Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
2010 Haiku Invitational Winners
Michael Dylan Welch, Judge
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is pleased to announce the following winners of its 2010 Haiku Invitational. The top winners in each category are featured not only here, but also in Rice Paper magazine, Haiku Canada Review, and Ripples, the newsletter of the Haiku Society of America. These five top poems will also be read at a spring 2011 performance of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and will appear on TransLink buses and SkyTrains in and around Vancouver in the spring of 2011. In addition, this site presents many dozens of additional Sakura Award winners and honorable mentions, all celebrating cherry blossoms, along with commentary from the judge. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who entered for helping to celebrate spring and cherry blossoms. We hope you’ll enter again next year! You can also read comments on the top five winning poems by 2010 Haiku Invitational judge, Michael Dylan Welch.
Top Winners
British Columbia
biopsy . . .
but just for today
cherry blossoms
Laryalee Fraser
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Canada
holding hands
for the first time
cherry blossoms
DeVar Dahl
Magrath, Alberta
United States
a sudden hush
among the children
cherry blossom rain
Melissa Spurr
Joshua Tree, California
International
cherry trees in bloom—
if only I could stop
the wind
Lucas Garczewski
Poznan, Poland
Youth
the inspiration
for my wardrobe choice today—
pink cherry blossoms
Rukshila Dufault
age 17, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
British Columbia
Sakura Awards
Cherry blossoms
out my office windowI change my shoes
Rita Ager
Coquitlam, British Columbia
in all my anger
I still pause to look up—
cherry blossoms
Tim Ashman
New Westminster, British Columbia
new puppy
the backyard swing
full of blossoms
Susan Constable
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia
Sidewalk cafe
cherry petals garnish
my espresso
Jeff Crawford
Surrey, British Columbia
Baby’s shallow breath
Cherry blossoms suspended
In a spider’s web
Elaine Dare
Burnaby, British Columbia
Silky white train
Brushing cherry blossoms
Into its folds
Elaine Dare
Burnaby, British Columbia
outdoor café—
the morning news
sprinkled with cherry blossoms
Elehna de Sousa
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
cherry blossoms
tomorrow
we part
Tom Drescher
Rossland, British Columbia
pulled over for speeding
I roll down the window
to cherry blossoms
Raoul Fernandes
Vancouver, British Columbia
limping back to my bike
cherry blossoms
on the spinning wheel
Raoul Fernandes
Vancouver, British Columbia
unmarked infant graves—
a sudden release
of cherry petals
Vicki McCullough
Vancouver, British Columbia
stock market
spiraling down . . .
this cherry petal
Vicki McCullough
Vancouver, British Columbia
cherry blossom—
even the sunset
lingers
Jill Stanley
Victoria, British Columbia
the ground
whitened with cherry blossom
I hesitate to step forward
Naomi Beth Wakan
Gabriola, British Columbia
Honourable Mentions
old pond—
falling cherry petals
startle a sleepy koi
Cheryl Ashley
Nanaimo, British Columbia
tunnel of cherry blossoms
as I walk alone
to mail a letter
Tim Ashman
New Westminster, British Columbia
perfectly stuck
a small pink petal
on my cat’s bum
Claudia Bos
Vancouver, British Columbia
cherry bough lets loose
a shower of petals—
a wren has landed!
Gail Buente
Vancouver, British Columbia
with gnarled limbs
again the old man walks
beneath cherry blossoms
Gail Buente
Vancouver, British Columbia
distant siren—
amid the fallen blossoms
shattered glass
Susan Constable
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia
SPECIAL DELIVERY!
pink cherry petals
nestled in the mail
Karen Crawford
Surrey, British Columbia
homeless
she catches cherry blossoms
blowing in the wind
Elehna de Sousa
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
reading quietly
under the cherry tree
scattered blossoms
Anne Dunnett
North Vancouver, British Columbia
sakura
the dandelion wine
still a little green
Garry Eaton
Port Moody, British Columbia
Clouded by blossoms—
chewing gum vanishes
from the sidewalks.
