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2026
Competition Awards

The Robert Spiess Memorial
2026 Haiku 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.

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

tba.

~ Brad Bennett, Judge

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First Place: Scott Mason

abandoned rails
goldenrod
passing through

 

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Second Place: Alan S. Bridges

snowy night
stirring without touching
the teacup's side

 

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Third Place: Joshua St. Claire

all that's left
of the old farmhouse
brushstroke sky

 

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Honorable Mention Awards (unranked)

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soft october rain
some letters missing
from the marquee

Matthew Markworth

 

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rotted rafters
fog curdles around
the owl's call

Debbie Strange

 

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cloud-scuttle in the children's pond paper sailboats

Jo Balistreri

 

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late hour
the drummer switches
to the brush

David Grayson

 

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last frost—
the mailbox lid
comes free

Elliot Diamond

~ ~ ~

 

 

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