January 2026 Featured Haiku

New Year's Eve
my old enemy
dressed as a friend

Boryana Boteva
Bulgaria

midnight
last year’s snowflakes
still descending…

Ash Evan Lippert
USA

snowy pines
this year’s first bird
a red cardinal

AJ Johnson
USA
Winter Cardinal by Danielle Brigida, cc

New Year's Eve
my old enemy
dressed as a friend

- Boryana Boteva ,
Bulgaria

midnight
last year’s snowflakes
still descending…

- Ash Evan Lippert ,
USA

snowy pines
this year’s first bird
a red cardinal

- AJ Johnson ,
USA
February Haiku Submissions
Open

Submit up to 3 haiku by January 25th

THEME: Sky 
Haiku Submission Guidelines

Haiku poetry originated in Japan and was perfected by the great haiku masters: Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson, Masaoka Shiki, Kobayashi Issa and Chiyojo. Today haiku is an art form that is practiced internationally, and in the spirit of promoting global peace and contemplative artistic expression, Zen Peacemaker’s showcases three haiku a month on this page.

  • Haiku sent must be based on the monthly theme. By submitting, you acknowledge all work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere (i.e., no simultaneous submissions please). We consider poems on the internet (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs) to be previously published.
  • By sending their haiku, authors agree to its publication on our website and social media.
  • We will consider both free form haiku and haiku written using the traditional syllable count of 5-7-5. 
  • Due to the volume of submissions, we can only contact poets whose haiku will be showcased. 
  • Haiku submitted before the 25th of the month will be considered to be showcased the following month. Submissions are judged anonymously.   
 
* Being a member of Zen Peacemakers is not required, but becoming a member helps to support our nonprofit organization and connects you to a global community of peacemakers. Membership is free of cost, unless you choose to donate, which is greatly appreciated. 
JOIN HERE
 

“Go to the pine if you want to learn about the pine, or to the bamboo if you want to learn about the bamboo. And in doing so, you must leave your subjective preoccupation with yourself.” – Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

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                                                                                     Co-Editor: Sensei Bob Ertman

                                                                                     Co-Editor: Lorraine Padden

                                                                                          Managing Editor: Clotilde Wright