2022 Soap Haiku Winner

When I decided upon this year’s haiku theme, I cannot deny that I was thinking politically. So much of our global experience lately hinges on a lack of tolerance for one another. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The leaked draft of the Roe v. Wade decision. The incredible revelations of the January 6th committee. The SCOTUS decision to strike down the EPA’s ability to regulate climate policy. We are truly living in a time of intolerance for one another and for the planet.
Our lack of tolerance frightens me – we do not live in a unified country, and we certainly have little tolerance for individual choice. Our political differences are merely the picaroon that cracked the log of the American identity. How that log splinters from here on out is demoralizing (at least for me) to contemplate.
This year’s contest asked you to consider the concept of intolerance in nature. How does nature resolve its differences? How does it tolerate the uniqueness between two species? We can learn much from this observation, although it appears much of humanity is too stubborn to pay attention.
There were 325 entries this year, down from years past when we have received almost a thousand entrants annually. Many entries were incredibly good, but did not address the theme, while others forced tropes about soap into the poem, a trend that happens every year, and those tropes end up in the not-winners pile.
As always, I review my favorite selections, so without any further fanfare, let’s dig in.
- Dan Lulian
- Jennifer Adams
- Mary Rowin
- Susan Suntree
- Michelle Dang
A daffodil sprouts
From the ashes of a home.
Rain quells human fire.
- Christopher Bays
- Barbara Bagwell
- Debbie Strange
- Trena Reed
- Leara Morris-Clark
I would like to thank everyone who submitted a poem to this contest. I also send a heartfelt thanks to Tim Green at Rattle Magazine, whose fierce support of poetry makes contests like this possible.
I will contact all contestants and send them a copy of the results. If you did not win this year, please consider entering next year. The contest window will open sometime in January of 2023 and extend through May of 2023. In the meantime, keep an eye out for a custom soap based on elements of the winning poem.
Thank you,
Bill McConnell
Owner, Whole Life Soaps
Refika Dedić —
three generations
house in the shade of pine trees
the eyes speak
Grampa C —
If love be the voice
of the hearts of all mankind
all are deaf or mute
Grampa C —
If love be the voice
of the hearts of all mankind
all are deaf or mute
Diana Tokaji —
Very beautiful and far-reaching winning poem. Deserved.
Lina White —
What joy
to wake and find
these poems!
Lina White —
What joy
to wake and find
these poems!
Mary Keating —
Congratulations to all the runners up and the winning poet. Being a SCUBA diver, I was especially fond of Debbie Stranger’s haiku which immediately transported me 50 feet under azure blue seas.
Along with Bill I hope we are able to heal the divisions in our world.
And thank you to Whole Life Soaps for reminding us to be more tolerant. ❤️
Mary Keating —
Congratulations to all the runners up and the winning poet.
May our country be
United in love this year
Promote harmony
And thank you to Whole Life Soaps for reminding us to be more tolerant. ❤️