The idea for this contest came from a poem I recently read on this site.
For this contest, you need to write a series of 5 haiku/senyru fitting the below requirements.
If you don’t know much about haiku and senyru please read the text below concerning the poetry forms and how to write them.
The haiku is an unrhymed Japanese poem consisting of three lines. The senyru is another form of this. They usually have 5/7/5 syllable (or in real terms onji) count. Although syllables aren’t onji, they are considered the closest thing to it in the English language so for the purpose of this contest count them as syllables. However, if you know onji, feel free to use them.
The haiku normally deals with seasons and natural happenings whereas the senyru deals with matters of human and social nature, sometimes is a comical or ironic manner.
If you are still unsure, you have a number of options; you can IM me, search the Internet for better explanations, or move on and leave the contest alone.
The series requirements-
1st haiku/senyru - a regular haiku using nature, elements and seasons.
2nd haiku/senyru – one using colours, it can be about one colour, two or several.
3rd haiku/senyru – about an animal or creature. It can be real or imaginary.
4th haiku/senyru – an emotion or human influence, e.g. fear, love, nostalgia, hope etc.
5th haiku/senyru – Your choice, but make it a good one!
Rules –
1) Remember to stick to the poetry form rules. Also for the sake of this contest please write all haiku/senyru using the typical 5/7/5 count.
2) Please use correct spelling, grammar etc. Don’t enter any 18+ material (erotica and swearing), no IM talk & all the rest of the normal rules like this.
3) No prewrites are allowed because I want such strict content.
FAILURE TO MEET THE ABOVE RULES WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION, NO SECOND CHANCES. THIS IS YOUR ONLY AND FINAL WARNING!
Prizes –
1st place - 300 points and a gold trophy
2nd place - some points and a silver trophy
3rd place – some points and a bronze trophy
There just may be some honourable mentions too.
NEW!!!! (PLEASE ONLY READ THIS IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE 5/7/5 SYLLABLE COUNT AND LINES NUMBER ETC)
I understand there has been some confusion around the whole “how strict does the syllable count have to be?” and “does it have to be three lines?”
I know haiku do not have to be 5/7/5 nor do they have to have three lines, however the traditional haiku is 5/7/5 (17 syllables) and using three lines. So in order to make this contest a little easier firstly for poets who many not be very confident with the form, and to help me when judging I thought it may be a good idea to stick to the traditional way. I realise I have already got rid of the traditional onji, but again I thought this would make it easier for everyone, does it not?
So here’s a compromise, please write your haiku/senyru using three lines with the 5/7/5 count unless you feel confident enough with haiku/senyru not to. In this case please write either on your poem or in the authors comments what version of the form you are using, and please use the same form throughout your series. If you do not show you have used a different variation, it will be judged as a 5/7/5 three lined haiku.
Thanks.
For this contest, you need to write a series of 5 haiku/senyru fitting the below requirements.
If you don’t know much about haiku and senyru please read the text below concerning the poetry forms and how to write them.
The haiku is an unrhymed Japanese poem consisting of three lines. The senyru is another form of this. They usually have 5/7/5 syllable (or in real terms onji) count. Although syllables aren’t onji, they are considered the closest thing to it in the English language so for the purpose of this contest count them as syllables. However, if you know onji, feel free to use them.
The haiku normally deals with seasons and natural happenings whereas the senyru deals with matters of human and social nature, sometimes is a comical or ironic manner.
If you are still unsure, you have a number of options; you can IM me, search the Internet for better explanations, or move on and leave the contest alone.
The series requirements-
1st haiku/senyru - a regular haiku using nature, elements and seasons.
2nd haiku/senyru – one using colours, it can be about one colour, two or several.
3rd haiku/senyru – about an animal or creature. It can be real or imaginary.
4th haiku/senyru – an emotion or human influence, e.g. fear, love, nostalgia, hope etc.
5th haiku/senyru – Your choice, but make it a good one!
Rules –
1) Remember to stick to the poetry form rules. Also for the sake of this contest please write all haiku/senyru using the typical 5/7/5 count.
2) Please use correct spelling, grammar etc. Don’t enter any 18+ material (erotica and swearing), no IM talk & all the rest of the normal rules like this.
3) No prewrites are allowed because I want such strict content.
FAILURE TO MEET THE ABOVE RULES WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION, NO SECOND CHANCES. THIS IS YOUR ONLY AND FINAL WARNING!
Prizes –
1st place - 300 points and a gold trophy
2nd place - some points and a silver trophy
3rd place – some points and a bronze trophy
There just may be some honourable mentions too.
NEW!!!! (PLEASE ONLY READ THIS IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE 5/7/5 SYLLABLE COUNT AND LINES NUMBER ETC)
I understand there has been some confusion around the whole “how strict does the syllable count have to be?” and “does it have to be three lines?”
