The St. Johns Cultural Council has announced the winners of its first haiku contest, conducted during a month-long celebration of National Poetry Month.
More than 100 individuals submitted more than 400 haiku, which were evaluated by two local authors, Michael Henry Lee and Antoinette Libro.
The judges said that “competition was close, and it was very difficult to select just a few from among them. Everyone was a winner who took the time and effort to create and submit their haiku.”
First place in the adult category was awarded to Barrie Levine for the poem “School Vacation.” Jessica Bergstol’s haiku, “Evening,” and Shutta Crum’s poem, “Murmuration,” received honorable mention.
Sami Lowinger won first place in the student (ages 13-17) category for “Apple Picking.”
“Mornings on the Beach” by William Camp and “The Eyes in the Trees” by Savannah Schnabel received honorable mention.
Winners of the final category – students younger than 13 – were Emmit Cortese, with first place for “Waterfall,” and Lily Morgan King, who received honorable mention for “Bread.”
The award-winning haiku will be published in the next issue of AC PAPA literary journal and shared through St. Johns Cultural Council social media.
To read the poems and critiques and to learn more about the winners, go to stjohnsculture.com.
