under the moon light
tan lines

start to show

Hailey Sharp

summer pond
the water
provides her modesty

Thomas Friend

a little girl sways
nestled in a hammock
nap time

Jennifer Yeakley

little girl in the swing
spinning around
happy

Sean Dial

summer pond
the water
provides her modesty

a little girl sways
nestled in a hammock
nap time

a little girl sways
nestled in a hammock
nap time

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

a little girl sways
nestled in a hammock
nap time

bottom quarter champion

ducky blow up
water wings
ready for the high dive

ducky blow up
water wings
ready for the high dive

heat wave
lemonade stand
I buy a second glass

kids splashing
diving down
lifeguard in a seat

Zachary Dilbeck

ducky blow up
water wings
ready for the high dive

Norman Mears

the music fades
ice cream drips down
little fingers

Jennifer Yeakley

heat wave
lemonade stand
I buy a second glass

Jennifer Yeakley

TOP half champion

a little girl sways
nestled in a hammock
nap time

CHAMPION
 

silent night
heat lightning
illuminates her thoughts

silent night
heat lightning
illuminates her thoughts

BOTTOM half champion

letting go
     crimson leaves fall
     from the maple

Jennifer Yeakley

her hair
golden
before the treatments

Norman Mears

lazy afternoon
the rusty mailbox reclines
against a picket fence

Jennifer Yeakley

silent night
heat lightning
illuminates her thoughts

Jennifer Yeakley

her hair
golden
before the treatments

silent night
heat lightning
illuminates her thoughts

silent night
heat lightning
illuminates her thoughts

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

silent night
heat lightning
illuminates her thoughts

bottom quarter champion

crimson snow
laying quietly
the rabbit

crimson snow
laying quietly
the rabbit

giving it my all
six inches deep
my shovel breaks

crimson snow
laying quietly
the rabbit

Norman Mears

still forest
fresh snow
Panzers!

Thomas Friend

walking away
under his boots
the crunch of snow

Jennifer Yeakley

giving it my all
six inches deep
my shovel breaks

Norman Mears

turn row
old Case
makes another round

Thomas Friend

spring bulbs
poking through
inch by inch

Nick Adams

hands frozen
feet numb
just 10 more minutes . . . pleeease!

Thomas Friend

new boots on skis
snow spraying my goggles
TREE

Norman Mears

spring bulbs
poking through
inch by inch

hands frozen
feet numb
just 10 more minutes . . . pleeease!

hands frozen
feet numb
just 10 more minutes . . . pleeease!

fifth top champion

fifth Chamption

neighborly chat
a young woman serving tea
in a mason jar 

fifth bottom champion

neighborly chat
a young woman serving tea
in a mason jar 

pine tree scent
lights wrapped around
star on top

neighborly chat
a young woman serving tea
in a mason jar 

December wind against red lips
Christmas tree farm
the perfect fit

Hailey Sharp

pine tree scent
lights wrapped around
star on top

Zachary Dilbeck

Yeti tumbler
mint green
Captain morgan against my teeth

Hailey Sharp

neighborly chat
a young woman serving tea
in a mason jar 

Jennifer Yeakley

under the moon light
tan lines

start to show

Hailey Sharp

summer pond
the water
provides her modesty

Thomas Friend

a little girl sways
nestled in a hammock
nap time

Jennifer Yeakley

little girl in the swing
spinning around
happy

Sean Dial

I think it is interesting that these two are so closely related and yet they are so different. It makes the reader think about the two of them in depth and think about which one they like better. I like the first one the best about the naptime. To me it is calming and relaxing while the other is more upbeat and exciting. I can imagine myself as a child laying in a hammock on a nice summer day. But I would not be napping, I would be rocking it back and forth as hard as I could! Nick

This is my favorite of all the matching haiku's. Very much reminds me of my granddaughter. The word sways coupled with hammock paint the picture of a little girl in the summer time rocking gently. The word nestled indicates to me she is content and sleepy, ready to take her nap. These descriptive words, give us a framework for this tranquil picture. From there, our minds fill in the blanks of the scene. If we could see the picture created in everyone's mind, they would have some similarities but all of them would be different in many ways. Sean

