And the Winner is........

This weeks theme was on the word "crescent" which brought many fine entries examining both personal and universal meanings. Master Basho's ghost would be most pleased with the effort and thought that went into each haiku. The mighty K9 also thanks you for participating here in the dog pen while Troll is out in the wilds of Florida hunting.

Our Judge, Alicia Griswold, teaches creative writing at the Art Institute in Atlanta. You can read one of her poems on her blog "sending pages out to dry". Thank you, Alicia!

**Alicia's comments:

Fun read!

I, too, love the moon.

The winner is the 16-syllable haiku by Boxer:

Waning or waxing
hanging low in the sky
my lantern tonight.

            

Before anyone objects to this, let me say, the panicky revision with added “night” merely repeats “night” (see “tonight” in third line) to no advantage. It may follow the rule but makes for an awkward scan and detracts from the best line, which I love: “my lantern tonight.”  A missing syllable does less harm than a clumsy word.

Might you consider including either the word “moon” at the start of line 2 or “so” after “hanging” to get that needed syllable? I liked the simplicity of language and the image of man humping home. Lantern, because it’s familiar and yet anachronistic, feels timeless to me.

Honorable mention (can I do this?): MB’s Ghost #2

 “Both grain Towers fell.
Those that lay sleeping. Throats cut.
Envied by captured.”

Would also love to see Peurile Waites’ comment turned to haiku…

“I am wondering why you walked

back from the mountain.

Was it more dramatic that way?”

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Congratulations, Boxer! Display the badge-of-great-Honor on your blog. You have the awesome responsibility of selecting next week's haiku topic. You are also the winner of a virtual $800 gift certificate to Joe Bob's Gun and Ammo shack, and 3 practice sessions at Nephew's outdoor firing range. Enjoy and well done!