Haiku Society of America

2012

The judges for the 2012 competition were Geoffrey Van Kirk and Patricia Doyle Van Kirk New York, New York. Comments from the judges.

winter dusk the crows clotting the wind Olivia Babuka Black, 14, Grade 8 The Paideia School Atlanta, Georgia
	at the funeral headphones hidden beneath my sweater Dino Romeo, 14, Grade 9 Sage High School Newport Coast, California
		summer waves leave belly button sand in my shower Alex Manolakas, 18, Grade 12 Sage High School Newport Coast, California
rainfall grey sky in big puddles Siani Macklin, 13, Grade 7 Sacred Heart School Camden, New Jersey
	night on the lake I touch the moon Abbey Shannon, 13, Grade 7 The Paideia School, Atlanta, Georgia
		stair of roots I step on each knot Ainura Johnson, 13, Grade 7 The Paideia School Atlanta, Georgia

2011

The judges for the 2011 competition were Francine Banworth, Dubuque, Iowa & Tom Painting, Atlanta, Georgia. Comments from the judges.

November sky a lone seed drifts on wispy wings Martine Thomas, 14, Grade 9 Wilson Commencement School Rochester, NY
	August night eau de rain drifts on the wind Martine Thomas, 14, Grade 9 Wilson Commencement School Rochester, NY
		AP Physics my eyes twitch Heather Zadra, 18, Grade 12 Sage Hill School Newport Coast, CA
story time under the covers the night's warm whispers Mariah Wilson, 14, Grade 9 Sage Hill School Newport Coast, CA

2010

The judges for the 2010 competition were Janelle Barrera and Fran Masat. Comments from the judges.

autumn rain rinsing the color from the leaves Lauren Winters, 18 Hilliard Davidson High School, Grade 12 Hilliard, OH
	cold night the phone call from a disowned sister Hanna Amireh, 17 School of the Arts, Grade 12 Rochester, NY
		on the window sill next to the box of ashes Jiro’s dog collar Michelle Hosoda, 17 Sage Hill School, Grade 12 Newport Coast, CA
rural Peru 5 lollypops for a handmade bracelet Caitlin Sullivan, 18 Sage Hill School, Grade 12 Newport Coast, CA
	Grandad’s funeral she wonders whether she looks fat Alice Liu, 14 Sage Hill School, Grade 9 Newport Coast, CA
		under the shade of sunflowers, my mouse decays Laura Hansen, 18 Capital High School, Grade 12 Boise, ID

2009

The judges for the 2009 competition were Kristen Deming and Bill Kenney. Comments from the judges.

winter night cracks in the floorboards widen Mary Rice, age 16 School of the Arts, Grade 10 Rochester, NY
	quiet night the gazebo dressed with snow Meredith Jeffers, 16 School of the Arts, Grade 10 Rochester, NY
		saying goodbye the river flowing one way Cindy Truong, 13 School of the Arts, Grade 8 Rochester, NY
tornado drill the hallways full of laughter Nikki Savary, 18 Wahlert High School, Grade 12 Dubuque, IA
	winter the old man’s beard frozen in place Riley Siwiec, 12 School of the Arts, Grade 7 Rochester, NY
		new snow my footprints follow me Martine Thomas, 12 School of the Arts, Grade 7 Rochester, NY

2008

The judges for the 2008 competition were Tony Pupello & Pamela Miller Ness. Comments from the judges.

winter stars my father paints over the old white walls Asha Bishi, age 18 School of the Arts, 12th grade Rochester, NY
	autumn night one brick darker than the rest Gracie Elliot, age 12 School of the Arts, 7th grade Rochester NY
		first kiss – the tingle of coke down her throat Lauren Fresch, age 17 Perkins High School, grade 12 Sandusky, OH
scent of spring my sister paints the rising sun Asha Bishi, age 18 School of the Arts, grade 12 Rochester, NY
	silent graveyard one tombstone with a crow Alexa Navarez, age 12 School of the Arts, grade 7 Rochester, NY
		light footsteps across the snow his alcohol breath Desire Giddens, age 12 School of the Arts, grade 7 Rochester, NY

2007

The judges for the 2007 competition were Ruth Eshbaugh and Susan Delaney. Comments from the judges.

beep of the monitor reminding me . . . to hope Nicole Grogan, Grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, IA
	the wind taking her secret Jordan Krueger, Grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, IA
		early spring the willowy girl runs around the track Sara Dill, Grade 8 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY
spring morning her jelly shoes dry on the back porch Zoe Christopher, Grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY
	empty house echoes of laughter in the rotting wood Emily Onyan, Grade 8 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY
		Valentine’s Day the stop light stays red too long Pendle Marshall-Hallmark, Grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY

2006

The judges for the 2006 competition were Michael Ketchek and Jerome Cushman.

