[Tsurukame Cup] Mero Selection (Turtle 12 Haiku)

I am Mero, an official judge for the Tsurukame Cup (´meroωmero｀) Hello!
After the Mero Prize and the Semi-Mero Prize, it is finally time to announce the Mero Selection.

I managed to narrow it down to 24 haiku in the final selection, and from there, I had to decide on the 12 to send to the preliminary venue. It's a cliché thing to say, but it was heartbreaking. I thought things like, 'Oh, this haiku might actually get popular in the voting and make it to the finals...' or 'Please, someone else among the judges, pick this one! (๑｀￫Д￩´人' or 'I'm sorry I couldn't take you to the preliminaries... (´；ω；`)', and well, I felt a lot of things.

In a sense, these 12 Turtle haiku might be the ones I have the most emotional attachment to. Truly.I was frustrated that I couldn't choose them. I wanted to take them to the big stage.

But, however. But, how-ever. There is not even a millimeter of doubt that these are wonderful haiku, so I will introduce them here.

Come forth, Mero Selection ٩(๑•̀ω•́๑)۶
*The Mero Selection is not ranked. They are introduced in the order they were submitted.

Mero Selection 1
Summer evening, a comet fades, a friend has passed away
Izayoi

There is an emotion conveyed by this haiku that makes you forget about things like sandangire (three-part cutting).It truly feels like a requiem. The seasonal word 'summer evening' resonates with the final phrase 'a friend has passed away.' On top of that, the adjective 'fades' in the middle phrase is very effective. It evokes both the feeling of summer and a poignant story. According to Izayoi, it is half-fiction. I feel like this is what creative writing is all about. It's a good haiku.

Mero Selection 2
Open the almanac, for the sake of the Tsurukame Cup
Ohayou Yone-chan

It's fun to interpret the end as an imperative, 'Open it!' It looks like, 'Listen up, you guys! Open the almanac, for the sake of the Tsurukame Cup, right now!' and it makes me laugh. The fact that this wascomposed on the first day of submissions is also cool. I want to pay my respects for composing about the Tsurukame Cup so straightforwardly, humorously, and on the opening day. Also, regarding Ohayou Yone-chan, I also like the 'emipurun' haiku.

Mero Selection 3
Evening breeze, water droplets fall, hanging fern
Nishino Keika

The seasonal word 'hanging fern' (tsurishinobu) is a summer tradition since the Edo period. You soak hanging ferns in a bucket to water them, right? A summer evening breeze blows, and water drips from the hanging fern. You can feel the summer. You can also associate the water dripping from the 'hanging fern' with yourself, who has endured, receiving a gentle breeze and unexpectedly shedding a tear.In other words, it makes you feel a story. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary haiku, but you can feel its depth. I think it's a fine piece of realistic haiku.

Melo Selection 4
|Tears|well up|at the|kind lie|and summer ghost story
Megumi Haruno

This is a mysterious haiku, isn't it.One could think that the "kind lie" and the "ghost story" are independent of each other, or one could interpret it as a kind lie appearing within a ghost story. I think it's probably the former... but I want to enjoy the latter interpretation. A parent telling a ghost story. A child listening to it while trembling with teary eyes. It's actually a bad ending, but the parent tells a sudden lie to make it a happy ending for the child's sake, something like that, haha.

Melo Selection 5
|Summer morning sun|you've gotten used to it|the school bag
camyu

I had a feeling this would be popular at the preliminary venue, and it's a haiku that really tugged at my heartstrings until the very end. You can feel the kindness in it, right?The phrase "you've gotten used to it" in the middle seven is especially good. The seasonal word "summer morning sun" also gives a feeling of being full of hope, which is a plus. You can see the smile, right? I cried, begging someone else on the judging panel to pick it. No, if I was going to cry, I should have just picked it myself. You are absolutely right. But, there were only 12 slots... (´meloωmelo)rz sigh.

Melo Selection 6
|Jizo statue|scorched by the|sun|yet a gentle face
Ricotto

It already has personality just by having a Jizo statue as the subject. The word "gentle face" (nurugao) is also overflowing with originality. It brings to mind an image of a small Jizo statue on a country path. The straightforward expression in the middle seven is also full of summer vibes, which I actually find appealing. It's not a cool face, but a gentle face, you see, haha.A Jizo statue that smiles even when things are tough. I feel like I'm projecting my own thoughts onto it, wishing I could be like that too. Deeply, it's a haiku I love.

Melo Selection 7
|If|then|repeating|every time|fireworks fall
Koredemo Haha

At the sight of the upper five (C language), I guessed it might be Mother-sama, haha. Of course, that is absolutely not the reason for the selection. The English is used effectively. It's not just for show; it carries meaning. The glamorous outside world and myself in the room struggling with work.(if) If I weren't in this job, (then) I could be outside watching the fireworks right now~. And every time the fireworks go off, the if-statement loops in my head. Man, that's clever.

