Haiku Society of America

Haiku Society of America Student Haiku Awards
in Memorial of Nicholas A. Virgilio

Randy and Shirley Brooks
judges

We enjoyed reading the submissions to the Virgilio competition for 2001. We admired the straightforward language of these haiku and were especially drawn to the playful irony of their observations. ~ Randy & Shirley Brooks

 

autumn wind
rattles the glass —
a child’s breath

Travis Moore
School of the Arts, Age 13, Grade 8, Rochester, NY

In this haiku we are taken back to the perspective of a child, drawn to a window pane by the wind. It is chilly outside and a storm is brewing. The child is so close that their breath fogs the glass further clouding the vision of what’s happening “out there”. We don’t see this as a sinister or fearful moment, but rather an instance of just wanting to see. Next, the child will be drawing or writing a word in the fogged glass.

 

walking
the pumpkin patch —
children’s faces aglow

Brooke Erschen
Wahlert High School, Age 18, Grade 12, Dubuque, IA

We like how this haiku features children in the pumpkin patch. Their faces are aglow with the excitement of Halloween as they seek the perfect pumpkin. They imagine the jack-o-lantern they could carve from each one, seeing an ear or furrowed frow in the shapes of orange skin. Their faces are aglow—so alive—with possibilities.

 

from the tanning salon
to her car
January chill

Deborah Meyer
Wahlert High School, Age 18, Grade 12, Dubuque, IA

In the middle of winter how else can someone work on their tan? Maybe they are planning a spring break getaway to a beach and want to be ready. However, the reality is that it is still winter as she is reminding on her way back to the car after a relaxing tanning session.

 

strep throat
she kisses him
anyway

Heidi Streit
Walhert High School, Age 17, Grade 12, Dubuque, IA

We love this senryu. What a hoot. Teenage love. The invincible, fearless youth, willing to risk all for a kiss. This is the kiss he or she has dreamed of for weeks. Nothing will stop it now. Not even strep throat. This senryu works so well because it starts with “strep throat” so she knows what she is “getting into”. The anyway suggests a slight, perhaps flippant, risk analysis that is ignored. Sometimes we just have to face the consequences, the inevitability, that love is a risky business. On the other hand, kissing someone with strep throat is just stupid (from a grown-up’s perspective).

 

after the dentist appointment
sister returns
all smiles

Katherine Welter
Wahlert High School, Age 17, Dubuque, IA

We liked the simplicity of this haiku. Sister is showing off her clean teeth. Perhaps she was not so eager to go to the dentist, afraid she might have cavities. However, now it’s over. She got a clean bill of health from the dentist. Look Ma, no cavities!

 

new beau
fingering the tattoo
with her name

Kali Smith
Wahlert High School, Age 16, Grade 11, Dubuque, IA

We like the excitement of new love in this senryu. He has shown his commitment with a new tattoo with her name. Everything’s new and exciting . . . and intimate as she fingers the tattoo. Did it hurt? Is it still sore? Next thing you know she will be kissing him, even if he has strep throat!

 

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