my mother checks
her make-up
another man's mirror

Candace Golden (5)
second place

"I absolutely love this image of the mother in another man’s mirror because checking one’s make-up is a regular superficial reality and the image of another man’s mirror with this common image enhances the normalcy even more. The drama of this piece is absolutely perfect. Of all of the senryu, this is by far my favorite." --Stefanie Lovelass

Sitting in the dark
at the glow of the monitor
the face of creation

Travis Meisenheimer

turquoise beads
against her breasts
as she leans against the bar

Stefanie Lovelass

faded cigarette
next to gin bottle—
miss you Granny

Stacy Radliff

ignoring him,
I walk with confidence
hoping he notices

Nikki Garry (2)

spicy asparagus,
in my martini, piercing
my tongue.

mesa-top
I raise my arms
to greet the moon 

Brock Peoples

smiling face
seen through candlelight
the rest of him a pie

Stacy Radliff

moving miscellaneous
in grandma’s basement,
grandpa’s empty office

brown yarn
frames the shining plastic face
tea for two

darkness
creeps across the room
as Mom closes the door

James Osmun

down the escalator
your face appears
from a thousand miles

E. Kreydich (6)
first place

first trip home, a funeral 
tic-toc 
of living room clock

Brock Peoples

staring at shoes
the train slowly rocks me
I grasp the bar

Sitting on the porch
pile of beer cans
silence

Travis Meisenheimer

its over.
Somewhere in the distance
the fat lady sings

Andrea Roewe (2)

Sunday morning 
laying in the grass 
an empty beer bottle

Brock Peoples (2)

reaching out to her
she refuses
falling further

jagged swollen scar
dances between her breasts
a memento

Stefanie Lovelass (2)

around the camp fire
grandpa's shoe
starts to melt

all eyes on me
as I enter the weight-room
in need of a spotter

Nikki Garry (2)

the one thing
nobody saw
hanging in the cellar

Stacy Radliff (2)

the potter
has His way
with the clay

across the table
his glass sweats
more than I do

Nikki Garry (2)

"I like this "across the table" haiku because of the interesting situation presented. The two people are in a situation where they are not familiar and the guy (who is presumably the more nervous one) is being cool, while his glass is sweating as the meal continues and his date remaining nervous. I just like this imagery." —Travis Meisenheimer

the babe's baptism—
water dribbles
down her cheek

Nikki Garry

deep in the pocket
I triumphantly unroll
a dollar bill

Sarah Scheck (3)

"I really like this haiku. It’s one that almost anyone could relate to…finding a dollar bill that you didn't know was in your pocket at a time that you need it most." —Nikki Garry

a scream of terror
the puppy wags his tail
in front of his puddle

Sarah Scheck

gravity is stronger
as I try to say
my final good-bye

dog sniffs under chair
and gets bitch slapped
by a white cat paw

Sarah Scheck (2)

"I absolutely howled (ok pun intended) at the image of the cat defending her territory from the inquisitive dog, and the use of the term "bitch slapped" made the image perfect. I can almost see the expression on the cat's face, the indignation in her eyes at this damn dog's temerity, and the confusion in the dog's expression as he backs away quickly with a little yip of pain and surprise." —Stacy Radliff

sitting by the phone
waiting
it never rings

Andrea Roewe (2)

declining to give blood
she shows the scars
of her recent attempt

Brock Peoples (4)
third place

scent of heaven
soft puffs of air
pulse from her lips

doorbell rings
he waits nervously
corsage in hand

Andrea Roewe

pink sponge tips
glide across her eyes,
my mother’s makeup

four years of silence
I sit in your presence
I deny your existence

communal gallon
raspberry sherbet
on a friend's spoon

Stefanie Lovelass (2)

peaceful sitting
quiet thought
my heart won’t keep silent

head full of weave
the young girl
walks in confidence

Nikki Garry

your new recliner
turned towards the tv
away from me.

Elisabeth Kreydich