white noise
all of my thoughts
put to ease

Alex Stefanik

lights off
blinds closed
sleeping mask on

Jessica Sheeler

muddy mind
          wanders and
comes up clean

Holly Bender

shimmering water
flows past me
my head clears

Morgan Rockwell

white noise
all of my thoughts
put to ease

shimmering water
flows past me
my head clears

shimmering water
flows past me
my head clears

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

shimmering water
flows past me
my head clears

bottom quarter champion

I breathe in        
to let out            
        everything else

I breathe in        
to let out            
        everything else

honks from traffic 
crank the music up
a moment of peace

closing my eyes
focused on my breath
in and out

Christina Wasserstrom

I breathe in
to let out
        everything else

Jessica Sheeler

honks from traffic 
crank the music up
a moment of peace

Morgan Rockwell

gym too loud
turning up
salt-n-pepa

Cole Daniel

TOP half champion

shimmering water
flows past me
my head clears

CHAMPION

a field of daisies
twisting in color
I explore the beyond

a field of daisies
twisting in color
I explore the beyond

BOTTOM half champion

feet in the sand
the sound of the waves
the healing sun

Christina Wasserstrom

on the treadmill
I close my eyes
and become Icarus

Tito Graff

a field of daisies
twisting in color
I explore the beyond

Tito Graff

running through meadows
I cast my hand out
to reach for the stars

Morgan Rockwell

on the treadmill
I close my eyes
and become Icarus

a field of daisies
twisting in color
I explore the beyond

a field of daisies
twisting in color
I explore the beyond

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

a field of daisies
twisting in color
I explore the beyond

bottom quarter champion

commercial break
10 push ups
sit down

commercial break
10 push ups
sit down

brush strokes
so simple
yet so soothing

I can’t breathe
face is flushed
         20 more

Jessica Sheeler

commercial break
10 push ups
sit down

Cole Daniel

brush strokes
so simple
yet so soothing

Emily Mitchell

when i wake
i hope
to fly again

Tito Graff

white noise
all of my thoughts
put to ease

lights off
blinds closed
sleeping mask on

muddy mind
          wanders and
comes up clean

shimmering water
flows past me
my head clears

I compared these two haiku because they remind me of getting ready for bed which is one of my favorite parts of the day. The first one caught my eye because I know many people that in order to fall asleep need to listen to white noise. I often need a fan on in order to sleep because I get hot, but now I’ve become so used to hearing the sound of the fan that I also need that to sleep.

I also liked the second haiku because I need the room to be completely dark with the blinds closed in order to go to sleep. With a dark cold room, I will receive the best sleep of my life and cannot sleep any other way. I loved these haiku because of the peace they give me about getting ready for my favorite activity. Christina Wasserstrom, January 2022

closing my eyes
focused on my breath
in and out

I breathe in
to let out
        everything else

honks from traffic 
crank the music up
a moment of peace

gym too loud
turning up
salt-n-pepa

I loved theses as a pair it reminds me of anxiety. I sometimes have bad anxiety attacks and breathing is very important. They work well together they show how stable breathing helps. Cameron Richardson, January 2022

I liked the two of these haiku because I think that they match together very well. I think each haiku has a strong focus on deep breathing. Both haiku give me a sense of calming or taking the steps in order to become calm. When I read this haiku, I picture a person going through something stressful like an anxiety attack and using deep breathing techniques to get past it. They take a deep breath in and out remembering what her therapist taught them in sessions in the past. After about five minutes their heart rate begins to steady in their breathing relaxes. It is over, for now. Jessica Sheeler, January 2022

I like this haiku "I breathe in" because it shows the essence of what mindfulness is all about. Meditation and practicing mindfulness are achieved from clearing the mind. Most of the time many practices use breathing techniques. Being able to focus on something within the body helps someone focus for meditation. Mindfulness is the act of being able to let go of external thoughts and feelings and be able to present in the current situation. Mindfulness is described perfectly described in the haiku. Morgan Rockwell, January 2022

I like the two of these haiku together because they both gave the sense of peace despite it being the complete opposite. For the first haiku they take very loud music and find peace and the second haiku takes a loud place and loud music but somehow gives a peaceful vibe. I also like the first haiku because it gives off very positive vibes. When I read this haiku, I can picture someone jamming out in their car not caring what other people think and just enjoying life. For the second haiku I can picture, myself in the gym. I don’t listen to salt n’ pepa personally but I do tend to blast my music whenever I am in the gym. Overall, I think these haiku are very upbeat which makes for a very refreshing read. Jessica Sheeler, January 2022

feet in the sand
the sound of the waves
the healing sun

on the treadmill
I close my eyes
and become Icarus

a field of daisies
twisting in color
I explore the beyond

running through meadows
I cast my hand out
to reach for the stars

I really love these two haiku together. These came from the health and self-care section of the tournament, and I think these writers had the same approach. The first lines from both build the same picture in my head. I can just imagine beautiful fields full of greens, yellows, and blues. Both of them have a wonderful sense of exploring and reaching beyond. The attention of detail of their surroundings is spectacular. This is how the authors are able to relax. They love being outside with nature to help heal themselves by appreciating what’s around them. Cole Daniel, January 2022

I liked these two haiku together because I think that they made a very good match. They both start out within a field and give a natural feeling. Almost like the person within the haiku is grounded, exploring the things around them. Then both haiku move onto the last line and highlight things that are greater than themselves. I like this reference in both haiku because I am a strong believer that there is always something more than what’s in front of you. In the first haiku I also like the wording of “beyond”. I think it paints a very interesting image but also leaves it open for the reader to determine what that is. Finally, in the second haiku I like that they are reaching for the stars. I liked this because it could be taken literally or metaphorically, which is how I interpreted it. Jessica Sheeler, January 2022

