Judged by Michael Dylan Welch

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

2010 Haiku Invitational Winners

Michael Dylan Welch, Judge
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is pleased to announce the following winners of its 2010 Haiku Invitational. The top winners in each category are featured not only here, but also in Rice Paper magazine, Haiku Canada Review, and Ripples, the newsletter of the Haiku Society of America. These five top poems will also be read at a spring 2011 performance of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and will appear on TransLink buses and SkyTrains in and around Vancouver in the spring of 2011. In addition, this site presents many dozens of additional Sakura Award winners and honorable mentions, all celebrating cherry blossoms, along with commentary from the judge. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who entered for helping to celebrate spring and cherry blossoms. We hope you’ll enter again next year! You can also read comments on the top five winning poems by 2010 Haiku Invitational judge, Michael Dylan Welch.

Top Winners

British Columbia
biopsy . . .
but just for today
cherry blossoms
                      Laryalee Fraser
                      Salmon Arm, British Columbia

Canada
holding hands
for the first time
cherry blossoms
                      DeVar Dahl
                      Magrath, Alberta

United States
a sudden hush
among the children
cherry blossom rain
                      Melissa Spurr
                      Joshua Tree, California

International
cherry trees in bloom—
if only I could stop
the wind
                      Lucas Garczewski
                      Poznan, Poland
Youth
the inspiration
for my wardrobe choice today—
pink cherry blossoms
                      Rukshila Dufault
                      age 17, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

British Columbia

Sakura Awards
Cherry blossoms
out my office windowI change my shoes

                      Rita Ager
                      Coquitlam, British Columbia

in all my anger
I still pause to look up—
cherry blossoms

                      Tim Ashman
                      New Westminster, British Columbia

new puppy
the backyard swing
full of blossoms

                      Susan Constable
                      Nanoose Bay, British Columbia

Sidewalk cafe
cherry petals garnish
my espresso

                      Jeff Crawford
                      Surrey, British Columbia

Baby’s shallow breath
Cherry blossoms suspended
In a spider’s web

                      Elaine Dare
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

Silky white train
Brushing cherry blossoms
Into its folds

                      Elaine Dare
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

outdoor café—
the morning news
sprinkled with cherry blossoms

                      Elehna de Sousa
                      Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

cherry blossoms
tomorrow
we part

                      Tom Drescher
                      Rossland, British Columbia

pulled over for speeding
I roll down the window
to cherry blossoms

                      Raoul Fernandes
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

limping back to my bike
cherry blossoms
on the spinning wheel

                      Raoul Fernandes
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

unmarked infant graves—
a sudden release
of cherry petals

                      Vicki McCullough
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

stock market
spiraling down . . .
this cherry petal

                      Vicki McCullough
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

cherry blossom—
even the sunset
lingers

                      Jill Stanley
                      Victoria, British Columbia

the ground
whitened with cherry blossom
I hesitate to step forward

                      Naomi Beth Wakan
                      Gabriola, British Columbia

Honourable Mentions

old pond—
falling cherry petals
startle a sleepy koi

                      Cheryl Ashley
                      Nanaimo, British Columbia

tunnel of cherry blossoms
as I walk alone
to mail a letter

                      Tim Ashman
                      New Westminster, British Columbia

perfectly stuck
a small pink petal
on my cat’s bum

                      Claudia Bos
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

cherry bough lets loose
a shower of petals—
a wren has landed!

                      Gail Buente
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

with gnarled limbs
again the old man walks
beneath cherry blossoms

                      Gail Buente
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

distant siren—
amid the fallen blossoms
shattered glass

                      Susan Constable
                      Nanoose Bay, British Columbia

SPECIAL DELIVERY!
pink cherry petals
nestled in the mail

                      Karen Crawford
                      Surrey, British Columbia

homeless
she catches cherry blossoms
blowing in the wind

                      Elehna de Sousa
                      Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

reading quietly
under the cherry tree
scattered blossoms

                      Anne Dunnett
                      North Vancouver, British Columbia

sakura
the dandelion wine
still a little green

                      Garry Eaton
                      Port Moody, British Columbia

Clouded by blossoms—
chewing gum vanishes
from the sidewalks.

