Long Rains Kukai 2009

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Long Rains Kukai 2009

St Mathew’s School, Kangundo Road
Season: Long Rains

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On 30 May, the Haiku Clubs of Nairobi spent a lovely day as guests of St Mathew School on Kangundo Road, where some 100 haijin assembled for a kukai, including a ginkoo.



Welcome to St Mathew
© Isabelle Prondzynski


While we waited for everyone to arrive and register, we took a look at the sadly burnt-out classrooms which are still awaiting reconstruction.

Anthony Njoroge was once again our Master of Ceremonies, and we appreciated his leadership and his good humour. He recalled for us the joy we derive from haiku, and the many ways in which haiku speak to us in our daily lives (respect for the environment, keen observation, openness to inspiration). We were also happy that the school Principal came to open the kukai and that he gave us a warm welcome in his school.

The new Form One haijin were welcomed, and the senior haijin were appreciated -- both those who will be sitting their final examinations later this year, and those who had returned to be with us for the kukai.

It is a real pleasure to see that the Cocks (the adult haijin) are active and committed, and that those soon following them out of school are eager to join this haiku club as soon as they can!

The computer classes were reviewed, and haijin were encouraged to join Kenya Saijiki as soon as their computer skills allowed.

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Shiki Kukai on the kigo of umbrella


Prizes were given to the haijin who had recently submitted haiku to the international Shiki kukai on the kigo of umbrella and had received encouraging results :

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8 points
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May rain --
an old man repairs
an old umbrella

~ Felister (Peacock)

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7 points
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rain showers --
a drop on the umbrella makes
a baby smile

~ Maurice (Peacock)

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5 points
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public meeting --
people under umbrellas
in the hot sun

~ Khadija Rajab

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3 points
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father and son
walking under one umbrella --
rainy day

~Maxwell George Onsembe

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2 points
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scrubbing the sticky mud
off the umbrella tip --
shoe shiner watches

~ Anthony Njoroge

radiant sunrise --
two lovers shading under
a red umbrella

~ Duncan Omoto

a man and his sheep
sheltering under an umbrella --
heavy rain

~ Kelvine Muchiri

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1 point
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drizzly morning --
a mother and baby
under their umbrella

~ Johnson Malombe

rainy afternoon --
four students sheltering
under one umbrella

~ Kevin Wanjala

May drizzle --
the lame old umbrella
leaks water

~ Rhoda Muteu

the long rains...
umbrellas now go for
double price

~ Patrick Wafula

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Other entries selected
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rhythmic raindrops --
passionate lovers under
an old umbrella

~ Hussein Haji

baby's shield
against hostile sunlight --
parasol

~ James Bundi

windy rain --
a man chases after a
destroyed umbrella

~ Emily Wanga

rainy afternoon --
students fighting over
one umbrella

~ Stephen Macharia

the long rains --
umbrellas for sale
and hire

~ Isaac Ndirangu

hot sun --
a bald-headed man shelters
under his umbrella

~ Periz Achieng

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Appreciating and improving haiku

The next session was a discussion in small groups of haiku brought to the meeting. The best haiku was selected by each group, and the group proceeded to improve the haiku in a joint effort.


Working in small groups
© Isabelle Prondzynski

The three best haiku brought forward by the groups were :

1.
---
acacia tree
in the rhythm of the wind --
rain showers

~ Job (Peacock) as amended

2.
---
cold night --
my cat rubs herself on my skin
for warmth

~ Vivian (Bamboocha)

3.
---
little boys
dressed in warm jackets --
chilly morning

~ Wambui (Peacock) as amended


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Writing haiku at the ginkoo
© David Kimani Mwangi



Ginkoo - the Haiku Walk

After the lunch break, we held a ginkoo, having reminded ourselves of the basic rules of haiku. The area around the school offered plenty of opportunities for walking and observing, and many haiku were written during the hour.

The jury is now growing with each ginkoo, as the Cocks have volunteered to help with the judging. Today, there were six of us, and it was a pleasant experience to work together.



The jury at work
© Isabelle Prondzynski

The final result was :

1.
---
May showers --
a muddy boot abandoned
under a tree

~ Aisha Malik

2.
---
sunny day --
mosquito larvae swimming
in pothole water

~ Kevin Wekesa

3.
---
napier grass dances
to the rhythm of the wind --
May rain

~ Jacinta Wanza
(Pennisetum purpureum
Elephant Grass, Napier Grass or Uganda Grass)


4.
---
on the wireline
a shirt slowly swings --
breezy moment

~ Emily Wanga

5.
---
joined wires
they all sag uniformly --
sunny afternoon

~ Jacinta Mueni

6.
---
reflection
from iron-sheet roofs --
sunny afternoon

~ Benard Nyerere

7.
---
tree frog
rides on a banana frond --
cool afternoon

~ Dorcas Wangare

8.
---
hot sun
burns my black forehead --
straining my eyes

~ Anne Wairimu

9.
---
long rains --
a girl jumps to pass
a pothole of water

~ Maurice Opondo

10.
----
cool breeze --
a cat resting on a
window pavement

~ Arnold



The first ten prizewinners
© Isabelle Prondzynski



11.
----
cow's hoof
print on the mud --
downpour

~ James Bungi

12.
----
zooming dragonfly
on stagnant muddy water --
sunny afternoon

~ Yamame Winslause

13.
----
breezy May noon --
the sun hides under
light clouds

~ Catherine Maina

14.
----
satisfied goats
resting on the green grass --
sunny afternoon

~ Beatrice Omari

15.
----
hot sun --
two lovers shading
under the tree

~ Duncan Omoto

16.
----
sunny afternoon --
dirty child seated under
a sisal tree

~ Beryl Muthiki

17.
----
hot afternoon --
a cat rests beside the wall
for a shade

~ Marion Masinde

18.
----
lorry stuck in mud
friends gather to push it out --
long rains

~ Margaret Nzilili

19.
----
haiku members
seriously observing the weather --
hot afternoon

~ Onesmus Mutua

20.
----
hot evening --
lizard sheltering itself
under the wall




The runners-up
© Isabelle Prondzynski





St Mathew's kukai, 30 May 2009
Photo Album


Text © Isabelle Prondzynski


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Related words

***** The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi

***** Umbrella

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