Gerald Brady Memorial Senryu Award Collection

These awards for unpublished senryu are made possible by a starter fund donated by Virginia Brady Young in memory of her brother, Gerald Brady. See also the contest rules for the Brady award.

Winners by Year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988

2020

Judges: David Grayson & J. Zimmerman
See 2020 judges' comments.

First Place

a hole
in the fence, mostly
on their side

Tony Williams, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Second Place

insomnia—
lying under fleece
counting wolves

Suzanne Niedzielska, Glastonbury, CT

Third Prize

she died peacefully
according to family
whose views
she detested

Barrie Levine, Wenham, MA

Honorable Mention

x plus x
chromosomes
she loves algebra

Jerrold Levy, Deerfield, IL

Honorable Mention

haiku gathering
a whole lot of shakuhachi
going on

John Stevenson, Nassau, NY

Honorable Mention

horrormones

Julie Warther, USA

2019

Judges: Susan Burch and Steve Hodge
See 2019 judges' comments.

First Place

refugee—
where to bury
his child

PMF Johnson, Minneapolis, MN

Second Place

newborn
the unplanned
mother-in-law

Roberta Beary, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland

Third Prize

holiday letter
the stories we choose
not to tell

Annette Makino, Arcata, CA

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

town undertaker—
seeing more and more
of his old friends

Barry George, Philadelphia, PA

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

age spots
the last banana
in the bunch

Tom Painting, Atlanta, GA

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

park map
at the end of the day
‘You Are Here’

Jayne Miller, Hazel Green, WI

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

migrant children
in cages
not terrorists—yet

Mel Goldberg, Ajijic, Mexico

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

identifying
scat on the trail . . .
election year

Brad Bennett, Arlington, MA

2018

Judges: Deborah P Kolodji and Tom Painting
See 2018 judges' comments.

First Place ($100)

play date
the awkwardness
of naked Barbies

Joshua Gage, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.

 

Second Place ($75)

graffiti
I choose a bench that supports
my views

Ann Magyar, Brighton, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

Third Prize ($50)

family reunion
proof we are alone
in the universe

Jay Friedenberg, New York, New York, U.S.A.

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

forest walk
the chirp
of each text

            Jacquie Pearce, Vancouver, BC, Canada

 

bird watching
from the dentist’s chair
hum of the buffer

            Marcyn Del Clements, Claremont, California, U.S.A.

2017

Judges: Chuck Brickley & Julie Warther
See 2017 judges' comments.

First Place ($100)

tangled shadows lying about what’s making them

Sam Bateman

Second Place ($75)

flea market
we once had
it all

Joe McKeon

Third Prize ($50)

family cookout
enough of everyone
to go around

Michele Root-Bernstein

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

back pain
again I pick up
unsaid words

Kyle D. Craig

sunrise
no one in line
for tickets

Joe McKeon

a fish
in the heron’s bill
town gossip

Roland Packer

2016

Judges: Paul Miller & Peter Newton
See 2016 judges' comments.

First Place ($100)

single again
the woman
in my dream

Tom Painting, Atlanta GA

Second Place ($75)

estate sale
the hard
erasers

John Stevenson, Nassau NY

Third Prize ($50)

sacred shrine
worshippers raise
their selfie sticks

Annette Makino, Arcata CA

2015

Judges: Gayle Bull & Jerome Cushman
See 2015 judges' comments.

First Prize ($100)

grass trampled
by demonstrators
Earth Day

paul m., Bristol, RI

Second Prize ($75)

Independence Day parade
a child marches
in the wrong direction

Jay Friedenberg, New York, NY

Third Prize ($50)

sleepless and alone
I search for new friends
on Facebook

Margaret Chula, Portland, OR

2014

Judges: Charlotte Digregorio & John J. Dunphy
See 2014 judges' comments.

First Prize ($100)

 night crossing
Tijuana border guard
 in sunglasses

Neal Whitman, Pacific Grove, CA

Second Prize ($75)

small town
the same dream
as last night

John Stevenson, Nassau, NY

Third Prize ($50)

half-empty cup
I decide I’ve had enough
of you

Susan Burch, Hagerstown, MD

2013

Judges: Alan S. Bridges & Michele L. Harvey
See 2013 judges' comments.

