Several haiku poets in Southern Arizona won at the 2023 Arizona Matsuri haiku contest including my UA professor husband Albrecht Classen (honorable mention, Adult category). Here’s his winning haiku on page 17:

“Desert sun placates

We shiver at night

despite Tourists’ assumptions”

In the Japanese Language category, Hitomi McKnight of Tucson Japanese Language School won Outstanding haiku (page 20):

満⽉の 夜に吠えわたる (よに ほえ わたる) コヨーテの唱 （うた）

“The night of the full moon

Coyote’s song

Howls and extends”

Also in Japanese Language, Ayumi Uchida won Honorable Mention for her haiku on page 21,

しろうさぎ いっぱいたべたい つきみだんご

“The white rabbit

Wants to eat its fill

Moon-viewing dumplings”

And SAJCC Council member & Volunteer Miki Pimienta once again won Honorable Mention for hers on page 22 (Japanese Language category):

ちらちらと 雪舞うサワロ 綿帽⼦

“Flickering Snow

dances on saguaro

Clumps of snow”

All the winning haiku are listed in the 2023 E-Book below:

Haiku Ebook 2023 (azmatsuri.org)

Congratulations to all the winners!