The annual Polish International Haiku Competition was inaugurated in 2011. It was organized for the first five years by Rafał Zabratyński, and in 2016 the recently formed Polish Haiku Association (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Haiku) took over administration of the competition. Poets worldwide are invited to submit one classically structured, original, and unpublished haiku in English. The judges award book prizes for first, second, and third place haiku and certificates for up to ten commendations.
- Guidelines
- 12th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2022
- 11th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2021
- 10th Jubilee Polish International Haiku Competition, 2020
- 9th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2019
- 8th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2018
- 7th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2017
- 6th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2016
- 5th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2015
- 4th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2014
- 3rd Polish International Haiku Competition, 2013
- 2nd Polish International Haiku Competition, 2012
- 1st Polish International Haiku Competition, 2011
Guidelines
All poets anywhere in the world are invited to enter the Polish International Haiku Competition. Each applicant may submit one haiku that has not previously been published in any form nor currently under consideration in any other contest or publication. Multiple submissions are not accepted. Submissions must be in English, contain an acceptable kigo (season word) in accordance with the seasons in the applicant’s geographical location; be written in three lines, basically within the 5–7–5 syllable pattern but with no specifically required syllable count. There is no entry fee. The window for submissions is typically mid-November to mid-December.
Read the statement on the use of personal data required by the European Parliament and Council in this note.1
Selections are made in a two-stage process: first, one or two pre-selectors read the submissions and prepare a shortlist. Then the final judge chooses first-, second-, and third-place winners and up to ten commended haiku and prepare their commentaries.
Awards are book prizes and certificate for prize winners and certificates for commended entries.
The results of the competition, including the judges’ comments on the winning haiku, are posted on the Polish Haiku Association website before December 31 of the competition year and also archived on the website.
The online entry form may be accessed at the competition website. Queries and other correspondence should also be directed to the competition website.
12th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2022
Judges | Robert Kania, Final Judge Małgorzata Formanowska, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Originator | |
Number of entries | 318 from 54 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Prize | Brendon Kent, United Kingdom | sumi-e painting a crow breaks the snow’s silence |
Second Prize | Maria Tomczak, Poland | deep winter the harmonious silence of the reeds |
Third Prize | Aljoša Vuković, Croatia | scared starlings— a dog loans its voice to the scarecrow |
Commendation (9) listed in alphabetical order of surnames | Bakhtiyar Amini, Germany | black clouds father’s face unreadable |
Keith Evetts, United Kingdom | winter fog we wind up in the middle of everywhere | |
Željko Funda, Croatia | late autumn evening a drunkard is reciting sonnet eighteen | |
Ravi Kiran, India | lifting fog a wildflower finds its colours | |
Nina Kovačić, Croatia | window ajar … curtain catches the shapes of the autumn wind | |
Indra Neil Mekala, India | winter solitude our photos in the album still stuck together | |
Elena Naskova, North Macedonia | Spring thaw … the snow in my hair remains | |
Eduard Țară, Romania | street lamp the first snowflakes show up from the invisible | |
Susan Yavaniski, U.S.A. | bitter cold a streetlight shining on his pillow |
11th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2021
Judges | Iliyana Stoyanova, Final Judge Wiesław Karliński, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Originator | |
Number of entries | 420 from 59 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Prize | Nadejda Kostadinova, Bulgaria | calm by the sea a little sand crab carries moonlight |