First Prize ($100)

middle age
in the mirror
the turn toward it

Peter Newton

Second Prize ($75)

wedding day
the time he takes
to knot the tie

Marylyn Appl Walker

Third Prize ($50)

stick figures
including one
i recognize

John Stevenson

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

boy girl party
the slow speed
of the blender

Michelle Schaefer

life and death decisions
the need to feel
the satin lining

Julie Warther

perfect storm the perfume not hers

 Ernest Berry

phantom pain—
the shape of her
in a stranger

 Jayne Mille

2012

Judges: Susan Constable & Susan Antolin
See 2012 judges' comments.

First Prize ($100)

death watch
she dies peacefully
in their sleep

Julie Warther

Second Prize ($75)

rain gauge
the pastor talks
about grief

Michele L. Harvey

Third Prize ($50)

waiting room—
a fly climbs the stairs
on an Escher print

Terri L. French

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

my third glass of wine
the mosquito
comes back for seconds

Terri L. French

philosophy class
I talk myself
into a corner

Tom Painting

Old Faithful
the crowd arrives
right on time

Jim Kacian

2011

Judges: Eve Luckring & Chad Lee Robinson
See 2011 judges' comments.

First Place

undressing the summer wind turns color

Ernest J. Berry

Second Place

Father's Day--
a potato
without a face

Susan Marie La Valle

Third Place

stirring my coffee
every which way
flamenco

Sheila K. Barksdale

Honorable Mentions (unranked)

a watermelon smile drips off the end of my elbows

Bett Angel-Stawarz

Trick-or-Treat
a sailboat's name
reflects in the sea

Alan S. Bridges

Martin Luther King Day
I readjust
my rear-view mirror

Carolyn Hall

2010

Judges: Linda Jeanette Ward & Marsh Muirhead
See 2010 judges' comments.

First Place ($100)

my skeleton
going for a walk
in the cemetery

Garry Gay

Second Place ($75)

mother's day
she puts me
on hold

Roberta Beary

2009

Judges: w.f. owen & Johnny Baranski
See 2009 judges' comments.

First Place
Barry George (Philadelphia, PA)

the stylist
rinses away
the sound of her voice

Second Place
Marilyn Appl Walker (Madison, GA)

their first Thanksgiving
    posing together
    with the turkey

Third Place
Kathe Palka (Flemington, NJ)

  graduation day
in the gait of our son
your younger strid

Honorable Mention
Carolyn Hall (San Francisco, CA)

Kona Wind
an ocean between me
and my worries

Honorable Mention
Bill Pauly (Dubuque, IA)

new bride—
the squeak of her
sweet corn being shucked

Honorable Mention
Tony Virgilio (Camden, NJ)

old timers' game
seventh inning stretch
the creaking of knees

2008

Judges: Alexis Rotella & Scott Mason
See 2008 judges' comments.

First Place:
David P. Grayson

street corner memorial—
my four-year old
asks for the balloon

Second Place:
Michael Dylan Welch

busy Italian restaurant—
happy birthday
sung to the wrong table

Third Place:
Margaret Chula

Tokyo vending machine
   the long line
      behind the foreigner

Honorable Mention
Kenneth Elba Carrier

old palm reader . . .
my life line
her longest yet

Honorable Mention
Marian Olson

engagement ring
     he decides
     it looks real enough

Honorable Mention
Catherine J.S. Lee

parade march—
the old vet with canes
refuses to ride

Honorable Mention
Robert Mainone

first day of school
her brother's backpack
with legs

2007

Judges: Ce Rosenow and Francine Banwarth

First Place:
Scott Mason

inviting aromas . . .
     the hostess asks
          will it just be me

Second Place:
Scott Mason

our pilot hopes
to see us again real soon
the intercom clicks

Third Place:
Carolyn Hall

candlelight dinner
she fingers the rose
to see it it's real

Honorable Mention
Collin Barber

stale cookie
I give away
the fortune

Honorable Mention
Ernest J. Berry

     wrong date
the thickening skin
     on her latte

Honorable Mention
Anne Maud Godles

a new boyfriend
the same lingerie
enticing again

Honorable Mention
Marylouise Knight

feeling the shape
of the wrapped gift
I put on a polite face

2006

Judges: Claire Gallagher & Carolyn Hall
See 2006 judges' comments.