                      Holly Flauto Salmon
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

an old woman smiles
between the cherry blossoms
the sun is setting

                      Deirdre Godwin
                      Ladysmith, British Columbia

her metastasis
storm removes the last
blossom

                      Andrea Gradidge
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

old wounds
but, for a while
cherry blossoms

                      Ann Harreby
                      Coquitlam, British Columbia

fallen blossoms
washed down the drain
tell the sea it is spring

                      Neil Hershfield
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

anointed with petals
I click my heels
and am young again

                      Neil Hershfield
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

perfume sales
cherry blossom tattoo
on her arm

                      Harvey Jenkins
                      Nanaimo, British Columbia

cherry blossoms
my baby cries
for her rattle

                      Harvey Jenkins
                      Nanaimo, British Columbia

surprise
small fists full—
cherry blossoms

                      Barbara Little
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

cherry blossoms—
the scarecrow
turns pink

                      Barbara Little
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

stowaway petal
in a little girl’s hair
just along for the ride

                      Tara Lowry
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

pink blossoms flutter
upon the old gnarled roots—
cracking the concrete.

                      Allard Ludwig
                      White Rock, British Columbia

mother-to-be
the branch is heavy
with blossoms

                      Fiona Marion
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

broken branch
your blossoms fall
too early

                      Louise Moon
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

dragon kite
twirls into the trees . . .
a shower of cherry blossoms

                      Helen Moon
                      Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Watching the petals fall
Drift to the ground
Memories of childhood.

                      Andrea Munro
                      Maple Ridge, British Columbia

shelter of blossoms
homeless man holds out his hat
for falling petals

Jacqueline Pearce

Burnaby, British Columbia

spring equinox—
bowing cherries
border the graves

                      Nadia Sukhdeo Proctor
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

pink bud on a tree
looking up to the blue sky
you make me believe

                      Alexandra Regehr
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

crawling up the bark
on a cherry blossom tree
the ant makes its’ way

                      Alexandra Regehr
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Cherry blossoms—
snow angels
in spring

                      Vicky Renneberg
                      Victoria, British Columbia

Final exams.
Through the window I see
sun and cherry blossoms.

                      Vicky Rizzardo
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

young girl with a basket
her smile overflowing—
cherry blossoms

                      Sophia Rosenberg
                      Lasqueti Island, British Columbia

Cherry blossom rain;
we stroll through the pink petals
without umbrellas.

                      Ellen Rothstein
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

this stillness . . .
the sound of one
white petal

                      Jill Stanley
                      Victoria, British Columbia

On a red bicycle
She glides through drifting petals
—they land in her hair

                      Mark Tanner
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

Cherry blossoms
—my neighbours I will not miss
seeing.

                      Rosemarie Teleron
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Cherry petals
dot my sun,
my feet.

                      Rosemarie Teleron
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Rustled by the wind
another petal is lost—
my apologies

                      Dave Walcott
                      Surrey, British Columbia

Blossoms in my hands
I stitch a quilt
Of memories

                      Jill Warner
                      Surrey, British Columbia

blossom petals
at the breakfast table
—already full

                      Joyce Wong
                      Richmond, British Columbia

Canada

Sakura Awards

sweeping wind
between the altar candles
cherry petals

                      Huguette Ducharme
                      Saint-Pie, Québec

a row of sandals
on the park bench—
petals everywhere

                      Lin Geary
                      Paris, Ontario

its deep shade
an aged cherry tree
in full bloom

                      Kimiko Horne
                      St. Catharines, Ontario

cherry petals
falling on cherry petals . . .
I dust your photo

                      Chen-ou Liu
                      Ajax, Ontario

in the shade
of blossom arches
a bicycle leans to one side

                      Christine Nelson
                      Athabasca, Alberta

in his book of poems
long after
her cherry petals

                      Marilyn Potter
                      Toronto, Ontario

a pink petal
curls
in my daughter’s hair

                      Sonia Saikaley
                      Ottawa, Ontario

dawn rain
the baglady’s blanket
of cherry blossoms

                      Grant Savage
                      Ottawa, Ontario

touch of cherry blossoms
how far has it fallen
this starlight?