Second Prize | Michael Henry Lee, U.S.A. | first snow imagine my child’s surprise |
Third Prize | Scott Mason, U.S.A. | snowmelt the church carillon changes its tune |
Commendation (10) listed in no particular order | Mirela Brăilean, Romania | autumn end— the spinster knits a scarf for the unborn snowman |
Mihai Moldoveanu, Mirco, Romania | kite taken by the wind— hide-and-seek among the clouds | |
Angiola Inglese, Italy | remembering that scent of lime trees ….. the hour of the pill | |
Polona Oblak, Slovenia | wild cherry the comings and goings of bees | |
Stoianka Boianova, Bulgaria | autumn leaves the winds are scattering my loved ones | |
Jonathan Aylett, U.K. | fading memories dry patches in the car park after a rainstorm | |
Shanmao, Russian Federation | first day of winter icing sugar melts on a chocolate muffin | |
Nadezhda Stanilova, Bulgaria | autumn evening I still look for my home in people’s eyes | |
Lyudmila Hristova, Bulgaria | winter sun shining like silver dust on the piano | |
Janina Kołodziejczyk, Italy | barbed wire on both sides of the border creaking frost |
10th Jubilee Polish International Haiku Competition, 2020
Judges | Marta Chociłowska, Final Judge Robert Kania, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Originator | |
Number of entries | 320 from 52 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Prize | Daniela Lăcrămioara Capotă, Romania | corner of the window— Hunter’s Moon and the spider same size |
Second Prize | Tom Bierovic, U.S.A. | clap of thunder a heron unfolds into the echo |
Third Prize | Ewa Moskalik, Poland | we are walking me and the autumn leaf on my shoe |
Commendation (10) listed in alphabetical order of surnames | Alfred Booth, France | from dawn to dusk every color shimmers … first frost |
Sebastian Ciobîcă, Romania | swirling leaves … the old wish fountain fills with golden coins | |
Anthony Itopa Obaro, Nigeria | end of war— frogs’ croaking fills an abandoned trench | |
Semih Özmeriç, Turkey | cloudy harvest moon— fumes above the chimney of my late neighbour | |
Kerstin Park, Sweden | beyond mist and dripping foliage —full moon | |
Gregory Piko, Australia | morning fog the warmth of her horse’s breath | |
Srinivas S, India | dry summer deep inside a well daylight dies | |
Maria Teresa Sisti, Italy | silent nest— I hold another autumn inside the coat | |
Debbie Strange, Canada | forgotten grave only the small bones of leaves remain | |
Li Xiao, Russia | Christmas eve little angel picks his nose |
9th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2019
Judges | Colin Blundell, Final Judge Robert Kania, Pre-selector Ernest Wit, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Originator | |
Number of entries | 360 from 55 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Prize | Marina Bellini, Italy | windy day the old neighbor rakes dead leaves |
Second Prize | Shloka Shankar, India | winter sun … just enough warmth in your hug |
Third Prize | Jerzy Małysz, Poland | silhouettes in fog on the back of the photo faded initials |
Commendation (9) listed in no particular order | Vessislava Savova, Bulgaria | clear water just a single maple leaf |
Maria Teresa Sisti, Italy | autumn evening— your favorite tea in my cup | |
Nikola Ðuretić, Croatia | winter evening every snow flake adding its share of silence | |
Deborah Carl-Brandt, Germany | midsummer sky the frogs croak into the blue | |
Barbara Strang, New Zealand | overnight frost your whiskers glistening in the morning sun | |
Peter Jastermsky, USA | autumn’s end the last birdsong fades to wind | |
Geethanjali Rajan, India | retirement home— mist smudges out a mountain peak | |
Tomislav Sjekloća, Montenegro | winter moon she adjusts his necktie one last time | |
Nazarena Rampini, Italy | Autumn sunset my mother tells me about heaven |
8th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2018
Judges | Kala Ramesh, Final Judge Marta Chociłowska, Pre-selector Robert Kania, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Originator | |
Number of entries | 331 from 52 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Prize | Carl Seguiban, Canada | home-bound train— bare aspens stitching the earth and sky |
Second Prize | Indra Neil Mekala, India | Women’s Day she applies makeup to her bruise |