First Place: ($100)
Roberta Beary

first date—
the little pile
of anchovies

Second Place: ($75)
Daniel Liebert

mistaking telephone
for doorbell—
I let loneliness in

Third Place: ($50)
Kenneth Elba Carrier

arguing—
a deaf man grabs
the other's hands

Honorable Mention - 1st place:
Kenneth Elba Carrier

crossing the hopscotch
two old women
avoid the lines

Honorable Mention - 2nd place
C.R. Manley

dentist's obituary—
common interests
we could never talk about

Honorable Mention - 3rd place:
Garry Gay

As if it were spring
the green mold
on the cheese

Honorable Mention -4th Place
Roland Packer

psychic fair
she brushes some dirt
from the cards

2005

Judges: An'ya & Carlos Colon

First Place:
Emily Romano

centerfold:
the model's navel
off-center

Second Place:
Ron Moss

day moon
a fresh tattoo rises
out of her jeans

Third Place:
Susan Antolin

Independence Day
I struggle to free myself
from a wet swim suit

Honorable Mention - 1st place:
Ron Moss

fresh blueberries
a 'gothic' teenager
darkens her lips

Honorable Mention - 2nd place (tie):
Scott Mason

switchbacks—
five or six cub scouts
an octave higher

Honorable Mention -
2nd place (tie):
James Fowler

my father and I
paint the barn
compare wars

Honorable Mention - 3rd place:
Evelyn H. Hermann

picnic
in the sun-dappled courtyard
my freckled banana

2004

Judges: Terry Ann Carter & Claudia Coutu

First Place:
John Stevenson

in the dream
my dog has a whistle
only I can hear

Second Place:
Emily Romano

rodeo cowboy
hopefully clutching
a handful of sky

Third Place:
J. Daniel Beaudry

two-way glass—
the patient waits inside
the therapist's reflection

Honorable Mention:
Robert Bauer

rush hour—
the blonde in the Porsche peels
an orange

Honorable Mention:
Carl Patrick

scar on her cheek
she gets her lipstick
just right

Honorable Mention:
Marilyn Appl Walker

grocery shopping—
his python tattoo
squeezes the Charmin

Honorable Mention:
Frank Walsh

on display:
her small and firm
opinion of men

Honorable Mention:
Jeanne Harrington

conservatory,
the carnivorous plants
behind glass

Honorable Mention:
Bill Pauly

grinding sausage meat
she recounts the times
her husband cheated

2003

Judges: Roberta Beary & Ellen Compton

First Place:
w.f. owen

aftershock
the picture on the wall
straightens

Second Place:
Carlos Colon

in the middle
of making love
counting syllables

Third Place:
R.A. Stefanac

nudist camp
where to begin
with the sunblock

Honorable Mention:
Zanna P. Rade

Clothesline—
the shirt shows off
its biceps

Honorable Mention:
Bob Boni

open mike night
the audience
goes dead

Honorable Mention:
Carolyn Hall

getting acquainted
I learn another name
for wild radish

2002

Judges: Pamela A. Babusci & Tom Painting

First Place:
w. f. owen

divorced
she cleans the ring
around the tub

Second Place:
Heather Basile

after lovemaking
returning
to ourselves

Third Place:
Art Stein

    nest of black hair
secured with ball-point pens
    office geisha

Honorable Mention:
Marilyn Taylor

naked at the ironing board
    concentrating
        on a crease

Honorable Mention:
w. f. owen

round and round
debating
circumcision

2001

Judges: Barbara Ressler & Bill Pauly

First Place:
Billie Wilson

freezing wind—
the body builder pumps gas
in a muscle shirt

Second Place:
W. F. Owen

werewolf movie
at the commercial
letting the dog out

Third Place:
Janeth H. Ewald

winter rain
holding the umbrella
over the dachshund—pissing

2000

First Place
Yvonnne Hardenbrook

the clerk’s lip ring
I forget
what I wanted

Second Place
Robert J. Guarneir

in the midway sun
corn on the cob customers
grinning ear to ear

Third Place
LeRoy Gorman

school library
such quiet
books

Honorable Mention
Garry Gay

At the fence
they sit on their tractors
talking hay

