Endings and Beginnings

Shin Tao has awarded NGAGPA WRITER our first place in our Endings and Beginnings Haiku Contest. DALLOWAY PALIANTA is our second place winner (please visit Dalloway's blog Australian Haiku), and honorable mentions go to LEZLIE LATTE and INARRA ONMURA. Thanks to all of our participants for making this a fun and exciting contest.

2009 Shin Tao Haiku Retreat
"Endings and Beginnings" Haiku Contest winners and entrants.

Judge: DanteOsaka Deschanel Assistant Judge: Sunnie Beaumont

Icicle water
drips drips drips, upon
green spring shoots.

Black suits with white shirt,
winter faces, ladies weep,
a life on earth ends.

Summer love, now
inside within a week
new heart starts beating.

Acer leaf turns red,
memories of summer sun
fading like the days.

Crisp uniforms all,
new pencils and books and bags,
new term time begins.

Red pen on answers,
the wise teacher smiles and frowns,
exams are over.

© 2009 Lezlie Latte

In stillness ripples
echo the invading thought
...disturbing the mind

Sunshadow Skye

The Cycle of life.
Comes with the cycle of death.

It's the cost to live.

Vera Jonson

fine chopped ginger

fresh lime on seasoned fingers
cookbook aired at last

by Dalloway Palianta

final thrust
breath released
rolling eyes

aching chill
abandoned bus stop
desperate prayer

puffer fish
bead of sweat
exposed intent

peircing strike
rebellious fist unclenches
dreams to dust

by Conundrum Aristocrat

New Years Day
a blackened wick
stands in melted wax

by Ngagpa Writer

leaving

silently she left
what does she see and feel there

the crows all cry out

~inarra onmura

seppuku samurai

she cries with sharp pain
seppuku samurai gone honorable mention $L100
but yurei returns!

- inarra onmura

passing

a friend passed today

he who flew high and swam low
leaves drift peacefully

- inarra onmura

autumn

a chill breeze passes
a shower of yellow leaves
dances to the ground

~inarra onmura

Adio

When was the ending of our love?
Yesterday I saw you in a mirror
Keeping the flowers so close of your heart,
Today I see the flowers in a stranger's vase ...
by Lumi Michinaga