kids splashing
diving down
lifeguard in a seat

Zachary Dilbeck

ducky blow up
water wings
ready for the high dive

Norman Mears

the music fades
ice cream drips down
little fingers

Jennifer Yeakley

heat wave
lemonade stand
I buy a second glass

Jennifer Yeakley

Both haiku's hold imagery of summer delights – ice cream and lemonade. The first one calls to mind the passing of an ice cream truck. Children shake their piggy banks for loose change as they here the music approaching. The heat of the day causes the treat to melt as the child quickly works to lick up every drop of the savory treat. Just down the road, I envision a lemonade stand open and ready for business. The same sweltering heat causes mouths to water as they pass-by the ice-cold lemonade. Who doesn't want to invest in such a venture? Especially on such a hot, summer day. The heat improves the consumer's generosity. Both of these haiku speak to summer time, community, and the delights of childhood. Jennifer

letting go
     crimson leaves fall
     from the maple

Jennifer Yeakley

her hair
golden
before the treatments

Norman Mears

lazy afternoon
the rusty mailbox reclines
against a picket fence

Jennifer Yeakley

silent night
heat lightning
illuminates her thoughts

Jennifer Yeakley

I think both of these are quiet and calming haiku. After reading the second one, the first is not as dark to me but I can see the similarities. I like the second better because it could go many ways. She could be at the salon getting her hair dyed, or she could be going through some sort of cancer treatment that will alter her hair appearance. Both are smooth to read and could make you feel sad or calm. Nick

I really enjoyed this haiku. To be honest, it is one of my favorites by a class member. To me this haiku brought images of a lone woman standing on the porch of a farm house watching the heat lightning in the night sky. This moment of solitude has given her clarity as she contemplates some deep issue, perhaps a failed, or failing relationship. I think it personifies all the elements of haiku as it contains a “seasonal word”, is very brief, and gives just a snap shot or some very strong, and powerful imagery that immediately sets the readers mind ablaze with possibilities. Thomas

crimson snow
laying quietly
the rabbit

Norman Mears

still forest
fresh snow
Panzers!

Thomas Friend

walking away
under his boots
the crunch of snow

Jennifer Yeakley

giving it my all
six inches deep
my shovel breaks

Norman Mears

This haiku harkens me back to some of my first hunts at 12 years old. It seemed, that winter it was always snowing. Something about a fresh snowfall coming down ever so silently just makes a hunt magical, even to this day. I cannot even count the different number of scenes I remember involving the Crimson snow and the rabbit laying there, waiting to be deposited into the game pouch of a blaze orange hunting vest. Sean

Yeti tumbler
mint green
Captain morgan against my teeth

Hailey Sharp

turn row
old Case
makes another round

Thomas Friend

spring bulbs
poking through
inch by inch

Nick Adams

hands frozen
feet numb
just 10 more minutes . . . pleeease!

Thomas Friend

new boots on skis
snow spraying my goggles
TREE

Norman Mears

December wind against red lips
Christmas tree farm
the perfect fit

Hailey Sharp

pine tree scent
lights wrapped around
star on top

Zachary Dilbeck

under the moon light
tan lines

start to show

Hailey Sharp

neighborly chat
a young woman serving tea
in a mason jar 

Jennifer Yeakley

The Christmas tree is one of my favorite symbols of the holiday season. In the first haiku, I envision a couple trekking out to a local farm to pick the perfect tree. The wind is cold causing hands to grow cold and lips to chap. The couple snuggles closer together to share their body heat. Instead of finding the perfect tree, they see that their bodies are a perfect fit and delight in the moment of togetherness. The second haiku transports the reader to later in the day. Once a tree is found, brought home and decorated, the couple stands back to admire their handiwork. Lights twinkle before them as they soak in one of the most distinct smells of the holiday – pine. These simple moments add to the delight of the Christmas season. Jennifer

I envisioned a cookout with many friends. As the darkness is slowly coming, the tanned body of a person is disappearing into that darkness. As it gets darker, they are all conversing, yet only the tan lines can be seen, almost glowing by the light of the moon. This second haiku gave me a rural America feeling. Wooden fence, green pastures, and two ladies standing at that fence. One handing the other a mason jar full of tea. The weather is hot and humid. The older woman may have been working in her garden near the fence and the younger one seeing this, brought something to drink out to her. Norman

To me, the scene is set in the deep South. It is summer, and this young woman's father is doing a project around the house with the help of some neighbors who happens to have a son about her age. The picture of tea she is filling a mason jar with has lemons in it. She is all dolled up, hoping to catch the man's eye. Sean

I enjoyed this haiku. I was immediately bombarded with imagery of a summer porch, a gathering of friends, a vine tangled pergola, and laughter as drinks are served. The power of this, and the last haiku are stunning. The vivid, deep imagery is sensational. Thomas