Lockdown Haiku Competition

In response to the exhibition Shadows, we invited the Morley community to write their own Lockdown Haiku. Judged by exhibition curator Carol Wilhide-Justin, the winning haiku were selected according to their subject matter, typography and overall understanding of the form of the haiku. Below we share the wonderful submissions from students and staff at Morley College London.

1ST PLACE

The shipping forecast

Wakes me from landlocked dreaming

Wishing for the sea

-Stephen Mepsted

RUNNERS UP

In a loop

                 time was caught as it happened

                                                          to linger on

-Marta Valverde

Plenty of spare time

All those outstanding projects

Maybe tomorrow

-Andrea Driver 

SELECTED HAIKU

Hi Morley laptop. 

How d’you take your tea again? 

Which mug would you like? 

Tuesday or Friday, 

today’s one or the other. 

That much I do know for sure. 

I hope this isn’t 

cultural appropriation. 

Because I like this. 

How can there still be 

too many people around 

when there are so few. 

What do I do now, 

now I’ve finished Game of Thrones, 

books and TV show? 

-Sue

We clap for frontline workers 

The government claps 

Yet still their pay is frozen 

-Michael McGowan

Swirls of snow on ferns fronds,
Ribs
Of a leviathan

-Annette Welch

Two Haiku attempts, 

One semi promotional 

The other personal 

Morley College life, 

Locked down for months to come 

Learning every day 

Dreaming of a life 

Trapped in domesticity 

Waiting for a jab 

-Stuart Edwards

(I)  as it stands, 

                        i no longer see options but possibilities 

                                           rise 

                                                   * * *  

(II)  when may i play so freely 

                    less cautious,  

                          that the clock doesn't tick, it observes?  

                                                  * * *  

(III)  in a loop 

                 time was caught as it happened 

                                                          to linger on 

                                                  * * *  

(IV)   there's the shame,  

                            and the fame,  

                                     and the poetry 

                                                 * * *  

(V)  hear the heart through the throat 

  beat clear

touched by notes  

-Marta Valverde

Apple blossom tree 

Petals, cascade 

Down, like snow 

Hop on empty road 

- Suzy Mills 

Forehead on window 

Cloudy breath, cold blue glass 

Raindrops spread like viruses 

Kitchen – Bathroom – Chair – 

Stairs - Living room – Bedroom – Bed 

Walking in circles 

News on the radio 

White noise, static, hiss and hum 

Fake news and lies 

The shipping forecast 

Wakes me from landlocked dreaming 

Wishing for the sea 

On Teams, Zoom, Google 

Grown accustomed to your face… 

Here yet far away 

…On the commute - 

Slippers, teacup, bedroom door 

Oh, it’s you again… 

-Stephen Mepstead