We are pleased to present the winning haiku for El Cerrito Trail Trekkers first haiku contest that took place during the month of May as part of the annual Hillside Festival. 40 haiku were submitted by 20 poets.
The poetry judges were Dani Gabriel, Rebecca Black, and Melissa Hobbs. Among her credits, Dani Gabriel was El Cerrito Poet Laureate for 2018-2020. She wrote “The Women You Write Poems About” from Civil Defense Press. Rebecca Black was the Albany Poet Laureate for 2016-2020. She has taught poetry and creative writing at several universities including Stanford and Santa Clara Universities. She organized the “Fall into Haiku” program for Albany residents. Melissa Hobbs wrote “Under the Pomegranate Sun” from Bluelight Press, and is a board member of El Cerrito Trail Trekkers. Thanks to these great judges for volunteering their time.
Please join us on July 24 at 10 AM when the winning poets will be recognized and will read their haiku as part of the “haiku hike” in the Hillside Natural Area.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the haiku contest!
FIRST PLACE ADULT CATEGORY
When the path appears
City Friend says, “Ah, what’s this?”
We escape through hills.
Kristianna Bertelsen
SECOND PLACE ADULT CATEGORY
Exposing lupine
Pulling French Broom
Purple lupine lurking there
Restoring hillside
Anna Lemontt
THIRD PLACE ADULT CATEGORY
Turkey gangs are back
Gobble mobs boldly blocking
car bike hike deer trails
Jon Burnett
FIRST PLACE CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER
I see a long path
I smell flowers on the sides
I hear a bird tweet
Maya C.
SECOND PLACE CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER
Autumn Stroll
I walk on the trail
People come, Masks on
People go, Masks off
Emily P
THIRD PLACE CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER
Nature walk in peace
Eucalyptus fills the air
Which trail should I choose
Julie O.
Thank you to all of the following poets who contributed to our first annual haiku poetry contest: Roy Harkow, Julie O., Jon Burnett, Serafin Colmenares, Maya C., Tina Winstrom, Bill Zindel, Edie Bruce, Emily P., Allison P., Ken Berniker, Lauren Schiffman, the happy recluse, Anna Lemontt, Sergio Torres, Susan Kuchinskas, Kristianna Bertelsen, Mark Warmerdam, Lea Rude.
Here are all the haiku poems submitted by Trekker fans, inspired by the Hillside Natural Area.
Luscious green
Spring leaves emerge on branches
a red rash follows
• Lea Rude
Fresh air, no dust
Light through majestic oaks
Morning on the trail
• Mark Warmerdam
When the path appears
City Friend says, “Ah, what’s this?”
We escape through hills.
• Kristianna Bertelsen
Rufus-sided hopscotch
Restless in the trailside brush
Bird! Flush our your feast.
• Kristianna Bertelsen
Morning dove tail wind
Everything whirls together
You complete the circle
• Susan Kuchinskas
Old trees shelter new brood
Dry grass nestles umber stone
This quiet place teems
• Susan Kuchinskas
owls warping jacquard
morning rustle slower sticks
fresh dreams roll under
• Andrea Johnson
She flows through me
A blessing of sensations
Nature’s mother, earth
• Sergio Torres
Exposing lupine
Pulling French Broom
Purple lupine lurking there
Restoring hillside
• Anna Lemontt
—————-
envy
Bird
Atop a flagpole soared
mind
Skewered on spinal cord
• the happy recluse
—————-
Tiny birds would bathe
In bramble-covered dark pools
This May, it’s too dry
• Lauren Schiffman
—————-
Lithe lizards sunbathe
Sudden scoot to hillside holes
TV for the dog
• Lauren Schiffman
—————-
July’s blue-stained fingertips
Some tart, red drupelets
Blackberry coulis
• Lauren Schiffman
—————-
Our dog wants to sniff
Where all the others have been
But not to meet them
• Ken Berniker
—————-
The Old Eucalyptus Tree
As I run my palm
Through the rough tree bark. I think
My palm is like life
Lives go through rough times
Like the bark of this old tree
As my palm moves through
We will all move on
No matter what fate puts in
The paths of our lives
We are forced to keep going
No matter the rough bark
My palm is forced to move through
It keeps plowing forward
Until it decides
To rest, our lives take a stop
After a fulfilling
• Allison P. Age 11
—————-
Autumn Stroll
I walk on the trail
People come, Masks on
People go, Masks off
Birds in the trees sing
The branches dance to the wind
Wind whistles calmly
Leaves fall in autumn
Leaves dance til they touch the ground
I catch a brown one
I catch another
This one is waxy and red
I drop it and keep walking
• Emily P. Age 9
—————-
Once bare trees, now green
Birds sing from the deepest place
Summer approaches
• Edie Bruce
—————-
Small dog noses ground
Eucalyptus, bird poop, squirrels
The Hillside bouquet
• Edie Bruce
—————-
Old friends, dusty trail
Lizards run, I rub the sage
Searching for answers
• Edie Bruce
—————-
Treetops breathing
In praise of winter’s passing
exhaling shadows
• Bill Zindel
Winding paths uphill
Rush of wind through needlegrass
Fog parting to sun
• Tina Wistrom
—————-
It’s my branch, squawks jay
Wiping beak on swaying limb
Come fall, (my) acorns too!
• Tina Wistrom
—————-
I see a long path
I smell flowers on the sides
I hear a bird tweet
• Maya C. Age 6
—————-
The green curtains part
Gold light and blue sky dazzle
I step in dog poo
• Serafin Colmenares
—————-
Above recycling
Poppies apologize a-
gain upstaging oaks
• Jon Burnett
—————-
Short hike, orange haze
Napa neighbors’ stuff floating
Ash still yet falls Fall
• Jon Burnett
—————-
Turkey gangs are back
Gobble mobs boldly blocking
car bike hike deer trails
• Jon Burnett
—————-
East Bay’s an ant hill
Argentinian sages
warning ‘bout water
• Jon Burnett
—————-
First time trekking tour
Stopping at each flower bush
Talking with the guide
• Julie O. Age 12 and under
—————-
Curvy and straight trails
Birds chirping in the spring breeze
Looking at the view
• Julie O. Age 12 and under
—————-
Nature walk in peace
Eucalyptus fills the air
Which trail should I choose
• Julie O. Age 12 and under
—————-
Escape in woods with
Views of SF and Oakland
City in country!
• Roy Harkow
—————-
Run my fastest to
Top of Motorcycle Hill
Can’t . . . pant . . . Catch . . . pant . . . Breath . . .
• Roy Harkow
—————-
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers 