LAOIS WRITER'S GROUP - Laois education Centre

LAOIS WRITER’S GROUP
HAIKU POETRY COMPETITION
Dear Teacher,
In conjunction with a fund-raising night on Friday 16 th November for Cuisle Cancer Respite
Centre in Portlaoise, and as part of the Literacy Curriculum for Schools under the guidance
of Laois Education Centre, Laois Writers Group would like to invite all pupils of third,
fourth, fifth, and sixth classes to enter their Haiku Competition.
For those that aren’t familiar with the haiku format the next few lines should explain the
concept.
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry which consists of three lines, and seventeen syllables.
There are five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second and five syllables in the
third.
In haiku poetry the lines don’t rhyme and usually there is no title, the poem says it all.
Based on the five senses, haiku are about things you can experience, not on your
interpretation of these things, for example, instead of saying, “It’s Summer,” focus on “the
warm sunlight, or heavy air.”
Many haiku focus on nature or have a seasonal reference. They can also be funny or about
animals. Below are some examples of Haiku for children.
Green and speckled legs (5) In a pouch I grow (5)
Hop on logs and lily pads (7) On a southern continent (7)
Splash in cool water (5) Strange creatures I know (5)

Easter bunny hides (5) Snowflakes are our friends (5)
Easter eggs are out of sight (7) They descend when winter comes (7)
Kids look everywhere (5) Making white blankets (5)
As you can see from the examples Haiku is fun to create, it is a simple form of poetry that
engages the mind and a great deal of pleasure can be derived from it. I hope you will
consider introducing it to the children in your class as part of the literacy curriculum.
If you decide to do so and your class enters the competition, could I ask you please to
include a brief note stating that each entry is the authentic work of the children involved, as
access to the world of Haiku through the internet is so easily available and could be a
temptation.
Information Evening: To explain haiku further and for any other information you require
about the competition, we will hold an information evening on the 4 th of October from 4 to
5pm in the Laois Education Centre if a sufficient number of participating teachers request
same.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Cotter,
Chairperson Laois Writers Group
Mobile 087 671 84 52

Entries on an A four page, one side only
Haiku Poetry Competition Rules
Each entry must be the original work of the entrant.
There is no limit to the number of times you enter but each entry must be on a separate
sheet of paper and accompanied by one euro. For example, (three entries cost three
Euros.)
Your name, age, address, phone number, class number (e.g. third, fourth, fifth or sixth) and
school address, must accompany your entries, but on a separate sheet of paper.
The closing date for entries is Thursday 25 th of October 2012.
There will be five categories of prizes.
First Category:
Second Category:
Third Category:
Fourth Category:
From all the entries of the Third class section there will be a First and
Second prize of gift tokens to the value of €30 and €15.
From all the entries of the Fourth class section there will be a First and
Second prize of gift tokens to the value of €30 and €15.
From all the entries of the Fifth class section there will be a First and
Second prize of gift tokens to the value of €30 and €15.
From all the entries of the Sixth class section there will be a First and
Second prize of gift tokens to the value of €30 and €15.
Fifth Category:
There will be one overall Haiku winner out of all the entries
who will receive a gift token to the value of €50.
All winners will be presented with a framed copy of their haiku poem and the overall
winner’s school will be presented with a certificate to mark the occasion.
As this competition will be held in conjunction with a fund raising night for the Cuisle centre
Portlaoise, all entries will be displayed for viewing in the Cuisle centre, on the Block Road,
Portlaoise, and the prize giving ceremony will be held there.