HAIKU JUNIOR results – NZPS International Poetry Competition 2024

 

 

 Each of the HIGHLY COMMENDED this year showed an almost intuitive storytelling ability. All of these haiku moments were full of mystery and wonder. The poems were edited well (they were the length of a breath) and all of them unravelled slowly, culminating in a strong final line that left a lasting impression. Congratulations to:

 

Connor Shackleton, Kapakapanui School, Waikanae

an aurora comes

pink as a blossoming tree

filling the night sky

Daniel Officer, St Andrew’s College, Ōtautahi Christchurch

late evening

watching shadow movies

with my ancestors   

Sapphire Roberst, Waiopehu College, Taitoko Levin

through the cold branches

in a far corner of sky

a single star shines

Manheer Singh, Thorndon School,  Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

the sunshine came up

I gazed at the bright rainbow;

it was just a dream.

***

For our finalists – in the Primary/Intermediate category, the third-place winner is:

 

Owen Kim, Write On School for Young Writers, Ōtautahi Christchurch

red poppies peeking

small dots on the canvas

of cold white snow  

I was instantly captured by beauty of these contrasting images. I loved the ‘canvas of cold white snow,’ how peaceful and sparse it is. The splashes of red from the poppies peeking out of this space adds warmth, vibrance and energy to this piece. There is a sense of time passing here, the weight of winter coming to an end and the emergence of flowers waking with the light. A beautiful haiku, full of hope, colour and light. 

In second place, Primary/Intermediate category, the winner is:

 

Oscar Causer, Write On School for Young Writers, Ōtautahi Christchurch

grey marks connect

scratching on the page

a fox appears in the forest

This is a lovely, open haiku that has many possible interpretations. Was the poet having a quiet moment writing or drawing when a fox appeared seemingly out of nowhere? Or was the poet sketching a fox and writing about the moment it came to life? I love the image of a pencil scratching on the page, creating something, especially something as beautiful as a fox. In this interpretation, the middle line would act as a pivot here, so we experience both the pencil marks scratching the page and the fox scratching the page as it appears in the forest. In either reading of the work, it is the sounds and movements within this haiku that made it truly come alive. I was impressed with the brevity, word choices, sensory detail and the exciting and unexpected final line. A well-deserved second place. 

In FIRST  place, Primary/Intermediate category, congratulations to:

Alfred Lash, St Andrew’s College, Ōtautahi Christchurch

ragged coastline

a whistle blows the wind

across heaving water

This poem immediately draws the reader into a dynamic ocean scene that is full of mystery. The ragged coastline brings to mind sharp, jagged rocks and there’s a sense of danger here when this is juxtaposed with the blowing of a whistle in the second line. A whistle is often used in this context to catch someone’s attention. Whether in a boat or swimming in the water, is someone in distress? Are they headed straight for the ragged coastline? With the mention of heaving water, the danger is further increased. There’s a spacious, open feeling to this haiku, and the more times I read it, the more I liked it and the more curious I became. Congratulations for creating a delightfully intriguing haiku full of sound, motion and texture. A well-deserved first place.  

In third place – Secondary category, congratulations to:

Alexa Collis, St Andrew’s College, Ōtautahi Christchurch

wrapped in layers

snow drifts

the air snatches my breath

Here, we enter a wintry landscape where the poet is wrapped in layers of warm clothing—a great beginning for a poem with many layers of meaning. In the second line, whether the snow is drifting by the poet or whether they are walking past ‘snowdrifts’—mounds of snow sculpted by a snowstorm—there is a sense of being surrounded by and blanketed in snow. This becomes even more pervasive in the third line as the wintry air snatches the poet’s breath. As we hold all of these images side by side, there’s a lovely connection between the layers of fabric and the layers of snow that shift and build around them. It is the final line, however, that has the greatest impact. We feel the inescapable chill as the freezing air steals both warmth and breath. In this moment, the poet is almost inseparable from the landscape. This is a beautiful haiku, rich in detail, that gently unfolds to create such a vivid picture that the reader can imagine themselves there. Congratulations on third place. 

In Second place, Secondary category, the winner is:

Shey Doerner-Corson, St Andrew’s College, Ōtautahi Christchurch

outside the cabin

a sheep lies still

the tussock turns red

This heartbreaking but realistic portrayal of country life made a huge impression on me. It engages the reader by not telling us what to think, but simply laying out the detail as it was witnessed and inviting us to complete the picture. It shows a great amount of emotional restraint and relies on its imagery to convey the gravity of the situation to the reader. Moments of loss like this can teach us to understand the value of life. It can lead to an appreciation for all living things. This is a skilfully handled poem that is visceral and affecting and well worthy of a final place. Congratulations. 

Finally, in FIRST place, Secondary category, the winner, and overall winner of the Jeanette Stace Memorial Prize is:

Violet McInnes, St Andrew’s College, Ōtautahi Christchurch

after the strike

warm clear sky

field of rubble

I was immediately struck by this poem from its first line. After what appears to be an air invasion, there’s an instantaneous sense of loss we feel, and yet we are met with a ‘warm, clear sky’ in the next line. On what could be an ordinary summer’s day, with not a cloud in the sky, disaster has occurred. The warm, clear sky in this context is unsettling, especially when paired with the ‘field of rubble’ below it, adding to that emptiness. It isn’t what is depicted here that is the most haunting; it’s what is missing—buildings, infrastructure, and the inhabitants. The economy of words and lack of embellishment add to the bleakness of the scene described. I felt that every word in this poem earned its place. The best poems bring something into being that makes an indelible impression on the reader and this haiku stayed with me long after reading it. It is a challenging and memorable haiku with a huge amount of emotional impact, and is an important observation of our times. Congratulations to the overall winner.   

Thank you to all the students for your entries. I wish every young poet the best of luck with their writing and hope they will continue to submit their work in years to come.