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2023 Haiku Contest – The Winners!

2023 Haiku Contest Results

Congratulations to the winners of the Dreamers 2023 Haiku Contest!

2022 Haiku Contest

Each year, the list of submissions to our Haiku Contest grows longer, making the task of selecting the winners increasingly challenging. This year, we’ve chosen a first-place winner whose two haikus secured the top spot, as well as a second and a third place winner, and an honourable mention from the pool of exceptional entries.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed guest judge, Dr. Reinekke Lengelle. Dr. Lengelle, an Assistant Professor at Athabasca University, imparts her expertise through courses such as “Writing the Self” and “Narrative Possibilities.” As an accomplished poet and the acclaimed author of Writing the Self in Bereavement, she has faithfully served as our contest judge since its inception. Thank you, Reinekke!

Our appreciation also goes out to all participants who submitted their work. We eagerly anticipate the haiku that 2024 will bring. And now, without further delay, let’s unveil the winning entries of 2023!

1st

day off

by K.L. Johnston

this book, some bug spray
comfortable bench in the shade
worlds overlapping


storm wash

by K.L. Johnston

new light reflecting
on ebb tide, storm wrack, pale foam
peace washing ashore

2nd

Riding Coach, Amtrak
(the Lake Shore Limited)

by Marta Holliday

We gaze, zone out, read.
Boxed dinners, cards, Ipod beats
Our lives intersect.

3rd

Dew Cocktails

by M. Lynne Squires

maple leaves curled
into veined orange goblets
holding dew cocktails

HM

Fragile Dismantling

by C.X. Turner

dandelion clock—
the fragile dismantling
one puff at a time


To read more haiku, check out the winning entries from last year’s haiku contest!

Read more poems on the Dreamers website, like:

Dream Upon Dream
The Worst Drunk Poem I’ve Ever Written
Writing Myself Alive: An Episodic Poem
Maybe a Mango, Recovery, Yearly Physical
“In Her Garden” and “Fresh News”
This Is What Death Does
Rainlight, No Last Words
The Space I Take
The damsel in distress was not for me…
before whisky after jazz
Things I’ve Learned on the Road
We grew up on fear and became heroes…
To be in the Summer **CONTEST WINNER**

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