by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (July 21, 2019) – About two weeks ago, we invited readers to tap into their inner poet and write some haiku about favorite summertime memories. We received our first entry that same day, and others have trickled in since, all following the familiar five-seven-five syllable structure.
Sydney Schurman
Boats in the water
Sandy feet and sunkissed skin
My Summer Time dream
“What a fun activity. Thank you!” Sydney told us.
Tish Yos
Cool after day’s heat,
Lying below screened windows,
I hear June bugs bump
“I wrote mine using your idea of recalling a childhood memory,” said Tish.
Mary Paulton
Rain Soaked
Cruised up wheels in rows.
Paint dried puddles washed away.
No convertibles.
Summer Sky
Multi-color dusk.
A billowy fire melts.
Beyond the ribbon.
Want to play?
We’ll accept submissions from now through the end of August, and we’ll publish them online as we are able to fit them into the schedule. Plus we’d like to include some in our August and September print issues.
Your poem should follow the traditional haiku format—a three-line poem with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.
The topic is favorite summertime memories. You can write about childhood summers, last summer, or summer 2019. Then choose just 17 syllables to convey that memory.
Send your haiku to:
by August 31, 2019.
