2009 Winning Haiku
2009 Best Haiku
- 2009 Best BC Poemjust a petalthe mountain vanishesinto pink airVictoria, British Columbia
- 2009 Best Canadian Poemthe more I havethe less I need—cherry blossoms!Tecumseh, Ontario
- 2009 Best U.S. Poemone street connectsto another—cherry blossomsDublin, Ohio
- 2009 Best International Poemcherry blossoms—one more goon the old swingGalway City, Ireland
- 2009 Best Youth Poemlate for schoolcherry blossoms in the wayi can’t get throughWinnipeg, Manitoba
2009 Sakura Poems
dentist's office
the morning sun dips
into cherry blossomsSalmon Arm, British Columbiamoon bridge...
a cherry tree reaching up
reaching downNanoose Bay, British Columbiagazing through
a canopy of cherry blossoms...
the star-studded skySalt Spring Island, British Columbiaunder the cherry blossoms
the pink-cheeked jogger
pants past
Vancouver, British Columbiacherry walkabout
the waggle dance of a bee
blossomsHamilton, Ontariofor the briefest moment
before it lands
shadow of a cherry petalCarleton Place, Ontarioa hint of her scent
in the cashmere sweater
cherry blossomsMagrath, Albertafallen pink petals—
the cherry tree’s shadow
blossomingMontreal, Québeccherry blossoms
the path to the shed
almost hiddenHackensack, New Jerseycherry blossoms
spill into the village—
the sunlit childrenFresno, Californiaeightieth birthday
the streets paved with
cherry blossom petals
Seattle, Washingtoncherry blossoms—
my childhood books
out of print
Tucson, Arizonamoon
floating through cherry blossoms
but only one moon
Morganfield, Kentuckynoontime carillon
cherry blossoms disappear
into new grassSomerset, New Jerseycherry orchard
raining white blossoms
with each ax swing
Dubuque, Iowamulti-tasking . . .
she misses another
cherry blossom
Dubuque, Iowa’79 Dodge . . .
cherry blossoms muffle
its muffler
Traverse City, Michigandodge ball
even the cherry blossoms
scatter
Santa Rosa, Californiaa cherry blossom . . .
the moment
I first believedPierre, South Dakotacherry blossoms
she tells me her name
in sign languageBig Wheeling Creek, West Virginiasuicide . . .
I sink into the foam
of cherry blossoms
Bethany, West Virginiafar from home
the little porcelain girl
forever smelling cherry blossomsO'Fallon, Missouriwind ravages the blossoms
I think of you
not at all
Kingston, Washingtona long interval
between joggers—
cherry petalsLeatherhead, Englandfreewheeling . . .
the cherry blossom canopy
becomes the trackLiskeard, United Kingdomcherry blossoms . . .
the clip-clop of horses
distant nowLondon, Englandcherry blossoms
on the sidewalk . . .
somebody’s name
Stony Chute, AustraliaGeese on the river
peck at cherry blossoms—
their stretched necks
Sheffield, United Kingdomcherry blossoms—
no need to decorate
the birthday cakeDunblane, Scotlanddusk in the yard
the only light there is
a blossoming cherryZagreb, Croatiaspring storm
my old cherry orchard
all in one windowKielce, Polandsakura
an old artist hones in
on one cherry petal
Gdansk, Poland
2009 Youth Sakura Poems
Cherry petals
the blushing color of her face
after her first kiss
Vancouver, British Columbiaafter the storm—
making
blossom angels
Tauranga, New Zealanda pink scarf
around the full moon:
cherry blossomsRodez, FranceFalling gently
pretty cherry blossoms. . .
Ouch! A bee!
