Haiku Festival

  • Haiku Fest Judges

  • We gratefully acknowledge the following judges who gave their time, talent and treasures to support Haiku Festival 2009:

    Carolyn Aguila
    poet, author of
    Flirting with Rhyme

    Marilyn Allen
    poet and healthcare administrator

    Dan Godston
    poet, educator
    -since 2008

    Dr. Wayne Allen Jones
    poet, therapist
    -since 2008

    Renée K. Moore
    poet, educator
    Cave Canem Alumna

    Sidney Simmons
    writer, photographer and master chef

    Valerie Martt Wallace, poet,
    Administrative Director:
    Urban Life Center

    Michael Covenant Watson
    poet, host of Wordslingers WLUW, 88.7 FM

--Louie Harboe, 1st Prize winner

  • Haiku Fest 2009 Winners

  • Haiku Fest awarded certificates to all participating student poets. Thanks to all 1300 poets, parents and teachers for making Haiku Fest successful. For more information on the event, click here.
  • We proudly announce the following commendations:
    • First Prize: $100
    • My golden pencil
      Paints gleaming silver rivers
      Its pink hat dances
    • Louie Harboe, Age 13, Grade 7
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Second Prize: $50
    • I gaze at the stars
      I pluck them out one by one
      Dreams in my pocket
    • Catherine Adams, Age 14, Grade 8
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Third Prize: $25
    • red, small, and spotted
      crawling on my fingertips
      small legs tickle me
    • Elizabeth “Libby” Paulson, Age 10, Grade 4
      High Point, Orland Park, IL
    • Founders Award: $20
    • Filled with loneliness
      In a heart-shaped box, it’s dark
      Waiting to see light
    • Adrian Ramos, Age 13, Grade 8
      St. Agnes of Bohemia, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • The stench of the lake
      The tiny yellow swimmers
      Feathers soft like fur
    • Arianna Vazquez, Age 11, Grade 5
      St. Benedict, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Floating slowly up
      The poor balloon sails away
      Kidnapped by the wind
    • Mary Joan Evans, Age 14, Grade 8
      St. Cajetan, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • I praise God in song
      Singing God’s song gives me joy!
      I praise God in words
    • Dionesha Bailey, Age 10, Grade 4
      St. John de la Salle, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • In a poppy bun
      The dog sits with everything
      Of course, no ketchup!
    • Max Hornung, Age 14, Grade 8
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Don’t name me—I’m me
      Smart crazy funny just me
      I’m free no name please
    • Kayla Haywood, Age 13, Grade 8
      St. Ethelreda, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • A clean, white canvas
      The snow is untouched, waiting
      Calling me outside.
    • Stephanie Simon, Age 13, Grade 8
      St. Christina, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Stars guide through the night
      Stories behind their patterns
      Distant sun’s shimmer
    • Katherine Kezon, Age 14, Grade 8
      St. Christina, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Where did my dreams go?
      There they are, in the corner
      Behind my nightmare
    • Alexa Green, Age 14, Grade 8
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Long-term assignments
      Due date seems so far away!
      I’ll do it later
    • Michael Myerecyk, Age 13, Grade 8
      St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • How to find courage
      No one knows where it comes from
      But it’s in us all
    • Alexis Lopez, Age 13, Grade 8
      St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago

  • Haiku Fest Deadline: Saturday 13 March 2010 @ MIDNIGHT

  • Haiku Festival Awards will be issued on:
    Saturday, 24 April, 2010
    12:00 noon
    Carter G. Woodson
    Regional Library
    9525 South Halsted
    Chicago, Illinois
  • Poet Angela Jackson is our Special Guest for the 2010 Awards Program

  • FREE Admission


  • Contact Information

  • eMail:  Info@HaikuFest.com
  • Mail:    Haiku Fest
                   Post Office Box 450
                   Chicago, IL 60690
  • Phone:  312-458-9898