                      Grant Savage
                      Ottawa, Ontario

still there today
cherry blossoms
grave diggers

                      Guy Simser
                      Ottawa, Ontario

Honourable Mentions
so easily
trodden underfoot
cherry blossoms

                      Peter Brady
                      Gatineau, Quebec

stripped of blossoms
the cherry tree
and me

                      Peter Brady
                      Gatineau, Quebec

April showers—
a light dusting
of cherry petals

                      Pamela Cooper
                      Montreal, Quebec

along the footpath
cherry blossom petals
my pink pedicure

                      Ellen Cooper
                      Montreal, Quebec

street walk
the smell of cherry blossoms
under the stars

                      Huguette Ducharme
                      Saint-Pie, Québec

your each
step to the door
a cherry petal drops

                      LeRoy Gorman
                      Napanee, Ontario

cherry blossoms
the moon and I face
each other

                      Chen-ou Liu
                      Ajax, Ontario

cupping
and cupping again
cherry blossoms

                      Terra Martin
                      Toronto, Ontario

renewing vows
under the cherry tree
petals in our hair

                      Joanne Morcom
                      Calgary, Alberta

outdoor restaurant
a waitress sweeps blossoms
into the gutter

                      Joanne Morcom
                      Calgary, Alberta

Yukon snowflakes fall
again
I remember cherry blossoms

                      Katherine Munro
                      Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

missing her
the bitter cherry
and its bloom

                      Roland Packer
                      Hamilton, Ontario

air full of eagles
the blossoms
falling

                      Patrick M. Pilarski
                      Edmonton, Alberta

tin roof littered with blossoms the crash of waves

                      Patrick M. Pilarski
                      Edmonton, Alberta

cherry blossoms
I buy my new grandson
the sunhat with sailboats

                      Marilyn Potter
                      Toronto, Ontario

under a branch
heavy with cherry blossom
light-hearted lovers

                      Claudia Radmore
                      Carleton Place, Ontari

an indigo sky
cherry blossoms
in my hands

                      Sonia Saikaley
                      Ottawa, Ontario

cherry blossoms
on the breeze
chasing butterflies

                      Sylvia Santiago
                      Calgary, Alberta

cherry blossoms
a child’s laughter
disappears with the wind

                      Sylvia Santiago
                      Calgary, Alberta

one two three and four
into each bento box square
a cherry petal

                      Guy Simser
                      Ottawa, Ontario

United States

Sakura Awards
flushed
beneath the cherry blossoms
she says yes

                      Hortensia Anderson
                      New York, New York

blossoms in peak bloom—
I, too, could risk
everything

                      Susan Antolin
                      Walnut Creek, California

the flutter
of the newborn’s eyelids—
cherry petals

                      Susan Antolin
                      Walnut Creek, California

flitting on the wall
by his sick bed
shadows of cherry blossoms

                      Lana Ayers
                      Kingston, Washington

first blossoms . . .
my daughter and I
talk until dusk

                      Francine Banwarth
                      Dubuque, Iowa

day of blossoms—
a nurse erases
mother’s name

                      Roberta Beary
                      Washington, District of Columbia

blossoms
other people’s children
catch them now

                      Roberta Beary
                      Washington, District of Columbia

at the altar
a cherry petal falls
from her sole

                      Brett Brady
                      Pahoa, Hawaii

daydreaming . . .
a cherry petal
brushes my cheek

                      Alice Frampton
                      Seabeck, Washington

leaving home . . .
what little I know
of cherry blossoms

                      Alice Frampton
                      Seabeck, Washington

the soldier’s wife
bruised cherry blossoms
in her hand

                      Terri French
                      Huntsville, Alabama

my son
gone before me—
cherry blossom tattoo

                      Terri French
                      Huntsville, Alabama

cherry blossom rain
a little girl blows bubbles
for her cat

                      Garry Gay
                      Santa Rosa, California

bright cherry blossoms
four generations
pose for the photo

                      Garry Gay
                      Santa Rosa, California

an answer
to the question I didn’t ask . . .
cherry blossoms

                      Carolyn Hall
                      San Francisco, California

Spring rain—
the busker’s case filling
with cherry blossoms.