Holly Flauto Salmon
Vancouver, British Columbia
an old woman smiles
between the cherry blossoms
the sun is setting
Deirdre Godwin
Ladysmith, British Columbia
her metastasis
storm removes the last
blossom
Andrea Gradidge
Burnaby, British Columbia
old wounds
but, for a while
cherry blossoms
Ann Harreby
Coquitlam, British Columbia
fallen blossoms
washed down the drain
tell the sea it is spring
Neil Hershfield
Vancouver, British Columbia
anointed with petals
I click my heels
and am young again
Neil Hershfield
Vancouver, British Columbia
perfume sales
cherry blossom tattoo
on her arm
Harvey Jenkins
Nanaimo, British Columbia
cherry blossoms
my baby cries
for her rattle
Harvey Jenkins
Nanaimo, British Columbia
surprise
small fists full—
cherry blossoms
Barbara Little
Burnaby, British Columbia
cherry blossoms—
the scarecrow
turns pink
Barbara Little
Burnaby, British Columbia
stowaway petal
in a little girl’s hair
just along for the ride
Tara Lowry
Vancouver, British Columbia
pink blossoms flutter
upon the old gnarled roots—
cracking the concrete.
Allard Ludwig
White Rock, British Columbia
mother-to-be
the branch is heavy
with blossoms
Fiona Marion
Vancouver, British Columbia
broken branch
your blossoms fall
too early
Louise Moon
Vancouver, British Columbia
dragon kite
twirls into the trees . . .
a shower of cherry blossoms
Helen Moon
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Watching the petals fall
Drift to the ground
Memories of childhood.
Andrea Munro
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
shelter of blossoms
homeless man holds out his hat
for falling petals
Jacqueline Pearce
Burnaby, British Columbia
spring equinox—
bowing cherries
border the graves
Nadia Sukhdeo Proctor
Burnaby, British Columbia
pink bud on a tree
looking up to the blue sky
you make me believe
Alexandra Regehr
Vancouver, British Columbia
crawling up the bark
on a cherry blossom tree
the ant makes its’ way
Alexandra Regehr
Vancouver, British Columbia
Cherry blossoms—
snow angels
in spring
Vicky Renneberg
Victoria, British Columbia
Final exams.
Through the window I see
sun and cherry blossoms.
Vicky Rizzardo
Vancouver, British Columbia
young girl with a basket
her smile overflowing—
cherry blossoms
Sophia Rosenberg
Lasqueti Island, British Columbia
Cherry blossom rain;
we stroll through the pink petals
without umbrellas.
Ellen Rothstein
Vancouver, British Columbia
this stillness . . .
the sound of one
white petal
Jill Stanley
Victoria, British Columbia
On a red bicycle
She glides through drifting petals
—they land in her hair
Mark Tanner
Burnaby, British Columbia
Cherry blossoms
—my neighbours I will not miss
seeing.
Rosemarie Teleron
Vancouver, British Columbia
Cherry petals
dot my sun,
my feet.
Rosemarie Teleron
Vancouver, British Columbia
Rustled by the wind
another petal is lost—
my apologies
Dave Walcott
Surrey, British Columbia
Blossoms in my hands
I stitch a quilt
Of memories
Jill Warner
Surrey, British Columbia
blossom petals
at the breakfast table
—already full
Joyce Wong
Richmond, British Columbia
Canada
Sakura Awards
sweeping wind
between the altar candles
cherry petals
Huguette Ducharme
Saint-Pie, Québec
a row of sandals
on the park bench—
petals everywhere
Lin Geary
Paris, Ontario
its deep shade
an aged cherry tree
in full bloom
Kimiko Horne
St. Catharines, Ontario
cherry petals
falling on cherry petals . . .
