Published:
This April, DC Public Library celebrated National Poetry Month with the annual Haiku Contest! Nearly 1,000 residents ages 6 and up submitted an original haiku to their neighborhood library about something they observed or a moment in D.C., something they are grateful for, their experiences with the seasons or something small and wild. Winners were selected in the following age categories, Children (6-12), Teen (13-19) and Adult (20+). Click on each participating library below to see the winners!
Anacostia Library
Arriana | Child Winner
Mom and dad are best
They will feed and pamper me
I love them so much
De'Azia Washington | Teen Winner
Red leaves pool around
White tape cleaves the ground singing
Does justice make sound
Zion Keen | Adult Winner
“Anxious”
My heart prepares to leap;
JUMPS - stuck behind my teeth
and on the tip of my tongue.
Capitol View Library
Gabby L. | Child Winner
DC’s cherry blossoms
Dance their scent in my nose, sniff,
I smile with joy, Spring.
Rejinae Mewborn | Teen Winner
I have done a lot today
As much as I can do today
Maybe tomorrow will be productive
Charles Randolph | Adult Winner
DC, Maryland & Virginia
built on a swamp, hills looking like mountain tops
mountain tops, with views
Cleveland Park Library
Asher F. | Child Spanish Language Winner
La flor bonita
que el sol calienta,
bebe el agua.
Emma B. | Child Spanish Language Winner
La noche negra
en un mundo bonito
brillan estrellas.
Stephanie M. | Child Spanish Language Winner
La noche negra
fue fría y miedosa,
vienen los lobos.
Jack O. | Child Winner
Hard-to-solve puzzles
One by one until it's done
Connect pieces--click!
Julia P. | Child Winner
D.C. spring time shines
Majestic cherry trees bloom
azaleas compete
Nadia W. | Child Winner
I love my tree
It is beautiful
It is the best tree
Alisson H. | Teen Winner
"Florece"
Delicate tulips
Blooming in primavera
By the Potomac
Mea P. | Teen winner
a rosy petal
comes flying into my view
And sits on my nose
Cait G. | Adult Winner
Winds swirling, blooms fall
Pink snow drifting past train cars
Landing at my feet
Randi K. | Adult Winner
They say peonies
droop their heads in shame. I think
beauty makes them shy.
Stephanie S. | Adult Winner
Achoo! Still, I sniff
Inhaling life and laughter
Blooming, like tulips
Scott B. | Adult Winner
Winds bending the branch
Dredging through, spring exploding
Cherry blossom bursts
Francis A. Gregory Library
Tova H. | Child Winner
Flowers bloom in the rain
Soul blooms with an idea
Babies born with soul
Shaia H. | Child Winner
"Spring"
The flowers start to bloom
Birds fly toward the horizon
Cycle of the sky
Caden R. | Child Winner
"Inside Out"
Inside, it is white.
I am Black; My soul is pure.
I love the outside!
Crystal Rogers | Teen Winner
"April"
A branch crunches down
in the damp soil, blossoming;
The trees awaken.
Chyann Wicker | Teen Winner
"My Pride Haiku"
Wow. I’m really proud
Marching boots costume and all.
My first. Standing tall
Julie Rones | Adult Winner
We must know what connects
Us to our past so we can
Crystallize our future!
Aressa V. Williams | Adult Winner
Good health, laughter, peace
Free gifts to a grateful heart
Armor for the soul
Georgetown Library
Ingrid K. | Child Winner
Speeding through the grass
Bushy tail twitching, he springs
The acorn is caught
Isabelle P. | Child Staff Favorite
You arch your branches -
In gentle yet solemn song -
A weeping willow
Maddie G. | Child Staff Favorite
The dark and cold sky.
The sound of water falling fast.
Lightning shining light.
Alice | Child Staff Favorite
When you hear something
deep inside the woods listen!
Tiny squirrel is near
Soham Joshi | Teen Winner
Memories of green
Fade away as the sun dims
Scarlet trees now reign
Margaret Torrey | Teen Staff Favorite
These words are my home
These books take away my fears
With them, I'm at home
Anna Lim | Teen Staff Favorite
in the night, rat paws
swarm sidewalks, brick roads, sewers
determined to live
Alessandra Viteri | Teen Staff Favorite
The sky turns grey
A window shakes, raindrops fall
beauty in the storm
Reagan Smith | Adult Winner
A silent greeting
On my early morning walk
My neighbor, the fox
E. Stahl | Adult Staff Favorite
A rat on the street
Pink blossoms swirl through the air
Petals brush his nose
Mary Otto | Adult Staff Favorite
Father gone but the wind
chime repaired with his fishing
line stirs in the breeze.
Julie Day | Adult Staff Favorite
Old brick rowhouses
Painted in many colors
Line my walk to work
Dan Sanclemente | Adult Spanish Language Winner
Viento me da paz
Sacude mis problemas
Y me renuevo
Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library
Ozioma A. | Child Winner
Allergies, they’re here
Pollen and bees, they are near
Allergies, Please go!
