We challenged readers
for holiday, winter themes
composed in haiku

Fortunately, readers responded in droves.

Some haikus came from parents and their children; some from classes of elementary and junior high school students. Some were earnest looks at the holy origins of Christmas; others were snarky observations on the capitalistic bent of the season.

But all explored the simple-yet-intricate style of the haiku: an unrhymed poetry form of Japanese origin that features three lines containing five, seven and five syllables. Here are some of the standout selections:

Cold moon in dark night
Christmas cheer wafting through house.
Yule log crackles, sparks.

— Lucy Price

Into my headlights
Two eyes, red nose, frozen flight
Reindeer stew tonight.

— Barbara J. Braa

Money’s tight all ’round
I’m making presents this year
Christmas gifts of love.

— Sue Kristiansen

Winter sleepers of
Oak Hill Cemetery snug
under white blanket

— Brian Daldorph

Sledding down the hill
going twenty MPH
crashing, rolling, stop

— Kendell Fritzel

Winter’s blasts appear,
cold and dark descent surrounds.
Candles….. lots my dear!

— Donald Moss

Snow covers the ground
Time for mittens and for scarves
Cocoa on the stove.

— Marge Etzig

Snow monkeys have it
Good, lounging in steaming springs,
I think, scraping ice.

— Cindy Oliver

Jesus Christ is born.
Peace on earth, goodwill to all!
Peace? Goodwill? Let’s try.

— Jane Tedder

Christmas has arrived
Fake smiles and just a few real
Are you by my side?

p>– Rylie Taylor

See winter flurries.
They fall without any care.
Down, they cover us.

— Jessica Barnes

Christmas hats on cats
Christmas hat party woo-hoo
Christmas hats on mice

— Logan Dedloff

Waking up star struck
Seeing presents below trees
Christmas lunch for me

— Samantha Travis

Snow falls in silence,
Frozen grains of crashing sea,
Endless sands of peace

— Clark Jamison

Dear Cindy Lou Who,
Who’s about forty-four now,
Has seven “Grinchlets”!

— David Williamson

Amid brown and gold
Rosy prairie grasses shine
Earth’s solstice greetings

— Deborah Altus

Put on your fur boots,
go outside in the cold snow
Brrrr, winter is here.

— Ashley Sparks

Grandpa tells stories
and sitting by the warm fire
passes down the love

— Miranda Hamon

One strong persimmon.
Crimson, blue gone grey-white.
Silent Oread!

— G. Richardson

No presents. No heat.
Remembering Christmas Eve.
We each got an orange.

— Nancy Hubble

The Christmas spirit
Should transcend the holiday
Into every day.

— Dave Darnell Williamson

Up at six to bake
Gingerbread perfumes the house
Heart of compassion.

— Dixie Lubin

Frost on car windows
Small and very delicate
Can’t tell them apart

— Tanisha Kaur

Snowflakes gliding down
Each one God’s unique design
Wintertime is here.

— Zack Ball

The air is freezing.
Very strong winds sting my face.
my cold feet are numb.

— Gabrielle Martinez

Riding up the lift
Doing tricks off the ski slopes
then ride up another time.

— Lance Meyer

In the midst of night
Light shines ‘neath the stable door
Just as it did then.

— Sarah Casad

Snowman with daddy
then drinking hot chocolate
wet clothes by the stove

— Darwin Michener-Rutledge

Gingerbread cookies
the happiness of Christmas
made by my daughter

— Suzan Rutledge

Santa came in here,
Looked at our house full of cheer!
Said, “Nothing more here.”

— Darlene J. Miller

Shop, bake, decorate,
Lists long and never-ending,
Stop; remember why.

— Judy Grant

Snowmen are melting
No presents left to open
Can’t wait till next year

— Angel Vigil

Here is the complete list of 2008 haiku submissions:

Jesus Christ is born.
Peace on earth, good will to all!
Peace? Good will? Let’s try.

Organ, choir and bells
bring music of the season.
Christians all, rejoice!

— Jane Tedder

Holidays of yore,
fond memories linger clear.
Quiet peace draws near.

Winter’s blasts appear,
cold and dark descent surrounds.
Candles….. lots my dear!

— Donald Moss

Snow covers the ground
Time for mittens and for scarves
Cocoa on the stove.

Christmas time is here
Now the church doors are open
The bells ring with joy

Oh what joy tonight
Children unwrapping presents
Their eyes all aglow.

Circle round the tree
All the lights shine so brightly
Time for giving gifts.

— Marge Etzig

Cherry blossoms wave,
Flowing in the Christmas breeze.
Petals gloss with pink.

— Hunter Adam

It’s that time of year.
Warmest wishes and good cheer.
Christmas will be here.

— John Spurgeon

One candle lights eight
Grandpa chants ancient blessings
Light out of darkness!

Freezing winter dark
Sun appears on time, first pink
Then red, blessed be.

Up at six to bake
Gingerbread perfumes the house
Heart of compassion.

— Dixie Lubin

Children’s laughter rings
like angel voices singing
heralding His birth

— Laura J. Irick

Christmas time has come
snow falling from the night sky
sleigh bells jingling

Sitting by the fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
building a snowman

— Danielle Costa

snowfall, fir tree, sleigh,
dapple-gray. Not what you see
out your prairie door.

— Philip Kimball

Snowflakes fall softly
Drifting in a sweet embrace
Winter’s cold welcome

— Laura Irick

silent, tender night
a gentle celebration
joyful hearts at rest

— Marc Jonathan Haney

Money’s tight all ’round
I’m making presents this year
Christmas gifts of love.

No snow on the ground
No decorations up yet
Light the room with smiles!

Cardinals from trees
Flit to and from our feeders
Nature’s Christmas lights

I love Christmas lights
On houses, yards and bushes
Twinkling in the snow

All I ever want
Is for my daughters to smile
And maybe not fight ;o)

— Sue Kristiansen

Kids help bake;
Powdered sugar everywhere.
Look! A white Christmas.

Twinkling lights blink on
And off. Finally Christmas
Is here! Now it’s gone.

Slanting sleet slides down
Steamy window panes, as we
Eat fresh-baked cookies

Snow monkeys have it
Good, lounging in steaming springs,
I think, scraping ice.

— Cindy Oliver

Cold, darkness shattered,
by lights and spirit of us
Together again.

— Susan Tarm

Into my headlights
Two eyes, red nose, frozen flight
Reindeer stew tonight.

— Barbara J. Braa

Two toy stormtroopers stand guard
under our bright tree
Jedis still believe

— Isaac Jacobs

snowflakes linger long
while midnight dreams silently
seek white Christmas morn

— Danny Wade

Children laugh with glee.
Wrapped boxes under the tree
What discovery!

Moon lights up the snow
You will hear the sleigh bells go.
Box complete with bow.

See winter flurries.
They fall without any care.
Down, they cover us.

— Jessica Barnes

The snow is falling
Falling on the covered ground
A winter wonder

Snow covering me
The sent of cookies baking
Traditions living

— Rachel Harvey

A time for giving,
A time to love and be loved,
Christmas time is here.

Snow keeps on falling,
Covering the ground in white,
The weight bends the trees

— Bethann Starkebaum

Daddy said goodnight
Rudolph with his nose so bright
Everything’s just right

Christmas has arrived
Fake smiles and just a few real
Are you by my side?

He opens his gift
As I start to open mine
Coal was all I found

Mommy tucked me in
My favorite sibling, too
Santa was coming

Lustrous house lights showed
Proud families watched it snow
It will come and go

Cookies were set out
Decorations all about
Santa’s here; no doubt

— Rylie Taylor

Snowflakes in the air
Snow falling everywhere
Snow all around me

— Alexis Derritt

Christmas tree’s bright lights
Pine smells of happy forest
Bells song bring laughter

— Emily Hilt

Eagerly waiting
I saw my gift at the door
All gifts were glowing

— Cali Byrn

Icicles are cool
Icicles are so pretty
Snowflakes are pretty

— Cody Thompson

When the snow comes down
I will have a snowball fight
I will drink hot cocoa

— Dale Miller

Snow is in the air
snowballs pelt my open back
winter is now here

— Daniel O’Neil

Hot coca and lights
With all this snow on the ground
All night the bells ring

— Ireland Ziegler

sledding down the hill
going twenty-one MPH
crashing, rolling, stop

— Kendell Fritzel

The snow is pure white
It glistens in the sunlight
Glimmering maybe

— Kobi Wilson

Warm and delightful
Marshmallows and refreshing
Come for hot cocoa

— Lane Nations

Christmas hats on cats
Christmas hat party woo-hoo
Christmas hats on mice

— Logan Dedloff

Snowflakes start to fall,
Dancing snowflakes everywhere,
Beautiful snowflakes.

— Lucy McCleary

all are different
those white flurries from the sky
the many patterns

— Madisonne Prideaux

Snow is falling down
While skating on the slick ice
So play in the snow

— Ryan Lavery

Waking up star struck
Seeing presents below trees
Christmas lunch for me

— Samantha Travis

Glimmering Beauty
Jack Frost nips your nose and toes
Ice sickles shine, snow

— Sydnee Rhuems

Frost on car windows
Small and very delicate
Can’t tell them apart

— Tanisha Kaur

Glimmering wrapping
Paper flying every where
Every one joyful

— Tanner Hockenbury

you see a snowflake
on your window and you look
see a cool design

— Shayla Dawson

the snowmen are cool
snow is white and everywhere
the snow flakes are nice

— Seth Winchester

Its Christmas morning
Baby Jesus is sleeping
Everlasting Peace

— Aric Trent

Merry Christmas friend
what’s this? Oh no! Not my bank!
New Year? In your face!

— D. S Andeson

Shop, bake, decorate,
Lists long and never-ending,
Stop; Remember why.

— Judy Grant

Houses filled with love,
Joy fills the air we breathe
Singing carols here.

— Amber Kiewel

Holy night we sing,
For Jesus’ birth we share,
For He was the one.

— Amber Kriewel

Santa Claus waving,
Bag filled with gifts big black belt
Snowy winter trees.

— Samantha Green

I saw Santa Claus
In the refrigerator
Opening some coke!

— Cayln Johnson

Ornaments are hung,
Colors all on the big tree,
Oh — a Holy night!

— Josie Gilliland

Reindeer big red nose,
Colorful snowflakes in air
Very happy smile.

— Katherine Smrha-Monroe

A bright star shining,
Snowmen staring at the star,
White snow is falling.

— Hayley Weiderholt

Horses Galloping,
The smell of pine in the air,
Houses all aglow.

Fence covered with snow
A wreath sparkling in the air,
White snow on the trees.

— Dane Ulrich

Nutcrackers stand tall,
Waiting for jolly Saint Nick
It’s Christmas again.

Reindeer are flying,
Snow gently falling in air,
Joyful presents here.

— Levi Trussler

Snowy city lights,
People walking in the snow,
And a frozen pond.

— Josh Craig

Snow falls in silence,
Frozen grains of crashing sea,
Endless sands of peace

— Clark Jamison

Alaskan husky
pounding through Kansas snowstorm
almost home at last

winter sleepers of
Oakhill Cemetery snug
under white blanket

December snowstorm
snow shovel in basement ends
long hibernation

one hundred snowflakes
glisten in husky’s deep fur
stars in morning sky

colored lights in trees
gas: one forty a gallon
Christmas joy 08

trees, houses dressed up
in Christmas lights finery
outshone by the moon

one million bright lights!
power station’s yellow glow
on outskirts of town

— Brian Daldorph

Snow covers the ground
People get there sleds and sled
Snow flakes keep falling

— Chris Adee

All around the rink,
I am slipping and sliding.
Ice covers the rink.

Covering the ground,
The snow is like a blanket.
What a sight to see!

My bro throws snowballs.
I stay inside, keeping warm,
Lying in my bed.

— Hailey Watson

Beautiful snowflakes
are falling all around me
dancing through the sky

The bears are cozy
sound asleep in their warm dens.
just sleeping ’till spring.

The air is freezing.
Very strong winds sting my face.
my cold feet are numb.

— Gabrielle Martinez

Snowflakes are falling
Trees are covered with white snow
Winter has arrived.

Snow covers the ground
It keeps falling all around
Sledding time is here.

Snow falling, falling
Covers earth like a blanket
Winter time is here.

Snowmen oh, snowmen
You are fun to build and smash
Snowmen are awesome.

Frost, frost oh, frost, frost
You are covering the ground
You get the grass wet.

