This year’s haiga selections are the result of a different process than usual to us. In May 2016 former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins sent to The Haiku Foundation a series of haiku for our use. The thought occurred that we might ask a cadre of well-known haiga artists each to choose one of these poems and “set” it in his or her own unique style. The result is these 8 distinctive pieces of art, unmistakably the work of each artist, and yet fully collaborating with the originals of Collins, whose haiku are themselves instantly identifiable. Our thanks to all the artists who participated, and to Billy.

“he may compare you”

“The rake I left out”

“frigid winter night”

“one more dead calm day”

“In the summer sky”

“Slicing strawberries”

“frigid winter night”

“Orange butterfly”
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“he may compare you”
he may compare you to the dawn, but I stayed up all night to see it Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Stephen Addiss
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“The rake I left out”
The rake I left out one the lawn — buried now under the fallen leaves Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Pamela A. Babusci
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“frigid winter night”
frigid winter night — even the thieves stay at home except for these two Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Guy Beining
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“one more dead calm day”
one more dead calm day I listen to the wind chimes I smacked with a broom Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Terri L. French
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“In the summer sky”
In the summer sky a cloud with its mouth open eats a smaller cloud Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Annette Makino
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“Slicing strawberries”
Slicing strawberries this morning, I’m suddenly slicing strawberries! Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Ron C. Moss
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“frigid winter night”
frigid winter night — even the thieves stay home except for these two Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Ellen Peckham
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“Orange butterfly”
Orange butterfly flies behind my left lens, flaps my eyelid. No kidding. Haiku by Billy Collins Haiga by Lidia Rozmus