Elishma Farquharson, 18, grade 12 School of the Arts Rochester, New York Iraqi sun an American soldier pisses in the sand
	Cory Steinmetz, 17, Grade 11 Vermilion High School Vermilion, Ohio three stones on a fence
		Allen Bartter, Age 17, Grade 11 School of the Arts Rochester, New York new year's day walking in yesterday's frozen footprints
Fantazia Edic, 18, Grade 12 School of the Arts Rochester, New York fireworks a boy nestles into his mother
	Giulia Perucchio, 15, Grade 10 School of the Arts Rochester, New York the coarse wool of my blanket a cricket's rasp
		Gen Poehner, 16, Grade 11 School of the Arts Rochester, New York bean stalks none of my clothes fit

2005

The judges for the 2005 competition were Michael Moore (Desoto, TX) and Charles Trumbull (Evanston, IL). To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 2005 on the Judges' Commentary page.

Alex Degus, 18, Grade 12 School of the Arts Rochester, New York grandma's wake my little cousin shakes her etch-a-sketch
	Guilia Perucchio, 14, Grade 9 School of the Arts Rochester, New York memories caught in my brush long strands
		Allen Bartter, Age 15, Grade 10 School of the Arts Rochester, New York pre-school a triangle block stuck in a square hole
Kate Bosek-Sills, Age 15,Grade 10 School of the Arts Rochester, New York harvest moon the homeless man's cup filled with silver
	Asha Bishi, Age 14, Grade 9 School of the Arts Rochester, New York my father in the stubbled wheat field scratches his beard
		Adrian DiMatteo, Age 14, Grade 9 School of the Arts Rochester, New York superstitious a fortune cookie seals my fate

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2004

The judges for the 2004 competition were an'ya and kirsty karkow. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 2004 on the Judges' Commentary page.

James Kelly, Age 17 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, IA ocean shore lost in a pile of rocks a seal sleeps
	Amanda White, Age 17 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, IA cold in church mother and I move closer
		Emily Cornish, Age 15 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY summer cottage the bullfrog slips my grasp
Allison McCrossen, Age 13 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY shifting shadows deep in the hills a dog barks
	Jenny Zhang, Age 16 Cedar Shaols High School, Athens, GA metallic taste the cold stream spills from my hand
		Elizabeth Hetherington, Age 16 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY koi nibbling my copper wish

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2003

The judges for the 2003 competition were Claire Gallagher and Anne Homan. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 2003 on the Judges' Commentary page.

Laura Santiago, Age 15, Grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY summer breeze the flutter of clothes thrown over a chair
	Henry Aigetsinger , Age 15, Grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY pebbles underfoot in the cold stream stars
		C. J. Welch, Age 17, Grade 12 Walhert High School, Dubuque, Iowa in front of the meth lab three children hopscotch
Emily Cornish, Age 14, Grade 8 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY Ash Wednesday from lines of silent people a cough echoes
	Laura Santiago, Age 15, Grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, NY spring evening rain soaks through the newspaper on my head

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2002

The judges for the 2002 competition were Raffael DeGruttola and Judson Evans.

First Place Colin Murray, grade 8 School of the Arts, Rochester, N.Y. hovering over a damp field a cloud of gnats
	Second Place Shannon Ryan, grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, N.Y. dawn dust dances on shafts of sunlight
		Third Place Travis Moore, grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, N.Y. summer dusk throwing stones through a broken window
Fourth Place James Isaak, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa on an old cemetery stone my name
	Fifth Place Cory Hanson, grade 11 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa mountain stream trout dart around watercress
		Sixth Place Colin Murray, grade 8 School for the Arts, Rochester, N.Y Monday morning kicking the slush from behind the wheels

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2001

The judges for the 2001 competition were Randy and Shirley Brooks.

First Place Travis Moore, age 13, Grade 8 School of the Arts, Rochester, N.Y. autumn wind rattles the glass— a child's breath
	Second Place Brooke Erschen, age 18, Grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa walking the pumpkin patch— children's faces aglow
		Third Place Deborah Meyer, age 18, Grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa from the tanning salon to her car January chill
Fourth Place Heidi Streit, age 17, Grade 12 Walhert High School, Dubuque, Iowa strep throat she kisses him anyway
	Fifth Place Katherine Welter, age 17 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa after the dentist appointment sister returns all smiles
		Sixth Place Kali Smith age 16, Grade 11 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa new beau fingering the tattoo with her name

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2000

The judges for the 2000 competition were Ruth Yarrow and Kathleen Decker. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 2000 on the Judges' Commentary page.

