smokestack plumes
through bare branches
bluest night sky

Danette Beach

autumn leaves
the smell of apple crisp
in the oven

Kristen Johnson

tis the season
a pumpkin spice latte
with my name on it

Youlanda Johnson

pumpkin spice rum
a warm spot by the fire
for stories

Karianne Woods

autumn leaves
the smell of apple crisp
in the oven

pumpkin spice rum
a warm spot by the fire
for stories

pumpkin spice rum
a warm spot by the fire
for stories

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

pumpkin spice rum
a warm spot by the fire
for stories

bottom quarter champion

a pinch of nutmeg
a hint of sage
family recipe

a pinch of nutmeg
a hint of sage
family recipe

homemade noodles
drying on the counter
don't get caught!

my first Thanksgiving
grandma, she still makes
the pies

Cristi Haddock

a pinch of nutmeg
a hint of sage
family recipe

Cristi Haddock

homemade noodles
drying on the counter
don't get caught!

Kristina Swaggerty

second helping—just
warm dressing
and cranberries

Danette Beach

TOP half champion

pumpkin spice rum
a warm spot by the fire
for stories

CHAMPION

pumpkin spice rum
a warm spot by the fire
for stories

maybe even better
than the day before
thanksgiving turkey

BOTTOM half champion

crowded lines
a last minute purchase
stuffing

Brian Johnson

harvest baskets
overflow
the land sleeps

Shannon Lucas

falling leaves
reluctantly we resign
to a long winter's nap

Amanda N. Prahl

pile of leaves
I want to jump in
but I have to be professional

Sam Reisman

crowded lines
a last minute purchase
stuffing

pile of leaves
I want to jump in
but I have to be professional

crowded lines
a last minute purchase
stuffing

top quarter champion

tis the season
pumpkin spice latte
with my name on it
I like this one because I am not a huge latte/coffee drinker but in the winter I do enjoy it more because it warms me up.  From this haiku I can spell the pumpkin spice scent and can feel my hands warming up around the cup.  Mmmm  makes me want to get one now! Dana

BOTTOM half champion

maybe even better
than the day before
thanksgiving turkey

bottom quarter champion

maybe even better
than the day before
thanksgiving turkey

thanksgiving afternoon
a blanket
wrapped around me

maybe even better
than the day before
thanksgiving turkey

thanksgiving afternoon
a blanket
wrapped around me

Kristen Johnson

turkey
football game—
Grandpa snoring

Amber Hendricks

maybe even better
than the day before
thanksgiving turkey

Brittani Allen

turkey
the smell of
burnt sweet potatoes

Kristen Johnson

smokestack plumes
through bare branches
bluest night sky

Danette Beach

autumn leaves
the smell of apple crisp
in the oven

Kristen Johnson

tis the season
a pumpkin spice latte
with my name on it

Youlanda Johnson

pumpkin spice rum
a warm spot by the fire
for stories

Karianne Woods

I like this one because I am not a huge latte/coffee drinker but in the winter I do enjoy it more because it warms me up. From this haiku I can spell the pumpkin spice scent and can feel my hands warming up around the cup. Mmmm makes me want to get one now! Dana

This haiku speaks of exactly what I do. I always look forward to the holidays because Starbucks comes out with the holiday drinks. Every time I am near a Starbucks whether I am shopping, passing by, or visiting people I will stop and get a drink. I am not big on the Pumpkin Spice but around Christmas time they always home one called Peppermint Mocha. That latte is my absolute favorite. It will always put me in a good mood no matter what! Katie

I chose this poem because of the imagery and warmth that comes forth when reading it. When I read this poem, it takes me to a holiday gathering with either friends, family, or both, with everyone involved gathered around a fire and sharing each other's company and just enjoying living in the moment and letting the pressures of life just pass them by. Brian

my first Thanksgiving
grandma, she still makes
the pies

Cristi Haddock

a pinch of nutmeg
a hint of sage
family recipe

Cristi Haddock

homemade noodles
drying on the counter
don't get caught!

