For several months, the LBMA (Mid-Atlantic) Group has been holding a Letterboxing Haiku
Contest. Volunteers from the LbPNW group acted as judges. Here are the results:

The First LBMA Haiku Contest

First Prize:

XXIII.

You have all you need:
Stamp, compass, book and pigment.
Now go, "in search of."

East up the mountain.
Puzzle while you pant and sweat--
what's a birch look like?

Look! A makeshift cairn!
A quick glance back up the trail.
Reach in and grab it.

Who else has stamped in--
Store-bought and great handcarvings.
Make your mark and theirs.

Pack it watertight.
Take another look both ways.
Hide it back away.

Wet butt, itchy bites,
A small scratch, perhaps a rash.
But look at the stamp!

Ink on the fingers.
Crumpled sheet of clues in hand.
Triumphant return.

- "Poison Ivy Hedge"


Second Prize:

XXX

We will create clues
They will be profound, obscure.
Box hides forever.

- "B"
of B&E


Third Prize:

XVIII.

A gentleman's card.
A bottle at Cranmere Pool.
A hobby's glimmer.

- "Poison Ivy Hedge"


Honorable Mention:

III The Doubtful Guests
IV LetterboxingBee
XVI Mary from Virginia
XVII Poison Ivy Hedge
XXVI Family Man
XXVIII Chile-Pepper
XXIX True Indigo

All entries can be viewed online at:
http://www.members.aol.com/nattybumppolbna/haiku.html

A Big Thank-You to our judges, the fine folks of LBPNW, who graciously donated their time
to vote for their favorites.

And thanks to everyone who contributed the little wisps of beauty and joy to the contest
and the world.

- Natty Bumppo