willy-worms
in the September sun
soccer teams

J.R. Baird

crisp autumn day
picking unbruised apples
from the branches

Britney Allen

yellow schoolbus 
full of strangers 
faces full of tears

Shureda Casterberry

first day jitters
no sleep
my breath in the air

Corey McKenzie

crisp autumn day
picking unbruised apples
from the branches

first day jitters
no sleep
my breath in the air

crisp autumn day
picking unbruised apples
from the branches

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

mellow evening
crickets chirp
not a single word

bottom quarter champion

mellow evening
crickets chirp
not a single word

into the forest
we venture deep,
finding a place to hide

mellow evening
crickets chirp
not a single word

with friends
hiking into the forest
mosquitos

Joshua Mysliwiec

into the forest
we venture deep,
finding a place to hide

Vineece Thompson

mellow evening
crickets chirp
not a single word

Dannika Beedle

the fire burns
we talk
all night

Britney Allen

TOP half champion

mellow evening
crickets chirp
not a single word

PAGE CHAMPION

mellow evening
crickets chirp
not a single word
 

warm cookies
the smell of cinnamon
throughout the house

BOTTOM half champion

warm cookies
the smell of cinnamon
throughout the house

Britney Allen

fireplace warms
our frostbitten hands
creators of snowmen

Dannika Beedle

circles carved
on the glazed ice
a simple crack could go far

Dannika Beedle

moonlit dancers
in the cold wind—
wholly intertwine

Vineece Thompson

warm cookies
the smell of cinnamon
throughout the house

circles carved
on the glazed ice
a simple crack could go far

warm cookies
the smell of cinnamon
throughout the house

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

warm cookies
the smell of cinnamon
throughout the house

bottom quarter champion

the crunch of the snow
makes it hard
to hide

sliding across the ice
no need
for breaks

the crunch of the snow
makes it hard
to hide

covered in snow
forced to wait
to defrost

Pamela Kennedy

sliding across the ice
no need
for breaks

Pamela Kennedy

the crunch of the snow
makes it hard
to hide

Corey McKenzie

lonely footprints
in the fresh snow
stop suddenly

Pamela Kennedy

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
Play ball!

Corey McKenzie

hot summer sun
beats down
he hits third base

Britney Allen

kids splashing
in the shade of a bridge
chasing crawdads

J.R. Baird

the sun ripples
on the warm pond's surface
cold mud between my toes

J.R. Baird

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
Play ball!

kids splashing
in the shade of a bridge
chasing crawdads

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
Play ball!

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
Play ball!

bottom quarter champion

after all this work
a nice shady nap
under a tree

after all this work
a nice shady nap
under a tree

wet corn field leaves
cutting my neck
cramping hands and muddy boots

too hot to work
the air takes
the day off

Pamela Kennedy

after all this work
a nice shady nap
under a tree

Joshua Mysliwiec

school bus in july
5 am start
pulling tassels

Michael Means

wet corn field leaves
cutting my neck
cramping hands and muddy boots

Michael Means

TOP half champion

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
Play ball!

PAGE CHAMPION & GRAND CHAMPION

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
Play ball!

