Haiku Contest 2023
We've received many great submissions for the 2023 haiku contest in the children's, youth, and adult categories. You can find the winning submissions and read all of the submissions below.
Winners will be awarded gift certificates to El Cerrito Natural Grocery and/or Jenny K Gifts. First prize in each age category: $50 gift certificate. Second and third prize in each age category: $20 gift certificate.
The Haiku Hike is part of the Hillside Festival, May 6-7, 2023. Please join us for the hike where the winning poets will read and talk about their haiku on a pleasant walk in the Hillside Natural area.
Haiku Hike: Sunday, May 7, 12:30 to 2 PM
Winners will be awarded gift certificates to El Cerrito Natural Grocery and/or Jenny K Gifts. First prize in each age category: $50 gift certificate. Second and third prize in each age category: $20 gift certificate.
The Haiku Hike is part of the Hillside Festival, May 6-7, 2023. Please join us for the hike where the winning poets will read and talk about their haiku on a pleasant walk in the Hillside Natural area.
Haiku Hike: Sunday, May 7, 12:30 to 2 PM
- Meet at Regency Gateway entrance
- Options for 1 mile round trip walk or 2 1/2 mile round trip walk.
Winning entries 2023
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CHILDREN
FIRST PLACE
TEJAS S-R., AGE 7 COVID adventures Climbing where there is no path We're six feet apart SECOND PLACE
ETHAN L., AGE 7 Flowers, trees and more on Hills Less than mountains do have Some have paths or trails from start to end Vertical Divider
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YOUTH
FIRST PLACE
CRYSTAL S., AGE 15 The sun sips the clouds Her arms reach out between the trees Cheeks cherry plump from her gaze SECOND PLACE
JACOB A-L., AGE 18 Colors snug in the safety of wither-- winter flowers bloom within. THIRD PLACE
PIA F-C., AGE 15 The sun shines brightly Flies are buzzing lazily Glorious morning Vertical Divider
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ADULT
FIRST PLACE
PAMELA LIM-MCALISTER Auburn, crimson, gold Crunchy, crackling underfoot-- Nature’s confetti. SECOND PLACE
WALDEN TUHEY A ray of sunshine, In the winter of our fears. Hope returns at last. THIRD PLACE
AMALIA LORENTZ CUNNINGHAM I need to stretch my legs now Instinct leads to hills Follow trails from those before |
Trail Trekkers gives a big thanks to the judges of the 2023 contest, who included:
- Jenny Hammer. Local writer, taught English at City College of San Francisco for thirty years.
- Melissa Hobbs. Local writer.
- Eevelyn Mitchell. Poet Laureate of El Cerrito.
All Haiku Contest 2023 Entries
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ADULT ENTRIES
JENNELL MARSHALL The wind keeps blowing Me down the hill as I track Muddy shoelaces BERNIE KELLMAN STOP weather clickbait An atmospheric river ? It's just gosh darn rain PATRICIA COLTRIN Skirting the hillside, looking through winter branches, I feel at home here. ALLISON TORRES Sun brightens my days Wind reminds me I’m mortal Leaves rustle my soul Step into the mud Feel it sucking off my shoes Snack time for hillside You said I was lost Wandering through the forest Found myself in thought KARL E. HANS Blue schisty graywacke Scraped off like pizza toppings Makes me want my lunch Thousand calories Townsend warbles in my ear Yes, you earned your beer AMY KUBES Heart pounding steep hill This week has been a hard climb Shadows and sunlight MIRIAM ARONER March wind, muddy trail branches, leaves make climbing hard a bench to rest on high above the Bay leafy trail, climbing skyward bench to rest awhile dropping off stuff, then hiking up a leafy trail high above the Bay TOM AYRES Heavy winter rains Grow fuel for summer wildfires; But first, spring flowers! RYK TANALSKI Fog below fills the Bay Fog above blots out the view Which is it today? LANZZ oh, morning sunrise from El Cerrito hillside ~ an amazing view grove of ancient oaks around the hillside area ~ looks magnificent butterfly dancing among the yellow flowers ~ a pollinator LUCY RODRIGUEZ After so much rain the nearby hills dressed in green fill my heart with hope MATTHEW ZOERB Let it roll off me Stress and worry left behind Here, I am at peace MATTHEW ZOERB Hey! Don't touch my snacks! The hanger will transform me Like Jekyll to Hyde High above the Bay I bask with my squirrel friends And smell the redwoods PAMELA LIM-MCALISTER Bug-eyed, blue-tailed skink, Basking in the summer heat-- Afternoon siesta. Auburn, crimson, gold Crunchy, crackling underfoot-- Nature’s confetti. “Hi, pigeons!” say I. “Coo coo to you!” birds reply. “Hi?” “Coo?” Ah, haiku! LUZ KIRSCH The bench breathes delight