Mukai Farm & Garden’s Fifth Annual Haiku Festival once again brings the beauty of haiku (俳句), an ancient style of Japanese poetry, to Vashon Island. Previous festivals have drawn hundreds of entries and fans from countries all over the world!
The Haiku Festival is a juried poetry competition for poets of all ages. Contestants may submit one haiku in their choice of one of five categories:
- Heritage: Eloquent portrayal of the history or some other aspect of the Mukai Farm & Garden.
- Nature: Elegant and poignant depiction of some aspect of nature.
- Social Justice: Shedding unique insight on social equity.
- Reflections: An observation, thought, or idea.
- Young Poets: Haiku submitted by children (ages 1-12), and young adults (ages 13-18).
Prizes will be awarded in each category. Only one original, unpublished haiku per contestant will be considered for an award.
Haiku comes in many forms, but, for this festival, we are looking for traditional three-line poems with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, that capture “simply what is happening in this place at this moment,” in the words of Matsuo Basho, Japan’s most famous poet.
We will display a selection of haiku on the grounds of Mukai Farm & Garden throughout late April and May. Contest winners will be announced at the Haiku Festival Finale on April 28, 2:00pm, at the Mukai Farm & Garden.
There is no entry fee, but your donations make this possible. Thank you!
Submissions are now closed.
