FIRST PLACE

Joker (no I)

(from “Roguish Gallery”)

All a poor clown ever asked for, truth to tell, was to be seen. Lucky for me, that was easy on account of my blanched-up features, green mop of fun, ruby mouth, loaded gun, n’ all. Now my face appears on tv every day. Yay! And yet, you weren’t content. You wanted more. But what could a man become who has no past (at least not one he remembers day to day), what could such a man become but a leaky vessel of gargoyle-selves he offers up for your amusement, only to have them make a mess when they pour out between the cracks? Why do you people want more than what appears? Why can’t you be happy to have all that anyone can show? What’s your problem? Oh? Memory needs an anchor, you say? A slender letter to hold together what falls apart even as you get your eye real close and try to see? Sorry – we’re out of stock. You should only speak of yourself when you know who you are anyway. The dead could do so; there’s no more guesswork for them. But they can’t talk! That’s the gag! Why don’t you laugh? Why so somber?

(Richard Harrison)

SECOND PLACE

twelve-month haiku

fall

awkward hands clasp

a last fragrant laggard branch.

a spartan canvas

cold

slow flow of frost shows

odd comfort to folks who don

boots to tromp on snow

spring

in flight, birds spill ink

wings lifting limbs in writing,

lighting wilting minds

sun

sun uncurls drunk buds

blushful hugs blur us, but dusk

lulls untruthful l

(Candice Heron)

THIRD PLACE

FLICK CHICK

Smiling dimpling girl

In singing swinging twirl

In thin slip gliding

Gliss-kiss sliding

Slick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

With hip-hip signing

In big lights shining

Clinking slinking

In bling-bling flinging

Slick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Living high right

With winning gilt-bright

Slim in silk-skin

With film-gift spin

Slick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Whirlwind till it’s finishing

Crippling till it’s diminishing

Drills in spills

Thrills in frills

Slick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Circling wild wings

With lightning swift stings

Nights in frights

Sights in flights

Slick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Drinking sinking girl

In diving swilling swirl

Crinkling brink

Inking stink

Sick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Visiting third shrink

Finding splitting chink

Stitching birth

Witching mirth

Sick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

In thick lisp tripping

Till blind mind skipping

Blinking thrills

Winking kills

Sick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Might finish sixth

In pickling gin fifth

Sick-list kid

In pick-fist skid

Sick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Swigging pills in trip-wish

Sniffing ills in drip-dish

Stinging whip

Wringing grip

Sick in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

Hiding shrinking girl

In limping tilting twirl

Ditch this dipstick

Nix this chick-flick

Still in simplistic

Pink-Pink lipstick

(Elvin Thiessen)