Kristina Swaggerty

second helping—just
warm dressing
and cranberries

Danette Beach

In an age of "pre-packaged" this and "microwave" that, many of our palate's have become conformed to the busyness of life and eating on the run. Instant food has a purpose and comes in handy in a pinch. But nothing can replace the satisfaction of an honest to goodness home cooked meal. That's why recipes from two and three generations ago are to be prized. They each tell a story. Some of them are rich in history, hard times, or healing. I can still remember my grandmother telling me about cooking meals for six people, three times a day, on an old Coleman camping stove. Her food was delicious every time, seasoned perfectly, and cooked with love. In fact, many of those recipes are still prepared today at my cousin's restaurant in downtown Decatur. Shannon

Being a culinary graduate, this haiku really stuck out to me. In school, and especially in my backing classes, it was a science. When backing, 1 small mismeasured ingredient could completely mess up the finished product. But when it comes to family recipes, a lot of them were made by experimentation and guessing, and they are measured in pinches and hints. It's an extremely nostalgic thing, the family recipe. Andee

I really enjoyed this one because it is a good reminder of what the holidays are truly about family. Sharing memories of the past and making new ones, and passing down the family secrets. This just reminds of good quality time being spent with others. Kristina

I LOVE this haiku! On thanksgiving I always get a little of everything to try but when a person goes back for the seconds they always pick out there favorite things. My favorite two things that I always get a little more is dressing and green bean casserole. You don't get homemade stuffing every day or the rest of the year so it's important to eat as much of it as you can that day! This haiku brings back a lot of memories of me as a child also. I was a picky eater and I always had to try everything and then could get more. I'm glad I can choose what I want myself now! Kristen

I recall on Thanksgiving whenever I was younger, we would eat, then nap and wake up wanting more. So, I would make me a plate of dressing and cranberry sauce. I would want more turkey, but while I was asleep everyone else finished it off. Crissy

crowded lines
a last minute purchase
stuffing

Brian Johnson

harvest baskets
overflow
the land sleeps

Shannon Lucas

falling leaves
reluctantly we resign
to a long winter's nap

Amanda N. Prahl

pile of leaves
I want to jump in
but I have to be professional

Sam Reisman

This image is at the grocery store everyone trying to get last minute things. Around the Holidays people seemed to have attitudes and the grocery store is a big one for rude people. Seems as if depending on what you are looking for most stores will be out of it. They never stock enough of anything that gets used a lot around the Holidays. This might be even how
recipes are created that no one has tried. People go to the store and are unable to find what they need so they substitute and find out it's better than before. Jacqueline L. Davis

I like this haiku because it sets up a sense of we have everything ready to go and forgot that one last thing so we have to fight the massive crowds. Recently the grocery store near my house closed down and I was able to go in for one of its final days and the shelves were bare and everyone was there and it felt as if it was a rush to find anything to buy. I also like that it's something simple that was forgotten, but is normally thought of as a staple Thanksgiving food so you are left to wonder how it was forgotten. It's also interesting because the stuffing stands alone so it hangs there and hits hard as the thing you need to find. Sam

For me it never fails, the night before Thanksgiving there is always something that I forgot and have to run to the store. Tatum

This is my favorite haiku from Matching Contest Number Two. This haiku speaks of two seasons and the holidays too. The first line, "falling leaves" is remindful of late fall and early winter. In the Midwest geography it would be late November and early to mid December. In this geography, leaves fall from the trees in the fall and all winter long. Some trees such as a sycamore tree, will loose there leaves all year long. "Falling leaves" is a colorful time and an indication that change is coming. I can imagine the sound of dry leaves crunching as I read the first line of the author's haiku. The second and third line of this haiku "reluctantly we resign" and "to a long winter's nap," are a connection of two events. First, the author indicates with uncertainty or at least not completely willful, someone is giving up themselves. By the third line we know that they are giving in to a long winter's nap. I believe the word "reluctantly" is key to this haiku and adds depth and value. We all have had tasks at home or school homework to complete and know it must be done. With hesitation we all have procrastinated and taken a nap. Mark

thanksgiving afternoon
a blanket
wrapped around me

Kristen Johnson

turkey
football game—
Grandpa snoring

Amber Hendricks

maybe even better
than the day before
thanksgiving turkey

Brittani Allen

turkey
the smell of
burnt sweet potatoes

Kristen Johnson

I like this one because it makes me feel so warm and cozy. Like I have just eaten a big meal after being up late helping to cook (or in my case this year being up all night because I had to work the night before thanksgiving) at either rate I feel exhausted, I have just filled myself with the delicious dinner, and its time to just wrap up in a cozy blanket and just take a nap or chat with family. Amanda

I like this haiku because it is my second greatest desire of the Thanksgiving day. After preparing most of the dishes and everyone has gathered around the dinner table to feast, I really look forward to relaxing. It feels so cozy and is my special treat! Danette

I love this one. I completely agree that the next day leftovers are always the best. It is always nice to spend time with the family the next day when you aren't as rushed and heat up the left over goodies. Melissa

My younger sons, first Thanksgiving, I took him to Indiana to meet his extended family at his great grandmothers house. The day after Thanksgiving his great grandmother made turkey tetrazzini out of the leftover turkey. It was the best day after Thanksgiving meal that I have ever had. Amber