The Results Are In!

It was a long wait, but the results for the 2015 April Poem A Day Challenge are almost complete. Even though there are a few days that have not been announced, I know where I stand thanks to a post on Poetic Asides that listed the status of all finalists a couple of weeks ago.

Overall, I did a lot better than I ever could have imagined. I went into the challenge hoping for maybe one Top Ten Finish. Considering I’ve never placed in any of the Poem A Day Challenges, I figured this was a reasonable goal. It turns out my little haikus blew that goal out of the water!

I managed to land in the Top Ten a total of six times!!

I am beyond honored to be listed among so many amazing poets. They are all incredibly talented, creative, and inspiring writers. I’ve long enjoyed reading their work during challenges and weekly prompts alike.

Now that the challenge is over, I thought I’d share the six poems that landed in the Top Ten.

a stone on the shore
until it hops
lakeside toad

– – –

monsoon wind
answers the
cicada’s call

– – –

evening gales
push through the pines
with whistling speed

– – –

pushed by the moon
shimmering waves
rise on the shore

– – –

I submitted three haikus for this day under one title, so I’m not sure which one was recognized.

I.
restless air
gives the trees
a reason to move

II.
a cool touch
sways the jasmine
to float on the vine

III.
a warm breath
lets the sun dance
between palm leaves

– – –

The little star by my name means I almost won. So close, yet so far!!

snowflakes fall
until the ground
is gone

– – –

When I started writing haiku a little over a year ago, I had no idea it would lead to so much personal fulfillment. My day is not complete until I’ve written at least one haiku! In many ways, this poetic form has helped me find my voice and it continues to challenge me to explore the world with a sharp eye.

I’m currently in the process of finalizing my chapbook entry for the 2015 November Poem A Day Challenge. Haiku is once again my chosen format (shocker, eh?), but I’ve added a little twist. Stay tuned!

– – –

c.b.w. 2016

 

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Another Top 10!

The results for the 2015 April Poem A Day Challenge (via Poetic Asides on Writer’s Digest) continue to roll in little by little. Last week, I came home from a long day at work and decided to check out the results page to see if any new finalist lists had been posted. I didn’t think I’d find my name anywhere – I’d already made the Top 10 for Day 6 and I’m still quite ecstatic about that!

To my great surprise, I found my name in the Top 10 for another day in the challenge!!! There it was under Day 11, third from the bottom!

 

 

When I saw what prompt and judge was associated with Day 11, I got even more excited. This is the one I wanted the most! The judge, Michael Dylan Welch, is a poet I greatly admire. His haikus are beautiful and so is his philosophy regarding the practice. In addition, he runs National Haiku Writing Month, of which I participate in every month.

When I saw he was judging Day 11, I worked incredibly hard on my entries. I think I wrote twenty haikus, before settling on just three to enter. To see one of them selected by a poet who has inspired me so much is nothing short of amazing.

I feel incredibly honored to be included among some insanely talented poets – Walt Wojtanik, De Jackson, and Daniel Ari are prolific contributors on Poetic Asides and I love their work. They also happen to be some of the most encouraging and kind people I’ve ever encountered. Congrats to all!

Last but not least, here’s the haiku that made the cut:

monsoon wind
answers the 
cicada’s call

– – –

c.b.w. 2015

Favorite Thing Friday: Making the Top 10

This was a good week for poetry! After three months of waiting for results, a partial list of finalists and winners for the 2015 April Poem A Day Challenge (via Poetic Asides via Writer’s Digest) has been posted.

When I scrolled down to Day 6, I was ecstatic to see my name listed as a Top Ten finalist!!!  The challenge included so many amazing and talented poets, I am incredibly honored to be part of this list (fourth from the bottom):

Though making this list was incredible all by itself, I’m thrilled that it was accomplished with a haiku. For the last year, I’ve been honing my skill in the art of haiku. In this practice, I have found immense admiration and passion for the form.

To see my little haiku break through in the PAD Challenge gives me even more encouragement to continue writing those three little lines.

Here’s the haiku that made the Day 6 Top Ten:

a stone on the shore
until it hops
lakeside toad

 

– – –

c.b.w. 2015

Poem A Day Challenge: April 24-26

With only a few days remaining the  2015 April Poem A Day Challenge, this blog should be back to regular programming soon! Thanks for following along as I navigate through National Poetry Month.

April 24, 2015
Prompt: moment

I.
fallen flowers
float for a moment
morning breeze

II.
clouds roll overhead
gravel crunches
beneath my feet

III.
rainclouds break apart
just in time
for sunset

– – –

April 25, 2015
Prompt: across the sea

Queen Mary’s Garden

I.
June’s first rain
settles in the center
of a white rose

II.
Triton’s fountain
sprinkles the pond
along with the rain

III.
grey clouds loom
over a path covered
with rose petals

– – –

April 26, 2015
Prompt: Shakespearean Words

I. Blush

clouds blush
at the sight
of an early moon

II. Moonbeam

midnight rain
drops catch the glow
of a full moon

II. Radiance

black water
reflects the stars
flickering fire

– – –

c.b.w. 2015

Poem A Day Challenge: April 21-23

I can’t believe there’s only a week remaining in the 2015 April Poem A Day Challenge! It’s all gone by so fast, but I’ve enjoyed every minute.

April 21, 2015
Prompt: You are / You are not

You, my love, . . . are not.

I.
sun through the blinds
your morning smile
keeps me warm

II.
rain taps the window
your side of the bed
leaves me cold

– – –

April 22, 2015
Prompt: nature

the nature of wind

I.
a cool touch
sways the jasmine
to float on the vine

II.
a cool touch
sways the jasmine
to float on the vine

III.
a warm breath
lets the sun dance
between palm leaves

– – –

April 23, 2015
Prompt: historic

I.
strolling on the Thames
centuries go by
in just a few steps

II.
ancient stones
lie on a bed
of spring grass

– – –

c.b.w. 2015