                      Nicole Hyde
                      Arvada, Colorado

cherry blossoms—
losing count of the brush strokes
when you touch my hair

                      Peggy Lyles
                      Tucker, Georgia

rescued from the grass—
fallen blossoms fill
my daughter’s hands

                      C. R. Manley
                      Bellevue, Washington

cherry blossoms
ten thousand
why nots

                      Scott Mason
                      Chappaqua, New York

child’s tea party—
I accept a second helping
of cherry blossoms

                      Tanya McDonald
                      Woodinville, Washington

cherry blossoms
a tourist
asks for directions

                      John Merryfield
                      Tahoe City, California

cherry blossoms
the hometown crowd shoulders
a young athlete

                      Chad Lee Robinson
                      Pierre, South Dakota

cherry petals
the way he touches
my scar

                      Melissa Spurr
                      Joshua Tree, California

Honourable Mentions

cherry blossoms—
the road from the hospital
disappears

                      Hortensia Anderson
                      New York, New York

cherry blossoms
a thrush reminds me
to follow my heart

                      Francine Banwarth
                      Dubuque, Iowa

daintily peeling
a pink petal from her boot—
teenage Goth

                      Sheila K. Barksdale
                      Gainesville, Florida

cherry blossoms
the ink of her tattoo
still bright

                      Jeanette Blain
                      Bronx, New York

farmers market
cherry blossom branches
at each stall

                      Jeanette Blain
                      Bronx, New York

cherry blossoms . . .
a slender moon barely
slipping through

                      Brett Brady
                      Pahoa, Hawaii

pink petals
twirl in twilight
memories strewn on the wind

                      Kerry Campbell Hamilton
                      Woodinville, Washington

picking up speed
the cherry petal
that touched her lips

                      Beate Conrad
                      Waterford, Michigan

her last breath—
a cherry blossom falls
without notice

                      Rise Daniels
                      Tolland, Connecticut

Cherry blossoms
two garlands of wet petals
on my bike tires

                      Bruce England
                      Santa Clara, California

cherry blossom petals—
the street gutters never
looked so pretty

                      Seren Fargo
                      Bellingham, Washington

last cherry blossoms . . .
the stone buddha
still smiling

                      Stanford M. Forrester
                      Windsor, Connecticut

stone buddha—
the cherry blossom shadows
freckle his face

                      Stanford M. Forrester
                      Windsor, Connecticut

he rides
a girls’ pink bicycle—
blossom rain

                      Carolyn Hall
                      San Francisco, California

kissing
the tip of each toe
cherry blossoms

                      Michele L. Harvey
                      Hamilton, New York

woken by your absence
shadows of cherry blossoms
on the blinds

                      Keith Heiberg
                      Brighton, Massachusetts

Old crow
sing a different song—
these are cherry blossoms!

                      Nicole Hyde
                      Arvada, Colorado

cherry blossoms—
from the homeless man’s trumpet,
“Ode to Joy”