I dust your photo
Chen-ou Liu
Ajax, Ontario
in the shade
of blossom arches
a bicycle leans to one side
Christine Nelson
Athabasca, Alberta
in his book of poems
long after
her cherry petals
Marilyn Potter
Toronto, Ontario
a pink petal
curls
in my daughter’s hair
Sonia Saikaley
Ottawa, Ontario
dawn rain
the baglady’s blanket
of cherry blossoms
Grant Savage
Ottawa, Ontario
touch of cherry blossoms
how far has it fallen
this starlight?
Grant Savage
Ottawa, Ontario
still there today
cherry blossoms
grave diggers
Guy Simser
Ottawa, Ontario
Honourable Mentions
so easily
trodden underfoot
cherry blossoms
Peter Brady
Gatineau, Quebec
stripped of blossoms
the cherry tree
and me
Peter Brady
Gatineau, Quebec
April showers—
a light dusting
of cherry petals
Pamela Cooper
Montreal, Quebec
along the footpath
cherry blossom petals
my pink pedicure
Ellen Cooper
Montreal, Quebec
street walk
the smell of cherry blossoms
under the stars
Huguette Ducharme
Saint-Pie, Québec
your each
step to the door
a cherry petal drops
LeRoy Gorman
Napanee, Ontario
cherry blossoms
the moon and I face
each other
Chen-ou Liu
Ajax, Ontario
cupping
and cupping again
cherry blossoms
Terra Martin
Toronto, Ontario
renewing vows
under the cherry tree
petals in our hair
Joanne Morcom
Calgary, Alberta
outdoor restaurant
a waitress sweeps blossoms
into the gutter
Joanne Morcom
Calgary, Alberta
Yukon snowflakes fall
again
I remember cherry blossoms
Katherine Munro
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
missing her
the bitter cherry
and its bloom
Roland Packer
Hamilton, Ontario
air full of eagles
the blossoms
falling
Patrick M. Pilarski
Edmonton, Alberta
tin roof littered with blossoms the crash of waves
Patrick M. Pilarski
Edmonton, Alberta
cherry blossoms
I buy my new grandson
the sunhat with sailboats
Marilyn Potter
Toronto, Ontario
under a branch
heavy with cherry blossom
light-hearted lovers
Claudia Radmore
Carleton Place, Ontari
an indigo sky
cherry blossoms
in my hands
Sonia Saikaley
Ottawa, Ontario
cherry blossoms
on the breeze
chasing butterflies
Sylvia Santiago
Calgary, Alberta
cherry blossoms
a child’s laughter
disappears with the wind
Sylvia Santiago
Calgary, Alberta
one two three and four
into each bento box square
a cherry petal
Guy Simser
Ottawa, Ontario
United States
Sakura Awards
flushed
beneath the cherry blossoms
she says yes
Hortensia Anderson
New York, New York
blossoms in peak bloom—
I, too, could risk
everything
Susan Antolin
Walnut Creek, California
the flutter
of the newborn’s eyelids—
cherry petals
Susan Antolin
Walnut Creek, California
flitting on the wall
by his sick bed
shadows of cherry blossoms
Lana Ayers
Kingston, Washington
first blossoms . . .
my daughter and I
talk until dusk
Francine Banwarth
Dubuque, Iowa
day of blossoms—
a nurse erases
mother’s name
Roberta Beary
Washington, District of Columbia
blossoms
other people’s children
catch them now
Roberta Beary
Washington, District of Columbia
at the altar
a cherry petal falls
from her sole
Brett Brady
Pahoa, Hawaii
daydreaming . . .
a cherry petal
brushes my cheek
Alice Frampton
Seabeck, Washington
leaving home . . .
what little I know
of cherry blossoms
Alice Frampton
Seabeck, Washington
the soldier’s wife
bruised cherry blossoms
in her hand
Terri French
Huntsville, Alabama
my son
gone before me—
cherry blossom tattoo
Terri French
Huntsville, Alabama
cherry blossom rain
a little girl blows bubbles
for her cat
Garry Gay
Santa Rosa, California
bright cherry blossoms
four generations
pose for the photo
Garry Gay
Santa Rosa, California
an answer
to the question I didn’t ask . . .
cherry blossoms
Carolyn Hall
San Francisco, California
Spring rain—
the busker’s case filling
with cherry blossoms.
