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 hands
2		a backyard Jedi on the hunt for Darth Virus with his lightsaber
3		A blackbird chirps Auspicious song of hope Time to restart
4		a gazelle hidden by the wall – hope, hope
5		a glimmer of light gray colors in the silence
6		a long winter ends – –    under my Harley’s seat       young sparrow’s peeping
7		a mask imprint on her tired face spring breeze
8		a microscope    reveals the       bug’s Achilles’ heel
9		a reward one tutti frutti mischief no more
10		a robin’s song the half-withered branch gleaming again
11		a safe place the spring in my hand
12		a swallowtail – hovering until swept back by the sea-breeze
13		a treasured button four small windows into a child’s hopes and dreams
14		a tulip larger than the sky and mountain range my niece’s painting
15		after everything predawn light
16		after fire every gum     plays green sleeves
17		after lockdown… green shoots from charred trees
18		after the firestorm a rescued koala bear in the firefighters arms
19		after the storm the sky brighter than before
20		after the tsunami   waiting for next year’s blossoms
21		after the tsunami butterflies
22		aftertaste of ripe pear- – – my apology
23		almond flowers changing the colour of my pregnancy test
24		almost Summer – a child is pedaling without wheels
25		always the same window pane …  the moon it’ s crescent now
26		always there the sun behind the cloud
27		an empty village of lego bricks … contagions’ descent
28		an open road …   the butterfly resting on      a long-lost glove
29		another spring the widower grows a mustache
30		apple blossoms a ladder from his hands
31		april fool the eagle sighting kept to myself
32		April puddles the flash of tiny rainboots
33		autumn melancholy – the comforting touching of the fallen leaves
34		autumn windfall even now she hopes to find an unbruised apple
35		bare limbs    in the wind      spring
36		beach plums the wings of a butterfly changing everything
37		bedridden— floating in the magic of the dawn chorus
38		before I say it you know chestnut tree in bloom
39		…better after death. the myna whistles at her like he used to
40		blind date   a sliver more of moonlight     as the clouds shift
41		blooming camellia — I hope my son will receive a full scholarship
42		blooming tulip— another day another day
43		bluewater sailing a bell among the outermost skerries
44		border crossing the sunlit edges of dark cloud
45		boundary talk                                                               two dogs across the fence                                                                                            wag tails
46		breath by breath my child holds up her world… soap bubbles
47		brightening sky a chickadee lands closer to my open palm
48		broken-winged butterfly I get overwhelmed with hopelessness
49		ceasefire agreement a mourning dove brings to nest an olive twig
50		cemetery walk- so much faith chiselled into stone
51		chemotherapy   with the last few strands     I braid hope
52		cherished dreams all the more reason to try again
53		cherry blossoms on the cut branch spring lullaby
54		cherry bough I wait for my turn
55		children’s ward paper angel wings on the barbie doll
56		chrysalis trusting itself to transformation
57		cicada corpses   my dreams     of another life
58		cloudless sky the dawn warbling of magpies
59		clouds traveling- each window has its dawn
60		coffee in hand she flings herself out the front door into the new day
61		cold drizzle the yellowest green of early spring
62		coliseum the Christians’ agoreuphoria quickly fades
63		Colonoscopy his  hope   after removal of   malignant growth
64		coming over the barbed wire spring birdsong
65		corona virus- from a peach flower the day starts
66		corona virus. . . neighbor’s car won’t leave the house
67		coronavirus strangers in this strange new land reach out to help each other
68		crocuses the winter ends quietly
69		daffodil bulbs left in an empty bucket bloom anyway
70		daffodils behind the back will he kneel down
71		dandelion tea – a little bit bitter taste of this spring
72		dark april sky – each drop a rainbow
73		dark dusty corner   shivering spider hiding     spring cleaning
74		dawn sparrows chattering among the rubble
75		dawn Lights in every fold of the flag
76		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 pavement
78		day five a garden snail peeks into the rain
79		deep in the forest the silent chorus of trillium
80		deep winter a stray dog follows me home
81		don’t lose your nerve because the hope dies the last but revives the first
82		Down in my street Feeling the crackle of leaves New day ahead
83		drifting clouds   still two rocking chairs     in the veranda
84		during covid-19    first signs of well-being       in the garden
85		during quarantine in free-flowing water spring moon
86		each one hoping for different outcome – pregnancy test
87		each spring filling in the blank spaces cherry blossoms
88		eagle eyes- sharpened the sector of distancing
89		earthquake among the bricks a dragonfly
90		Easter morning a half empty bowl by the bird bath
91		empty shelves after the storm the full rainbow
92		Falls forgotten leaves – the daffodils blooming through regardless
93		faulty traffic lights a girl on the other side. . . a foggy morning
94		flood over… the rainbow links a broken bridge
95		fog lifts the road home revealed
96		foregoing family, doctor on-call waits and prays – may there be fewer
97		forest bathing under a canopy      of birdsong
