Haiku Contest Winners
and Runners-Up
Our contest is over and we have winners!
Thanks to everyone who entered our circus elephant haiku contest — with a special shout-out to Martin Kennedy and the band All India Radio for allowing us to use the sadly gorgeous video for their single "Persist," for selecting the contest winners, and for providing CDs for those winners!
The band faced some tough decisions because your entries were truly spectacular! Even though it seems simplistic, we chose the haiku form because we felt that simplicity would really pay homage to circus elephants and the simple fact that they suffer greatly. And you did not disappoint. Your entries were poignant, heart-wrenching, angry, condemning, and hopeful.
We received many wonderful entries. Since we did not stipulate only one entry per person, many people sent in multiple terrific haiku. Unfortunately, many who entered were also not eligible as they did not follow our 5-syllables/7-syllables/5-syllables format.
That said, thank you to our winners:
No escape the chain,
The bullhook degradation.
Slavery again.— Janet W., Sacramento, CA
*
Gentle Giant stands,
Enduring torturous pain,
Longing to be Free.— Stella P., Brooklyn, NY
*
majestic creature
caged and abused for profit
sad society— Joni P., Gibson City, IL
And to our runners-up:
Noble elephant
Performing ignoble tricks.
A shame of mankind.— Mary R., Talent, OR
*
Elephants suffer
It is called "entertainment"
Not for Elephants— Matt D., Tulsa, OK
*
Beaten, scared, in pain
He parades his grand entrance.
How can you applaud?— Stella P., Brooklyn, NY
*
Ringling ding-a-lings:
Don't you know your circus stinks?
Let the creatures go.— Janet W., Sacramento, CA
*
One day they will scream
And we will hear their terror
And the world wakes up— Fala G., Montgomery, AL
*
But they beat them, Dad!
(Pink elephant in the room.)
Eat your popcorn, son.— Janet W., Sacramento, CA
*
Massive bulk captive
Strains against the cold steel chain
Her large mind rebels— Philip R., Cloverdale, CA
*
Soft, sweet summer breeze
Not felt in tents or cages
Never sensed again— Carole S., Rock Creek, OH
*
How sad they must be
Homesick for African veldt
Smash the tents and flee— Mike G., Port Saint Lucie, FL
*
Chains, bullhooks and prods,
Whippings, beatings, shocking pain.
Fun at the circus?— Stella P., Brooklyn, NY
*
Remember too, this contest was in honor of circus elephants who suffer every day for our entertainment. Born Free USA united with API's lawsuit (together with 3 other animal groups and a former Ringling employee) against Ringling Bros. circus for its mistreatment of endangered Asian elephants begins February 3, 2009.
This groundbreaking case will be heard in federal court in Washington DC and we'll give you updates as they happen. Just keep checking in with us at www.bornfreeusa.org/ringling, or our Ban Bullhooks MySpace page for the latest news.
And help us spread the word so everyone's talking about this trial — and getting involved — by donating to our Elephant Defense Fund in support of our efforts.
Together, we can make a difference for these elephants and the many others like them!
"Persist" video on YouTube
All India Radio
New album: Fall
Minty Fresh Records