Lila | Child Winner
Imagination
Owls go up, the sun goes down
Dreams are beautiful
Irena (Reeny) P. | Child Winner
Blue glimmering sea
Sun sets over the world
The moon rises slow
Katie | Teen Winner
Isn’t it lovely?
Blossoms blooming, the warm Sun
And to think summers just begun
Kevin Hackbarth | Adult Winner
In the dark loamy soil,
While forsaken food decays,
On wiggles the worm
Linda Olson Gray | Adult Winner
Always there, my mom.
When she died, I felt numb, lost
Time fades not her pull
Christina Echeverría Chen | Adult Spanish Language Winner
Always there, my mom.
When she died, I felt numb, lost
Time fades not her pull
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
Carina A | Child Winner
Always there for me
Kindness and hope on my side
Grateful for her love
Elisa K | Child Winner
Beautiful blossoms
Bursting, growing, thriving, joy
Welcome spring flowers
Taylor | Child Winner
Be a bird like me
Lovely and free like me
Free lovely and free
Logan | Child Winner
Waves lapping the shore
So many shells in soft sand
Hidden coral found
Javeigh Hutchins | Teen Winner
Pretty pink flowers
Cherry blossoms in the air
The flowers in my hair
Sophia Hall | Teen Winner
rock creek park
hum of traffic silenced
softened by snow
Sophia Hall | Teen Winner
The breeze pull petals
away from a tree's flowers.
They lie on grey ground.
Elanor Lantner | Teen Winner
Bright bold splash of red
Robin in pastel petals
Spring is here at last.
Claire Gorman | Adult Winner
Plump bellies jiggling
Small toes run across loud streets
Whiskered rodent fleet
Timo Freeman | Adult Winner
The glowing chochin
Swinging in the spring night wind
Turns petals into snow
Jorge Araujo | Adult Winner
Mother of my child
Source of love and nourishment
Blessed be your night.
Antonia Balazs | Adult Winner
Moon and Monument
Capitol blushes facing
Walk through light and dark
Mt. Pleasant Library
Henry H. | Child Winner
Cherry blossoms bloom
What a dazzling display
Washington in spring
Isabella E. | Child Winner
The sun shines on me
When walking surrounded
By cherry blossoms in spring
Julian J. | Child Winner
The streaming water
Falling down the waterfall
Crashing the surface
Keyla L. | Child Winner
I admire the view
Waves splashing and boats floating
It’s all magical
Logan B. | Child Winner
Sometimes life is hard
So enjoy the times you like
And life can be sweet
Mina R. | Child Winner
Coolness fills the air
Scarves and sweaters everywhere
Fall weather is near
Valeria G. | Child Winner
The sun pours herself
Into the sea and the world
Overflows with light
Mekdelawit | Teen Winner
Spring was never the
Cause of our happiness
Our love for it was
Jennifer Dusenberry | Adult Winner
roses, violets
nature celebrates in blooms
across the city
Anne Marie Wells | Adult Winner
Cherry blossoms light
even the darkest alleys
with their confetti.
Jackie L | Adult Winner
A sea of humans
Swirling between the blossoms
Strangers yet the same
Aru | Adult Winner
Oh hello butterfly
Interrupting my reverie
With hope
Ryan Greenstein | Adult Winner
Gentle rushing stream
Beavers build, deer stare, lions roar
Ruckus of rock creek
Chad Dexter Kinsman | Adult Winner
Green green all around
Every year the same return
What has changed is me
Charlie Malloy | Adult Winner
Where family is
Doesn’t matter where or when
There is always love
Ella Rosenberg | Adult Winner
Wind blows through the city
Scattering petal carpets
Gone are the cherries
Helen Hubbard-Davis | Adult Winner
Rose pink, milky white
Flower petal glow at dusk
What comes next? I ask
Michelle Harburg | Adult Winner
Crickets singing joy
Grass dancing wild in the wind
A nature party
Northeast Library
Evalyn B. | Child Winner
Small, feisty, fearless
Squishy-belly follows me
Fair-haired dictator
Sebastian | Child Winner
I see the blossoms
Even the tiniest bud
Will be a flower
Abby S. | Teen Winner
The trees are quiet
The flowers don’t ever speak
But we hear their songs
Lucy Watkins | Teen Winner
Flowers burning bright
The tall white pillar standing
With fifty flags around
Cole Rinner | Adult Winner
Paw prints in the snow
The cherry blossoms will fall
And the cats will play
Bob Dardano | Adult Winner
Logan Circle cracks
with footsteps and bocce balls
across the acorns
Lisa Turner | Adult Winner
Squeak, squeak go my shoes
Everyone stares as I pass.
Still, I love the rain!
Casey Hellman | Adult Winner
Tiny does not mean
tame. I have known ants with more
moxie than lions.
