the garden she adored
I spread her ashes
mid march

Bridget Beals

I can really relate to this haiku. The person who wrote this probably lost their mother. They chose to spread their mother’s ashes in the garden that she loved. I too have had to do something similar. I lost my father a few years ago. He had always wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread. He passed away in early December. We waited until the snow had melted and the grass had become green to take him to his favorite spot. It was a very peaceful and freeing feeling to follow his wishes. It brought me closer to know that he was now in a place that he once enjoyed and loved. I loved this haiku because it was not about mourning the death of a loved one, but about bring peace to the person who passed. Katy

I really love his haiku, as I am not real fond of cremation after death it is a person’s choice, and what better of a place to have a person’s ashes spread other than a place they truly loved. I also like the part about mid march because that make me think of a lovely spring day. Holly

wintry wind
she refuses to leave
her mother’s new grave

Kelli Davis

No matter how cold and miserable she is, she refuses to leave the new grave. Once she leaves, she knows that the grieving process begins. The longer she stays at the grave the more time she has with her mother, as if time would stand still. Erica

I really liked this haiku from the matching contest. As someone who lost their mother at a young age, I can really relate to this haiku. Especially right after it happens you are drawn to the grave and feel that the person is still there. You feel like once you leave they won’t be there any more. With this haiku you can feel the cold wind and hear the people asking her to leave but she wants to spend as much time there as possible. This is a nicely written haiku, I love it. Alexis

cherry blossom spring
warm breeze
kisses the pallbearer’s cheek

Sandy Fitzgerald

moss covered stone
foundation crumbling
in the spring rain

Tina Olszewski

I felt that this haiku was beautiful in its imagery. I can imagine the old tombstone in a cemetery in springtime covered in greenery. To me it signifies a history that is unknown and is withering away to nature and time. There is sadness there because this tombstone where the person resides carries a significant history that is washing away and as the reader you are longing for that history to be preserved. April Shirley

wintry wind
she refuses to leave
her mother’s new grave

moss covered stone
foundation crumbling
in the spring rain

top quarter champion

wintry wind
she refuses to leave
her mother’s new grave

top half champion

wintry wind
she refuses to leave
her mother’s new grave

bottom quarter champion

Spring rain
I tie my running shoes
anyway

Spring rain
I tie my running shoes
anyway

blistering cold
good book
by the fireplace

Spring rain
I tie my running shoes
anyway

Megan Smith

spring thaw
muddy knee boots
feeding cattle

Bobbi Batchelder

blistering cold
good book
by the fireplace

Monica Edwards

writing winter haiku
warm dog
on my lap

Penny McCullough

top half champion

wintry wind
she refuses to leave
her mother’s new grave

champion

morning glories
like the wind
keep my secrets

bottom half champion

morning glories
like the wind
keep my secrets

sun on her face
oh how she wishes
they were headed south

Erica Mackling

This is a great haiku. It evokes many different interpretations. Is this someone who dreams of heading south for the winter, or someone who simply wishes to have the sun out of their eyes? I can remember many times conjuring visions of trips to the beach on cold winter days. The cold somehow seems bitterer when the sun is shining brightly.
I like the use of the phrase oh how it imparts the feeling of emotion and of southern charm. Sandy

baseball stadium
we use napkins
to soak up the sweat

Katy Price

I love this haiku because I have lived it. I’m a big sports fan and love going to the baseball stadium for a game. It is usually extremely hot and sometimes miserable, but the thrill of the action and atmosphere seems to make the heat bearable. Sweat is running down your face and the only thing available to soak it up is the napkins. I can see myself there in the middle of this haiku. Monica

morning glories
like the wind
keep my secrets

Kassie Knoll

legs stick and sting
Damn!
these leather seats

Beckah Novak

baseball stadium
we use napkins
to soak up the sweat

morning glories
like the wind
keep my secrets

top quarter champion

morning glories
like the wind
keep my secrets

bottom half champion

morning glories
like the wind
keep my secrets

bottom quarter champion

sun shining through
iced tea glasses
a couple hold hands

sparks from campfire
season my hair
with warmth

sun shining through
iced tea glasses
a couple hold hands

sparks from campfire
season my hair
with warmth

April Shirley

harvest moon
we sit around a bonfire
roasting marshmallows

Don Gardner

Love, love, love this one! This reminds me of church camp, family wiener roasts, high school parties and Halloween celebrations. Stories, laughter and fun! Hayrides down dark country roads, haunted houses, fall festivals all come to mind. We always go to Parke County, Indiana during October to attend the Covered Bridge festival so this also brought those fun times to mind. Fall is my favorite time of year and I was so able to relate to this! Tina

Fall
Sunday football
I root for his team

Alexis King

sun shining through
iced tea glasses
a couple hold hands

Penny McCullough