Nathaniel B. Gach, age 18, grade 12 Marple Newtown High School, Newtown Square, Pa. spring morning the dewy grass holds the shape of her step
	Dave Ferry, age 17, grade 12 Marple Newtown High School Newtown Square, Pa. Thanksgiving Dinner Silence, and the pendulum swinging
		Elizabeth Frank, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa a whale's last call the blue sea— red
Nathaniel B. Gach, age 18, grade 12 Marple Newtown High School Newtown Square, Pa. autumn afternoon hole in the stone wall a perfect frame
	Thomas Murray, age 15, grade 9 School of the Arts, Rochester, N.Y. from Orion a bat flits to the moon
		Kate Chapman, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa mountain view photo capturing the tourist's breath

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1999

The judges for the 2003 competition were Yvonne Hardenbrook and Cherie Hunter Day. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 1999 on the Judges' Commentary page.

Damian Stork, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa farming his hands showing the work
	Heather Klinthammer, age 18, grade 12, Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa concentration on the runner's forehead birdpoop
		Paula Faber, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa at the movie their hands meet . . . in the buttered popcorn
Heather Klinthammer, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa mother's crossed arms a reminder— of our argument
	Joe Arling, age 17, grade 12, Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa Overhead projector the lesson over a student's head
		Tony Leisen, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa after the rain so visible the spider's web

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1998

The judges for the 1998 competition were Ellen Compton and Jeff Witkin. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 1998 on the Judges' Commentary page.

Tyler Stoffel, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa photograph: for a moment everything still
	Crystal Wagner, age 17, grade 11 Wahlert High School, Dubuque. Iowa smiling at him in the old pictures he smiles back
		Tara Stecklein, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa the quiet girl wearing a loud shirt
Adam Rauch, age 17, grade 12 Marple Newtown Senior High School, Newtown Square, Pa. finding myself between the willows— autumn evening
	Dani DeCaro, age 16, grade 12 Marple Newtown Senior High School Newtown Square, Pa. signs of spring— tanktop revealing her butterfly tattoo
		Bridget Leary, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque Iowa leaf pattern arranged rearranged by the wind

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1997

The Virgilio Contest for 1997 was suspended while the deadline date for entries was changed from autumn to spring in order to fit better with the school year.

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1996

The judges for the 1996 competition were Lee Gurga and Paul Mena.

Margaret Miller, age 17, grade 12 Hopewell Valley Central High School, Pennington, N.J. first snow the whole pomegranate one seed at a time
	Bryan Roberts, age 16, grade 10 Waialua High School, Waialua, Hawaii silence I wait for the starter's pistol
		Adam Dodds, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School Dubuque, Iowa rain finding the hole in my shoe
Scott Splinter, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa first date her dog likes me
	Brian Mulligan, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School Dubuque, Iowa dark street a lit cigarette moves closer
		Krista Dodds, age 16, grade 11 Wahlert High School Dubuque, Iowa Halloween my feelings behind a mask

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1995

The judge for the 1995 competition was Paul O. Williams. To see his comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 1995 on the Judges' Commentary page.

First Place Anne Alfredo, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa solitary swimmer ripples the early-morning sun
	Second Place Beth Paisley, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa old man reeling in the sea
		Third Place Katie O'Connor, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa after the flood our flag waves from the clothesline
Honorable Mention Tony Leisen, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa dandelion wished away
	Honorable Mention Maureen Reilly, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa the tree snowcovered except one leaf
		Honorable Mention Charlotte Stevenson, 9th grade Castilleja School, Palo Alto, Calif. two oak leaves just the same until a brown moth flies away.
Honorable Mention Katie Gallagher, 10th grade University High School Honolulu, Hawaii two bold streaks of blue split by the thin horizon— ocean and spring sky

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1994

The judges for the 1994 competition were Christopher Herold and June Hymas. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 1994 on the Judges' Commentary page.

First Place Lisa Tranel, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa digging potatoes my dog barks at the shovel
	Second Place Adam Asbury, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa pheasant hunting his hand too cold to pull the trigger
		Third Place Brooke Althaus, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa mountains the horizon
Honorable Mention Nate Jenkins, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa turning the corner he turns his hat in a different direction
	Honorable Mention Jessi Kurt, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa Eucharist white on my dirty palm
		Honorable Mention Amanda Wetjen, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa rain . . . he holds out his hands
Honorable Mention Lisa White, 9th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa grandmother's smile spreads into a yawn

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1993

The judges for the 1993 competition were Tom Clausen and Jack Ervin. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 1993 on the Judges' Commentary page.

