The first contest of the newly started japanese poetry club has come to an end.
I offered, along with many others, to feature the winners in my journal so this is what I will use the journal space for today. I'll let it be up for at least a week before changing it, but if you're a regular here you know it may very well be longer than so.
The basic idea in the competition was for the contestants to write a haiku alluding to the sea without actually using the word. Quite a few people decided to join. Enough to cause the three judges some problem when choosing I'm sure.


In the end, three haiku remained.


In 1st place: *saiun with the almost epic Under an Ancient Moon, featuring these lovable critters. True living fossils, with blue blood!


gathering
under an ancient moon
horseshoe crabs


I would advice you to take a closer look in this deviants ample and well organised gallery. I did and found this gem under "walkers":

Ambling
From shadow to shadow –
A raccoon!

Who knows what you may find?



In 2nd place: *RedDragonfly with the little haiku with the great content, and the bewildering name (except for all you haiku chain-gangers out there). Two rows bursting with the power of the sea, and the great creatures that live in it. Set 1: Chain 4b: Link6- Sea


sitting in the little cove
orcas pass by


When looking in her gallery for something else to feature I stumbled upon this thought provoking and fun senryu:

nude beach-
I hide behind
my sunglasses

Senryu is not the only thing to be found there though. I'll let her title of Mad Sock Scientist be the hint.



In 3rd place: The aptly named *HaikuKitty with the equally aptly named Contest Entry the-haiku-club where the mighty, but threatened, albatross is suspended between the ocean and the sky.


above and below
unbroken blue
an albatross


In her gallery i found a folder labled "haiga" and I knew there must be something good in it. I was right.

Feast your eyes on the nostalgic and poingnant merging of picture and poem that is Gold Moulded Records. And that's just one of them.



Now I hope you really will take your time and take a look in these talented deviants galleries. Add some faves, add some watches, leave some comments, write some critiques.
In short: give them some , not just .