Honorable Mention
Timothy I. Mize

three surgeons
five nurses
wrong leg

Honorable Mention
Marian Olson

Full moon
I iron a wrinkle
into his pants

Honorable Mention
Michael Dylan Welch

Valentine’s Day
she reminds me
to fasten my seatbelt

Honorable Mention
Michael Dylan Welch

before the guests arrive
I straighten
the straight cushions

Honorable Mention
Michael Dylan Welch

a lull in her hands
the hairstylist asks
how I part my hair

1999

First Place
Leatrice Lifshitz

in one room
everything she has
and a window

Second Place
Garry Gay

Floating
in the dishwater
a pair of chopsticks

Third Place
Jeff Witkin

serious
she takes off her sunglasses
to speak english

Honorable Mention
Ernest Berry

nude beach
an empty bikini
turns me on

Honorable Mention
John Barlow

dropping valentine chocolates
he quickly swaps them
for another box

Honorable Mention
Carolyn Hall

leaning back
in their chairs
old friends reunited

Honorable Mention
Theresa Mormino

saving her best dishes
for a better day
my eighty year old mother

1998

First Place
Carl Patrick

fireflies
my neighbor
has more

Second Place
D. Claire Gallagher

blowing out
one birthday candle:
the whole family

Third Place
John Stevenson

“Just Married”
the attendant
pumping too much gas

Honorable Mention
Diane Tomczak

family reunion
everywhere I look
my old nose

Honorable Mention
Lee Gurga

identical twins
their hair neatly parted
on opposite sides

Honorable Mention
David Gershator

at the flea market
looking through books
I gave away

Honorable Mention
Sandra Fuhringer

nightfall
the zookeeper
lets himself out

1997

First Place
John Stevenson

tourist town
postcards of the waterfall
racked upside down

Second Place
Paul Watsky

carrying their canes
two old women lean
on each other

Third Place
Jeff Witkin

first date
in the parking lot
our car doors touch

Honorable Mention
Diane Tomczak

parents coaxing
baby to eat
mouths wide open

Honorable Mention
Francine Porad

handsome vendor
my name
on a grain of rice

Honorable Mention
J. Lent

driving lesson done
father and daughter run
fingers through their hair

Honorable Mention
Bruce Detrick

naked
on the bathroom scales
stomach held in

1996

First Place
Sandra Fuhringer

reconciliation
the candle between us
sputters

Second Place
Paul Watsky

his ashes scattered
what to do
with the box

Third Place
John Stevenson

nude beach
his enormous
sand castle

Honorable Mention
Helen Dalton

letting the dog out
letting the dog in
wrong dog

Honorable Mention
D. Claire Gallagher

A gusting breeze
the comet wobbles
in my binoculars

Honorable Mention
Marianna Monaco

long walk home
kicking a stone
for company

Honorable Mention
John Stevenson

Christmas Day
the exchange
of custody

Honorable Mention
John Stevenson

honeymoon trip
he refuses to stop
for directions

1995

First Place
Michael Dylan Welch

clicking off the late movie . . .
   the couch cushion
       reinflates

Second Place
Connie Meester

opening night . . .
missing the entrance
of the night blooming cereus

Third Place
Donna Claire Gallagher

Forgetting his underwear
the one with so many
frequent flier miles

Honorable Mention
Donna Claire Gallagher

summer concert
fanning myself faster
during the scherzo

Honorable Mention
John Stevenson

overmatched boxer
his eyes closed
before the fight

Honorable Mention
Elizabeth St. Jacques

yard sale:
she takes the baby crib
back into the house

Honorable Mention
Diane Tomszak

his toe
answers mine
a truce begin

1994

First Place
David Carmel Gershator

making sure
nothing grows
the rock gardener

Second Place
John Stevenson

too quick to reply
cutting my tongue
on the envelope

Third Place
Lynda La Rocca

Grandfather’s funeral
Cousin Kate, air kissing,
Spies a mirror, checks her makeup.