                      Catherine J. S. Lee
                      Eastport, Maine

e-mail to Iraq
I attach a new photo
of cherry blossoms

                      Catherine J. S. Lee
                      Eastport, Maine

cherry blossom
seen through
cherry blossoms

                      Mary LeViant
                      Bellevue, Washington

last year’s dress
with a new sash—
cherry blossoms

                      Peggy Lyles
                      Tucker, Georgia

ocean breeze
cherry blossoms sail
across the pond

                      C. R. Manley
                      Bellevue, Washington

my wife forgives me—
today, remembering only
the cherry blossoms

                      Michael McClintock
                      Clovis, California

cherry blossoms
and night’s heavy dew
blankets the young grass

                      Dorothy McLaughlin
                      Somerset, New Jersey

children writing haiku
scatter in the park—
cherry petals

                      Marilyn Murphy
                      Providence, Rhode Island

the park
after curfew—
cherry petals gathering

                      Marilyn Murphy
                      Providence, Rhode Island

in the fold
of my kimono—
a dried cherry blossom

                      Nancy Nitrio
                      Orangevale, California

wind gust
the cherry petals’
arpeggio

                      Origa (Olga Hooper)
                      Okemos, Michigan

some of the words
between us
cherry buds

                      Stephen A. Peters
                      Bellingham, Washington

cherry buds
some of my childhood memories
linger

                      Stephen A. Peters
                      Bellingham, Washington

blossomless
above an open casket—
cherry tree

                      An’ya
                      La Pine, Oregon

eager to see it all again
I stand
under the cherry tree

                      Dru Philippou
                      El Prado, New Mexico

the puppy asleep
on a bed of blossoms
family picnic

                      Carol Raisfeld
                      Atlantic Beach, New York

cherry blossoms
a bull rider’s hand
in the suicide wrap

                      Chad Lee Robinson
                      Pierre, South Dakota

for a few days
the war stops
cherry blossoms

                      Carolyne Rohrig
                      Fremont, California

Cherry blossoms—
the last hint of color before
nightfall

                      Deborah Russell
                      Baltimore, Maryland

in the cherry tree
I see the shape
of your hand

                      Carole Sauter
                      Kent, Washington

April morning
a light drizzle
of cherry blossoms

                      Adelaide B. Shaw
                      Millbrook, New York

falling blossoms—
the swirl of her dress
as she spins

                      Adelaide B. Shaw
                      Millbrook, New York

prolonged illness
a newspaper brings me
cherry blossoms

                      Tim Singleton
                      Columbia, Maryland

a frog hops
through the rain
cherry petals

                      Carmi Soifer
                      Suquamish, Washington

morning
without cherry blossoms—
emergency room

                      Carmi Soifer
                      Suquamish, Washington

cherry blossom time
a single petal
on the old dog’s nose

                      John Stone
                      Elverta, California

cherry blossoms . . .
a family strolls
hand in hand in hand

                      Marilyn Appl Walker
                      Madison, Georgia

first blossoms
the precise fit of air
in my bicycle tires

                      Marilyn Appl Walker
                      Madison, Georgia

a cherry tree branch
broken off by the storm—
my son’s magic wand

                      Neal Whitman
                      Pacific Grove, California

pink
under the cherry tree
my toes

                      Kath Abela Wilson
                      Pasadena, California

cherry blossoms
leaving the hospital
alone

                      Nora Wood
                      Lawrenceville, Georgia

through cherry branches
a gust of rain and petals—
her sigh

                      Ruth Yarrow
                      Seattle, Washington

gas station puddle—
in its gaudy rainbow
cherry petals float

                      Ruth Yarrow
                      Seattle, Washington

International

Sakura Awards
fluttering
on the trampoline
cherry blossoms

                      Bouwe Brouwer
                      Emmeloord, The Netherlands

weeping cherry . . .
all the love
we’re in

                      Helen Buckingham
                      Bristol, England

no blossom yet under the old cherry tree we kiss

                      Andrea Cecon
                      Cividale del Friuli, Italy

first cherry buds
she decides
to speak openly

                      Andrea Cecon
                      Cividale del Friuli, Italy

cherry blossom tattoo
she shows him
the hidden branch

                      Maria Kowal-Tomczak
                      Opole, Poland

green valley—
the brook brings blossoms
from a distant hill

                      Tomislav Maretic
                      Zagreb, Croatia

cherry blossom chill—
I tie my shoelace
in a double bow

                      Emiko Miyashita
                      Kawasaki, Japan

rest home window
cherry blossoms fade
against the pane

                      Patricia Prime
                      Auckland, New Zealand

blossoming cherries—
faced to the window
an empty chair

                      Dorota Pyra
                      Gdansk, Poland

night rain
a tideline
of petals

                      Elaine Riddell
                      Hamilton, New Zealand

saying yes
to your proposal—
cherry blossoms

                      Katrina Shepherd
                      Dunblane, Scotland

cherry blossom—
he knows what to call
his granddaughter

                      Sandra Simpson
                      Tauranga, New Zealand

changing our sheets—
cherry blossom
drifts to the floor

                      Helen Yong
                      Christchurch, New Zealand

Honourable Mentions

just a gentle breeze . . .
you and me
and the falling blossoms

                      Wolfgang Beutke
                      Barum, Germany

cherry blossoms . . .
the smallest child
circles the tree trunk

                      Leonie Bingham
                      Nimbin, Australia

huddled trenchcoats
in the shadows . . .
cherry blossoms

                      Greg Bingham
                      Nimbin, Australia

cherry blossoms
filled to the rim
the candy jar

                      Bouwe Brouwer
                      Emmeloord, The Netherlands

cherry petals
cover your footprints—
this loneliness

                      Nathalie Buckland
                      Nimbin, Australia

solar eclipse—
the light of cherry blossoms
in the graveyard

                      Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
                      Botoşani, Romania

