Celebrate with the Haiku Contest winners on the Haiku Hike: Sunday, May 4, 12:30 to 2 PM
See the Hillside Festival page for more details!
See the Hillside Festival page for more details!
Haiku Contest Winners!
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CHILDREN
FIRST PLACE
Maya C. (age 10) Flowers sway in the breeze A single petal breaks free To drift in the wind SECOND PLACE
Mira J. (age 12) Wind sweeps through the trees. Green leaves flutter like sequins. Rustling fills the air. THIRD PLACE
Clover W. (age 9) Dandelion seed be big, be brave, be you, too go and see the world HONORABLE MENTION
Zachary W. (age 12) Morning chill present Oh the smell of eucalyptus Fog blanket covers me |
YOUTH
FIRST PLACE
Sydney D. (age 16) The dark sky above Wept upon the leaves and yet Sunbeams pierced the fog SECOND PLACE
Skylar O. little patches of scruffy sprigs pioneering underneath the trees THIRD PLACE
Isaac G. (age 16) The beaming sunlight Scorching the gravel walkway As the puddle dries HONORABLE MENTION
Andrew L. (age 16) the falling dead leaves born again as new saplings samsara persists |
ADULT
FIRST PLACE
Kristel Rietesel-Low Red berries darken In shade that turns spider threads Orange in the last light. SECOND PLACE
Sydny Fujita Echoes walk the trails Blooming among soft footfalls - Our shades through the years THIRD PLACE
Mark Warmerdam Saturated ground Sun shines through oak tree branches Earthworms and fresh rain HONORABLE MENTION
Richard Matta her tiny pinky curls in excitement... manzanita blooms. |
Trail Trekkers gives a big thanks to the judges of the 2025 contest, who included:
- Jenny Hammer. Local writer, taught English at City College of San Francisco for thirty years.
- Melissa Hobbs. Local writer.
- Eevelyn (Janean) Mitchell. Past Poet Laureate of El Cerrito.
Other Haiku Contest Entries
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ADULT ENTRIES
Paul James Ant evolution produced hella ardent foe I succumb to you Marshall Elliott Leaves of poison oak Spread across the tall hillside so I won’t go there Walking in summer You put one foot in front of the next and then you are there The birds of spring sing about the coming warmth that makes us happy Barbara Hill Ever-changing hues Of Bay and Bridge and weather -- Paul Cezanne would weep. Maureen Wetter The sun going down Light glistening on the Bay Another day done. Climbing to the top Escaping the world below Exhilaration Allen Reaves Even as I climb, this hill walks along with me, smiling from the top Wind-writing on a grassy hillside uses gold calligraphic ink Coyote, you watch me as if you stand guard on buried Native bones Marie Bantz To put down your roots: Get inside the great outdoors, Look up in awe, breathe Richard L. Matta orange poppies she says leave distractions in the car edge of the path a fence lizard fragranced by elderberry Sarah Story Herbal hypnotics French Broom boasts flamboyantly Apothecary Extreme heat and drought Prickly pears teach tolerance Stoic resilience Ribwort Plantains sway Imua, peaceful protest Olapa hill dance Ellen Doran Facing strong, harsh winds Seeking to find my own path A clearing appears Forest fires blazing Scorched tree limbs are falling Breaking my heart Tina Sun My Favorite Paths On the El Cerrito's Hill All to the sweet home Jump back, a rabbit Startled by my steps, also A stalking raccoon SCA Schulman In the sadness of winter Driving to the recycling center I glimpse the green Hillside November 6, 2024 My exhaustion weighs me down I walk and breathe the cold fresh air Early cold morning I see my breath as I walk Dreaming of springtime Lori Staley Gnarled root yanks my foot I startle and look around ... Sunset color bay Barbara Speed Walk at your own pace Living well is not a race Face yourself and smile I see beauty here Where there is nothing to fear Walking free and clear El Cerrito Hills they give my legs such a thrill! Do not take a spill! Sydny Fujita The lizard is gone But soon - translucent wings spring Forth where once it dreamed With borrowed sunlight budding trees and I scribe our lives upon the earth Kristel Rietesel-Low Soap plant leaves waver, Birds flit unseen in brambles, The moon a thrown stone. One cloud, soft oval In blue like wild hyacinth Nodding in shadows Heidi Li Shame is a storm that, Only the dragon that reins it over, And let it go wins Suzanne Sattergren Dense green blades glisten Gentle slope cushions legs rest Warm earth, look, cool sky Gnarled branches climb Leaf vein with hairy armpits A Coastal Live Oak! How long have you been Your bark cracked, branches gnarled Beckoning embrace. Patricia Kazmierowski The leaves are slippery As gentle rains have ended Watch where you are going Walking on the trail The sun is warm soft today Spring is almost here Up in the treetop The black bird rests his big wings He says caw caw caw