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Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest (2018– )

The annual Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest, based in the United States, was inaugurated in 2018 as a feature of #FemkuMag: an e-zine of haikai poetry by womxn and non-binary folkx and conducted by Rowan Beckett (formerly known as Lori A Minor and Lithica Ann), its founding editor. The contest commemorates the work of Marlene Mountain (1939–2018), a pioneering artist and haikai poet known for her innovative political and feminist poems, particularly one-line haiku (monoku).


Contest Guidelines

The annual Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest, begun in 2018 by Lithica Ann (deadname: Lori A Minor), is open, as stated on the contest website, ”to all womxn, including non-binary and transwomxn, of any age or nationality.” Submissions have been accepted during a two-week period in June or July each year.

Submissions may consist of up to two one-line haiku (monoku) in English, not previously published in any print or electronic form, including social media, nor under consideration in any other contest. There is no charge to enter the contest. Judging is double-blind.

Entries should embrace the creative spirit of Marlene Mountain. Prospective contestants are directed to the Marlene Mountain website: http://www.marlenemountain.org/ for examples of monoku.

Winners are notified as soon as judging is complete and are published in the July issue of #FemkuMag. First-, second-, and third-place haiku also receive commentary. Honorable mentions will be selected at the judge’s discretion. All winners receive certificates. 

Full details and official contest guidelines can be found on the #FemkuMag Contest webpage.

2022 Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest

JudgeLithica Ann
Number of entriesNot stated
Comment and contest resultsTo be posted in a later issue of #FemkuMag
First PlaceLorraine Padden
maidenhair ferns he hides the condom
  
Second PlaceLaurie Greer
Roe v Wade the right not to bear
  
Third PlaceTracy Davidson
schrodinger’s womxn knowing and unknowing our place
  
Honorable Mention (3)Barrie Levine
(r)aging
  
Cynthia Anderson
where polliwogs used to be the neighborhood
  

Susan Burch

date rape a pocket full of posies
  

2021 Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest

JudgesLori A Minor
and Tia Haynes
Number of
entries
Not stated
Comments and
contest results
Posted on the Web in
#FemkuMag 30 (July 2021)
First PlacePris Campbell
pigtails his whore
  
Second PlaceDebbie Strange
Fata Morgana the (in)visibility of my (dis)ability
  
Third PlaceRoberta Beach Jacobson
refusing to shut manhole
  
Honorable
Mention (5)
Cynthia Anderson
the trigger more than half-cocked Father’s Day
  
Cynthia Anderson
post-COVID camping the tents of the homeless
  
Jennifer Hambrick
pathology ruling out the c-word
  
Julie Bloss Kelsey
free will to do what I say bully pulpit
  

Carmela Marino

its virginity in the beak of a raven cherries

2020 Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest

JudgesLori A Minor and Tia Haynes
Number of
entries
Just under 200
Comments and
contest results
PDF available on the
#FemkuMag contest website
First PlaceLaurie Greer
never just (m)asking
  
Second PlaceRobin Anna Smith
when pronouns fail the future of protostars
  
Third PlaceTracy Davidson
under curfew he lights up another protestor
  
Honorable
Mention (3)
Julie Warther
buzzards caught in the current newsfeed
  
Raquel Bailey
coitus under a naked sky the scent of cannabis
  
Julie Bloss Kelsey
marching to a new beatdown
  

2019 Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest

JudgesLori A Minor
and Tia Haynes
Number of
entries
186
Comments and
contest results
PDF available on
the #FemkuMag
contest website
First Place Roberta Beach Jacobson
mansplaining the rape field
  
Second PlaceSusan Mallernee
saving herself
for nothing special—
old lace
  
Third PlaceMartha Magenta
bipolar mother’s monochrome smile
  
Honorable
Mention (3)
Debbie Strange
hot (fl)ashes the combustibility of womxn’s rights
  
Benedicta Gyepi-Garbrah
porn punk
all the positions
I should fit in
  
Robin Anna Smith

2018 Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest


Judge
Lori A Minor
Number of
entries
100
Comments and
contest results
PDF available on
the #FemkuMag
contest website
First PlaceJulie Bloss Kelsey
stripping away the patriarchy naked Barbies
  
Second Place Susan Burch
blood moon
he doesn’t take no
for an answer
  
Third PlaceRoberta Beary
gender roles     blend mix stir     repeat
  
Honorable
Mention (3)
Robin Smith
weeping cherry
he tells me I’m mature
for my age
  
Tia Haynes
valentine’s day
I break out
a fresh razor
  
Vandana Parashar
new moon
my hand moves over where
once my breast was
  

Sources / Further Reading

#FemkuMag website: https://femkumag.wixsite.com/home/contest

#FemkuMag

Marlene Mountain

Lithica Ann


Compiled by the Haikupedia Editors

Adapted from The 2022 Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest webpage and reports of contest results

Updated on September 4, 2023