Nicole Hyde
Arvada, Colorado
cherry blossoms—
losing count of the brush strokes
when you touch my hair
Peggy Lyles
Tucker, Georgia
rescued from the grass—
fallen blossoms fill
my daughter’s hands
C. R. Manley
Bellevue, Washington
cherry blossoms
ten thousand
why nots
Scott Mason
Chappaqua, New York
child’s tea party—
I accept a second helping
of cherry blossoms
Tanya McDonald
Woodinville, Washington
cherry blossoms
a tourist
asks for directions
John Merryfield
Tahoe City, California
cherry blossoms
the hometown crowd shoulders
a young athlete
Chad Lee Robinson
Pierre, South Dakota
cherry petals
the way he touches
my scar
Melissa Spurr
Joshua Tree, California
Honourable Mentions
cherry blossoms—
the road from the hospital
disappears
Hortensia Anderson
New York, New York
cherry blossoms
a thrush reminds me
to follow my heart
Francine Banwarth
Dubuque, Iowa
daintily peeling
a pink petal from her boot—
teenage Goth
Sheila K. Barksdale
Gainesville, Florida
cherry blossoms
the ink of her tattoo
still bright
Jeanette Blain
Bronx, New York
farmers market
cherry blossom branches
at each stall
Jeanette Blain
Bronx, New York
cherry blossoms . . .
a slender moon barely
slipping through
Brett Brady
Pahoa, Hawaii
pink petals
twirl in twilight
memories strewn on the wind
Kerry Campbell Hamilton
Woodinville, Washington
picking up speed
the cherry petal
that touched her lips
Beate Conrad
Waterford, Michigan
her last breath—
a cherry blossom falls
without notice
Rise Daniels
Tolland, Connecticut
Cherry blossoms
two garlands of wet petals
on my bike tires
Bruce England
Santa Clara, California
cherry blossom petals—
the street gutters never
looked so pretty
Seren Fargo
Bellingham, Washington
last cherry blossoms . . .
the stone buddha
still smiling
Stanford M. Forrester
Windsor, Connecticut
stone buddha—
the cherry blossom shadows
freckle his face
Stanford M. Forrester
Windsor, Connecticut
he rides
a girls’ pink bicycle—
blossom rain
Carolyn Hall
San Francisco, California
kissing
the tip of each toe
cherry blossoms
Michele L. Harvey
Hamilton, New York
woken by your absence
shadows of cherry blossoms
on the blinds
Keith Heiberg
Brighton, Massachusetts
Old crow
sing a different song—
these are cherry blossoms!
Nicole Hyde
Arvada, Colorado
cherry blossoms—
from the homeless man’s trumpet,
“Ode to Joy”
Catherine J. S. Lee
Eastport, Maine
e-mail to Iraq
I attach a new photo
of cherry blossoms
Catherine J. S. Lee
Eastport, Maine
cherry blossom
seen through
cherry blossoms
Mary LeViant
Bellevue, Washington
last year’s dress
with a new sash—
cherry blossoms
Peggy Lyles
Tucker, Georgia
ocean breeze
cherry blossoms sail
across the pond
C. R. Manley
Bellevue, Washington
my wife forgives me—
today, remembering only
the cherry blossoms
Michael McClintock
Clovis, California
cherry blossoms
and night’s heavy dew
blankets the young grass
Dorothy McLaughlin
Somerset, New Jersey
children writing haiku
scatter in the park—
cherry petals
Marilyn Murphy
Providence, Rhode Island
the park
after curfew—
cherry petals gathering
Marilyn Murphy
Providence, Rhode Island
in the fold
of my kimono—
a dried cherry blossom
Nancy Nitrio
Orangevale, California
wind gust
the cherry petals’
arpeggio
Origa (Olga Hooper)
Okemos, Michigan
some of the words
between us
cherry buds