— Jared Klamm

Snowflakes are falling
Glistening in the sky
winter wonderland

Covering the pond
like a cold winter blanket
wintertime is here.

Riding up the lift
Doing tricks off the ski slopes
then ride up another time.

— Lance Meyer

snow falls to the ground
like a blanket on the is the snow
I love it its fun

all the leaves are gone
most the trees look so lonely
they all fell off

it is cold out side
I’ll stay in my cozy bed
all day long today

— Lindy Manguso

In the midst of night
Light shines ‘neath the stable door
Just as it did then.

— Sarah Casad

Christmas time is here
A time for joy, peace and hope
Celebrate the love

— Joe Edmonds

Amid brown and gold
Rosy prairie grasses shine
Earth’s solstice greetings

— Deborah Altus

Cold moon in dark night
Christmas cheer wafting through house.
Yule log crackles, sparks.

— Lucy Price

Snowman with daddy
then drinking hot chocolate
wet clothes by the stove

— Darwin Michener-Rutledge

Gingerbread cookies
the happiness of Christmas
made by my daughter

— Suzan Rutledge

Presents under trees
Warm feelings with family
Christmas time is here

Snow angels are made
Sounds of joy as they all play
Here the bells jingle

— Kara Wright

Flulffy and crunchy
so cold and glistening white
freshly fallen snow

— Kassy Wise

Beautiful snowflakes
floating softly to the earth
sparkling in the sun.

— Isaac Enegren

Snowflakes float softly
covering the earth like a
warm, cozy blanket.

— Jessica Cameron

Snow glides from the sky
kids are playing all around
making snow angels.

— Trenton Smith

Winter brings the snow
sleigh riding causes cold toes.
warm fires feel so good.

— Logan Messenger

Snowflakes gliding down
Each one God’s unique design
Wintertime is here.

— Zack Ball

Snow covers the earth
icicles glisten brightly
winter has arrived.

Frost covers the trees
it glistens in the night light
Wintertime is here.

— Trevor Shalkoski

Snowflakes glistening
Icicles hang very high
Winter has arrived.

— Sabrina Cape

Get the blankets out
grab some hot chocolate too
Winter is now here.

— Marla Malson

Put on your fur boots,
go outside in the cold snow
Burrrr, winter is here.

— Ashley Sparks

Christmas is joyful
The happiest time of year
I’m so glad it’s here

Snowmen are melting
No presents left to open
Can’t wait till next year

— Angel Vigil

Friends and family
Gathering to celebrate
Peace on earth, good will

— Joe Edmonds

Christmas, trees of pine
having a tangy, sweet scent
Christmas, a fun time

— Sarah Showalter

Ice crystals fall soft
The smells, the laughter, the tastes
Trees look…beautiful

— Allison Hunt

The snow has fallen
the jolly season is here
go and give a cheer

— Cody Barnes

Grandpa tells stories
and sitting by the warm fire
passes down the love

— Miranda Hamon

One Strong persimmon.
Crimson, blue gone grey-white.
Silent Oread!

— G. Richardson

Grandchildren, oh boy!
Wonderful, terrible joy.
Loving is easy!

Been shopping in town,
Presents for children abound,
Money not around!

Santa came in here,
Looked at our house full of cheer!
Said, “Nothing more here.”

Christ came to this earth,
To bring us love, grace and mirth,
Don’t forget His birth.

We need this Season,
Christ is the real reason,
World needs appeasing.

— Darlene J. Miller

No presents. No heat.
Remembering Christmas Eve.
We each got an orange.

Warm step. I sit down.
Cold winds cannot reach me here.
A sun pool for bums.

Drifts, drifters blown
Against the sunny south wall.
Some melt. Some will freeze.

Christmas party treats!
One business left food each year
Balanced on the edge.

Nonstop, icy wind.
In line an hour without coats,
Infants, elders shiver.

Grass flows like water.
Ice blankets warm sleeping frogs.
Geese honk here. Not cars!

The New Year is come.
What happened to the old one,
New only yesterday?

Small bells ring. Snow falls.
Laughter echoes .. ho Ho HO!
Santa’s joyous heart!

— Nancy Hubble

The Christmas spirit
Should transcend the holiday
Into every day.

— Dave Darnell Williamson