Haiku — the short poem of Japanese origin — typically include a seasonal reference. Participants in the St. Croix River Haiku Challenge at the ArtReach St. Croix English Majors Ball on Saturday night took that concept to heart.
Asking people to wax poetic about the weather during one of the snowiest April’s in history had predictable results: about half the poems vented the writers’ frustration at a winter that just won’t quit.
There were also little love poems written back-and-forth by one couple, ruminations on birds and water, memories of warmer seasons on the river, allusions to the region’s history, and more.
Read the poems below and leave your own in the comments! Thank you to everyone who attended the fundraiser for ArtReach’s literary arts programming and for having fun with haiku.
The snow is melting / and the village is flooded / with children – Basho #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
The rain stopped hours ago / But orphaned drops / Find their way home leaf by leaf – Bill McCarthy #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
winter confiscatespure white blanket coveringwarm brings water streams#STXHaiku
— Cindy (@WI_Snowflake) April 21, 2013
Cold snow-covered ground / There is no spring weather here / Back to Sheboygan – Brittany Kaiser #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
A fundraiser for lit / Brings out the best in the community / I hope this one wins – Doug #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Sun breaking thru clouds / Birds calling to others / Lay down my paddle. – Katie Seitz #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
the boy, the river / revealing their spring secrets / two loons, two fish, look – Heather Rutledge #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Season St. Croix / Flood waters rise inch by inch / Birds return, unphased – Phillip Bock #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
The snow keeps piling / With the wablers here and cold / Soon will come warm days – Ryan Rodgers #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Raccoon silently / slides across moonlit summer / night on the St. Croix – Tim Anderson #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Overused last year / Spring has slept in, delinquent / We are not amused – Andrew Rutledge #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Please enjoy gently / caring for this God-Given gift / River of the Cross – Tim Anderson #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Mississippi too big / Minnesota way too long / St. Croix just my style – Tim Anderson #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Paddling the Saint Croix / fresh air, sunshine, warm light breeze / captures my senses – Kimberley Mintell #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Frozen waterways / snowy branches in April / how ridiculous! – Kimberley Mintell #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Eagles cry, trout splash / summertime on the Kinni / making memories – Kimberley Mintell #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Eagle soaring high / sun kissed morning on my mind / I love the St. Croix – Tim Anderson #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Voyageurs paddled / where others celebrated roots / countless seasons prior – Tim Anderson #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
English Majors Ball. / Drinks making ideas flow. / Next morning, blank page. – G. Johansen #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
On a Golden Bridge / Pumped up kicks and one last kiss / Having followed bliss – P. Smith #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Wondering of love / Diving deep to find her secrets / Finding myself awed – P. Smith #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Do you remember? / The compass we buried / The needle points South – Trish Perryman #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Oh snow, Oh snow, NO! / Stop your blasphemous white chill / Leave me be and GO! – Jay Higgins #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
River over rocks/Fishing with electricity/Lots of redhorse seen! #stxhaiku
— Deborah Sewell (@DeborahSewell1) April 21, 2013
Breezes blowing soon / Violets waiting in Earth / Happy faces shine – Margaret Boettcher #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Sky red in morning / Loons sing their beautiful song / The day has begun – Colleen Baldrica #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Rain hail snow sleet slush / Days and days for months and months / Spring is sprung oh crap – Bob Boettcher #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
Adults believe it / Is Santa Claus for grown-up / A way to live life – P. Smith #stxhaiku
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) April 21, 2013
A few folks also shared poems via the St. Croix River Facebook page:
Wild river rapids, flashing paddles, sparkling dreams, currently on words! – Joe Rising
December water now flowing
Past the damn
Stops All
– Don Frantz
winter confiscates pure white blanket covering warm brings water streams – Cindy Nemitz
Snow falls ice melts wet, water flows birthing river, enduring wonder – Randall Berg