hot shiny black steel
hickory smoke aroma
hours before dinner

BOTTOM half champion

hot shiny black steel
hickory smoke aroma
hours before dinner

Alex Blome

strawberry garden—
i bring him over
for mama's fresh pies

Vineece Thompson

moonlight glare
a dip into the cool
honey suckle

Dannika Beedle

hot summer days
cool nights
no worries

Alex Blome

hot shiny black steel
hickory smoke aroma
hours before dinner

moonlight glare
a dip into the cool
honey suckle

hot shiny black steel
hickory smoke aroma
hours before dinner

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

hot shiny black steel
hickory smoke aroma
hours before dinner

bottom quarter champion

swimming pool
my dad
teaches me to float

swimming pool
my dad
teaches me to float

a calm green lake
floating in the current
wake up! fish on

swimming pool
my dad
teaches me to float

Vineece Thompson

floating and wading
ALARM sounds
wave pool

Michael Means

a calm green lake
floating in the current
wake up! fish on

Alex Blome

calm summer night
watching the stars twinkle
distant coyote for company

Alex Blome

wolly-worms
in the September sun
soccer teams

crisp autumn day
picking unbruised apples
from the branches

yellow schoolbus 
full of strangers 
faces full of tears

first day jitters
no sleep
my breath in the air

Fall is my favorite season. I really enjoy this pairing because it takes me back to being a kid and some of my favorite things. The first poem was actually mine. We always rode our bikes to the soccer fields on the edge of town to practice. I always knew when soccer season was approaching because it was always at the same time as when we would start seeing willy-worms on the pavement while walking to school or riding our bikes. My grandparents had several apple trees on their farm. I have a few great memories of my cousins and I standing in the back of his pickup truck with the old-fashioned apple pickers (basically a broom handle with a metal basket attached to the end). We had to stand in the back of the truck bed because we were too young and small to reach the branches from the ground. JR

My first response to this reminds me of the first day of school. The children were afraid because they didn't know anyone on the bus or what to expect on their first day of school, so they have a face full of tears. My second response is the anxiety that the parents are feeling by sending their child off for the very first time on a school bus and into a classroom full of strangers. The face full of tears are coming from the overprotective parents. Shureda

This haiku also reminds me the first day of school or possibly the first day on a new job. I imagine feeling anxious, fearful, and happy all at the same time which prevents me from getting any sleep. "my breath in the air", could mean that it was cold that day or that they were hyperventilating because of the excitement. Shureda

Every first day of class I always get jitters of how the class is going to go or who all is going to be in the class. I don’t lose much sleep over it but I do lie there wondering about it till I go to sleep. For me the breath in the air is taking that deep breath right before going into class. Alex

I enjoyed these two because I can always relte to the first day jitters and feeling you get when returning to school after a break or for the first time. Joshua

with friends
hiking into the forest
mosquito

into the forest
we venture deep,
finding a place to hide

mellow evening
crickets chirp
not a single word

the fire burns
we talk
all night

I love these two because im a nature fiend. I love going adventuring and exploring what mother nature beholds for us. And the wonders that god has created. Joshua

These two haiku were very similar to the first pair I selected. They both created instant memories as soon as I read them, and really made me relate to each one. I think everyone has spent the entire night sitting around the fire with a loved one or close friends and solved all of the world’s problems while sitting there. Then you follow up the night with complete silence, but still know you are just having a different type of conversation. I think they both revolve around spending time with close friends and family, and knowing you don’t have to talk to each other to be able to enjoy the company and time spent with them. Corey

this reminds me of when my buddy and I would go camping together. We always brought a truck bed full of wood. Then we would sit there every night and have a big campfire. We’d sit there talking about everything and anything that would lead us to our next conversation. We would stay up till three or four in the morning. Alex

warm cookies
the smell of cinnamon
throughout the house

fireplace warms
our frostbitten hands
creators of snowmen

circles carved
on the glazed ice
a simple crack could go far

moonlit dancers
in the cold wind—
wholly intertwine

For me, picking between these two haiku was very difficult. Each one had such vivid imagery associated with them between the smells of cookies and cinnamon compared to the feeling of warming up your frostbitten hands after playing in the snow. Each author did a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere for the reader to relate to and pull from previous memories and experiences. I personally liked the second haiku, but it was not selected by the class during the matching exercise. Corey

I like the themes in both of these poems. They both talk about warmth during the fall and winter seasons. I like how the first one makes me feel all warm and cozy. I also like the sense of sweet smells (of cinnamon), and it reminds me of the times my mom and I made gingerbread men cookies around Christmas. I really like the second poem because of the clear image and message. The frostbitten hands that created snowmen are over the fireplace to melt away the cold. The second poem makes sense, and it’s expressed so well using condensed words. Vineece