I can’t breathe
face is flushed
         20 more

commercial break
10 push ups
sit down

brush strokes
so simple
yet so soothing

when i wake
i hope
to fly again

shimmering water
flows past me
my head clears

his ring on my finger
haunting me
I’ll never have the moon

This haiku gives me the beautiful image that meditation brings. The idea of water flowing through you and removing stress. I also find water to be so soothing, relaxing, and overall, my happy palace. I always feel like I have a new more positive perspective on life after spending some time by water. Holly Bender, January 2022

I Love this poem because it makes me hear the song stars and the moon form Songs for a new world. The idea that material things and wants that you end up with aren't as fulfilling as living life fully. I see the story of a woman saying yes to getting married but realizing years later that she will never have a life that is full and meaningful. Holly Bender, January 2022

keep walking
you’ll see it
a place only we know

Christina Wasserstrom

everytime I hear that car
my heart still skips a beat
i know it's you

Christina Wasserstrom

I click my heels
staring into your eyes
I am home

Christina Wasserstrom

if someone just
looked at me
the way you do

Holly Bender

keep walking
you’ll see it
a place only we know

if someone just
looked at me
the way you do

if someone just
looked at me
the way you do

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

bottom quarter champion

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

what is going on
we won’t say a word
we just know

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

what is going on
we won’t say a word
we just know

Cameron Richardson

a quick glance
across the room
eyes lock

Jessica Sheeler

his ring on my finger
haunting me
I’ll never have the moon

Tito Graff

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

Cole Daniel

TOP half champion

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

CHAMPION

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

BOTTOM half champion

I can feel him
every step that I take
snow

Cameron Richardson

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

Emily Mitchell

bodies entangle
far apart
mismatched puzzle pieces

Morgan Rockwell

the hourglass
sinking sand
love unchanged

Morgan Rockwell

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

bodies entangle
far apart
mismatched puzzle pieces

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

bottom quarter champion

expensive gifts
don’t buy back
my love

expensive gifts
don’t buy back
my love

the door creaks open
I am greeted
by my furry friend

sappy love songs
no longer heard
after break-up

Cole Daniel

expensive gifts
don’t buy back
my love

Cole Daniel

alone at night
he looks to the stars
he is not alone

Tito Graff

the door creaks open
I am greeted
by my furry friend

Emily Mitchell

keep walking
you’ll see it
a place only we know

everytime I hear that car
my heart still skips a beat
i know it's you

I click my heels
staring into your eyes
I am home

if someone just
looked at me
the way you do

what is going on
we won’t say a word
we just know

a quick glance
across the room
eyes lock

his ring on my finger
haunting me
I’ll never have the moon

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

I understand that I did write one of these, but I found it fascinating that someone had a similar approach when writing this haiku topic. As I read both back-to-back, there’s almost this sense of regret. In the first haiku, there’s a woman who’s recently married, and it’s not what she thought it would be and not she can’t get out. The ring on her finger is a constant reminder of how trapped she is now. When I read, “I’ll never have the moon,” I feel like that character is saying she won’t be able to achieve their dreams anymore. Whether it’s to travel or go back to school, she believes the rock on her finger is preventing her from doing so. In the second haiku, the wife has been having doubts about her marriage. After looking for sign after sign, her falling down the drain while washing her hands is that sign. Even though these two haiku aren’t exactly happy about marriage, I do think these they match perfectly. They both have a sense of regret and sadness happening in the marriage. Cole Daniel, January 2022

I like this haiku "his ring on my finger" because it speaks about a lot with little words. With the first line, I imagine a woman seeing her husband with an old ring, which could either be from her or a past wife. The second line reveals that it is not from the current wife, and that it still reminds her of her husbands’ past. The last line shows the jealously that the current wife has over the past wife. She knows deep down she will never be better than the past wife. Morgan Rockwell, January 2022

I can feel him
every step that I take
snow

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

bodies entangle
far apart
mismatched puzzle pieces

the hourglass
sinking sand
love unchanged

sappy love songs
no longer heard
after break-up

expensive gifts
don’t buy back
my love

alone at night
he looks to the stars
he is not alone

the door creeks open
I am greeted
by my furry friend

I love these as breakup haiku it gives me the feel of a breakup. The feeling of moving on and the first one finding those sappy love songs aren’t needed just for you to remember the good time or the second one you don’t need gifts in exchange for love. Cameron Richardson, January 2022

if someone just
looked at me
the way you do

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

counting every fallen snowflake
and you loving me
impossible

her ring falls
down the drain
it was meant to be

This makes me think of someone who is very lonely. They long for someone to look at them with want in their eyes. They see couples around them and long for that to be them. Emily Mitchell, January 2022

After reading this haiku it brought a sense of sadness to me. This haiku compared the idea of someone loving them was almost as hard as counting every snowflake. This made me sad because everyone deserves to be loved and should never feel that loving them would be this difficult. After reading this, it brings me to believe that this person was in an abusive relationship before and experienced childhood trauma, so they never got to experience real love from someone else. Not being properly loved by anyone before has led them to believe that loving them is a hard thing when in reality, it should be the complete opposite. Christina Wasserstrom, January 2022

I compared this haiku to the first one because they were both about having no love. The first haiku is about someone who was not properly loved and has never received love. This haiku is about someone who I believe was in love, but did not receive proper love so when her ring fell down the drain, she was relieved. She too was not receiving the right kind of love. When you are in love, you should feel wanted and loved by the person you are with. Being unhappy and resentful of a relationship is not love and I believe the girl in this haiku could also have been in an abusive relationship, so when her ring finally fell, it gave her a sense of belief that she too could leave this relationship. Christina Wasserstrom, January 2022