Third Prize | Klaus-Dieter Wirth, Germany | gentle breeze the lifted feathers of a seagull asleep |
Commendation (10) listed in no particular order | Frank Williams, U.K. | blue twilight sitting on fallen leaves the shape of a fox |
Olivier Schopfer, Switzerland | summer night from an open window smooth jazz | |
Stoianka Boianova, Bulgaria | dry lake the splash of water still heard | |
Zvonko Jurčević, Croatia | full net a fisherman and seagulls haul the fish | |
Jerzy Małysz, Poland | vacant nest in the broken lamp— house for sale | |
Isabella Kramer, Germany | puddle all my wishes upside down | |
Anthony Itopa Obaro, Nigeria | summer dawn we jog from birdsong to birdsong | |
Marina Bellini, Italy | raking leaves I watch the dogs chasing the wind | |
Agus Maulana Sunjaya, Indonesia | fading light … alone with the cry of a cicada | |
Boris Nazansky, Croatia | steeple pierces the leaden December sky call of the crow |
7th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2017
Judges | Hidenori Hiruta, Final Judge Marta Chocilowska, Pre-selector Robert Kania, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Coordinator | |
Number of entries | 366 from 54 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website Akita International Haiku Network website | |
First Prize | Darrell Lindsey, U.S.A. | spring garden the color returns to her cheeks |
Second Prize | Indra Neil Mekala, India | mom’s lullaby— the full moon now halved by sardine clouds |
Third Prize | Mohammad Azim Khan, Pakistan | morning frost granddaughter measures my footprint |
Commendation (10) listed in seasonal order | Nancy Brady, U.S.A. | first steps … catching cherry blossoms in chubby fist |
Zlata Bogović, Croatia | Sound of raindrops dispersing our silence under an umbrella. | |
Veronika Zora Novak, Canada | by moonlight … i slip into the stars of my kimono | |
John Hawkhead, U.K. | Autumn moon the burnt almond scent as she leaves the room | |
David McMurray, Japan | one last look before getting on the tourist bus— maples in Senshu Park | |
Maria Piasecka, Poland | snip of paper— painting in a black ink an autumn leaf | |
Minh-Triêt Pham, France | autumn wildflowers— feeling like picking one up on her party dress | |
Pasquale Asprea, Italy | Snow at night hidden under the wing the duck’s head | |
Andy McLellan, U.K. | winter evening I knit another row of stars | |
Lorin Ford, Australia | winter alone … sometimes a chimney gust stirs the embers |
6th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2016
Judges | David McMurray, Final Judge Robert Kania, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Originator | |
Number of entries | 396 from 57 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Prize | Andy Burkhart, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. | bitter cold a woodpecker knocks for breakfast |
Second Prize | Anna Maris, Hässleholm, Sweden | harvest festival my shadow on the wall still a young woman |
Third Prize | Indra Neil Mekala, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India | paddy field— the farmer plows through a sea of clouds |
Commendation (11) listed in seasonal order | Michael Dylan Welch, Sammamish, Washington, U.S.A. | falling blossoms … I can say nothing that’s not been said before |
Lavana Kray, Iași, Romania | May fragrances— the old man takes a selfie with a dry plum tree | |
Olivier Schopfer, Geneva, Switzerland | wildflower seeds carried by the wind the words I didn’t say | |
Gordana Vlašić, Oroslavje, Croatia | Felled tree. Its green leaves suspect nothing. | |
Andrius Luneckas, Vilnius, Lithuania | summer holiday greeted with hugs my old friend scarecrow | |
Alan Summers, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England | painting a forest another of the red leaves caught on an easel | |
Elena Naskova, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. | autumn rains … the dampness settles deep inside me | |
Magdalena Banaszkiewicz, Zielona Góra, Poland | end of the alley from an old man’s shoulders falling leaves | |
Eduard Țară, Iași, Romania | sweeping leaves— always one step behind the silence | |
Maria Tomczak, Opole, Poland | blazing sunset how warm are the tones of the fresh snow |
5th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2015
Judges | Agnieszka Żuławska-Umeda, Final Judge Rafał Zabratyński, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Originator | |
