echo of thunder—
black clouds somersault
not high above

Bob Reed

spraying each other
the sisters run with hoses
across the lawn

Shelley Mauer

from the lively limb
squishing under my dress shoes
fallen mulberries

Heather Aymer

This haiku reminds me of when I was younger and I attended church with my mother and sister. After church my mom would stand around for what seemed like forever talking with everyone. There was a park right near the church so my sister and I and other children would play in the park until she was ready to leave. The dress shoes and squishing mulberries reminds me of being cautious that we were still in our dress clothes and didn’t want to get them too dirty to avoid getting in trouble but still running around and playing. —SM

summer heat
thirty-five ages and names
the obituaries

Heather Aymer

in the summer sun
sticky children
melt popsicles

Cindy

I see a blinding sky, the popsicles with their impossible electric rainbow colors (every kid in the neighborhood knows whose mom will supply the treat), children warding off the flies that love the sticky sweetness, and the discarded wooden sticks thrown away by messy faces. —BR

a cooler of beer
between two friends
early morning fishing

Shelley Mauer

raising a shaky arm
the aged WAF
salutes the passing flag

Cindy
(1st place)

It startles us from our John Wayne/Audie Murphy/George S. Patton nostalgic complacency, as it reminds us about the role of women (pre-NOW) in the U.S. military. As difficult as it is to lift her arm, she does so; we are forced to assume the WAF, like the flag she honors, will be “passing” soon, as well. —BR

wrestling match
lush ivy
on the brick wall

clothes scattered across the floor
his golden brown abs
kissed by the sun

almost twilight
little boy and his cat
leap for the same firefly

Cindy

I figure if newscasters can use the term "partly sunny," and George Swede can use "almost unseen," then there is nothing wrong with almost twilight. It is the moment between day and dusk, when the light of the fireflies is harder to see, when twilight has not yet fallen completely, and when the temperature is just barely starting to drop a little tiny bit. I can see those last rays of sunshine gleaming on Jon's blond hair and on the cat's orange fur, as they both leapt up with such carefree abandon trying to catch that first firefly of the evening. I like the fact that it was a cat with my son rather than a puppy or a dog, too. This image, and therefore this haiku, holds so much for me, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, that it is difficult to choose another as a favorite one. This was probably the last time Jon was a carefree little boy, free from the demons he fights against now. —CO

autumn walk
on rustling leaves
restless spirit

Cindy

I like this haiku because I often become restless. I picture a person walking through the forest and noticing how all the leaves are changing colors but becoming restless that they aren’t experiencing any new changes in their own life. —SM

Bob Reed

the paddle
rests against the tree
rafters eat lunch

Shelley Mauer

I like this haiku because it is about my white water rafting experiences. I love to go white water rafting; it was developed into a passion of mine. I like the fact that the haiku is about the paddle resting against the tree placed there by the rafters. I enjoy the contrast between the wild rapids that the rafters just emerged from with the peaceful attitude that they now share as they eat lunch. —SM

The rafters rest, and so does the paddle. But only one paddle. Is the other on the ground, left in the raft, or maybe lost to the river’s current? I picture a small group of friends out for the day, relaxing more than exerting—like that painting by Renoir, I think it’s called The Boating Party, something like that. Men and women, neither young nor old, having sandwiches and wine by a shade tree. Romantic intrigue? Perhaps. Gracious living? Without a doubt. —BR

how do they sleep
standing up
at my uncle’s farm

Bob Reed
(2nd place)

writing these words
I barely see the scar
spaniel souvenir

no teddy bear
my little boy trapped
behind steel mesh glass

Cindy