Honk (softly) if you love haiku
When we invited readers to submit haiku appropriate for bumper stickers last year, we were amazed by the response. We received more than 3,000 poems, making us the largest haiku contest in the United States. This year, we received thousands more poems from all over North America, as well as from Europe and Africa.
The poems were judged by haiku poets Larry Kimmel and Carol Purington, and Elizabeth Lund, the Monitor's poetry editor. We present the three top poems, in no particular order, and a bouquet of runners-up.
The judges chose poems that captured the spirit of the haiku, but not necessarily the perfect 5-7-5-syllable format. Everyone who submitted a poem will receive one of the winning stickers in the mail next month. Many thanks to all!
An unendangered
species. The red-tailed
lane-switcher.
Philip Dacey
Lynd, Minn.
Fireworks program on
the Fourth: Our patriotic
car alarm responds.
Joan Voss Greenwood
Fullerton, Calif.
Every morning I
tell myself I won't hit it.
Pothole wins again!
Christine Adams
Fairfax, Va.
middle of nowhere
a sign reads
'free parking'
John Sheirer
Enfield, Conn.
new toll road -
the deer still cross
at night
Hilary Tann
Rexford, N.Y.
High snow country.
No moon. Steer by the stars,
and telephone poles.
John McBride
Bettendorf, Iowa
city mirage
rises off my hood
no oasis in sight
Marcia A. Petty
Portland, Ore.
black street
after the storm - a turn signal
spreading red
Lee Giesecke
Annandale, Va.
Rain and thunder clap
Lightning streaks the dark sky
Auto car-wash fun.
David Stroh
Carlsbad, Calif.
Traffic lineup -
geese flying south
run the red light
Helen Reynolds
Mendocino, Calif.
African traffic
More autos than elephants
Most days of the week
Ian Taylor
Karoi, Zimbabwe