Vancouver, British ColumbiaTwirling so freely
Your petals so delicate
I wish to be you
Port Moody, British ColumbiaPetals fall like rain
Disturbing the clear water
My reflection—gonePrince George, British ColumbiaA tiny dewdrop
On a cherry tree petal
One touch and it’s gonePrince George, British ColumbiaLight pink petals
Swaying gently back and forth
Falling with no regretsVancouver, British ColumbiaHurting, aching,
Too much grieving—
But look, a blossom in the air!Vancouver, British ColumbiaSakura blooming
lasting only a moment
before descending
Abbotsford, British Columbia
2009 Youth Honourable Mention Poems
staring down
at the deserted sidewalk—
cherry blossoms
Vancouver, British ColumbiaThe snow has fallen
But the cherry blossoms say
Time to play soccerCoquitlam, British ColumbiaThe cherry blossoms
Falling and dancing with life
Hit the ground and dieCoquitlam, British ColumbiaThey drift to the ground
In a big river of blooms
Beautiful blossomsCoquitlam, British ColumbiaSwirling in the sky
Cherry blossoms falling
Coating me with joy
Coquitlam, British ColumbiaDead and forgotten
cherry blossoms float away
then new ones arrive
Prince George, British ColumbiaI hold its hand
As the cherry blossom utters
The words of beauty
North Vancouver, British ColumbiaSitting on a branch
In a garden of soft pink
Like a cloud, floating
Vancouver, British ColumbiaBeauty giving might
Budding pink pearls reach for light
Cherry blossoms brightNew Westminster, British ColumbiaCherry blossom tree
A petal falls on my lips
The sakura kissKamloops, British ColumbiaAll pretty in pink
So tender your life cycle
Delicate flowerFt. St. John, British ColumbiaOver the long road
An arch of pink flowers sway
In the soft spring breeze
Vancouver, British ColumbiaLook out the window
What do you see in this sight
Missing the blossomsBurnaby, British ColumbiaGateway to heaven
Blooming cherry blossoms lead me
Down a quiet path
Coquitlam, British ColumbiaOn a clear blue sky
Not a cloud in sight
Cherry blossoms fall without a care
Vancouver, British ColumbiaBubblegum beauty
sweet muse of an artist’s dream
delicate flower
Prince George, British ColumbiaA gentle breeze blows
Pink blossoms fall to the ground
Peaceful forever
Burnaby, British Columbia
2009_Honourable_Mention_Poems
rain soaked mailman
pink cherry petals
puddle underfootSurrey, British Columbiaunsent letters
in his personal effects
cherry blossomsCourtenay, British Columbiaalone in the garden
cherry petals on the bench—
last year, you and I
Bridge Lake, British Columbiacherry blossoms
here gone
again
Coquitlam, British ColumbiaScent of cherry trees
I relive a childhood love
Under a white veilNorth Vancouver, British ColumbiaLet go!
The swing lifts me up
into cherry blossomsSurrey, British Columbiaa rainstorm
thins the cherry blossoms—
their scent rises
Kitchener, Ontarioa cherry petal falls
vanishes
on baby’s cheekGatineau, Québecthe O
of baby’s mouth . . .
cherry blossom rainWashington, DCcherry blossoms
on the half-dead tree
the pull of sunshineMillbrook, New Yorkdancing
in my new pink shoes—
cherry blossoms!Eastport, Mainespring rain—
potholes fill
with cherry blossoms
Armed Forces Pacific, USAnot alone
cherry blossom
I too, must fallHamilton, New Yorktaking and giving
the morning light
cherry blossomsJoshua Tree, Californiaour way back
last year’s cherry trees
this year’s blossoms
Scaggsville, Marylandoh these little words
they will never be
a cherry blossom
New London, Connecticuthomeless veterans
in the park . . . decorated
by cherry blossomsProvidence, Rhode Islandnight viewing—
blossom
lantern or moon
Suquamish, Washingtonpast her due date
trying to recall
cherry blossoms
Amherst, Ohiograndma’s apron . . .
cherry petals stil
in the pocketsPahoa, Hawaiisidewalk blossoms—
street noise and a song’s
last notes
San Ramon, Californiaon the back of my hand
last petal—
of the cherry blossom stampFlushing, New Yorkcherry blossoms
on paper— a gift from Seiji
I write the worldVienna, Austriathe motorcade
makes an unscheduled stop
cherry blossoms
New Plymouth, New Zealandfalling
for each other
cherry blossoms
County Dublin, Irelandbrawl’s echoes—
amidst the cherry blossoms
a sudden silence
Tavagnacco, Italymy bicycle
slows to a wobble
cherry blossoms
Worcester, Englandcherry blossoms
light up the sky . . .
daybreak
St Leonards, Australiafrom bloom to bloom
flying into its own glow . . .
a red butterfly
Naucelle, Franceletterbox opened—
the round dance of bills and
cherry blossom petals
Dun Laoghaire, IrelandSugihara Memorial—
yellow dandelions blossom
under a sakura tree
Jerusalem, IsraelEaster parade
on the priest’s habit
cherry petalsShoalhaven Heads, Australiacherry petals
on the old guard dog
asleep beneath the treeGornje Vrapche, Zagreb, Croatiasilence . . .
my body too is
a blossoming cherry
Ivanic Grad, Croatiain shadow play
the moss on the fence
with cherry blossomsSplit, Croatiacherry blossoms
my life
my death
Puchberg, AustriaWastepaper collection.
Under cherry blossoms
a travel brochure.
Tuebingen, GermanyMore view—he says
trimming the cherry tree
trimming my view
Cologny, SwitzerlandAgain and again
we meet and part
under the sakura blossoms.
Singaporeinto the bus
and downtown—
cherry petal
Rzeszow, PolandI love the flower
The smell takes me to heaven
Does it take you there?North Vancouver, British ColoumbiaA cherry blossom
Has the color of a rose
The silence says all
Vancouver, British ColumbiaWe wave.
We are flowers.
Well, we used to be.
Comox, British Columbia
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