Haibun Kukai Results

Announcement of the World Haiku Club New Year's Eve Haibun Kukai Results:

Well what a job, what joy, what pain. Making that final decision - so hard. Each time I read my "last six" shortlist my heart leaps, my mind changes but now I will announce the results of this the first World Haiku Club New Year's Eve Haibun Kukai - the first of its kind, especially when viewed as part of the New Year's Double Kukai run by Susumu Takiguchi and the New Year's Photo-Haiku Competition organised by Mitsugu Abe and friends.

I also announce a special award in recognition of a piece that goes beyond the brief of the kukai into other realms of enlightenment.

First Place: The Snow That I Am - Marjorie Buettner

Second Place: The Last Ember - Naia

Third Place: New Years Eve - Maria Steyn

Special Award  The Goose Bath and the Egret Bath - Takashi Nonin

I would like to make a special award to Takashi Nonin for his wonderful piece "The Goose Bath and the Egret Bath". This piece was more than a haibun and included fascinating insights through the haiku of the masters right through to Takashi's own description of his traditional New Year's hot spring bath and return home to his wife.

Honourable mentions:  

Across Winter's Sky - Terrie Relf

First Letter - Debra Woolard Bender

Oyster Shells and Lilies - hortensia anderson

A commentary on the winning haibun and other's will be posted in the near future. I would like to thank all those that entered for their willingness to share with us their New Year's Eve and for their generosity of spirit.

a kukai judge--
all these beautiful seashells
in my bucket

Thank you all again,

Paul T Conneally

Education and Regional Director, World Haiku Club