Here is the address for this years International Mainichi Haiku contest. You must be quick as it closes on the 30th of September.
It is judged each year by some wonderful Japanese haijuns.

https://www.mainichi.co.jp/event/aw/haiku/english.html

Just want to say thanks to all members for working hard and contributing to "The Haiku Pond".
For new members, please throw some ink into our beautiful pond for us all to enjoy.
Cheers...Harry

As with our haiku this week, please compose with freedom.
Cheers...Harry

Please feel free to compose your haiku on whatever subject takes your fancy.
Cheers...Harry

Compose a tanka in regards to any of the many things you do during the course of a single day that requires no assistance.
Cheers...Harry

"Melancholia"

"Birds"

Ahavanti made a wonderful suggestion in regards to all things wabi-sabi having it's very own thread. Here we can post anything concerning wabi-sabi, including photographs that you have permission to use as we must not infringe anyone's property. Many thanks A.
Cheers...Harry

A few members wanted a place to post their work in order that we all continue to learn. Let's all offer assistance whenever we can.
Many thanks Johnny.
Cheers...Harry

cold turkey
cuts that shake basic needs
pine needles drop in heat

Many haiku have a pause at either the end of the first or second line. The Japanese have word sounds that achieve this; ka, kana, etc. We westen haijuns use a variety of methods to achieve this. Many use commas, some a simple dash, I personally use ellipsis (...). William J. Higginson used it often and when he translated Basho's famous haiku in The Haiku Handbook he used the ellipsis.

old pond...
a frog leaps in
water's sound

The use of the kireji is a personal choice and many modern haijuns choose to use no "cutting word" at all relying solely on the wording of the haiku or senryu to achieve the pause. Of course many haiku have no pause at all.
I know of several poets that simply miss a line to emphasize the pause between line one or two. The general rule is open to interpretation so I suggest you use what you feel comfortable with. I must admit that I am experimenting with the line space method at the moment but I'm still not sure whether I will use it in the future.
Cheers...Harry

Cheers...Harry

Tanka writing is another pre-haiku form of Japanese poetry that is written in a stanzaic form of, five-seven-five / seven-seven pattern. Again, we must remember that this is not our traditional syllable count but onji, word sounds, so a tanka follows the same rules as haiku and senryu writing.
Tanka were often used as love notes sent from lover to lover that expressed desire and gratitude. Initially they were used to express an appreciation of nature. These days they are written on just about every subject, from love to war, politics and religion.
So please, do not hold back...let your tanka speak honestly...let them shout or let them whisper.

Cheers...Harry

sitting silently
beneath the moon
and stars

memories of you
come and go