98		four in the morning   miserable song of a lonely bird     waiting in its nest
99		Fukushima animals thriving in no man’s land
100		full moon laughter my lock-down neighbours two meters apart
101		full pink moon   hope       slowly opens
102		full rainbow— a four-leaf clover in the fairy ring
103		gently to the door of rainbow picnic less rain
104		giant sequoias “There’s something you need to hear.” I stand very still
105		glowing sun daffodils raising their heads after the snow
106		good man     I’ll never find a mile away         metre more
107		grandma’s rocker the comfort of rosary beads
108		green tinge covers the fire ravaged forest… a bluebird’s song
109		growing sky – the echo of the first beat in the ultrasound
110		harvest moon above not a chance of writing mind slips its moorings
111		holding my breath the last little whelp makes a sound
112		home all day building my castles in the air
113		home library wiping down my copy of The Journal of the Plague Year
114		home lockdown   still following the sun     from one room to another
115		homebound still the sound of a letter through the slot
116		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 again
120		hope with which the meadow greets crocuses
121		hope, flicking your life’s savings into a wishing well
122		hope, I feel you now a bright light in the dark sky better days are coming
123		hopefully hungry the dry fly lands in a troutswirl
124		how they rush to greet me… aquarium fish
125		icebreaker — we share more than coffee
126		if only a painted rainbow would suffice …pink moon
127		ill in bed blooming tree in the window, keep on, keep on
128		imagining the scent of roses through my mask
129		in anticipation     of the first snowfall …               the nacked mountains
130		in the bushes just enough morning to see the rose
131		in the eye of the storm mother’s arms
132		in the middle of it all daffodils
133		in the tree’s scar a bud
134		in these dark days yet I see the light at the end of the tunnel
135		incoming mail – on gate the song of a swallow
136		inheriting hope… I adopt the language from my grandpa
137		isolation my troubled dream ends with a mockingbird
138		isolation – spring wind crawling on my body
139		isolation —    on the house’s fence       morning glory
140		isolation— the rising sun freshens my face
141		lake the crane returns to the same spot
142		late spring morning I risk a walk outside- – crocus venture their brave purples
143		left over hope… the stony grey eyes of a toy soldier
144		lest we forget a little boy washed up on foreign shores
145		life on hold, local hairdresser… takes up floral arrangement
146		life support ivy tendrils around the bruised twig
147		life support the sunlight moves from bed to bed
148		light shade of the birch- oxygen
149		lilac days what scent can do gets done
150		lingering hope… noticing the flavour of the breeze
151		lockdown   on the crane’s wings       a spirit of hope
152		lockdown in spite of it all: spring
153		lockdown my daughter’s first origami crane
154		lockdown we now listen out for the neighbour’s Eminem
155		lockdown – a kite above flies higher and higher
156		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 field
160		maybe this time first trimester
161		melting snow the hallelujah chorus of white crocuses
162		melting snow the road I do not have to make
163		messenger – a ladybug landing on my sleeve
164		milkweed in bloom the monarch caterpillar eating its way
165		millions of midges whirlwind down the slough–– overcome we will
166		months of yearning pass, finally her belly swells – she hopes for a girl
167		moon cools the sigh of relief
168		morning the lift of the great blue
169		morning breeze following the butterfly
170		morning coffee the chickadees return
171		morning stillness on my window box a butterfly
172		morning walk a ripple of gold in every puddle
173		mother’s voice   the gospel air     I breathe
174		moving apart we still hope to share long silences
175		My throat constricts Breath caught between words The final proclamation uttered
176		nature overtakes the highest hillside castle bramble by bramble
177		nestled between crooked branches a robin’s nest
178		new dawn dew in every tiny drop- – hope
179		new grandma shaking hands crochet baby booties
180		new mown field… the killdeer rebuilds her nest for a saved egg
181		nightmare or earthquake there’s ten seconds of hope until waking up
182		no sundresses, no Stetson hats on country roads yet… bluebonnets bloom
183		no words like your words fruit basket
184		noticing the buds are not stopping
185		nurse log   you hold me close       on the forest path
186		nurseries closed   nation in lockdown     seeds, saved and sowed
187		oh to dance again new moon
188		old pond we share haiku via zoom
189		on the dunes now lilies are blooming… condominium court
190		on the seventh day of self-isolation… cherry blossom
191		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 wait
193		opening the memory of the lime-green hummingbird
194		outside temple in the name of god stretched hands
195		pandemic graph’s growing curve new branch of my bonsai
196		pandemic resuscitating the catatonic collective conscience of we
197		Pandora’s Box the last gift to leave – also contagious
198		panning perhaps some paydirt for her ring
199		parting clouds the field of wild flowers a rainbow
200		(((Passover moon  any old satellite  moon)))
201		paying off my loan all at once daffodils bloom
202		Peekaboo pollution Mother thinks about shedding her mask