Palisades Library
Victoria A. | Child Winner
In the dark night sky
Beautiful, glimmering specks
A constellation
Renata G. | Child Winner
The river runs fast
To the ocean clear and blue
Just for me and you
Sienna A. | Child Funniest Haiku
Powdery amber
Floating through the crystal skies
Ah Ah Ah Ahchoo!
Callie Solomon | Teen Winner
Green grass blows in wind
Pink buds grow into flowers
Blue water sparkles
Cleopatra Alexander | Adult Winner
Lincoln looking gaunt
Continues to offer solace
To those who look up
Tanisha Payne | Adult Winner
Woke up Saturday
Went in to print documents
Fayeth was a great help!
Petworth Library
Annika D. | Child Winner
A scurrying squirrel
Fighting and playing all day
On the walnut tree
Rafael Hernandez | Teen Winner
The earthquakes birth me
We, the waves, begin to grow.
The deep disappears
Amir Blissett | Adult Winner
Feel the sun birds sing
vocals traveling the air
Just so we can hear
Rosa Maria de Ibarra | Adult Spanish Language Winner
Tu llenas mi ser
Con tu amor todo es
Tus labios mi paz
Southeast Library
Lila R. | Child Winner
The leaves are green here,
In Washington I can hear:
Squawk, tweet, coo. Listen
August R. | Child Runner-Up
Cormorant funny
You make me laugh when you dive
Could you share your fish?
Kate M. | Child Runner-Up
It’s cherry season
Petals fall like spring snow
Blanket of pale pink
Ariana A. | 2nd Grade Winner, Brent Elementary School
Banana ate grape
With suspense and happiness
For him and his heart
Sybil O. | 2nd Grade Runner-Up, Brent Elementary School
This is a bad day
The squirrels are freaking me out
Bird poops on my head
Harper S. | 2nd Grade Runner-Up, Brent Elementary School
The wind blows so far
It brushes against my hair
The wind is so cold
Calla J. | 3rd Grade Winner, Brent Elementary School
Shiny shells and waves
And secrets now washed away
The oceans are back
Aurora R. and Charlotte H. (co-authored) | 3rd Grade Runner-Up, Brent Elementary School
Seasons come and go
Bringing sunshine, rain, and snow
Things die and things grow
Lynden K. | 3rd Grade Runner-Up, Brent Elementary School
Oh, cherry blossoms
Bringing joy to all who pass
Tickled softly pink
Alejandra S. | 4th Grade Winner, Brent Elementary School
Flowers glistening
Petals shine with morning dew
And the world turns pink
Aleena F. | 4th Grade Runner-Up, Brent Elementary School
Flowers glistening
Petals shine with morning dew
And the world turns pink
Kate F. | 4th Grade Runner-Up, Brent Elementary School
During springtime it’s warm
Cherry blossoms cover the city
Rain becomes puddles
Portland Range | Teen Winner
We left the playground
On an unexpected walk
As the sun burned me
Harshi Hettige | Adult Winner
Hair curls stems unfurl
One drop splashes an eyelash
Offers a fresh view
Tate Crowards | Adult Runner-Up
Velvet and supple
Dew drops, light breeze, soft perfume
Life of a petal
Edith Zelaya | Adult Runner-Up
Frasier my hero
Caught a mouse in your mouth
I should bow to you
Southwest Library
Nicholas Woolston | Child Winner
Flowers seem so bright
blooming and so full of life
then they blow away
Lyndze Jenkins | Teen Winner
Peak a boo, I see
how her trees are mellow and free
Speak to me with glee
Cassandra Folmar | Adult Winner
Sticks slap ice, puck slides
Pass it to Ovecheckin kssh . . .
Ahh. Crowds roar, ears buzz.
Laura Singer | Adult Winner
"Something I'm Grateful For"
I beat the system.
No foster care to Prison.
My mentors saved me.
Aaron Morgan | Adult Winner
Night at the Monument
Love blossoms a moment captured
Two hands together
Tenley-Friendship Library
Ellie V. | Child Winner
A shining puddle
Wrath from the sky and planet
The start of new life
An Chi Ngo | Teen Winner
Pink petals falling,
Softly landing on the ground,
Spring's fleeting beauty.
Wendy Jordan | Adult Winner
Rabbits bound, birds soar
Buds burst open to the sun
Spring uncoils like wire
Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library
Waverly H. | Child Winner
A great time for kites
the spring--cold, windy, cherry
blossoms bloom here.
Ignacio Martinez | Teen Winner
As the sky grows dark
DC glows with vibrant hues
Never seems to sleep
Ania Zolyniak | Adult Winner
Total traffic halt
An imperial procession
A duck on 17th
West End Library
Mizuki | Child Winner
The beautiful birds
There are lots of them who chirp
Flying in the sun.
Avery Dennison | Teen Winner
Your essence could not
Be a perfume, without you
Blossoms did not bloom.
Julia Hand | Adult Winner
Do you think it hurts
When spring petals stretch to bloom?
What a sacrifice.