Birmingham Public Library Presents
2015 Haiku Contest Collection
Beginning in 2014, the Birmingham Public Library has sponsored an annual haiku contest, open to all residents of the state of Alabama. Participants are invited to participate in either of the Adult (18+) or Youth (ages 13-17) categories, and winners were selected by members of the southeast chapter of the Haiku Society of Alabama, under the coordination of Terri French. In the following pages you will find all of the entries for the 2015 contest, beginning with the Adult entries. Entries are grouped by author,;winning haiku are marked with an asterisk (*). This year’s grand prizes winners were Tina Mozelle Braziel(adult) and Kendall G. (youth).
For additional information about the Haiku Contest and the Birmingham Public Library, please visit bplonline.org/programs/haiku.
Special thanks to Donya Deal, Haruyo Miyagawa, Hunter Murphy, Melinda Shelton, and Lance Simpson. This booklet was edited by Allie Graham.
Adult Category
T.K. Thorne *Mother’s music leaps to mind when blossoms weep stirred at her breath passing by
H.J. Willert Starry night ablaze milkyways spinning the skies… Vincent saw it all
Bowl of forgotten keys —why won’t I let you go? Past doorways still loom large
Forbidden fruit
H
ard freeze. Ice needles sprout, raising dirt on their tips. Daffodils darken. Tender buds unfurl as ungainly on saplings as ancient hickories. From the sawtooth stump rises splays of suckerings: phoenix as flock.
Tina Mozelle Braziel
Luminescent tide Swimming in a swirl Of stars *A lizard Lifting his chin Pink blossoms Watching the sunset Across the lake A fish jumps
Artemis Craig Pelican flies above bay, Fish swims beneath waves, Bird dives--fish swims another day. Sliced bread washes up on sand Beside beer bottle Wheat and sand--heat applied. Petals blowing in the wind, Eyes of a stranger, Unaware of the danger.
A flower blooming with a pistil true and firm sweet nectar is she
Robert Burgins, Jr.
Nothing to play with but such a presence holy unseen yet a gift The moon and sun fight reigning in the sky up high twilight and daylight Alabama ice Two trench coats warm daily Bama isn't nice
Ain't easy at all you live high and take a fall even when done humbly. Dimples bright and real she's a true delight in flesh pure woman at best. Head on collision there was no room for prison but the good one died.
Though good things are few Goodness wails in silent hums Like shadows unseen Bare trees stretching more Bees and mosquitoes sing loud To annoy the crowd
s
hoveling snow piles
took a trip to the doctor right arm becomes limp away from home overlapping sounds from machines
Desire Evans
a crippling hobby persimmons grow heavy eyes seek its shadow local market blooms
If I were a bug, I would crawl into your shoe and let you squish me.
Will Gillette
Leaves fall, the soft side of thunder whispers in the wake of lightning green. Two crows, their wings tucked, dare me to write all birds off as easy beauty.
Gold and silver leaves Leap from limbs in swirling winds Naked time for trees.
Jerri Hardesty
Bees swarm the flowers Buzzing in drunken delight Tasting the colors. Waving green fingers On the frond hands of palm trees Tickle the skyline.
Why we keep playing? History's more than what's taught. Trust the oppressor? I used to like June Now, I think it is too hot No snow days in June I'm a Blazer fan. I miss UAB Football. Still a Blazer fan.
Al Elliot
Urainah Glidewell Hands in dirt Stirring to new life Fragrant blooms Downcast yellow face Rises, seeking the warm sun
Charlie Kinnaird
To smile into Spring As frozen fingers
falling snow on winter pines gladdens hearts
Finally release their grasp Awakening life Sodden earth plaything, Packed tightly with tiny hands; A mud pie picnic. Cerulean blue Expands to the horizon Of our tomorrows Shopping cart cages Small birds have made their homes In asphalt forests
sometimes a light guides us to the morning shining through the mist the gray cat resting happy with daily hours becomes the wise sage quiet waters flow where snow-lined branches foretell the dreams of sparrows wandering on leaves the caterpillar finds life in waiting to fly the crows came calling gathering in the oak tree teaching their children
Anna Lotte Wind chimes in the change Past Present sent from Woodstock Terrible beauty
April ice is out Of time in Alabama Strange dance begins
Lori Lasseter Hamilton gray bones of winter -thin branches of the rose bush bloom with yellow tape
Blossoming cherries Giggling young wisteria Parallel spring play
geisha crosses bridge wooden with back arched to sky painted red like blood
fish in a tank neon tangerine blue caged light greedy backyard brown sparrows grabbing breakfast hungry birds wind chimes in april
Lindsey Little Spring clustered trefoil from Birmingham backwater - natural warfare.
K. Lovell Spencer that smile at sunset, those eyes at sunrise are now poetry and song Sun sets, moon strolls by Portrait of Her love bronzed skin, burnished, smooth twist hair, bright smile, eyes that pray freed from the cocoon
C. Park Nelson My soul yearns for spring Its beauty and its warmth Spring brings happiness
Michael Virga How can son be ruthless Mother was given the middle name Ruth the ruthless son rootless -canebrake the shepherd son always able with ruth
from cyberspace I e-re-create my Mom by heart in real time *the face lifted from the clock the sun exhuming above the flatline
"signals" (a haiku diptych) dew rolls running off not braking with the pellet-proof for a stop sign green light “the carpenter-sun� Life pulling all together exhumed manybrokenpieces with the Light
Youth Category Denver A. It will never end The cold will not Nature I long for her kiss
Abbie Marie B. Cherry blossoms bloom No more jackets to wear, yay! Spring is fun always. The sun makes it hot. Jump in the water, cool off. Tanning in the sun.
Ethan B. As spring shows its face My dreams and ideas thaw I am now renewed
Devon D. The warm air flows Yellow flowers bloom To the delight of the honey bee
Hatching opens eyes Twinkling grass with morning dew Birds sing a new song
Cruz C. No flowers must wilt They shall endure the harsh colds And forever thrive....
Abby E. hot sun shining down waves lapping at the sea shore
Kendall G. *Winter turns to Spring Children giggle in the sun The birds sing along
The man danced for love He stepped out into the light Did he kill himself A man and woman Live and die together
Osvaldo G.
This is Antaeus Life is Xanadu The search is for Xanadu Yet we question this
Rain drizzles or pours Relieving the bloated clouds Soaking the earth's floor
Abby M.
Flower recipe: Place watered seeds in rich soil, Add sunlight, and watch. Anxious baby bird, Soon will leave its humble nestTo be free and fly!
Sara H. The Earth is calm now Sounds of nature surround me Welcoming the forest
Robert L. mostly greys and browns more green than usual, though springtime is nearing
Sophie J. rain comes down passing through the tree tops, we all get wet and run inside
Olivia L. A break from winter Spring awakens vivid life A time of rebirth
Nicholas M. *I like to escape to Nature, My favorite place vines, hanging like drapes
Luis P. Full, Blooming Branches Soft Pink Rain Sweetly Falling Cool Serenity
Katana S. I want to kiss your freckles; vast constellations smattered on your cheeks I loiter at the puckered maw of the earth, crimped lips, pebble-pocked sand
Louisa T. The birds sing their song The sun peeks out from the clouds A new day begins
Katie W. As life still lives on Beautiful things have to die And new flowers grow *Every flower will die But will never be forgotten By a poets eyes