KOBO Seattle | since 1995
A BIG Thank You to everyone who sent in their haiku
First, we want to thank all the participants! We are touched and honored by your entries and messages. They were little moments of zen, and some brought a giggle, which is another kind of little zen moment. All were fantastic, which made it quite a challenge in and of itself to choose a "winner". We're posting all of the entries below. The ones with an asterisk will receive a gift.
What's a Haiku?
Haiku is a three line poem, written in a 5-7-5 syllable count. The first line contains 5 syllables, the second line is 7, and the third is 5. It is usually about a moment in time, in nature, in feeling. A few of the masters: Bashō, Kobayashi Issa and Buson can help give an idea of haiku.
Why the Mask Haiku Challenge?
Well, why not? We challenge you to start writing and see what you come up with. It can be serious, or fun – the idea is to try it and have a little creative time. Winners will receive a special gift. Deadline: August 30th.
The Entries:
By Chisaki -
Blossoms, dots, black, cats
Show yourself on the canvas
For another breath
By Ingrid B. -
A cover to design
Mouth and nose so sweet
Heard not seen
Eyes free of sheltering mask
Message of hearts
Pierce to those loved
Bold sexy eyes
Windows to view emotions
What shall we share today.
By E.K. L. -
Alone or together
I breathe in and out
fabric covering my face
hard to remember
make mine beautiful
plain faces are advantaged
by the pandemic
my best feature is
my eyes; masks enhance me
I wear pretty ones
In the summertime
my mask is carefree fabric
what happens in fall?
By Megan A. -
Busy hands stitching
Masks for those who need them most
Builds community
Marching with masks on
People unite for justice
Rally for black lives
Smiling with my eyes
And with a nod of the head
Still stay six feet back
What a pretty mask
It seems a strange thing to say
I do like your mask
By Lisa G. -
Traps my hot breath close,
Suppresses my lipsticked smile,
Dang, I need a mint!
By Lee K. -
Oversize impact,
Such a small piece of fabric,
Please, please, wear a mask
By Greg P. -
in our reckoning
a respect of providence
protect each other
By Janeil E. -
position a mask
joy can be expressed
eyes smile too
By Susan P., Oregon & Kate H., Pennsylvania
(sisters on opposite coasts)
i will if you will
we can do this together
it will be win-win
Masks can hide your smile
your eyes express so much more
practice your eye smiles!
* By Ilia O. (age 9) with a little help from Mom Jessica P. -
Wear your mask today
Masks cover your mouth and nose
to keep us all safe
By Gwen N. -
Ninja warriors
Masks, gloves, waking in the dark
Buying food today
By Steve E. K., Utah -
New mask from Kobo
with bright Japanese patterns
is my outward smile
By Mark M. -
Behind many masks
eyes still convey smiles
Returning me home
By Etta L. -
We pass each other
faces alight with color
unspoken caring
By Jenn H. -
Cover your face dear
Protect yourself and others
Be safe and live well
By David M. -
What this disguise hides
sings a quiet biding song,
eyebrows conducting
By Elisa C. -
Stretched across my face
Hot breath recycled in cloth
Good thing I ate mints
Stripes, dots, or lemons
Day’s outfit will determine
Facial color wrap
I am listening
My smile obscured by fabric
Eyebrow emotion
By John W., Federal Way
two little layers
held softly against my face
protecting us all
* By Victor S. -
1.
telling a story
the kintaro bandana
protecting my face
* 2.
parentheses for
a brightly colored piece of cloth
elastic ear-loops
3.
a mosquito sting
on the back of my elbow
forgetting the mask
By J. Ruth G. -
eyes smile eloquently
radiate kind intentions
greet neighbors and friends
bright mask on your face
your face becomes a blossom,
your heart a flower
By Laura W. -
here at the edge
at the outside or inside
there is space—breathe
the heart breaks open
it’s of its nature to greet
whoever the guest
there is space between
separation and connection
….it’s your move
By Sandi V.
Daily Empathy
Sending half-faced love letters
Smiling with our eyes
(Sandi also submitted artwork)
By Ben W. -
Who is under there?
Both nose mouth are hidden.
I will meet your eyes.
By Jules A. -
Joy not lost from him
Little child with mask so small
I know ur smiling
By Maggie C. -
Pleated or curved
They conceal smiles
Twinkling eyes reveal the joy
Don’t forget your bag
Took months to remember
Now it’s your mask
By Valerie L., Oregon -
Protect you. Me. Us.
Palms meet. Mask hides nose and mouth.
Our eyes smile. We bow.