Nicole Maderas After the rain clears I scan the sky for rainbows Sensing you are near Hawks circle above A miracle to witness Enjoying the view Spring blooms, life begins Passage of time is constant The air is perfumed Kristianna Bertelsen Winter's gauntlet reseeds with gems — white ones first, and blue, green fountains, and a fox Over El Cerrito Hills above the little hill Wide view to the sun Motorcycles, once Now a ribbon of curves, spectators hidden Keon Harris The clouds turn gray Lightning, thunder, rain The sun returns once again The ball is hiked It is game time Victory shall be mine The wind howls with anger the moon an unpleasant shape the rain begins to fall Thomas Kearney Two crows shared the same treetop… Nope-- it didn’t last. The sun, the pine tree: both admiring the same shadow. The robins are not carefree for all they fly and sing-- but oh! to have wings! |
CHILDREN AND YOUTH ENTRIES
CHILDREN ENTRIES
Violet Z. (age 10) Blossoms sprouting up Look under you and you see Flowers coming up Nature around you Flowers,weeds,leafs,grass,dirt,trees Everything is peace All trees bring spirits All trees are different from others Trees bring us together Darwin F. B. (age 10) The turkey vulture Circles and circles and soars Looking for some food Fuzzy mama deer Grazing on wildflowers Trots silent away Zoe A. (age 10) Nature rules over me as I watch the trees blow in the lovely breeze The leaves bright green along with the trees, flowers bright as the sun, it's peaceful Spring in the hillside with beautiful colors as bright as a parrot Connor A. (age 8) The way the trees sway in the calm wind, the colors of the flowers are fresh Maya C. (age 10) To rise from the ground Then bloom, and show the wide world the beauty of spring Mira J. (age 12) The deer trot away gracefully, their hooves making no sound on the trail A turtle sleeps in the rays of sunlight, enjoying the warmth. Alejandra L.-V. (age 11) The harsh wind makes the leaves sound like rain I remain unbothered Tired after the climb I search for my home down there I can't seem to find it Clover W. (age 9) Beautiful clovers swaying in the misty wind "clover is my name" Benno S. (age 5¾) The smell of the trees makes me feel peaceful today Oh my sweet Cali Alexander W. (age 12) Good views at the top Eucalyptus trees around A nice, peaceful place. Zachary W (age 12) Birds chirping nearby Leaves rustling in the wind No better place to be Darren L. (age 12) Spring arrives in green Spring arrives with my amaze Spring arrives to here I watch as the green shoots emerge into colored tops in the field of blooms Happy is a source that runs only when triggered by the spread of peace YOUTH ENTRIES
Genevieve Y. Sprinting up the hill Heavy breathing fills my ears Smiles and laughter this place is a gift breathe in and breathe out appreciate it the whole family and our little dog too all love the fresh views Lucas B. (age 16) As I bike sweating, hard, up steep and sweeping slopes, the top is in reach The tweets, chirps of birds all their melodies aloud fill the crisp spring air two siblings in front, parents stroll behind carefree, an afternoon hike Skylar O. sunlight filtering through the multicolored leaves peace on Earth found here birds and insects fly circling around our heads where are they going? Bryant L. (age 13) The puddles splashing Children playing all around In the pouring rain Sunlight Pouring in Animals all around us The calming nature Andrew L. (age 16) water’s reflection mirror into a new world myself, i smile at. you are the fresh spring the flowers bloom in your hair us, forever entwined. Isaac G. (age 16) The deathly silence A sharp hawk of an eagle Piercing the silence The small rushing stream Providing refuge and life From the Summer sun Clara C. (age 14) crunch under our feet we're at the top of the world it's just you and me to be ten once more ladybugs, fairy houses child of nature two fifty years here seen it all, the thick and thin the old oak loves deeply |
Haiku Contest and Hike Information
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Haiku Contest: Our annual haiku contest is a popular feature every year.
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Haiku Hike: Sunday May 4, 12:30-2:00
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Let your poems be inspired by your experiences in the Hillside Natural Area, to celebrate the annual El Cerrito Trail Trekkers Hillside Festival. Classical Japanese Haiku includes: the season; the place; the transitory nature of life; suffering; the surprise moment. 17 syllables in 5-7-5 format is not strictly required. See the examples in the feature box. Contest open to California residents. |
An ancient pool A frog jumps in The sound of water. --Matsuo Basho. The neighing horses are causing echoing neighs in neighboring barns. --Richard Wright |