2025’s Winning Haikus:
English Category
Adult – First Place – Rowan Aldridge
two oak trees entwined
sharing light, roots, and branches
oh, what we shall be!
Adult – Second Place – Mary Alves Sella
returning to dust
his pine casket is lowered
spring sun warms my face
Adult – Third Place – Benjamin Bläsi
closing for today
dusk weaves its pastel colors
into a birdsong
Grades 7-12 – First Place – Austin Sandel
Eternal balance
Chaos hidden by the day
Nature sings its song
Grades 7-12 – First Second – Ema Santander Lopez
People will always
depend on one another,
if not, who are we?
Grades 7-12 – Third Place – Aeesha Mulani
Life is a balance
up down happy and sorrow
the circle goes on
Grades 4-6 – First Place – Audrey Sandel
I hear birds singing
Spring happiness in my heart
Animals in love
Grades 1-3 – First Place – Suroshree Ghosh
Title: Birds
Birds are amazing.
Birds like flowers and nectar.
Birds are awesome too.
Local School with Most Participation in 2025:
Tuscaloosa Magnet School
Japanese Category
Adult – First Place – 中丸 馨子 ／Nakamaru Keiko
咲き続く 冬薔薇一輪 病む友に
To my friend who is ill, I bring a winter rose, the flower that never seems to stop blooming.
Adult – Second Place – 2 小林 清華 ／ Kobayashi Seika
宿題も 恋の話も 春炬燵
Working at home together, sharing our love story, at a kotatsu [Japanese heated table] still used in spring.
Adult – Third Place – 柿沼 美恵子／ Kakinuma Mieko
病みて知る 子の頼しさ 春近し
After falling ill, I realize how much I rely on my child’s care. Spring approaches.
Grades 7-12 – Honorable Mention – 3 小川 楓花 / Ogawa Fuka
三世代 絵しりとりで 初笑い
Three generations playing the ”illust chainer “[word chain drawing game]. The first happy laugh of the New Year.
Grades 4-6 – Honorable Mention – 原 凛之介 ／Hara Rinnosuke
年賀状 会いたい気持ち あふれだす
New Year’s postcard. I am impatiently looking forward to seeing you.
Grades 4-6 – Honorable Mention – 市原 紳太郎 ／ Itihara Shintaro
初詣 チームでねらう 優勝旗
The first shrine visit of the year. Our team should get the champion flag
Grades 1-3 – First Place – 梅宮 芽生 ／ Umemiya Mei
しもばしら あるくがっそう シャカシャカと
Walking on ice needles, we make shaka-shaka sounds in harmony.
Grades 1-3 – Second Place – 福谷 茉子 ／ Fukuya Mako
ひいばあと いきぴったりの おもちつき
I pound mochi with Grandma. We are perfectly in sync.
Grades 1-3 – Third Place – 山田 春空 / Yamada Haruku
冬休み いとことならび せいくらべ
Winter break. I compare heights with my cousin.