spring storm—
the beggar’s little box
filled with cherry blossoms

                      Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
                      Botoşani, Romania

Breath of wind . . .
so many cherry petals
across the water

                      Magdalena Dale
                      Bucharest, Romania

may morning
cherry twigs on the grave
of a young girl

                      Andrzej Dembonczyk
                      Zbroslawice, Poland

homeward bound—
cherry blossoms stick
to my sandals

                      Angelee Deodhar
                      Chandigarh, India

blossom photo . . .
old man calling—from here
you get the whole tree!

                      Bernadette Duncan
                      Stuttgart, Germany

Cherry blossoms—
a lonely woman smiling
at the window

                      Adina Enachescu
                      Râmnicu-Vâlcea, Romania

cherry blossom in her hair
the bride says
“I do”

                      Keith Frentz
                      Tauranga, New Zealand

the dog
chases a new scent—
cherry blossom

                      Keith Frentz
                      Tauranga, New Zealand

early morning
people going to work
over cherry petals

                      Zeljko Funda
                      Varazdin, Croatia

end of jogging—
a cherry petal
stuck on my shoe

                      Damien Gabriels
                      Leers, France

in remission
seeing cherry blossom
she blossoms

                      Kevin Goldstein-Jackson
                      Poole, England

cherry tree
and my grandpa
full of petals

                      Dubravko Korbus
                      Ivanic Grad, Croatia

at your tombstone—
a spray of cherry blossom . . .
still jealous

                      Natalia Kuznetsova
                      Moscow, Russia

spring slips away
cherry petals
on the hearse

                      Artur Lewandowski
                      Sieradz, Poland

a short time
for love—my car strewn
with cherry petals

                      Tomislav Maretic
                      Zagreb, Croatia

cherry blossoms—
repainting my kitchen
pink

                      Jacek Margolak
                      Kielce, Poland

after the storm
a broken cherry’s bough
hangs and blossoms

                      Dusko Matas
                      Zagreb, Croatia

Midnight jazz—
moonlight and cherry blossom
floating on a song.

