humid summer day
the Chihuahua
bobs his head as we drive

soft snores—
eyeglasses lying
side by side

top half champion =

The obvious connection between these two haiku is the mention of both objects in a purse and the implication of the passage of time. You never know what you may find when cleaning out an old purse, and the bigger it is, the strange the contents — especially close to the bottom. I really liked the image of transfering the worn photo, it obviously has a special meaning to the owner, otherwise she wouldn't want to carry it with her everywhere (the fact that she's transfering it from one purse to the other gives it a more special meaning). I also like the juxtaposition of the images — both items have special memories attached, but while one was there all along, the other was only just discovered. Molly

Instead of simply doing the haiku matching contest by myself, I did it with my Grandmother while we ate dinner. I explained to her what I have learned about haiku and how the contest is supposed to work. We worked together and selected our favorites and then my Grandma came across a pair that she really liked. When my Grandmother read these, I was pleasantly surprised when she told me that they both brought up memories from her childhood. I explained to her that good haiku often does that and that it was exciting she noticed that. Upon closer inspection I found that both of these haiku work well together, playing upon the idea of memories being contained in purses. My Grandma especially liked the "two weeks" haiku. She said that it made her think of growing up in New Jersey and collecting seashells. It allowed her to think back and remember putting shells in her own purse. She also enjoyed the second haiku, saying it brought up more general memories of people and places. In the end we both decided we enjoyed the first haiku the most, the haiku was a springboard for my Grandmother to tell me memories about her childhood. Rachel

champion =

black gloves
clutch a cold hot dog
opening day

From the moment I first read this "loon's cry" haiku it really was able to get a happy feeling out of me. Instantly I was able to imagine myself at this lake we used to go to as a family when I was younger. My dad was always talking about the loons on the lake, and he would always have us looking for them. I know they are a pretty animal but I think my dad got a little carried away, but yes by the end of the week I think I had seen enough of these animals. Like I said though I just really liked this haiku because it totally brought back a humorous time that I had as a child, along with the fun that I had while we were there. David K

I thought this comparison was the most interesting out of the silence haiku. When I first read the pairs I did not see a comparison. In the second haiku I pictured the black gloves belonging to OJ Simpson. Also the word clutch with the black gloves made my mind think about a rapist or murderer. It surprised me when I found out the gloves belonged to a hot dog vendor. It wasn’t until I read the first haiku again that I associated the word scalping with something scary like a murderer. What’s even more interesting is as I am writing this, I noticed a not so twisted comparison. The open windows and opening day…. being outside –and usually at sports events there is a ticket scalper –so there is also that comparison too. Sarah

This haiku pair is full of wonderful images, sounds, and textures. The first haiku uses the word “scalping” in a very interesting manner. It is still a very harsh word, but it is given an entirely new image when accompanied by the word strawberries. You also get the smells of fresh fruit, sound of running water, the feel of the breeze through the open window… The second haiku is just as interesting. The phrases “black gloves” is generally associated with some dark act such as robbery or murder… some sort of crime. However, the next lines give you the setting of the first baseball game of the season or some other sporting event, but it’s a chilly day. Angie

bottom half champion =

home from the funeral
the living room
a flower garden

last week of class
the wind ruffles
my cotton skirt

hands in the pockets
of an oversized sports jacket
she tells me about her dad

A skirt and a jacket: one ruffled by summer wind and the other draped over a young woman holding onto the memory of her deceased father. Both haiku are about endings . . . end of a school year and the end of a father being there. And both are about moving on.

The student sees the end of classes and feels light on her feet, soon to be released into summer. The wind is carrying her along, ruffling the cotton skirt. This haiku is about the lightness of being, the warmth and the wind of late spring. She is a survivor, someone who has made it through another year, another winter, the trials of school and ready for summer. One more week, even though she can already feel summer in that ruffle of wind.

The girl in the oversized sports jacket is such a powerful image. She seems so small, so vulnerable, yet also brave enough to try to take care of herself. The sports coat engulfs her and she is hiding her hands in the pockets as if trying to hold onto her father. She wants to keep him, or at least something of his, close to her. She doesn’t want to let go. She wants to keep him in her life. But it obviously doesn’t fit. Someone has asked her about it, and she begins to heal as she talks about her dad. She is wearing not just his jacket, but his love.