Extraordinary joy We dance at sunset Inhalation day The views amuses our bench Exhalation night Dance by moonlit bench Disco lights brings happiness Tomorrow we rest AMALIA LORENTZ CUNNINGHAM I need to stretch my legs now Instinct leads to hills Follow trails from those before Pup leads the way up Intriguing creature odors Hillside smells - doggy delight BRIAN GYGI The Meadow is clear Music drifts through grassy space Songs from a past time CAROL LANGHAUSER The Highland Walk Take the mountain path - from Harvard to Scenic Streets A view to behold. Love for the Hill Weed Wrench the Scotch broom The Trekkers' labor of love Motorcycle Hill. Gyuto Space to meditate Gyuto Monastery Tibetan Buddhism. WALDEN TUHEY In eternal night, Stars guide us to the unknown; As children, we are. A ray of sunshine, In the winter of our fears. Hope returns at last. Through the thicket years, Love brings us, though not shielded, Stronger for the scars. RHONDA ROBY Joy The paths, trails, and steps El Cerrito's Trail Trekkers Bringing joy to all. Earthquake Learn of EC's faults Hiking with geologists Cracks and shifts abound! Sundar Shadi It is winter! It's... ....Shadi's Holiday Display. Hike! Drive up Moeser! |
CHILDREN ENTRIES
ETHAN L., AGE 7 Flowers, trees and more on Hills Less than mountains do have Some have paths or trails from start to end TEJAS S-R., AGE 7 On Ganges Court, at the base of the hill Best backyard ever! COVID adventures Climbing where there is no path We're six feet apart YOUTH ENTRIES
PIA F-C., AGE 15 The sun shines brightly Flies are buzzing lazily Glorious morning CRYSTAL S., AGE 15 The sun sips the clouds Her arms reach out between the trees Cheeks cherry plump from her gaze JACOB A-L., AGE 18 Colors snug in the safety of wither-- winter flowers bloom within. A mold in the meat of an old bench with no fit. Ears are undone in the hillside wind-- ancient books forget. |
Prior Info on Haiku Entries
Our annual haiku contest is a popular feature every year. Submit your poem before the Hillside festival. The Haiku Contest will culminate in a hike during the Hillside Festival, May 6-7, 2023, during which winners will read their haiku at various points in the hike. You do not need to be an El Cerrito resident to enter.
Focus your poems on your experiences in the Hillside Natural Area. Classical Japanese Haiku includes: the season; the place, the transitory nature of life, the suffering, the surprise moment. 17 syllables in 5-7-5 format is not strictly followed.
Age categories: 1)18 and over; 2)13-17; 3)12 and under. A panel of three local poets will select winners. Winners will be awarded gift certificates to El Cerrito Natural Grocery and/or Jenny K Gifts. First prize in each age category: $50 gift certificate. Second and third prize in each age category: $20 gift certificate.
Submit up to three poems to email: [email protected] between March 1, 2023 and March 31, 2023. Include your name, email, phone number, and age if 12 or under, or 13- 17. Children 12 and under, please ask your parent or guardian about entering the contest beforehand. All haiku entries will be celebrated on the Trail Trekkers web site (children will be listed only by first name & first initial of last name).
Winners will be announced April 11th, 2023, and recognized on the website and in the Trekker Newsletter. Awards will be given out and poets read their haiku on the haiku hike through the Hillside Area during weekend of May 6-7, 2023.
Focus your poems on your experiences in the Hillside Natural Area. Classical Japanese Haiku includes: the season; the place, the transitory nature of life, the suffering, the surprise moment. 17 syllables in 5-7-5 format is not strictly followed.
Age categories: 1)18 and over; 2)13-17; 3)12 and under. A panel of three local poets will select winners. Winners will be awarded gift certificates to El Cerrito Natural Grocery and/or Jenny K Gifts. First prize in each age category: $50 gift certificate. Second and third prize in each age category: $20 gift certificate.
Submit up to three poems to email: [email protected] between March 1, 2023 and March 31, 2023. Include your name, email, phone number, and age if 12 or under, or 13- 17. Children 12 and under, please ask your parent or guardian about entering the contest beforehand. All haiku entries will be celebrated on the Trail Trekkers web site (children will be listed only by first name & first initial of last name).
Winners will be announced April 11th, 2023, and recognized on the website and in the Trekker Newsletter. Awards will be given out and poets read their haiku on the haiku hike through the Hillside Area during weekend of May 6-7, 2023.