                      Oliver Mead
                      Bristol, England

cherries blossom
a little boy tousles
grandfather’s grey hair

                      Boris Nazansky
                      Zagreb, Croatia

urban boulevard
in a beggar’s hat
cherry petals

                      Robert Nowak
                      Wałbrzych, Poland

a game of chess
on the bald spots of old men
cherry petals

                      Robert Nowak
                      Wałbrzych, Poland

Light sifted
through the drizzle—
cherry tree in blossom

                      Oprica Padeanu
                      Bucharest, Romania

the cooing of pigeons
between blooming cherry trees—
the cool rain

                      Kristjaan Panneman
                      Lelystad, The Netherlands

lifting the toddler
to touch the cherry blossoms
grandmother

                      Patricia Prime
                      Auckland, New Zealand

family album
our faces changing
under the blossom trees

                      Vanessa Proctor
                      Sydney, Australia

walking home from ballet
my daughter pirouettes
through the blossom

                      Vanessa Proctor
                      Sydney, Australia

a kid in combat trousers
every pocket
full of cherry petals

                      Dorota Pyra
                      Gdansk, Poland

cherry blossom
the focus of the mountains
softens

                      Elaine Riddell
                      Hamilton, New Zealand

cherry blossoms
again and again
I see her face

                      Nuri Rosegg
                      Oslo, Norway

cherry tree flower
washed away with rain
again in the sunshine

                      Karol Rosiak
                      Bydgoszcz, Poland

villagers slow down
passing by the only
Japanese cherry

                      Stjepan Rozic
                      Ivanic Grad, Croatia

bouncing higher
on the trampoline—
cherry petals

                      Katrina Shepherd
                      Dunblane, Scotland

a policeman
directing traffic . . .
cherry blooms on his cap

                      Huguette Simmonds
                      Rodez, France

hisssssss
goes the soda can
cherry blossom

                      Valeria Simonova-Cecon
                      Cividale del Friuli, Italy

creaking rocking chair—
the old cherry tree again
in bloom

                      Lech Szeglowski
                      Gdansk, Poland

Cherry petals—
the end and the beginning
of the path

                      Eduard Tara
                      Iasi, Romania

Evening wind—
an old woman follows
the cherry petals

                      Eduard Tara
                      Iasi, Romania

Two petals
falling together—
evening wind

                      Maria Tirenescu
                      Cugir, Romania

spring shower
each grass blade with its own
cherry petal

                      Zeljka Vucinic-Jambresic
                      Ivanic Grad, Croatia

even an old lady
passing under the cherry
blossoming . . .

                      Djurdja Vukelic-Rozic
                      Ivanic Grad, Croatia

shutter clicks open
to the spring
first cherry flower

                      Diana Webb
                      Leatherhead, England

cherry blossoms
on the last page—
diary of a veteran

                      Urszula Wielanowska
                      Kielce, Poland

broken sundial—
a cherry blossom petal
drifts and lands

                      Sheila Windsor
                      Worcester, England

arms akimbo—
a cherry blossom falls
on my tilted face

                      Quendryth Young
                      Alstonville, Australia

blossom jam—
a tour bus topped
with pink

                      Quendryth Young
                      Alstonville, Australia

 

Youth

Sakura Awards
Blossom in my palm.
Last April she sat here too
With a blossom in hers.

                      Mariah Dear, age 15
                      Delta, British Columbia

sparring children
on the park bench
cherry blossoms

                      Sophie Kirkby, age 10
                      Nimbin, Australia

cherry blossoms
a young child nibbles
the flower

                      Sophie Kirkby, age 10
                      Nimbin, Australia

my sad eyes
under a cherry tree
lots of petals

                      Karolina Rosiak, age 10
                      Bydgoszcz, Poland

the wind
brushing tears away—
cherry blossoms

                      Sherry Zhou, age 12
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Honourable Mentions

a pink petal caught
between strands of yellow hair,
stuck with morning dew

                      Alice Adam, age 15
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

I watch the blossoms
twirling through the calm green day—
wish I was with them

                      Alice Adam, age 15
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

delicate pink petals
carried by the wind
fluttering like butterflies

                      Tracy Ahn, age 13
                      West Vancouver, British Columbia

Fallen pink blossom
Caresses the dirty pavement
Shadowed by dusk

                      Geran Atkinson, age 15
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Colourful flowers
shower me on my birthday
everything blooms

                      Jungwun (Mimi) Bang, age 12
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

semaphore of pink
in the wind—what languages
do you speak in, trees?

                      Aeli Black
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Once again we meet
under the cherry blossoms
is this fate?

                      Jessica Chang, age 15
                      Surrey, British Columbia

Rainy spring day
my reflection in puddles
scattered blossoms

                      Jessica Chang, age 15
                      Surrey, British Columbia

Cherry blossoms on the ground
So pretty
Until the leafblower comes

                      Caitlin Chong, age 12
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

I’d like to catch one
a cherry blossom petal
to keep forever

                      Gabriella Dionne, age 17
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Lush grass sways gently
As the soft afternoon breeze
Rustles pink blossoms

                      Emma Dixon, age 15
                      Delta, British Columbia

Amongst tall buildings
And noisy city bustle
Cherry blossoms bloom

                      Emma Dixon, age 15
                      Delta, British Columbia

it kisses my nose
as I inhale its sweet scent—
pink cherry blossom

                      Rukshila Dufault, age 17
                      Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

roses are red, violets are blue,
but don’t forget
pink cherry petals

                      Andrew Enders, age 13
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

fragile petals swim
like goldfishes in a pond
down into the drains

                      Yu Ting (Tina) Fan, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

sometimes, with the wind,
I drift . . .
like petals from a cherry tree

                      Yu Ting (Tina) Fan, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

my neighbours have gone
their petals softly drifting
when will I join them?