I know haiku do not have to be 5/7/5 nor do they have to have three lines, however the traditional haiku is 5/7/5 (17 syllables) and using three lines. So in order to make this contest a little easier firstly for poets who many not be very confident with the form, and to help me when judging I thought it may be a good idea to stick to the traditional way. I realise I have already got rid of the traditional onji, but again I thought this would make it easier for everyone, does it not?
So here’s a compromise, please write your haiku/senyru using three lines with the 5/7/5 count unless you feel confident enough with haiku/senyru not to. In this case please write either on your poem or in the authors comments what version of the form you are using, and please use the same form throughout your series. If you do not show you have used a different variation, it will be judged as a 5/7/5 three lined haiku.
Thanks.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 5, 2005
- Rewards: Gold: 300
- Final notes: I'd just like to thank everyone for entering, you all entered great poems. I'm sorry I'm a little late judging, I've had a lot on recently.
Congratulations to the winners, and to everyone thanks for entering.
Look below for the trophy winners.
The honourable mentions (in no particular order) are -
Albatross
Cake
Black Mariah
Thanks again,
SilverScent
Entries [8]
1 - 8 of 8
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Frozen lace dances
About a canvas azure• Commented on by judge. -
by MYownFreedom 15 lines, 9 comments, on May 23 12:18 PM 2005. In Haiku• Commented on by judge.
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the great horned owl
with tufts of feathers on head• Commented on by judge. -
Haiku One
Snow Falling Gently• Commented on by judge. -
Spiraling downward
Crisp golden-yellow landing• Commented on by judge. -
Green eyes tell the tales
Whiskers whispering secrets• Commented on by judge. -
by Gingerandhoney 22 lines, 7 comments, on May 26 2:01 PM 2005. In Contemporary• Commented on by judge.
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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how many haiku are you allowed to enter?
Edited on May 15, 2:23 p.m. because ''. -
Hmm, very interesting...how many entries are we allowed? I know it's a chain of five haiku but how many times can we enter? Anyway, good luck with this. I might come by and enter if I have time.
~CT -
Well this is definately my kind of contest , i was just wondering how strict you'll be with the 5/7/5 count. I've read alot of articles here , one that stuck out was by haikumonk , and from what i read its seems that most hauki's/senyru's don't actually have to be three lines and the normal syllable count. Just wanted to know before i got started. Take care and God bless.
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yeah mee too have the same doubt
how strict will be with the syllable count
is here n there minor mistakes allowed
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I think it's silly to be strict about the 5/7/5 syllable count. As you said, syllables are different from Onji; also, the modern Haiku need not conform to either requirement. It is the essence of the Haiku that is important, the description of the scene.
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I know it is possible to have haiku with more or less than 5/7/5 but I want not only haiku experts to enter, but also this contest may encourage poets who haven’t used this form before to have a go. I just thought that it might be confusing to allow many different options and that 5/7/5 would be a good one to use. However, thinking about it now maybe a slight allowance for variation could be possible. I'll think about that...
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The reason I said about the 5/7/5 syllable count was for the benefit of new "users" of haiku. However, I'm rethinking the whole "only 5/7/5 count allowed" thing.
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Hey, you can enter as many times as you like.
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Speaking for a person who uses both methods of haiku, the 5/7/5 count and less syllable counts as well, I feel it is unfair to now "change the rules" after some folks work has already been submitted conforming to your original rules. Just my opinion
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Yes I agree with you. I'm just trying to please people, I want people to enter the contest but all I keep getting is people saying "I don't think this is fair", "I think you should do this" etc. This is only supposed to be a bit of fun with Haiku and I'm now wondering if the effort I have put into this contest is being fully appreciated. I'm not pointing all this at you, and I'm sorry if it seems that way. I've just had enough now with people trying to run this contest for me and then when I change it, they are still not satisfied. What do I have to do to please people?
Thanks for your point anyway, but apparently there is nothing I can do. -
Hey thisd is a GREAT contest....I love writting in forms....I plan to enter...I will work on something to enter later this evening ..please do not close this early...would appriciate it.
-Amy
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I agree with people who say 5-7-5 isn't actually traditional (hey, we've all been influenced by haikumonk!)and I think sticking to 5-7-5 is too rigid and actually makes for people trying to fit words to 5-7-5 instead of allowing the natural flow of a moment. HOWEVER, it's your contest so people should either follow your rules or not enter! I've come to it too late otherwise I would have had a go.
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Thank you very much for your message on my contest page. I agree that 5-7-5 is somewhat strict but remember I have to judge it somehow. Maybe I'll judge on how people can use the 5-7-5 count and still make it flow, because isn't that what a true haiku writer should be able to do. Anyway thanks for respecting the rules, and it's true if you don't agree with the rules, don't enter.
Take care,
Silverscent -
ok
wait?!?!?! how many times do we have to enter??? like 5 times??? -
No, if you read the contest it says, write 5 haiku using the guidelines provided and enter that as one haiku series. Look at other peoples entries for examples. However, you can enter as many times as you want as long as you have 5 haiku in each entry. Thanks.
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