Cinnamon cookies aren’t my favorite, but they remind me of Christmas morning. My wife up early before the kids wake, baking goodies for the day. The smell of the food cooking, the presents still wrapped under the tree, and me drinking my morning coffee. A few minutes of peace and quiet before the chaos begins. Playing in the wintery snow has always been a family bonding moment for me. I can hardly remember doing it as a child, but I can recall time spent with my kids. The 45 minutes of preparation bundling up to go outside. Gloves, coat, boots, scarves, stocking hat, etc.. by the time we were ready, the kids looked liked the kid off of a Christmas Story. Then, after 10 minutes of rolling around in the frigid temps, my wife would tell us it’s time to come in and warm up. We didn’t have a fireplace, but we had one of those big gas stoves in our living room. Not the safest heating device, but definitely the warmest to cozy up too. Michael

I really liked this haiku in the matching contest because I was actually in touch with my senses. I could almost smell the cinnamon the haiku described. The selected wording made the haiku come to life. Realism is one of the traits I feel are important for haikus to have. Dannika

I really enjoyed this haiku in the haiku competition because the wording also made this haiku come to life. Dannika

covered in snow
forced to wait
to defrost

sliding across the ice
no need
for breaks

the crunch of the snow
makes it hard
to hide

lonely footprints
in the fresh snow
stop suddenly

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
play ball!

hot summer sun
beats down
he hits third base

kids splashing
in the shade of a bridge
chasing crawdads

the sun ripples
on the warm pond's surface
cold mud between my toes

too hot to work
the air takes
the day off

after all this work
a nice shady nap
under a tree

school bus in july
5 am start
pulling tassels

wet corn field leaves
cutting my neck
cramping hands and muddy boots

Both of these poems talk about the struggles of work, and wanting to get a decent break. I like how the first one mentions the air taking a break, meaning there is no breeze or wind to cool the person off as they’re working. The contrast between the person not being able to take a break and the air taking a break (making it hard for the worker because it’s hot) suggests a bit of irony that fits well. The second poem talks about the opposite—a person being able to take a break after a long day’s work. It’s more calming, serene, and cool; and it’s relatable. It reminds me of the times when I get home from work, and all I want to do is take a nap in my bed while the window is open, letting in the cool breeze. Vineece

I believe that this Haiku pairing was really interested to me because although they were written by two separate people they have a lot in common. Both authors let you know that work is no longer an option or a priority. They also indicate that it is hot or very sunny outside which is insinuated by needing a shady place under a tree. I also get the feeling that both or tired or in need of rest what is an indicated that they were attempting to take a nap while the other one said it was too hot to work or to do anything else. Pamela

This pair of haiku goes together really well. It starts with a hot day at work where there is no air and you just sweat all day. Then after you’re done working, there is a shady tree and you can relax and take a nap. It is very peaceful being able to find a tree to nap under after a hot day at work. It is relaxing after a hot day and you can just cool off. Brtiney

hot shiny black steel
hickory smoke aroma
hours before dinner

strawberry garden—
i bring him over
for mama's fresh pies

moonlight glare
a dip into the cool
honey suckle

hot summer days
cool nights
no worries

hot dogs and beer
fresh cut grass
play ball!

hot shiny black steel
hickory smoke aroma
hours before dinner

I like this pairing because they both have to deal with food. Where is one of them places you in the stands at a Cardinals game surrounded by enthusiastic fans no, the other places you in the Comforts of your own backyard surrounded by family. Are they both have the commonality of food one is very specific with mentioning the hot dogs while the other leaves room for interpretation because it doesn't tell you what is being cooked it just informs you that it will be Hickory flavored. Overall both of them could be enjoyed on a nice summer day. Pamela

swimming pool
my dad
teaches me to float

floating and wading
ALARM sounds
wave pool

a calm green lake
floating in the current
wake up! fish on

calm summer night
watching the stars twinkle
distant coyote for company