                      Shelley Feng, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

An old tree.
I hold out my hand,
cherry blossoms fall through my fingers.

                      Quinn Fotheringham, age 11
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

A flurry, a rush,
A whirl of pink surrounds me
As gentle winds blow.

                      Anmol Gulati, age 16
                      Abbotsford, British Columbia

Pink cherry blossoms,
on a big beautiful tree,
swirling in the wind.

                      Selena Herrera, age 8
                      Richmond, British Columbia

Pastry and hot tea
Enjoyed under blossoming trees.
Pink petals fall.

                      Michelle Ho, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Pink petals dancing,
Accompanied by fierce wind.
Snap goes the camera.

                      Michelle Ho, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Gentle hill to school
Fluttering petals of pink
I stare at her back

                      Charlie Hua, age 17
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Daddy lifts his girl
to pick a cherry blossom—
Memory for years.

                      Julianne Huff, age 17
                      Maple Ridge, British Columbia

putting on my ballet shoes
dance away
cherry petals

                      Annie Hui, age 17
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Cherry blossoms
pink trees everywhere
can’t see streets

                      Arian Jacobs, age 14
                      West Vancouver, British Columbia

pink and white flowers
spin and twirl down around me
landing in my hair

                      Samantha Jacobs, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

grabbing for the petals
as they fall to the pavement
missing every one

                      Samantha Jacobs, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

floating and falling
these pink ballerinas dance
asking me to join

                      Grace Kim, age 17
                      Surrey, British Columbia

dancing to a secret beat
around the sunlit sidewalk
cherry blossoms fall

                      Melissa Kuipers, age 16
                      Coquitlam, British Columbia

a blossom dances
through the bus’s open window—
everyone smiles.

                      Hannah Levy, age 17
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Pink cherry blossoms—
ballerinas pirouette
and tutus twirl

                      Elizabeth Li, age 12
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Swaying on a branch
Floating slowly swiftly down
Delicate petals

                      Sophie Liu, age 8
                      Burnaby, British Columbia

Walking home lonely
Among this sea of petals
These blooming trees.

                      Jaymee Maaghop, age 14
                      Surrey, British Columbia

Pink petals are all you can see
Don’t look away
Soon they’ll be blown away

                      Hayley Martin, age 13
                      West Vancouver, British Columbia

cherry blossoms
a gentle pink wave
washes away sorrow

                      Winnie Mui, age 13
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

My dog done a pee
on a little cherry tree
oh deary deary me.

                      Abbie O Boyle, age 8
                      Dublin, Ireland

down on the sidewalk
poor blossom petals
turning into grey dust

                      Jane Qiu, age 15
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

The sweet blossoms mark
A fresh start, a new chapter,
In my own story.

                      Emma Rahemtulla, age 14
                      West Vancouver, British Columbia

a cherry tree
how beautifully it blossoms
day by day

                      Karolina Rosiak, age 10
                      Bydgoszcz, Poland

Cherry blossoms soar
with the answers we’re missing
blowing in the wind

                      Arlo Sporn, age 15
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

pink blossoms falling
drifting on the wind
raindrops strike them down

                      David Tan
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

I take a bite of taco,
and realize it had
cherry blossoms

                      Bill Tang, age 10
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Workers cut down tree—
Cherry blossoms fall in my face
As it falls down.

                      Charlie Tang, age 12
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Cherry blossoms make
a miniature tornado,
spinning in my yard.

                      Shannon Tang, age 11
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

Cherry blossoms
Shooting down the river,
Sinking in the rapids.

                      Emma Upsdell-Reddekopp, age 10
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

an empty bench
a warm kiss lingers
in cherry petals

Michael Warne, age 17

Vancouver, British Columbia

a cherry blossom
whirling with wings on the wind
lands on my cold nose

                      Jacqueline Wong, age 14
                      Vancouver, British Columbia

blushing
when being admired—
cherry blossoms

Sherry Zhou, age 12

Vancouver, British Columbia