AND THE WINNER IS: MERRIL ALLEN
There, beneath the snow, A flash of green and purple Shimmers in the sun. Merril Allen
Merril not only received the most votes, she received the most delegates…meaning she had more individual people vote for this Haiku. It’s very satisfying that way, but it is not inevitable as some people voted with 1 or 2 points. I will be sending you a very fanciful but practical, collapse-able umbrella soon, but can you please tell me what the green and purple was, Jack In the Pulpit??? Left over Mardi Gras beads?
2nd and 3rd places were very close. But send your congratulatory notes to: Casey Holt and Peter W. Bucklin
And for what it’s worth I played loose and free with the quantity of Haikus any one submitted and I did not count the syllables. If someone was off, so be it; it made for good reading. But I did stick to the posted time frame this time.
NOW FOR A BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT: In order to continue providing this platform for artistic expression and very valuable prizes, I must increase the number of entrants and voters. Please enter. Please continue entering and encourage others to enter. If you enter, please vote; if you don’t enter, please vote. And to gain additional exposure for your efforts share, share, share this blog.
One Perfect Ku (5/7/5) HAIKU BALLOT
Thank you, voters, for coming out to vote. There are 26 very short takes on spring haiku. Please read and digest each little morsel, maybe in tiny little “no-see-um”-sized bites.
Wakes first to tap on windows
Still closed to the cold
by Alison Colby-Campbell
HOW TO VOTE
The voting will be very different this time due to the high quantity of entries. This new system is described in the four rules below. Understanding and complying with the new rules will not only provide a display of your haiku preferences, it will also unintentionally act as a test of your mental acuity – making sure your mind is not fogged by spring fever (no known cure) and pollen (take a Claritan). You may want to print them, and take them outside to a spot in the sun for added inspiration giving new meaning to the phrase – “Get Out to Vote” – ahhhh, nice, but not mandatory.
MANDATORY RULES & REGULATIONS
I Each voter has 20 points to distribute among the entries.
II You must vote for at least 2 entries
III Your second choice must receive at least 5 points*
IV All votes must be submitted on the blog in the comment section in the following format examples below:
KU #40 8 points, KU #28 5 points, KU # 76 4 points, KU #102 3 points
OR
KU #54 15 points, KU #27 5 points*
* 2nd choice must receive a minimum of 5 points
PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR MATH
Voting ends: Thursday March 22 at 11:59 pm
Though there seem to be so many, please, respect the entrants and read all the ‘ku. Together they constitute less than a third of the character count for my typical blog, and if you can get through that, these little gems should be no problem at all.
HAIKU 26 ENTRIES
1 Gazing at the Clouds, Imagining the Flowers, April Showers Bring by Kathleen Bennet Hutchinson
2 Single bug circles, Antennae stretching sunward, Dizzy with spring warmth by Elizabeth Chambers
3 Driving hurts in spring! Mud season’s blooming frost heaves. Cross arm over chest. By Elizabeth Chambers original title “Endowment”
4 Jasmine wafts aloft Gloat not nor boast of breezes some breathe by machine by Lisa Rhoades
5 just beneath the skin a liquescent temptation coursing to the pail by Casey Holt…Casey, can I borrow this for my maple blog??
6 boots give way to pumps and knees come out of hiding my heartbeat quickens by Casey Holt
7 a hint of death past with overtones of promise nature blows a kiss by 2nd place winner Casey Holt
8 Daffodils in March Hail the Ascent of Springtime Life is Born Anew by Nissi Campbell
9 Freed, a single drop Trickles down the swollen bud Splashes on flowers. by Merril Allen
10 The rock warriors rise In the soil once again To fight my shovel. by Merril Allen
11 Chorus in the night Hallelujahs in the woods Songs of tiny frogs. by Merril Allen
12 Leaf buds bulge on trees Reflect the robin’s belly And spring holds her breath. by Merril Allen
13 There, beneath the snow, A flash of green and purple Shimmers in the sun. 1st place winner by Merril Allen
14 Rising from black earth Weed’s child lifts its two dear hands To cup the bright sun. by Merril Allen
15 They built stairways, round seeking the tops of flowers, blooming sweet scent, alive 3rd place by Peter W Bucklin
16 The last of it, drips away, sojourns running free lively the arrival by Peter Bucklin
17 Pending arrangements a new passage, a different storm opens all new by Peter Bucklin
18 Swirling winds change tunes brighter passages opening colors ahhhh, the freshness lights by Peter Bucklin
19 100 different skies race running streams laughing past another dazzling colors now by Peter Bucklin
20 Swinging bird feeder Chickadees laughing at me tell me what is peace by Sailor Woman
21 Rushing melting ice raging o’er the rocky bed softness cuts granite by Sailor Woman
22 Warm breeze laughing sun spring peepers calling early icy hearts can melt by Sailor Woman
23 Sun opens the sky Beckoning forward life Grass angel souls stir Marjorie Kaye
24 Light of prism glass Seeing cool and warmth of day Snowdrops join loving heart by Marjorie Kaye
25 Relentless mind knots Undone with one promised breeze Sit on dunes of sand by Marjorie Kaye
26 Spring arises and Surprises with pre and post Season disguises! by Elizabeth Chambers
NOTES TO AUTHORS: Titles were omitted as they added extra syllables. Haiku are written in this format because it makes the total quantity appear shorter and thus makes each entry more likely to be read. I am not advanced enough to know how to change fonts when converting from Word to this blog format.
(c) 2012 by Alison Colby-Campbell and the authors of the individual haiku
KU#07 – 6 points
KU#05 – 5 points
KU#11 – 4 points
KU#13 – 3 points
KU#21 – 2 points
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Thank you Casey for being the first to vote….You are not afflicted with hay fever or spring insanity as you did it so well. Regular insanity maybe, but that’s just cuz I know you and appreciate that streak.
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KU#14 – 10 points
KU#15 – 10 points
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No, it’s very irregular insanity. Thank you for your support!!
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These are AMAZING !!!!
#8 – 5 pts
#11 – 5 pts
#21 – 5 pts
#6 – 1 pt
#7 – 1 pt
#9 – 1 pt
#10 – 1 pt
# 13 – 1 pt
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#15 – 10 points
#12 – 5 points
#19 – 5 points
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If you believe you have voted and your vote does not show up on the comments section, please email you vote to me. There appears to be a glitch when submitting votes through a smart phone.
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#7 – 15 pts
#13 – 5 pts
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#13- 8; #20 – 5; #2 – 4; #9 – 3
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#19: 9 pts
#25: 11 pts
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OMG – I am so excited to see Jim Low voting on here. Thank you Jim! You’ll find a lot of Lynnfielders on this site, some of your favorites have even written some of the Haiku! How are you?
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ku #13, 12 pts — ku # 11, 8 pts
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Alison, I am guessing the green and purple is crocus – the first flower to come out in the spring, often when there is still snow. My yard gets ’em and Merril got some points and a smile from me because of it.
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BTW, yes, you can borrow the sappy haiku for your maple blog, which was the inspiration for it in the first place. Glad you liked it! (And isn’t your photo above of crocus?)
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Well, I sure am surprised! I was thinking of crocuses.
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Well done Merril, and though I liked to think you found some beads lost after a giant mardi gras rom, crocus works really well…you will have your fab prize soon.
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