Stephen A. Peters
Bellingham, Washington
cherry buds
some of my childhood memories
linger
Stephen A. Peters
Bellingham, Washington
blossomless
above an open casket—
cherry tree
An’ya
La Pine, Oregon
eager to see it all again
I stand
under the cherry tree
Dru Philippou
El Prado, New Mexico
the puppy asleep
on a bed of blossoms
family picnic
Carol Raisfeld
Atlantic Beach, New York
cherry blossoms
a bull rider’s hand
in the suicide wrap
Chad Lee Robinson
Pierre, South Dakota
for a few days
the war stops
cherry blossoms
Carolyne Rohrig
Fremont, California
Cherry blossoms—
the last hint of color before
nightfall
Deborah Russell
Baltimore, Maryland
in the cherry tree
I see the shape
of your hand
Carole Sauter
Kent, Washington
April morning
a light drizzle
of cherry blossoms
Adelaide B. Shaw
Millbrook, New York
falling blossoms—
the swirl of her dress
as she spins
Adelaide B. Shaw
Millbrook, New York
prolonged illness
a newspaper brings me
cherry blossoms
Tim Singleton
Columbia, Maryland
a frog hops
through the rain
cherry petals
Carmi Soifer
Suquamish, Washington
morning
without cherry blossoms—
emergency room
Carmi Soifer
Suquamish, Washington
cherry blossom time
a single petal
on the old dog’s nose
John Stone
Elverta, California
cherry blossoms . . .
a family strolls
hand in hand in hand
Marilyn Appl Walker
Madison, Georgia
first blossoms
the precise fit of air
in my bicycle tires
Marilyn Appl Walker
Madison, Georgia
a cherry tree branch
broken off by the storm—
my son’s magic wand
Neal Whitman
Pacific Grove, California
pink
under the cherry tree
my toes
Kath Abela Wilson
Pasadena, California
cherry blossoms
leaving the hospital
alone
Nora Wood
Lawrenceville, Georgia
through cherry branches
a gust of rain and petals—
her sigh
Ruth Yarrow
Seattle, Washington
gas station puddle—
in its gaudy rainbow
cherry petals float
Ruth Yarrow
Seattle, Washington
International
Sakura Awards
fluttering
on the trampoline
cherry blossoms
Bouwe Brouwer
Emmeloord, The Netherlands
weeping cherry . . .
all the love
we’re in
Helen Buckingham
Bristol, England
no blossom yet under the old cherry tree we kiss
Andrea Cecon
Cividale del Friuli, Italy
first cherry buds
she decides
to speak openly
Andrea Cecon
Cividale del Friuli, Italy
cherry blossom tattoo
she shows him
the hidden branch
Maria Kowal-Tomczak
Opole, Poland
green valley—
the brook brings blossoms
from a distant hill
Tomislav Maretic
Zagreb, Croatia
cherry blossom chill—
I tie my shoelace
in a double bow
Emiko Miyashita
Kawasaki, Japan
rest home window
cherry blossoms fade
against the pane
Patricia Prime
Auckland, New Zealand
blossoming cherries—
faced to the window
an empty chair
Dorota Pyra
Gdansk, Poland
night rain
a tideline
of petals
Elaine Riddell
Hamilton, New Zealand
saying yes
to your proposal—
cherry blossoms
Katrina Shepherd
Dunblane, Scotland
cherry blossom—
he knows what to call
his granddaughter
Sandra Simpson
Tauranga, New Zealand
changing our sheets—
cherry blossom
drifts to the floor
Helen Yong
Christchurch, New Zealand
Honourable Mentions
just a gentle breeze . . .
you and me
and the falling blossoms
Wolfgang Beutke
Barum, Germany
cherry blossoms . . .
the smallest child
circles the tree trunk
Leonie Bingham
Nimbin, Australia
huddled trenchcoats
in the shadows . . .