203		pensive way between shadow and reflection cherry blossoms
204		Performed act of Hope Bought flower seeds for planting When plague is over
205		pewter sky    the sudden accent       of a yellow finch
206		pink moon my hand opens to your voice
207		planting the tree a powerful great oak I hope again
208		playful smile from a stranger first cherry blossom
209		prayer flag harvest fields of winter wind temple bells call the priest
210		puzzle pieces in a plain cardboard box–– inset hope here
211		quarantined spring.. pondering the next puzzle tile of my life
212		rain dance drought makes me become a shaman
213		rains over… ants patch their hills in morning light
214		recovery – – in the window box first tulip
215		regardless the river wren song flowing
216		remnant scraping vessel to core- his hope of survival
217		resurrection… an empty cathedral fills with a blind man’s song
218		retirement village rec-creating till the wee hours of the afternoon
219		rope bed, waking up to her smile —   spring bud
220		rotten leaves the rising  grass beneath
221		saint valentine’s day   faded rose at the florist’s     hoping to be picked
222		sandscaping nationalities into world citizenry viral gaze
223		scented memo     unspoken love of a woman         daybreak
224		searching the doctor’s kind eyes second opinion
225		second crush…    as if these cherry blossoms       will never fall
226		sequestered spring less noise in the city more birdsong
227		shattering the night, a pinhole of light
228		she changes her lucky number tenth IVF
229		she walks around her lake the morning after that leaf still hanging on
230		sheltered in place every day a new challenge overcome
231		sidewalk chalk a heart in the middle of each slab
232		silent prayers the steady glow of her votive candle
233		Silent wait Stay together to dream The city inside
234		sleepless at four in the morning a song thrush starts singing
235		small boy petting for-sale puppy four hopeful eyes
236		snow melt the wait for new buds
237		so many people died but not the hope not yet
238		social distancing the spaces between us draw us together
239		social distancing . . . but just above her face mask a wink
240		some early some late the dusk falls around us as stars
241		song thrush chicks singing the new world a prima vista
242		sowing garlic – head turned to the moon
243		spring breeze— Granny’s hope chest produces a frisbee
244		spring clouds continuing the massage to his heart
245		spring garden I know I am not alone
246		spring morning peeling the price tag off a new book
247		spring thaw the sound of birds warming up
248		spring time pandemic just me and my fiancé. . . on the altar
249		Springtime’s hidey-holes in the tattle of songbirds all will be revealed
250		sprouts in the silence resound life
251		starry sky her words in future tense
252		starting over the new moon rises with me
253		statewide quarantine— my neighbor finally says hello
254		step by step forget me nots on the path … blue breath
255		summer brook – tiny fish swim against the slow stream
256		summer morning – the coffee flavour greeting the first rays
257		sunlight on water enough hope for everyone
258		sunrise a duck preens darkness from its feathers
259		sunrise opens into butterflies
260		sunrise colors all over a butterfly lands on my shoulder blooming red roses-hope
261		sunshine again today switch to shoes
262		suspension bridge vanishes into the fog — the passers-bye too
263		talks of hope… the ambiguous shape of an unspoken wish
264		teen bride    the reassurance       of summer evening
265		the absence of wind huddled frogspawn
266		the babble of  … a child  this stream    my mind
267		the growing up she did before we met New York skyline
268		the latest metrics a skylark ever higher
269		The moorings dotting the harbor – summer’s silent oath
270		the poet within not inspired by prompts, yet there’s hope
271		the power within cricket chants twilight always comes
272		the scent of pine needles mountain breeze
273		the unceasing intention of buds
274		the way he wags his tail— three-legged dog
275		the weathervane shifts and changes as it has to always with the wind
276		travel ban the finches ignore us
277		two little smiles above his mask the old man’s eyes
278		under the cherry blossoms daydreaming
279		Understanding now, but longing for change. Is that hope?
280		video call grandma knits a scarf for next christmas
281		virgin waters from the Trevi fountain a glassful of hope
282		wait listed ticket eagle eyes  round the clock hope still scrolls
283		waking     hopefully for sunrise         sans corona
284		walking in the hope of shelter – – – evening rain
285		walking though the woods will always belong to her my fourth grade teacher
286		waxing crescent hung up on the last button of her blouse
287		we retreat into our homes nature starts to speak
288		we visit a window between the warblers return
289		wearing a mask for the first time we talk face to face
290		wedding day two cormorants dive into unseen wonder
291		white blossoms in the night recovery
292		winding road with each new curve another anticipation
293		winter’s end— a green balloon drifts over the subway platform
294		wisteria sprawls over the guardrail curbside pick-up
295		withering wind— a lightened candle between palms
296		words spill off the pages from my isolated window new leaves on the tree
297		wounded spirit … I plant cherries and wait
298		your book comforts me its gentle weight on my chest
299		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!