Congratulations to all the participants! It is wonderful so many made time to play our game when Saint Valentine's Day usually presents other priorities.
A belated happy anniversary to K9 and Big Dog .
I absolutely understand the challenges of judging. My college professor friend studied all the entries then called to say she did not feel "qualified" to judge. She went on to say what a bunch of clever, smart people play this game. I have to agree with her, we rock!
So that has left the judging up to me. Although I did invite Blowfish , my former college professor , to weigh in. Which he did .
Troll got everyone's attention early on with talk of barbed privates! Blowfish liked his billiards, my favorite was the BBQ.
Moi made me gasp aloud with visions of something as coarsely tactile as a mountain goat being transformed into "gossamer cashmere". Blowfish had me read this one to him, with his eyes closed, 3 times. He was entranced.
On the merging of the concepts of "tactile" and "Valentines" I must admit both Moi and Karl have it figured out. Moi with " skin on skin" and Karl with "spooning". Karl has the Blowfish nod here because he is a man born to spoon.
Lord knows spooning is a great full body tactile experience.
Foamy got my attention with images of cold seeping in but not overwhelming the effects of a fine morning cuppa. Great comforting images came to mind. Amazing as coffee never touches these lips!
Pam and K9 reminded us of the importance of animals in our lives. We all have heard, or read, pet stroking lowers blood pressure and heart rates. There is no question the pleasure of passage through warm fur is a benefit to all participants and, a key part of life for most of us. I continue to grieve for a beloved horse. Even awakening to the keen desire to run my hands though her sun warmed coat one more time.
Pam also used one of her entries to illuminate the thorny issues in with the velvety petals. A fine reminder of life realities. What my MIL called,
" Taking the bitter with the better".
In 17 clever syllables Boxer shared another afternoon of fun with her lucky nephew. I could smell cookies from here! Her choices of "knead-life" was perfection. In valentines baking, as in life, a "kneaded life" does indeed result in a "warm reward". It actually did make me take a deep breath.
Does anyone think Aunty is a Brit with miniskirts and red streaked hair?????
Somehow that does not match up with the batiste I keep reading about. I
love, love, love the animation haiku and think a prize is in order for this reason alone. But I did not love the warty-hairy haiku itself.
" Mucid" Aunty????? ick! But as a haiku very effective and I could smell the must and feel the slime. And the hook.
I did google up some haiku tutorials in an attempt to prep for judging.
Other than the 5-7-5 format, Haiku should not necessarily be about nature but inspired by nature. There should be a "kigo" which is a word or phrase which implies a season. Also there is the cutting word known as a "kireji". This
break can be in any of the three lines but it's purpose is to both break and unite at the same time. While it is a "break" it is meant to be used in a way which suggests a parallel or a relationship between the two parts .
Giving points equally to subject, syllables, kigo and kireji, we arrived at our top three choices: Moi/cashmere, Boxer/kneading, Karl/spooning.
Blowfish did not agree with my logic that a season is implied in Karls spooning.
Few of us spoon when it is 100 degrees. As well there are definitely "seasons" in relationships but Blowfish stood fast.
Boxer's was at the top of my list because I loved the parallel to life itself.
Perhaps it is because I know I cannot " knead life" back into my own mother or Karl's or Pam's friend or Aunty's Granny. Would that I could reap that "warm reward" and extend their final seasons. Even without the parallel is there much more tactile than kneading? Blowfish would agree to a season of life but would never limit himself to a season for cookies or bread or cake.
Moi is our winner!
Blowfish ( who knew he was this literal) informed me wool grows in Spring and Summer, is sheared in Fall, worn in Winter. The "gruff wool" to "gossamer cashmere" to "cozy warmth" covered a fine range of tactile experiences. How clever was it to use the word "cut" with "spun" to make the break? Well done!
Moi,
Congratulations!
If you will, please provide a ship to address via:
fishy2me@gmail.com.
Your jar of homemade, handpacked deliciousness is ready to ship :-)