Number of entries | 336 from 41 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Place | Stanka Boneva, Varna, Bulgaria | a dandelion in the window box I dare not breathe |
Second Place | Quendryth Young, Alstonville, N.S.W., Australia | broken glass some of the shards glisten |
Third Place | Marinko Kovačević, Praputnjak, Croatia | a puppy licking the moonlight off its paws |
Commendation (10) listed alphabetically by haiku | Keith Simmonds, Rodez, France | a housewife sweeps up the aroma of spring … glow of cherry blooms |
Alina Kizierowska, Borówiec, Poland | Between one raindrop And just the following one— It is not raining | |
Robert Kania, Warsaw, Poland | fourth anniversary— only the wind sweeps the leaves from the grave | |
Owen Bullock, Canberra, Australia | harbour light show— a little boy points out the half-moon | |
Vasile Moldovan, Bucharest, Romania | hidden deep beneath the morning glory hero’s name | |
Engin Gülez, Ankara, Turkey | no stars tonight— my daughter brings me a jar of fireflies | |
Daniela Lacramioara Capotă, Galați, Romania | only the wind whistling from time to time— abandoned train station | |
Sergiu Vlad, Botoșani, Romania | still lake out of the blue a water lily | |
Sneha Sundaram, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A. | summer vacation even the sun jumps into the ocean | |
Rob Woods Darwin, Australia | yellow blossoms fall into a street of yellow blossoms |
4th Polish International Haiku Competition, 2014
Judges | Rafał Zabratyński, Final Judge George Swede, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Coordinator | |
Number of entries | 386 from 47 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Place | Ramesh K, Adyar, India | long afternoon … the church spire shade reaches the beggar |
Second Place | Alexey Andreev, Moscow, Russia | silence breaking in two a log on the fire |
Third Place | Cherese Cobb, Maryville, United States | the scarecrow slips the harvest moon into his sleeve |
Commendation (10) listed alphabetically by haiku | Olivier Schopfer, Geneva, Switzerland | after our argument fireflies on the way home |
Florin C. Florian, Botoșani, Romania | delaying the night falling field of rapeseed | |
Steliana Cristina Voicu, Ploiești, Romania | grace of the night— a swan leans to pick up a falling star | |
Boris Nazansky, Zagreb, Croatia | late autumn the old stump is in leaf | |
Nikolay Grankin, Krasnodar, Russia | on the drawn heart walking doves inside … outside… | |
Julie Warther, Dover, United States | open lotus a pond makes room for the rain | |
Marta Chociłowska, Warsaw, Poland | rendezvous— on my lips Indian summer | |
Helen Buckingham, Wells, Great Britain | wildlife park lovers peck at baguettes and each other | |
Terry Ann Carter, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | wild roses— the way she ties back her hair | |
Maria Kowal-Tomczak, Opole, Poland | wind chill among trembling leaves more and more sky |
3rd Polish International Haiku Competition, 2013
Judges | George Swede, Final Judge Rafał Zabratyński, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Coordinator | |
Number of entries | 369 from 47 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Place | Julie Warther, Dover, Ohio, U.S.A. | breaching whale the time between too soon and too late |
Second Place | Ernest J Berry, Blenheim, New Zealand | august mist the magnificence of thought |
Third Place | Bouwe Brouwer, Emmeloord, Netherlands | street musician the winter cold passes through his accordion |
Commendation (10) listed alphabetically by haiku | Mihail Buraga, Bucharest, Romania | daylight kiss in all the crowd just you and me |
Seren Fargo, Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A. | first thaw— a hawk leans further toward its target | |
Niiko Jesensky, London, U.K. | grey rainy day she polishes silverware third time round | |
Sandra Simpson, Tauranga, New Zealand | late strawberries— the story of how he saved me gets a bit longer | |
Kevin Goldstein-Jackson, Poole, Dorset, U.K. | lost for words exploring blank paper a fly | |
Daniel Richard, Millom, Cumbria, U.K. | migrating birds— I leave a note for her on the fridge | |
Dietmar Tauchner, Puchberg, Austria | mountain long before i was an idea | |
Andrea Cecon, Cividale del Friuli, Udine, Italy | our first date the redness of maple leaves | |