cherry blossoms
Greg Bingham
Nimbin, Australia
cherry blossoms
filled to the rim
the candy jar
Bouwe Brouwer
Emmeloord, The Netherlands
cherry petals
cover your footprints—
this loneliness
Nathalie Buckland
Nimbin, Australia
solar eclipse—
the light of cherry blossoms
in the graveyard
Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
Botoşani, Romania
spring storm—
the beggar’s little box
filled with cherry blossoms
Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă
Botoşani, Romania
Breath of wind . . .
so many cherry petals
across the water
Magdalena Dale
Bucharest, Romania
may morning
cherry twigs on the grave
of a young girl
Andrzej Dembonczyk
Zbroslawice, Poland
homeward bound—
cherry blossoms stick
to my sandals
Angelee Deodhar
Chandigarh, India
blossom photo . . .
old man calling—from here
you get the whole tree!
Bernadette Duncan
Stuttgart, Germany
Cherry blossoms—
a lonely woman smiling
at the window
Adina Enachescu
Râmnicu-Vâlcea, Romania
cherry blossom in her hair
the bride says
“I do”
Keith Frentz
Tauranga, New Zealand
the dog
chases a new scent—
cherry blossom
Keith Frentz
Tauranga, New Zealand
early morning
people going to work
over cherry petals
Zeljko Funda
Varazdin, Croatia
end of jogging—
a cherry petal
stuck on my shoe
Damien Gabriels
Leers, France
in remission
seeing cherry blossom
she blossoms
Kevin Goldstein-Jackson
Poole, England
cherry tree
and my grandpa
full of petals
Dubravko Korbus
Ivanic Grad, Croatia
at your tombstone—
a spray of cherry blossom . . .
still jealous
Natalia Kuznetsova
Moscow, Russia
spring slips away
cherry petals
on the hearse
Artur Lewandowski
Sieradz, Poland
a short time
for love—my car strewn
with cherry petals
Tomislav Maretic
Zagreb, Croatia
cherry blossoms—
repainting my kitchen
pink
Jacek Margolak
Kielce, Poland
after the storm
a broken cherry’s bough
hangs and blossoms
Dusko Matas
Zagreb, Croatia
Midnight jazz—
moonlight and cherry blossom
floating on a song.
Oliver Mead
Bristol, England
cherries blossom
a little boy tousles
grandfather’s grey hair
Boris Nazansky
Zagreb, Croatia
urban boulevard
in a beggar’s hat
cherry petals
Robert Nowak
Wałbrzych, Poland
a game of chess
on the bald spots of old men
cherry petals
Robert Nowak
Wałbrzych, Poland
Light sifted
through the drizzle—
cherry tree in blossom
Oprica Padeanu
Bucharest, Romania
the cooing of pigeons
between blooming cherry trees—
the cool rain
Kristjaan Panneman
Lelystad, The Netherlands
lifting the toddler
to touch the cherry blossoms
grandmother
Patricia Prime
Auckland, New Zealand
family album
our faces changing
under the blossom trees
Vanessa Proctor
Sydney, Australia
walking home from ballet
my daughter pirouettes
through the blossom
Vanessa Proctor
Sydney, Australia
a kid in combat trousers
every pocket
full of cherry petals
Dorota Pyra
Gdansk, Poland
cherry blossom
the focus of the mountains
softens
Elaine Riddell
Hamilton, New Zealand
cherry blossoms
again and again
I see her face
Nuri Rosegg
Oslo, Norway
cherry tree flower
washed away with rain
again in the sunshine
Karol Rosiak
Bydgoszcz, Poland
villagers slow down
passing by the only
Japanese cherry
Stjepan Rozic
Ivanic Grad, Croatia
bouncing higher
on the trampoline—
cherry petals
Katrina Shepherd
Dunblane, Scotland
a policeman
directing traffic . . .