1st Honorable Mention
Marilyn Taylor

in a semi circle
retired sisters watch
“Wheel of Fortune”

2nd Honorable Mention
Mark Arvid White

dissatisfied
with her Virgo horoscope
               she tries Pisces

3rd Honorable Mention
Lawrence Rungren

first time
at the zoo my son
watches the people

4th Honorable Mention
Jim Kacian

antiquities room
the curator asks
“So what’s new?”

1993

First Place
Tom Clausen

meeting her boyfriend
        our handshake
                out of synch

Second Place
Leatrice Lifshitz

from the Holy Land
he sends a postcard of cracks
two thousand hears old

Third Place
Makiko

Polaroid of her lover
coming clearer
with time

Honorable Mention
Peter Duppenthaler

visitor’s day
buttons just right
her dress inside out

Honorable Mention
Garry Gay

Blueberries
we show each other
our tongues

Honorable Mention
Margaret Peacock

battered child
. . . kicking the swing
higher

Honorable Mention
Michael Dylan Welch

a pause in the lecture
all at once three students
cross their legs

1992

First Place
Christopher Herold

cropped grass
∏r2 =
the tethered goat

Second Place
Helen L Shaffer

whacking the bat
with a broom, she says
they attack people

Third Place
Vincent Tripi

Clear about
everything
the window washer

1991

First Place
Leatrice Lifshitz

dining out
next to the window
her coat

Second Place
Carol Montgomery

    late spring blossoms
the silhouette artist facing
                       another ponytail

Third Place
Marlina Rinzen

balloon man
selling pins
for popping

1990

First Place
John Thompson

On the same bus
    the same strangers
         as yesterday

Second Place
Michael Howell

New neighbor
eyeing the worn path
between our houses

Third Place
Michael Howell

a man swept by
    in a wave rising, falling
         sees us see him drown

Honorable Mention
Lesley Einer

fingering my tattoo
granddaughter asks
when she can have numbers

Honorable Mention
Kenneth Leibman

the words unspoken . . .
waiting for the toast
        to pop up

Honorable Mention
LeRoy Gorman

drilling deeper
my dentist talks me into
Amnesty International

Honorable Mention
Anita Krumin

Methodical husband:
On his list of chores, she finds
Her name

Honorable Mention
LeRoy Gorman

      running down
   FIGHT ILLITERACY
the gang’s red paint

Honorable Mention
Brenda Duster

drunken sailor
loses both shoes
tying one on

1989

First Place
Brenda S Duster

eating alone
my alphabet soup
speaks to me

Second Place
Joe Nutt

lunch
with her lover’s wife
leftovers

Third Place
Garry Gay

Hole in the ozone
my bald spot . . .
sunburned

1st Honorable Mention
Sheldon Young

after kindling
his passion . . .
she lights his cigarette

2nd Honorable Mention
David Elliot

Nurse’s Station
above the heart monitors
a soap opera

3rd Honorable Mention
Dee Evetts

how desirable
in the thrift shop window
my old Mag Johng set

1988

First Prize
Frederick Gasser

hopscotch
a one legged man
raises cane

Runner Up
Charles D Nethaway, Jr.

young lawyer
his briefs
in the snow

Runner Up
Dee Evetts

in his mother’s house
he walks into the cobweb
she underlooked

Runner Up
Caroline G. Banks

Feel the warmth of
Basho’s frogpond
just xeroxed

Runner Up
Carol Mongomery

behind shadow proof blinds
the calligrapher’s
word processor