Jan Dobb, Canberra, Australia | season’s end the colours of rust in a scrap yard | |
Yesha Shah, Surat, Gujarat, India | twilight helping mother take baby steps |
2nd Polish International Haiku Competition, 2012
Judges | Jim Kacian, Final Judge Rafał Zabratyński, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Coordinator | |
Number of entries | 312 from 40 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Place | Roberta Beary, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. | autumn moon her brain a tangle of white string |
Second Place | Dietmar Tauchner, Puchberg, Austria | 2nd hand bookshop i release the smell of time |
Third Place | Alan Bridges, Littleton, Massachusetts, U.S.A. | shooting stars the pop of gravel on a country road |
Commendation (10) listed alphabetically by haiku | Agnieszka Malinowska, Zgierz, Poland | double rainbow— people working in the fields are standing up |
Raj Bose, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. | Lost I follow my dog’s bark into the fog | |
Marleen Hulst, Musselkanaal, Netherlands | obituary a gust of wind touches the hedge | |
Sanja Petrov Vlahović, Oprtalj, Croatia | Roasted chestnuts the sweet scent brightens this cloudy day | |
Quendryth Young, Alstonville, Australia | steady rain each surface tolls its own tone | |
Sergio Ortiz, San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S.A. | terminally ill a snowman melts into darkness | |
Anna Goluba, Warsaw, Poland | The wishing well— Just a few words In all languages | |
Nola Borrell, Lower Hutt, New Zealand | wild coast the sea still sorting stones | |
Darrell Lindsey, Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S.A. | winter moonlight— some shattered glass between fingers | |
Eduard Țară, Iași, Romania | Year’s end— the old suitcase still waiting at the door |
1st Polish International Haiku Competition, 2011
Judges | Jane Reichhold, Final Judge Rafał Zabratyński, Pre-selector | |
Contest administration | Krzysztof Kokot, Coordinator Grzegorz Sionkowski, Secretary | |
Number of entries | 304 from 41 countries | |
Announcement of winners | Polish Haiku Association website | |
First Place | Cynthia Rowe, Woollahra, Australia | tidal flats the white-faced heron wades into a rainbow |
Second Place | Klaus-Dieter Wirth, Viersen, Germany | late summer breeze vesper bells begin to bronze the evening sky |
Third Place | Bouwe Brouwer, Emmeloord, Netherlands | dawn— winter light slides into my slippers |
Commendation (10) listed alphabetically by haiku | Adrian Bouter, Gouda, Netherlands | an old typewriter in the quiet of morning the woodpecker’s work |
G. R. LeBlanc, Dieppe, Canada | ashes to ashes the north star still burns | |
Eryk Margolak, Kielce, Poland | election evening the zigzag flight path of a firefly | |
Wolfgang Beutke, Barum, Germany | rain forest the sharp blade of a parrot’s cry | |
Alexander Joy, Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.A | shoreline the sea spray breaks into seagulls | |
Andra Andronic, Botoșani, Romania | summer rain— the church bells soothing my pain | |
John McManus, Carlisle, Cumbria, U.K. | summer’s end wringing the ocean from her hair | |
Guy Vanden Broeck, Avelgem, Belgium | Virgin snow— that queer urge to leave traces | |
Margaret Beverland, Katikati, New Zealand | wading naked into the mountain stream … the blue blue sky | |
Katherine Gallagher London, U.K. | waiting for the bus— a small boy measures his shoe against his father’s |
Authors: Polish Haiku Association and the Haikupedia Editors
Adapted from information, archives, and contest statistics on the Polish Haiku Association website.
Note
- Accessing the competition is tantamount to consenting to the processing of the participant’s personal data for the purposes necessary to organize and conduct the competition and with the consent of the authors of the awarded and commended haiku for publication on the internet site psh.org.pl. Expressing consent is voluntary, but necessary to participate in the competition in accordance with the Act of 10 May 2018 on the protection of personal data (Journal of Laws from 2018, item 1000) and in accordance with the Regulation of the European Parliament and Council (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC. The administrator of personal data is the Polish Haiku Association, ul. Kacza 6 m. 65, 01-013 Warsaw. [↩]