First Place Robin Grady, age 14, grade 9 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa In the corner of my bedroom in the silent house
	Second Place Cory Olson, age 14 grade 9 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa I watch myself walking past the still lake
		Third Place Keith Habel, age 14, grade 9 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa emergency room: watching the spider cross the floor
Honorable Mention Becky Atkinson, age 17, grade 12 Eastern Alamance High School, Mebane, N.C. goodnight embrace by the dusty road— all the stars
	Honorable Mention Pascu Dumitru, age 13, grade 6 School No. 39, Constanta, Romania earthquake . . . on the chesstable the horse hits the king
		Honorable Mention Noelle Egan, age 16, grade 11, Cherry Hill High School West Cherry Hill, N.J. Inside the box sits a doll shoeless
Honorable Mention Heather Caulberg, age 16, grade 11 Eastern Alamance High School, Mebane, N.C. striped fish criss-crossed by a salty net

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1992

The judges for the 1992 competition were Carol Purington and Kathleen R. O'Toole. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 1992 on the Judges' Commentary page.

First Place Chris McQuillen, age 14, grade 9 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa indian chant only white men dancing
	Second Place Cindy Stierman, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa silent study hall: my stomach growls anyway
		Third Place David Sickler, age 16, grade 11 Wyoming Valley West High School Plymouth, Pa. After his funeral, the white line on her tanned finger.
Honorable Mention Olivia Diana Bangal, age 14 Secondary School, Constanta, Romania I and the dog hunting together the evening mosquitoes.
	Honorable Mention Ben Meier, age 15, grade 9 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa out of sight o ballo n and the child's smile
		Honorable Mention Yezmin Soberanes Albert, age 17, grade 11 Hamilton School, Mexico D.F., Mexico Inside its shell a snail and rain . . .
Honorable Mention Diana Stanciu Constanta, Romania butterflies in the air in the herbarium deep silence

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1991

The judges for the 1991 competition were Joyce Walker Currier and Michael Dylan Welch. To see their comments on the winning haiku, click the link for 1991 on the Judges' Commentary page.

First Place Gina Valentine, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa new mother . . . her old cat appears at nursing time
	Second Place Paola Mizrahi, age 16, grade 11 Hamilton School, Mexico, D.F., Mexico As the sun rises the flowers open slowly . . .
		Third Place Jana Juergens, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa Blowing out a match the sudden smell
First Honorable Mention, Haiku Matt Richards, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa Christmas Day the hunters feed the deer
	Second Honorable Mention, Haiku Angela Widmyer, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa Father home late again . . . my mother's eyes
		Third Honorable Mention, Haiku Noelle Bellaver, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa chemistry between lab partners
First Honorable Mention, Senryu Noelle Bellaver, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa day after the big test the nurse's office empty
	Second Honorable Mention, Senryu Matt Richards, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa beautiful girl I turn my head and run the red light
		Third Honorable Mention, Senryu Kristin Torgler, age 17, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa out of our flavor ice cream man swears in Spanish
First Honorable Mention, Visual Gina Valentine, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa train flattened penny
	Second Honorable Mention, Visual Scott Kluck, age 18, grade 12 Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa re la tion ship broken

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1990

The judges for the 1990 competition were Harriett Bley, Minna Lerman, and vincent tripi.

First Prize Valentin Rader, age 16, 11th grade Cedar Shoals High School, Athens, Ga. Mad at myself . . . the ball keeps hitting its own shadow
	Second Prize Jane Schueller, age 17, 12th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa beside the waterfall the little girl wets her pants
		Third Prize Andy Daughetee, age 17, 12th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa light of a million stars . . . still the darkness
Honorable Mention Julie Ernst, age 17, 12th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa seashells take me from the shore
	Honorable Mention Tim Ehringer, age 18, 12th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa under the tree a planted feather
		Honorable Mention Keri Haas, age 18, 12th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa he gives me roses and their thorns
Honorable Mention, Senryu Andrea Stapleton, age 17, 12th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa I see his wholeness through the gap in his teeth
	Honorable Mention, Senryu Keri Haas, age 18, 12th grade Wahlert High School, Dubuque, Iowa awakened from sleep: cries of my aborted baby

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Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition Collection

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990