2026
Competition Awards

With many thanks to Brad Bennett, this year’s judge, Modern Haiku is pleased to announce the winners of the Robert Spiess Memorial Haiku Awards Competition for 2026. The purpose of this competition is to honor the life and work of Bob Spiess, editor of Modern Haiku from 1978 to his death on March 13, 2002.

Comments from the judge are forthcoming after publication in the journal:

tba.

~ Brad Bennett, Judge

First Place: Scott Mason

abandoned rails
goldenrod
passing through

 

Second Place: Alan S. Bridges

snowy night
stirring without touching
the teacup's side

 

Third Place: Joshua St. Claire

all that's left
of the old farmhouse
brushstroke sky

 

Honorable Mention Awards (unranked)

soft october rain
some letters missing
from the marquee

Matthew Markworth

 

rotted rafters
fog curdles around
the owl's call

Debbie Strange

 

cloud-scuttle in the children's pond paper sailboats

Jo Balistreri

 

late hour
the drummer switches
to the brush

David Grayson

 

last frost—
the mailbox lid
comes free

Elliot Diamond

~ ~ ~

© 2026 Modern Haiku • PO Box 1570 • Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459