Judge Ion Codrescu (RO)
10 Selections
Three Top Choices
In my selection I have tried to avoid the poems
which contain "cliche" or "déjà vu" images. I have
tried to find the originality in the art of the composition. No way for
sentimentality...No time for cheap display of emotion... I like strong voices in
the haiku poetry. I hope you will enjoy my selection. - Ion Codrescu
First Choice:
66
through sleet
screams draw
unseen cranes
Sonia
Cristina Coman
Constantza, Romania
This poem exhibits the most important thing of
the haiku aesthetics: SIMPLICITY. First of all, there is the image of
sleet. At the same time, you hear the screams of the birds, but there is no
way to see them...The sounds through the sleet make you imagine the birds...The
author uses the sibilance of "s" sounds to suggest
screams through words (sleet, screams, unseen and cranes). The shape
of the poem is simple: only six words. After the first reading, you enjoy
this haiku because each line has the power to "show" and
"hide". The poet knows how to use only a few words as a sumi-e painter
uses just a very few brush strokes to paint a landscape. A wonderful poem.
Second Choice:
15
changing kimonos
between seasons...
my ordinary life
Pamela A. Babusci
New York, United States
This poem shows us how time passes; how we, in
our ordinary lives, must needs enjoy the beauty of the seasons, of nature, of
art, of poetry and so on. The author must be a woman who knows to appreciate the
beautiful moments of her life... . I like the image of the poem very much. It is
like a picture from an old Japanese novel. There is joy in the first two
lines and sadness in the last one...There is a mystery of beauty in the
whole poem.
Third Choice:
34
gurgling stream
the stone drying in my hand
dies silently
John Bird
Ocean Shores NSW, Australia
The poet has made a great juxtaposition between
the first image -- the gurgling stream, and the second -- a beautiful
stone taken from the water of the stream, which is changing colour in front of
our eyes and in our palms. Many of us have had this same experience at
a stream. The juxtaposition between sound and colour: NATURE astonishes us every
moment and gives us joy. We only have to look at NATURE. We have to look until
we SEE the marvelous spirit of NATURE.
Fourth Choice:
467
Burning red maple
A crow's caw echoes
From the temple
Etsuko
Yanagibori
Sitamaken,
Japan
Fifth Choice:
28
In the dark,
a sound I don't know --
the spring moon
Christopher (Kit) Baskind
Florida, United States
