Haiku Society of America Renku Awards
in Memorial of Bernard Lionel Einbond
~ ~ ~
HSA Renku Awards for 2009
Jerry Ball and Patricia Machmiller
judges
Grand Prize
Circles of Strangers
Christopher Herold, Washington
Carol O’Dell, Washington~ ~ ~
Circles of Strangers
campground fires
small circles of strangers
under a vault of starsCH
I watch a ladybug
walk along the tableCO
she inspects
the leaves of all the plants
in the arboretumCH
matched pink pearl earrings
behind a thick glass windowCO
moonshine
splits the inky darkness
of Half Moon BayCH
another long, sleepless night,
he takes a pen and starts to writeCO
how relaxing
the scent of chamomile tea
from a clay mugCO
“grandma’s deaf
so we don’t have to be quiet”CH
the rhythmic thump
of our silken headboard
against the wallCO
through her hand into my hand
each quick kick from her bellyCH
as I slice
bananas into the trifle
the Jell-O wobblesCO
airport security finds
plastic explosive in his shoesCH
rabbit tracks
hidden by shadows
cast by the moonCO
snow-blind and frostbitten
the team descends to base campCH
Papillon
puffs on the cigar
offered by a leperCH
they watch ragged clouds
billow across the skyCO
without wind
the cherry blossoms fall
straight downCH
children and their ribbons
dance around the MaypoleCO
on TV
a parade of tanks, etc.
files past the KremlinCH
paths, lanes, streets, roads, avenues boulevards, turnpikes, highways . . .
CO
an official
from the public works committee
lobbying for fundsCH
two months before retirement
she applies for a passportCO
in a vivid dream
I see a flock of egrets
land on a palm treeCH
Ann & Sue have been friends since childhood,
so close they’re like white on riceCO
another evangelist
rants about the evils
of same-sex marriageCH
nothing fills us with more joy
than our baby’s smileCO
this afternoon
my teen introduced me
to her Goth boyfriendCH
at the assisted living home
just one man willing to danceCO
the bright autumn moon
in every drop that drips
through the IV tubeCH
a puddle of dew
on the seat of a deck chairCO
she mended
the tear in the scarecrow’s pants
with a leather patchCO
it seems the mediator
had a bit too much to drinkCH
what more do you want
in your Dagwood sandwich?
Maybe some bologna?CO
the vegan convention
will meet on April Fool’s DayCH
tourists arriving
from all around the world
to see the tulipsCO
we change our voices
with helium balloonsCH
~ ~ ~
First Honorable Mention
Streaks of Dawn
Allan Burns, Colorado
Christopher Herold, Washington
Ron Moss, Tasmania~ ~ ~
Streaks of Dawn
streaks of dawn
Christmas tree needles
between floorboardsAB
far out on the snowy plain
the train rails come to a pointCH
approaching shore
a lantern swings back and forth
in the captain’s handsRM
eyes on the birdbath, the cat
thwacks the carpet with its tailAB
I devour
an entire meatless pizza
by moonlightCH
a boy and his dad
in the scarecrow’s shadowRM
an autumn breeze
through the mail slot
startles the widowAB
the scent of sagebrush
fills a narrow gorgeCH
after the date
she puts roses out
with the trashRM
he recalls the hem
of her floral dressAB
old friends in stitches
as they learn details about
our wedding snafuCH
a glitter of broken glass
where the rivers meetRM
clouds part
and a night-heron flies
across the moonAB
ribbons flutter from the fan
as it swivels side to sideCH
the flash
of heavy artillery
lights up a bunkerRM
a cobweb rises slowly
toward the sooty ceilingAB
on tiptoes
the boy shakes plum blossoms
into their picnic lunchRM
friends yelling EARTHQUAKE
on April Fools’ DayCH
as you wait
a butterfly’s reflection
rippled by carpAB
in the zendo meditating
on Chuang Tse’s dreamRM
a young concubine
tries to get the eunuchs
to flirt with herCH
after the YouTube song
they dance to the bedroomAB
on the cabin wall
two pairs of old skates
feathered with frostRM
as the woodpile grows
the ax blade loses its gleamCH
shouldering a keg
a burly Scotsman
takes the high roadAB
with each broad stroke
the cobalt blue sea appearsRM
his coma persists
despite another dose
of thrombolytic drugsCH
she slaps down her last
Uno card with relishAB
from the firelight
sparks spiral toward
a blood moonRM
my dew-drenched sleeping bag
dries out beside Crater LakeCH
through the fog
the smell of simmering beans
and fresh-brewed coffeeRM
the guest bewildered
by a hieroglyphicAB
this fossil
from the Eocene epoch
is a missing linkCH
grandma’s up late
polishing her gold coinsRM
on the bus from D.C.
cherry blossoms
in the rearview mirrorAB
remember how we loved to chase
soap bubbles across the lawn?CH
~ ~ ~
Second Honorable Mention
Gunnysack
John Stevenson, NY
Hilary Tann, NY,
Paul MacNeil, Florida
Yu Chang, NY~ ~ ~
Gunnysack
a gunnysack
by the kitchen door
autumn duskJS
moonlight from the lake
caught up in the pinesHT
wild cheering
for the World Series
home teamPM
four fortune cookies
left untouchedYC
the recording engineer
accepts her last take
with reservationsHT
limo, show,
and hotel showerJS
a long blonde hair
exactly like
my wife’sYC
lion tails denote
tribal authorityPM
the sign that says
“thin ice”
is half-submergedJS
surprise gift
of an overcoatYC
a thundersheet
accompanies
the deus ex machinaHT
cloud shadows
graze the mountainsideJS
Will the wine
and chocolates
be enough?PM
they eloped
on Independence DayHT
after the fireworks
we walk back
with the moonYC
a crow’s hop
changes to strutPM
finest grade
of sandpaper
in Geppetto’s shopJS
distant relatives gather
for her confirmationHT
apple blossoms
are coming into view
beyond the fallow fieldsPM
choosing a high spot
to fly a kiteYC
~ ~ ~