Broken and hopeless
Mankind’s winter waits for spring
Emmanuel born
That was last year’s winning haiku by local teacher Marty Mentzer in Port City Daily’s inaugural holiday haiku contest. This year’s contest begins today and up for grabs once again is a two-night stay at the oceanfront Courtyard Marriott at Carolina Beach.
What better way to celebrate the holidays—whether it’s Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza or Festivus—than to conjure up some poetic verses. Seventeen syllables only, please.
That’s right—17 syllables—otherwise known as the haiku. Think back to grammar school. It’s the form of poetry with a five-seven-five rhythm. Five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. No more; no less.
It’s worked for hundreds of years, so we figured we’d leave it alone. Of course the poetry purists know it’s slightly more complicated than that, with juxtaposition often taking precedence, but we’re encouraging creativity in this contest.
We’ll print the best haikus on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, so make sure to send your haikus and your contact information so you can win that oceanfront stay to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Dec. 13.
Holiday memories
If you’re feeling really creative and nostalgic, you can also enter our holiday memory contest. We want them all—the heartwarming tales of family and friends, the humiliating experiences under the mistletoe, even an unfortunate run-in with Santa or one of his elves.
Think Bing Crosby meets “Christmas Vacation,” only we ask that you keep it PG. Again, that oceanfront stay at the Courtyard Marriott is the prize. Be sure to send your holiday memories, complete with your contact information, to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Dec. 13.
Holiday memories will be published on Christmas, Dec. 25.
