Published:
This April, DC Public Library celebrated National Poetry Month with the annual Haiku Contest! Now an annual tradition, residents ages 6 and up submit 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, something small and wild, and so much more. Winners were selected by neighborhood libraries based on their categories and age groups. Click on each participating library below to see the winners!
Capitol View Library
Adult Winner
Saturday Afternoon Grilled Cheese
By: Caitlin H.
Fixings? Oh, yes ma'am.
Hot pan sizzle. Dogs perk up.
Salty. Oozing. Crunch.
Teen Winner
By: Kaylionna K.
Like a sun rising
You left my heart colorful
You are my sunshine
Child Winner
By: King S.
Playing with my dog
Outside the cool wind breezy
My dog barks at me
Cleveland Park Library
Adult Winners
1st
By: William L.L.
We all need refuge
Safety and security
Open up your heart
2nd
By: Sunayna P.
Road is uneven
I will make my home one day
Guided by the heart
3rd
By: Brenda M.C.
Blossoms form quickly
Thousands come to see the gift
Suddenly they fall
Teen Winners
1st
By: Reign K.
Lithe minnow darts fast
Stone-faced bass drifts with leisure
White net outruns both
2nd
By: Ella A.G.
The birds still sing
Every morning joyful
A revolution
3rd
By: Ella H.
Love cherry blossoms
The beautiful pink tent
will emerge in spring
Child Winners
1st
By: Caroline J.
Bright cherry blossoms
Volcanoes of pink bursts
Everywhere you look
2nd
By: Genevieve P.
Moon goes over sun
Once in a lifetime event
Shadows form at peak
3rd
By: Josephine A.
When somebody comes
Welcome them with joy and love
Treat them with kindness
Francis A. Gregory Library
Adult Winners
By: Diane H.
My skatemobile is the fastest
The neighborhood boys cannot keep up with
Breezing past them once again.
Miracles Do Happen
By: Robbin E.
I'm stronger than she is,
Wiser by many years of experiences.
Yet SHE rules my world.
Teen Winners
Unbroken
By: Deshawn V.
I’ve seen people cry
I am strong as an angel
No one can stop me
By: Joy G.
Don’t take the eclipse
As a sign of your savior
“Savior” includes I
By: Earl S.
He told the whole truth
trapped behind walls and barbed wire
He is innocent
Dark Souls
By: Marlon H.
Red, burning crossroads
turn to sky-blue ice sculptures
melt to pitch-black souls
By: Za’nyliha T.
There are bullys here
In public, at school, even home.
“Ask for help” – I don’t.
Child Winners
Spring
By: Colton F.
I’m always happy
in the dawn and all day long
pleasant, with a smile
One Warm Spring
By: Aniyah S.
I hate brown crayons
Violence turns black when I look
A flash—someone dies
Georgetown Library
Adult Winner
By: Hagar H.
Alone, in the dark
Forgotten there Forever
sock in the dryer
Teen Winner
By: Pacey M.
I lay in the grass
with the hot sun beating down
my mind free of thoughts.
Child Winner
By: Kannon N.
The sound echoes loud
the petal falls, fighting wind
against the silence
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
Adult Winners
Category: Shower thoughts/thoughts upon waking
By: Lesa W.
My happy thoughts are
when water from the shower
saturates my mind!
Category: View from the bus/Wandering your ward
By: Mark D.
Magnolias Bloom
And we? Phone-pic artists, once
God lays down his brush
Category: Love for Your Library
By: Renee M.
I need to see you
At least once or twice a week.
Books, necessary
Category: Shrink a story
Jane Eyre
By: Shalini G.
indomitable
Passionate, yet with honor
character prevails
Teen Winner
Category: Shower thoughts/thoughts upon waking
Ruby Nelle Bridges the Brave
By: Meme B.H.
Ruby Nelle is brave
She stands up for her strong rights
She is still alive
Category: View from the bus/Wandering your ward
By: Merritt C.
The water so flat
Rowers float in a calm
Forever gone.
Category: Love for Your Library
By: Khelpi D.
A spider and pig
The spider writes to save pig
Oh the spider dies
Category: Shrink a story
By: Anijya C.
Orphan's journey told
Love, mystery and struggle
Jane tale, timeless gold
Child Winners
Category: Shower thoughts/thoughts upon waking
By: Josiah S.
Science excites me!
Read a book about science!
I want to teach please!
Category: View from the bus/Wandering your ward
By: August R.
Outlaw they call you
A cute neighborhood kitty
I wish you were mine
Category: Love for Your Library
By: Zanabella K.
The best place on Earth
is where books are always free
at the library
Category: Shrink a Story
By: Jack O.
Stilton and club come
club finds the heart in tree, yay
heart of happiness
Palisades Library
Adult Winner
By: Nikki N.
"Gesundheit," she said
After the pollen captured
My poor blameless nose
Teen Winner
Severe Summer Storms
By: Meme B.H.
The blue skies turned grey.
Rain pours down to the dry ground.
And all the winds howl.
Child Winner
Eclipse
By: Mila J.
A sun that is bright
confusion in the dark sky
Astonishing eyes
Petworth Library
Adult Winner
By: Tristan B. W.
The bounce of acorns:
no growth without loss – you must
leave something behind.
Teen Winner
By: Jailyn R.
The flowers fall pretty white
gracing with their fragile sight
from this bloom comes anew
Child Winner
By: Dianna W.
In the chilly air
There is still warmth to be found
Where warmth is, love is
Rosedale Library
Adult Winner
By: Ericka T.
Seedlings sprout through dirt
and dirt gives way happily
In peaceful union.
Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library
Adult Winner
By: Amanda S.
Funky glasses on
The sun shrinks to a sliver
Crowded Shaw rooftop
Teen Winner
By: Akirah C.
Gentle pink kisses
Stick to me as the wind blows
Cherry tree, fleeting
Child Winner
By: Je’Vian T.
Feet on the sidewalk
Walking dogs pass me by, woof!
Run, lick, jump, woof! Woof!
Tenley-Friendship Library
Teen Winners
1st
By: Chelsea Z.
By The River Creek
Two Initials Fading On
A Paper Boat - Splash
2nd
By: Meme B.H.
Sunlight Shines The Trees
Every Bee Is Wide Awake
A New Today Starts
3rd (two poems)
By: Maxeen C.
Words Beyond The Cover
Spark My Imagination
I’m In My Own World
Whether It’s A Hug
Or A Deep Conversation
Small Moments Are Joy
4th (two poems)
By: Magdalena
Hoping For Anything
The Most Real Of Magic
Keep Going For It
Love Everyone
Yourself, Friends And Family
Even Enemies
Child Winners
Category: Out in Nature
1st
By: Cullen H.
From a great distance
Branches pierce the sapphire sky
like dark lightning bolts
Honorable Mention
By: Sybil E.
Flowers bloom in May
And animals play all day
the sun warms my skin
Honorable Mention
By: Ashwin C.
Monarchs fly around
Colored flowers everywhere
Kids respect nature
Category: Small Joys
1st
By: Ellie V.
Unnoticed unseen
But it’s really just a search
A search flying high
Honorable Mention
By: Logan S.
The clocks have been set
winning position, big grin
their king tips over
Honorable Mention
By: Astrid H.
I like the rainbows
When the rainbow comes there is sun
in little drops of rain
Category: A Moment of Daily Life
1st
By: Jack O.
I put glasses on
look up, the moon eats the sun
totality now
Honorable Mention
By: Francesco D.
I see you
In my dreams... rainbows
Thinking of you
Honorable Mention
By: Isabella K.
Electricity comes from clouds
Japanese sushi served
Solar eclipse is happening