WHC New Year's Eve Haibun Kukai

WHC HAIBUN KUKAI
  FIRST PLACE
SECOND PLACE
THIRD PLACE
SPECIAL AWARD
HONORABLE MENTION 1
HONORABLE MENTION 2
HONORABLE MENTION 3

 

THIRD PLACE

NEW YEAR'S EVE
Maria Steyn
(South Africa)

Outside on the cement steps at the backdoor, my back rests against bricks
still hot from the day. A cool breeze winds around my feet and legs. The
sun slowly sinks, spills bright oranges and pinks over the cumulus clouds
and sky, glows through gaps in trees, turns the garden orange-green.

distant parties -
the sound of firecrackers
mingle with wild music

Night creatures awake as usual. Christmas beetles whirr towards the kitchen
door, crickets start their chirping in the shrubs and mosquitoes from the
neighbour's garden pond, buzz around my ears. Yet, tonight is different,
the soft, low sound of insects is filled with a vague expectancy in my mind.

the restless bark
of a dog, here and there -
deserted street

I remember evenings camping in the veld with more stars I knew existed. The
perfect quiet of those nights, the serene interchange between days, nights
and seasons.

the sudden hoot
of a car rushing downstreet. . .
tree silhouettes

Faint pink patterns fill the sky as the sun dips deeper behind the city
horizon.

the last light softens
into a lily's folds
new year's eve

Darkness covers the day, leaving ghostly shapes on the lawn. Fireworks
explode around the sickle moon and float down in greens, reds and pinks.

at midnight
i wrap the years in grace
save them
as pressed petals between
the pages of my journal