cherry blooms on his cap
Huguette Simmonds
Rodez, France
hisssssss
goes the soda can
cherry blossom
Valeria Simonova-Cecon
Cividale del Friuli, Italy
creaking rocking chair—
the old cherry tree again
in bloom
Lech Szeglowski
Gdansk, Poland
Cherry petals—
the end and the beginning
of the path
Eduard Tara
Iasi, Romania
Evening wind—
an old woman follows
the cherry petals
Eduard Tara
Iasi, Romania
Two petals
falling together—
evening wind
Maria Tirenescu
Cugir, Romania
spring shower
each grass blade with its own
cherry petal
Zeljka Vucinic-Jambresic
Ivanic Grad, Croatia
even an old lady
passing under the cherry
blossoming . . .
Djurdja Vukelic-Rozic
Ivanic Grad, Croatia
shutter clicks open
to the spring
first cherry flower
Diana Webb
Leatherhead, England
cherry blossoms
on the last page—
diary of a veteran
Urszula Wielanowska
Kielce, Poland
broken sundial—
a cherry blossom petal
drifts and lands
Sheila Windsor
Worcester, England
arms akimbo—
a cherry blossom falls
on my tilted face
Quendryth Young
Alstonville, Australia
blossom jam—
a tour bus topped
with pink
Quendryth Young
Alstonville, Australia
Youth
Sakura Awards
Blossom in my palm.
Last April she sat here too
With a blossom in hers.
Mariah Dear, age 15
Delta, British Columbia
sparring children
on the park bench
cherry blossoms
Sophie Kirkby, age 10
Nimbin, Australia
cherry blossoms
a young child nibbles
the flower
Sophie Kirkby, age 10
Nimbin, Australia
my sad eyes
under a cherry tree
lots of petals
Karolina Rosiak, age 10
Bydgoszcz, Poland
the wind
brushing tears away—
cherry blossoms
Sherry Zhou, age 12
Vancouver, British Columbia
Honourable Mentions
a pink petal caught
between strands of yellow hair,
stuck with morning dew
Alice Adam, age 15
Vancouver, British Columbia
I watch the blossoms
twirling through the calm green day—
wish I was with them
Alice Adam, age 15
Vancouver, British Columbia
delicate pink petals
carried by the wind
fluttering like butterflies
Tracy Ahn, age 13
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Fallen pink blossom
Caresses the dirty pavement
Shadowed by dusk
Geran Atkinson, age 15
Vancouver, British Columbia
Colourful flowers
shower me on my birthday
everything blooms
Jungwun (Mimi) Bang, age 12
Vancouver, British Columbia
semaphore of pink
in the wind—what languages
do you speak in, trees?
Aeli Black
Vancouver, British Columbia
Once again we meet
under the cherry blossoms
is this fate?
Jessica Chang, age 15
Surrey, British Columbia
Rainy spring day
my reflection in puddles
scattered blossoms
Jessica Chang, age 15
Surrey, British Columbia
Cherry blossoms on the ground
So pretty
Until the leafblower comes
Caitlin Chong, age 12
Vancouver, British Columbia
I’d like to catch one
a cherry blossom petal
to keep forever
Gabriella Dionne, age 17
Vancouver, British Columbia
Lush grass sways gently
As the soft afternoon breeze
Rustles pink blossoms
Emma Dixon, age 15
Delta, British Columbia
Amongst tall buildings
And noisy city bustle
Cherry blossoms bloom
Emma Dixon, age 15
Delta, British Columbia
it kisses my nose
as I inhale its sweet scent—
pink cherry blossom
Rukshila Dufault, age 17
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
roses are red, violets are blue,
but don’t forget
pink cherry petals
Andrew Enders, age 13
Vancouver, British Columbia
fragile petals swim
like goldfishes in a pond
down into the drains
Yu Ting (Tina) Fan, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
sometimes, with the wind,
I drift . . .
like petals from a cherry tree
Yu Ting (Tina) Fan, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
my neighbours have gone
their petals softly drifting
when will I join them?
Shelley Feng, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
An old tree.