These are both so good, but I choose the “last week of class” as the champion because it is so light and alive. It ends with all the anticipation of summer joy. The other haiku takes us to an emotionally true kernel of confrontation, but is finally a little too anti-climatic in the flatness of simply “tells me about” which doesn’t really bring his memory back for me. —Randy Brooks

hands in the pockets
of an oversized sports jacket
she tells me about her dad

soft snores
eyeglasses lying
side by side

These two haiku seem to be in a type of progression. The first haiku allows us to see, for a moment, two young adults walking together outside one evening. They ask and answer exploratory questions and share stories. Many years later, the two have grown and experienced life together. They know the stories and the answers to the questions. What is left is to live. David M

fans spinning
in lazy circles
as we talk of faith

windows open
at the kitchen sink
scalping strawberries

this combination reminds me of a slow summer day where there’s nothing to do so you get on deep philosophical debates just for the hell of it. That and there’s strawberries. Michael

Black gloves
Clutch a cold hot dog
Opening day

Hands in the pockets
Of an oversized sports jacket
She tells me about her dad

I think these two haiku go together really well. I see them as if a couple went to the baseball or they are at the baseball game its a little cold outside they have jackets and gloves on. He is about to bite into his cold hot dog and she has something to say. I just think they go together because of the weather setting in the haiku. Tony

ocean calm
kayaking
with the manatee

black gloves
clutch a cold hot dog
opening day

These are not my my pair of champions, however, this pair I found in the top/bottom quarter heat. It’s a relatively odd pair, not really discussing the same context or theme, or subject, however, remarkably after about two seconds I realized how obvious the connection was. Perhaps it was merely me just reading too far into the poems, but I noticed a distinct connection—peace of mind is the subject in both these poems. The top haiku illustrates an almost typical, yet quite striking depiction of calm and peace. The solitude of the ocean and the mind is left to wander in the waves, a gentle manatee ones only guide into harmonious existence and meditation. The second poem I found superior in this aspect- its particular originality in the aspect that it is a sort of rejection of this while maintaining the same theme and subject. The author of the second may very well find peace of mind within the sanctuary of the ocean, however, he or she happens to be able to find this peace of mind within the sanctuary of the ball park, and the within the game (with all its screaming fans) its self. This is where this individual finds solace and meditation, or at least I like to think he or she does. Anyway, I found this particular pairing interesting for the way both managed to convey the same subject in almost diametrically opposing ways. Nick

top half champion =

soft snores -- / eyeglasses lying / side by side

botton half champion =

home from the funeral / the living room / a flower garden

This was a hard decision! I liked the pair these haiku created after funneling through the tournament. I enjoyed "soft snores--" because of the parallel image of the eyeglasses lying side by side and the couple in the bed lying side by side. For me, the haiku expanded to a grandchild looking around the house for grandpa and grandma, and then peeking in on their afternoon nap. There is a cozy feeling about it, two people who have been together for so long, and are now in synch - even snoring together! I also liked the language used in this haiku. The "soft snores" and "side by side" alliteration is very effective and even makes a wheezing or snoring sound!

Secondly, I enjoyed "home from the funeral" for many reasons - mostly what we tallked about in class. Although this haiku deals with impermanence - the funeral, and the impending death of the flowers - there is hope in this haiku. For the moment, the flowers are welcoming and colorful. They are in little clumps and baskets, just like little families. The flowers take on a personification - seeming to comfort the family after the funeral. They are a reminder that life goes on, and beauty is all around. The poet of this haiku has a strong spirit, seeing the positive in every situation. I finally chose this haiku over "soft snores --" for it's merit of having more "yojo" - i feel the layers and ripples can keep travelling with this haiku, whereas in the first haiku, the layers reach an ending. Emily Evans

CHAMPION =

home from the funeral
the living room
a flower garden

the loon’s cry
breaking the morning’s
silence

dad’s classic rock
hushed—
dispatched fire engines

This was the pairings I got from the Silence haiku page. I chose these two because they hit close to home for me. First because the classic rock haiku is what my dad loves to listen to when he is driving. And secondly the loon’s cry breaking the morning’s silence made me think about our every summer vacation to Minnesota. We go up there for a week of fishing and fun. And every morning you wake up by the light from the sun and you walk out to the beach and hear nothing. Except for the birds starting to sing for the new day. Matt

fan spinning
in lazy circles
we talk of faith

humid summer day
the Chihuahua
bobs his head as we drive

I liked this comparison because it makes me think of how sweltering summer can be. No matter where you are you are hot and there is nothing you can do to escape it. Michael

The two haiku that I found that best relate to one another are the following:

fan spinning
in lazy circles
we talk of faith

home from the funeral
the living room
a flower garden

I feel that such haiku can almost be seen as some sort of cause and effect pair. In the first, two close friends are discussing their faith in God; one, or both, attempts to figure out exactly what he or she believes, and why. Suddenly, a few days later, the individual loses a close friend or family member. The question of faith comes up again as he or she deals with such a crisis; perhaps he or she is angry with God, or is convinced that there is no God, because if there was, how could He allow such horrors to happen? But when the funeral is over, he or she enters the house to find it overflowing with flowers. The individual finally realizes that God’s beauty still exists and His love endures, even when one is in despair. Laura

Champion:

fan spinning
in lazy circles
we talk of faith