Haiku lovers and writers, rejoice: a festival returns
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Mukai Farm & Garden has now launched its third Haiku Festival, aimed at bringing the beauty of haiku, an ancient style of Japanese poetry, to Vashon Island residents.
Past editions of the juried poetry competition have drawn hundreds of entries and fans annually from several countries.
Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including Heritage, Social Justice, Nature, Reflections, People’s Choice, and a Young Poet’s category. The entry deadline is April 1.
Submit poems online at mukaifarmandgarden.org/haiku-2022, making sure to include the author’s name, contact information and age (if applicable). All entries must follow the haiku convention of 17 syllables.
According to Matsuo Basho, Japan’s most famous poet, haiku is a three-line poem with a pattern of 5-7-5 syllables that captures “simply what is happening in this place at this moment.”
Mukai will print and display a selection of the poems on its grounds at 18017 107th Ave SW, on Vashon. Individually calligraphed entries will be displayed throughout the Mukai Farm & Garden property. Visitors to Mukai Farm & Garden will also be encouraged to vote for their favorite haiku for the People’s Choice awards online or at the kiosk.
Mukai Farm & Garden will also celebrate a one-of-a-kind event at 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 10: a Japanese tea ceremony to commemorate Masa Mukai’s 112th birthday and recognize the Haiku contest winners. The winners will be introduced to the public and receive an appreciation gift for their inspirational and imaginative poems.
On that day, the grounds will be open for touring and an open house to view the poems on exhibit.
For more information, visit mukaifarmandgarden.org.