I hold out my hand,
cherry blossoms fall through my fingers.
Quinn Fotheringham, age 11
Vancouver, British Columbia
A flurry, a rush,
A whirl of pink surrounds me
As gentle winds blow.
Anmol Gulati, age 16
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Pink cherry blossoms,
on a big beautiful tree,
swirling in the wind.
Selena Herrera, age 8
Richmond, British Columbia
Pastry and hot tea
Enjoyed under blossoming trees.
Pink petals fall.
Michelle Ho, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
Pink petals dancing,
Accompanied by fierce wind.
Snap goes the camera.
Michelle Ho, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
Gentle hill to school
Fluttering petals of pink
I stare at her back
Charlie Hua, age 17
Vancouver, British Columbia
Daddy lifts his girl
to pick a cherry blossom—
Memory for years.
Julianne Huff, age 17
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
putting on my ballet shoes
dance away
cherry petals
Annie Hui, age 17
Vancouver, British Columbia
Cherry blossoms
pink trees everywhere
can’t see streets
Arian Jacobs, age 14
West Vancouver, British Columbia
pink and white flowers
spin and twirl down around me
landing in my hair
Samantha Jacobs, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
grabbing for the petals
as they fall to the pavement
missing every one
Samantha Jacobs, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
floating and falling
these pink ballerinas dance
asking me to join
Grace Kim, age 17
Surrey, British Columbia
dancing to a secret beat
around the sunlit sidewalk
cherry blossoms fall
Melissa Kuipers, age 16
Coquitlam, British Columbia
a blossom dances
through the bus’s open window—
everyone smiles.
Hannah Levy, age 17
Vancouver, British Columbia
Pink cherry blossoms—
ballerinas pirouette
and tutus twirl
Elizabeth Li, age 12
Vancouver, British Columbia
Swaying on a branch
Floating slowly swiftly down
Delicate petals
Sophie Liu, age 8
Burnaby, British Columbia
Walking home lonely
Among this sea of petals
These blooming trees.
Jaymee Maaghop, age 14
Surrey, British Columbia
Pink petals are all you can see
Don’t look away
Soon they’ll be blown away
Hayley Martin, age 13
West Vancouver, British Columbia
cherry blossoms
a gentle pink wave
washes away sorrow
Winnie Mui, age 13
Vancouver, British Columbia
My dog done a pee
on a little cherry tree
oh deary deary me.
Abbie O Boyle, age 8
Dublin, Ireland
down on the sidewalk
poor blossom petals
turning into grey dust
Jane Qiu, age 15
Vancouver, British Columbia
The sweet blossoms mark
A fresh start, a new chapter,
In my own story.
Emma Rahemtulla, age 14
West Vancouver, British Columbia
a cherry tree
how beautifully it blossoms
day by day
Karolina Rosiak, age 10
Bydgoszcz, Poland
Cherry blossoms soar
with the answers we’re missing
blowing in the wind
Arlo Sporn, age 15
Vancouver, British Columbia
pink blossoms falling
drifting on the wind
raindrops strike them down
David Tan
Vancouver, British Columbia
I take a bite of taco,
and realize it had
cherry blossoms
Bill Tang, age 10
Vancouver, British Columbia
Workers cut down tree—
Cherry blossoms fall in my face
As it falls down.
Charlie Tang, age 12
Vancouver, British Columbia
Cherry blossoms make
a miniature tornado,
spinning in my yard.
Shannon Tang, age 11
Vancouver, British Columbia
Cherry blossoms
Shooting down the river,
Sinking in the rapids.
Emma Upsdell-Reddekopp, age 10
Vancouver, British Columbia
an empty bench
a warm kiss lingers
in cherry petals
Michael Warne, age 17
Vancouver, British Columbia
a cherry blossom
whirling with wings on the wind
lands on my cold nose
Jacqueline Wong, age 14
Vancouver, British Columbia
blushing
when being admired—
cherry blossoms
Sherry Zhou, age 12
Vancouver, British Columbia