on water enough hope for everyone 258 sunrise
a duck preens darkness
from its feathers259 sunrise
opens into
butterflies260 sunrise colors all over
a butterfly lands on my shoulder
blooming red roses-hope261 sunshine
again today
switch to shoes262 suspension bridge
vanishes into the fog —
the passers-bye too263 talks of hope…
the ambiguous shape
of an unspoken wish264 teen bride
the reassurance
of summer evening265 the absence of wind
huddled frogspawn266 the babble of … a child this stream my mind 267 the growing up she did
before we met
New York skyline268 the latest metrics
a skylark
ever higher269 The moorings
dotting the harbor –
summer’s silent oath270 the poet within
not inspired by prompts, yet
there’s hope271 the power within
cricket chants
twilight always comes272 the scent
of pine needles
mountain breeze273 the unceasing
intention
of buds274 the way
he wags his tail—
three-legged dog275 the weathervane shifts
and changes as it has to
always with the wind276 travel ban
the finches
ignore us277 two little smiles
above his mask
the old man’s eyes278 under the cherry blossoms daydreaming 279 Understanding now,
but longing for change.
Is that hope?280 video call
grandma knits a scarf
for next christmas281 virgin waters
from the Trevi fountain
a glassful of hope282 wait listed ticket
eagle eyes round the clock
hope still scrolls283 waking
hopefully for sunrise
sans corona284 walking
in the hope of shelter – – –
evening rain285 walking though the woods
will always belong to her
my fourth grade teacher286 waxing crescent
hung up on the last button
of her blouse287 we retreat
into our homes
nature starts to speak288 we visit
a window between
the warblers return289 wearing a mask
for the first time
we talk face to face290 wedding day
two cormorants dive
into unseen wonder291 white blossoms in the night recovery 292 winding road
with each new curve
another anticipation293 winter’s end—
a green balloon drifts over
the subway platform294 wisteria sprawls
over the guardrail
curbside pick-up295 withering wind—
a lightened candle
between palms296 words spill off the pages
from my isolated window
new leaves on the tree297 wounded spirit
… I plant cherries
and wait298 your book comforts me
its gentle weight
on my chest299 zero gravity
the four-year-old
laughing at a fart
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. A poet may appear only once on the list of winners each month, so only a poet’s highest point total will be given. 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!
This Post Has 24 Comments
Comments are closed.
Oh I missed the deadline to vote.
All votes must be sent via The Haiku Foundation’s dedicated kukai email Not in comments!
kukai@thehaikufoundation.org
Once a few more people have commented this instruction will be overlooked as lots of people quickly scroll down to the bottom of the replies, so may I suggest that instead of the email address being lost in the first paragraph, that it is printed larger right underneath the voting instructions and maybe after the last submission.
I agree with reducing the number of poems allowed. This was a slog. Even allowing just one poem less would be better. It might also increase the selectiveness of the poets, thus increasing the quality of submissions.
#1:296
#2:195
#3:182
I didn’t see a notification that the vote was open either. I also agree that one entry would be a much more effective rule.
# 7 -3p,
# 9 – 2p,
#295 -1p.
I am glad some many poets are taking part in the kukai. Good Luck everyone.
Somehow I missed seeing this when it opened. I’ll give it a try next time. Some interesting haiku here!
I enjoyed the process of narrowing down the list, but the number of haiku makes me wonder if it should be one haiku per entrant next time…
I agree Matt.
I only submitted one.
Unless of course their is a reason behind it.
I agree! I found the sheer number of entries overwhelming…
first choice: 242
second choice: 7
third choice: 47
The instruction says to post your choices via email link above. Telling people creates a potential bias to the result.
Hope.. 119, 122,269.
@ Sanela Pliško
The voting period started yesterday 18.4.20. It runs for one week.
If you are referring to participating in the Kukai, then yes you have missed this one and will need to wait until the 1st of May.
.
Best wishes.
Got it, thanks 🙂
First choice: 73
Second choice: 99
Third choice: 221
Marta Staruch
Hahaha omg I’m so dumb nvm
You’re not dumb XDD
Is there a voting deadline?
Hi Sanela, it says ‘Votes will be accepted from the appearance of the ballot for one full week.’
Thanks! I’ve missed it. 🙂
You can no longer submit, but you can vote until April 25th