Melo Selection 8
|Run| across the |ice field|! Penguin |unicycle|
Foliage Poet

This is another one that really tugs at my heartstrings. It's good, isn't it? It has a sense of playfulness. At first glance, it looks like the title of a gag anime, but it doesn't feel like a senryu. It is properly a haiku. On top of that, it has personality.The exclamation mark (!) acting as a kireji (cutting word) is a bit cheeky, but I like it, haha. I agonized until the very end about how interesting it would be to have a haiku like this in the preliminaries. Also, Foliage Poet, all three of your haiku are of a high level.

Melo Selection 9
|The time| when the |cicadas'| |voices| |change|, |today| |scents|
Tsukiko

A 'surume' (dried squid) haiku—one that gets better the more you chew on it. I think Tsukiko is a very delicate person. There is definitely a time when the cicadas' voices change. Around the time it starts to get dark. The cicadas are getting worn out, too, haha. And there, today scents. Some might find it hard to understand, but I thought it was a good phrase that left room for the reader's imagination. It could even be the smell of curry for dinner, right? Haha.I think it's a good haiku that stirs the imagination with its unique sensibility.

Melo Selection 10
|Making| |summer shade| |above| |your| |head| |with a parasol|
Olav 153 / Reading Life with Tarot

It might be a common idea for advanced poets, but I appreciate it. It's summery and has the power to engage the imagination. This, the person you are making summer shade for isn't necessarily a human lover, right?I believe that assuming 'you' equals a lover is a fixed idea held by the reader. Try replacing the subject with a stray cat or a plant, for example. The impression changes, doesn't it? I think it's a haiku that challenges the reader's imagination. Perfectly summery. Gentle.

Melo Selection 11
|River distortion| before my eyes| flowing| pleasure boat
Otoya

The upper five, 'River distortion.' It's like, 'Is this how you express heat haze!' This creates a nice contrast with the 'pleasure boat' in the lower five. The river appearing distorted might be due to the heat haze, but perhaps it also reflects the distortion in the author's heart (or so I thought, Otoya-san, haha). At such a moment, a cheerful pleasure boat comes into view. Perhaps they are muttering, 'Ah, how nice,' while feeling dazed from the heat.A fine haiku that makes you feel a story within the sense of the season.

Melo Selection 12
Two more cars| to the weak air conditioning| rushing| you
Tencho

The structure is brilliant, drawing you in with the upper five 'Two more cars'—what about them?—and then having you go 'Ah, I see!' with the middle seven 'to the weak air conditioning'. Seasonal feel: excellent, humor: excellent, relatability: excellent. It must have been really cold, haha. In terms of content, it's an urban train. Moreover, 'rushing' makes me associate it with the morning. It's crowded. In such a situation, you can't exactly wrap yourself in a blanket. If many people can relate to this, I wonder if it could make it through the preliminaries? And so, my 'reluctant to let go' side was triggered once again.

With this, my judging as an official judge for the Tsurukame Cup is complete. To everyone, including those I couldn't introduce, thank you so much for your wonderful haiku. ○┓

Serving as a judge this time, I strongly felt, 'I still have a long way to go...' And I don't mean that out of false modesty. While researching various things, I seriously faced each and every haiku, but there were some haiku while selecting where I thought, 'Hmm?', 'What does this mean?', 'I don't understand...'. I'm sorry. But I'm being honest.

They were frequently picked up within the awards on their own. 'I see, so that's how I should have interpreted it!' 'What a fantastic haiku!' I was impressed by everyone's appreciation skills, and at the same time, I felt ashamed of myself. I realized that I might have been blaming the authors for my own 'I don't get it...' moments.

Geography, history, literature, science, chemistry, physics... If I had more knowledge and experience, I might have been able to understand the charm of these haiku. I might have been able to send them off to the preliminary venue. It is my own lack of ability. Haiku can take absolutely anything as its subject matter. I felt strongly that I want to take an interest in various things without being a picky eater.

If I ever have the opportunity to be a judge again, I want to be someone who has acquired much, much better appreciation skills by then.

One year ago, I hadn't even encountered haiku yet.

The Min-Hai Apollo Cup. Hmm. So they're doing something like that. It has a fun atmosphere, but I've never done haiku, and it seems like a high hurdle. If I told my past self, who was peeking from behind a pillar, 'You'll be a judge for next year's summer tournament,' I definitely wouldn't have believed it. Participating is one thing, but being a judge, you know?

You never know until you experience things. As someone who is usually a carefree, laid-back participant, becoming part of the management side for the first time revealed so many things to me. Experience is an asset. I am grateful to the Min-Hai management team for giving me this valuable opportunity.

And above all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who poured your thoughts into 5-7-5 and submitted your haiku. Thank you very much.

So, that's the end of the Melo Awards.

See you later!