By T. Woo -
Our protective masks
Pretty or whimsical prints
Make our days lighter
By Sandy Y. -
Masks, the new normal
Reliving 1918
Landscape stripped of smiles
(Sandy's photo of her grandfather)
Sheltering at home
YouTube "How to Sew a Mask"
Waft of sourdough bread
Old dog learns new tricks
Wear a mask, join class on Zoom
Still I resist change
Neatly folded masks
Tidying - my way to cope
TV spews bad news
Halloween cancelled
Masks - new purpose saving lives
Kids with long faces
* By Kathryn B. -
* Up the hill for fish
Wallet, phone, mask forgotten
Back home start again
Sunny forehead
This summer is different
Muffled voice through mask
Pleated fabric first
Elastic stretching to ears
New fashion statement
Eyes only
I can see your smile
We work through this together
* By Rachel M. -
Fog on my glasses.
Still, I see more clearly than
those that refuse masks.
By Lila L. -
look on the bright side
it's uncomfortable but
at least you're not dead
By Zoe B.-A.
What a gift we are
to each other: I miss your smile
I see your kind eyes
By Holly B. -
Task is we mask up,
Quarantine, but make it fashion.
Be healthy, stay cute.
Hot new fashion: mask
Grab the future with clean hands
Cover your nose though
By Catherine E.
A couple of un-5-7-5 haiku, and one 5-7-5
seeing the mountain
in clouds
to clear your sight
cicadas chatter
crickets sing
telling the difference
many trees stand tall
green leaves all unfettered
sanguine marks the day
* By Shelby Y. (age 16) -
My mom makes good masks
She helps the community
Masks bring unity
By Kassandra K. -
fabric on my face
so I can stay the most safe
BOOOOOO!!! on the maskless
Hiding behind masks
While keeping others safe, too
Need to wash mine, soon
Covers mouth and nose
Feeling like a bank robber
Buying groceries
lint bits in my mouth
parts of string, too, my eyes itch!
will NOT touch my face!
Was a good movie
Now I wear it on my face
What next for The Mask?
By Sandeep M. -
Soft breeze blows your hair
Your eyes do not need cover
The summer wind, sick
By Brian P. -
Muted by the cloth,
a smile of gratitude shines
from my eyes instead
* By Bryan N.-
Stretched taut bridge to chin
Ear to ear a blank blue screen
Filled with more than words
* Don’t you recognize
My smiling eyes and muffled
Hello? Who are we?
A tongue sticks out at
The mess from under facemask
Cover, cancel, vote!
Hot summer face cover
Face the fact it’s hot, white hot
But can you still breathe?
Mouths under cover
May hang open, drool or worse
Curse a long blue streak
Smothered smiles and
Redacted portrait profile
Eyes and brows must do
By Rinkle S. -
Cover and Convey
Cause we want all to be safe
Connect with half face
By John M. -
At the door
One more thing
A mask!
Why not do it?
A simple task
For you AND for others
By Judith C. -
behind mask lips chap
warm breath realizes life
beauty redefined
by Maynard S. -
Cheeks blushed by spring joys,
your mask became a lantern –
glowing, radiant.
By Dorit E. -
Behind the curtain
a veil full of mystery
my eyes coyly speak
By Nira B. -
Hidden in plain view
Only eyes peek out above
No lipstick needed
By Paula L., Marrowstone Island, WA
Just a bit of cloth
comes between the two of us
I still see you smile
Old lady watching
mask and six feet in between
grandchildren at play
By Marcia V. C. -
As a mask culture
Dominates our existence
New designs unfold
Mask away your fears
Display your creative side
Cover up with flair!
By Christine C. -
Friendly barrier
Grown from fields and strands of trees
Between bugs and breath.
or
Friendly barrier
Grown from fields and strands of trees
Between life and death.
Panic in a mask--
will we be trapped forever?
The nightmare subsides.
* By Kelly D. -
Smelly on the bus
Boiled eggs scent wafts upward
No problem -- masked nose
Cotton, silk, plaid, plain
Coordinated fashion
New accessory
* Found a mask on street
Hot water, bleached, and nuked
Ready to rumble
Give a man a mask
And he will show his true face
I want the truth
My foggy glasses
Acne chin, sweaty nose, yet
saving lives, worth it
Shannon G., Mount Vernon, WA -
Part 1
riding in the rain
steady spray off my tire
soaks my cotton mask
Part 2
panting as I ride
last hill before the ferry
wet mask in my mouth
Part 3
perhaps a snorkel
could be a great improvement
over masks in rain?
Part 4
or a front fender?
that would be the solution
I could keep my mask
by Lora R. -
Muffled shoppers rush
Shoulders bent with burdens new
Strange the masquerade
