Haiku Festival

  • Haiku Fest Judges

  • We gratefully acknowledge the following judges who gave their time, talent and treasures to support Haiku Festival 2011:

    Marilyn Allen
    poet and healthcare administrator
    -since 2004

    Dr. Wayne Allen Jones
    poet, therapist
    -since 2008

    Marlon Billups
    poet, President
    Chicago Writers’ Collective
    -2004, 2005, 2006, 2011

    Katriél
    author of Night Fall, VP
    Chicago Writers’ Collective
    -since 2006

    Renée K. Moore
    poet, educator
    Cave Canem Alumna
    -since 2004

    Valerie Wallace, poet,
    founder:
    DeepDishPoemAMonth.com
    Administrative Manager:
    University of Chicago
    Philosophy Dept.
    -since 2004

    Michael Covenant Watson
    poet, host of Wordslingers WLUW, 88.7 FM
    -since 2006

--Julia Hedges, 1st Prize winner

  • Haiku Fest 2011 Winners

  • Haiku Fest awarded certificates to all participating student poets. Thanks to over 2,300 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
    • A garden of lies
      Blooming and twisting in gloom
      Locking out the light
    • Julia Hedges, Age 13, Grade 7
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Second Prize: $50
    • A small blade of grass,
      Stands tall, but bows to the wind.
      Insignificance.
    • Alina Cui, Age 12, Grade 7
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Third Prize: $25
    • A gleaming needle
      Swiftly stitches a sweater
      A drop of crimson
    • Julia Martinez, Age 13, Grade 8
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Gwendolyn Brooks Award: $25
    • Sweet Baby Sister
      Little Toes, Brown Cheeks of Rose
      Bright Eyes Make Me Smile!
    • Brittany Alexander, Age 9, Grade 4
      John Whistler Elementary, Chicago
    • Founders Award: $20
    • The last song to you,
      After you broke my soft heart,
      Love notes are burning.
    • Grace Kubelka, Age 12, Grade 6
      St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago
    • Founders Award: $20
    • Umbra, Penumbra
      Shadows of the Earth and Moon
      Pretty Eclipses
    • Joseph F. Quinn IV, Age 13, Grade 8
      St. Christina, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Spinning monsters dance
      On my bedroom wall, twirling
      Till the light turns on
    • Josephine Cahill, Age 13, Grade 8
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Youth in Rebellion
      The Government is corrupt
      Daughter named facebook
    • Liam Conlon, Age 13, Grade 8
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Honorable Mention:
    • The bike was bright red.
      It glimmered in the sunlight.
      That was a great day!
    • Lukas Haynes, Age 12, Grade 7
      St. Robert Bellarmine, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Running like the wind
      You are about to give up
      The trophy needs you
    • Luke Labuz, Age 12, Grade 6
      St. Cornelius, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Looking around you
      Green clouds, red water, or'nge sky
      I am colorblind.
    • Sylvie Manuel, Age 14, Grade 8
      University of Chicago Lab School
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Sanity escapes,
      The minds of broken Dreamers.
      Restrained forever
    • Maria Elena Ruiz, Age 13, Grade 8
      St. Agnes of Bohemia, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • Running on clear snow
      White wolf moves like silent rain
      River starts flowing once more
    • Alexandra Suarez, Age 10, Grade 4
      St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention:
    • It lights up the night
      Sends soft shivers down my spine
      Electrifies the air
    • Audrey Volk, Age 12, Grade 6
      St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago
    • Teacher of the Year:
    • Ms. Joann Serafin
      St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention for Teacher of the Year:
    • Ms. Joan Baley
      St. Christina, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention for Teacher of the Year:
    • Ms. Diane Husar
      John L. Marsh Elementary, Chicago
    • Honorable Mention for Teacher of the Year:
    • Ms. Genaye Parodi
      Richard Yates Elementary, Chicago
    • School of the Year:
    • St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago
      Ms. Joann Serafin, Ms. Ficaro
    • Honorable Mention for School of the Year:
    • University of Chicago Lab School
      Ms. Staci Garner, Ms. Jan Yourist,
      Ms. Lisa Miller, Ms. Peggy Doyle
      Ms. Charlotte Jacobs, Mr. Sam Nekrosius,
      Ms. Diane Jackson, Ms. Kathleen Bressler
    • Honorable Mention for School of the Year:
    • St. Christina, Chicago
      Ms. Joan Baley
    • Honorable Mention for School of the Year:
    • Richard Yates Elementary, Chicago
      Ms. Genaye Parodi



  • Haiku Fest Deadline: Saturday, 24 March 2012 @ MIDNIGHT

  • Haiku Festival Awards will be issued on:
    Saturday, 28 April 2012
    10:00 AM
    Harold Washington Library
    400 South State Street
    Chicago, Illinois

    FREE Admission

  • Special Guest for our 8th Annual Awards Program is Valerie Wallace, author of Dictators' Guide to Good Housekeeping

  • Enter Online

  • Download Entry Form

  • Contact Information

  • eMail:  Info@HaikuFest.com
  • Mail:    Haiku Fest
                   Post Office Box 450
                   Chicago, IL 60690
  • Phone:  312-253-7453