The selections for the year 2005 saw the distinctions between the two categories: the 5-7-5 syllabic style and freestyle being abolished because of an unfortunate development.

It's a bit sad to say, but the submissions for the former category have devastatingly decreased to roughly one tenth to that of the free style. So it became rather difficult to pick out the good haiku fromthe few submissions.

On the other hand, there were a good many excellent in the free style division.

Although one can't know with certainty the exact reason for this free-style boom, it is probably right to say that haikuists over the world would like to write haiku ('oriental literary pearls') freely without any restrictions.

On the 5-7-5 syllabic haiku style, I here present these very enlightening and suggestive comments from well-known haiku poets. These comments might be helpful if you find yourself at your wits' end over which form to use:

"English syllables and Japanese syllables are different. If I wrote my haiku in 5-7-5 syllables, my haiku would be much longer than Japanese haiku." (Randy Brooks)

"5-7-5 can sound too dense with words or say too much in English. I would rather let the haiku 'tell' me how many words it needs!" (David Cobb)

"Regarding 5-7-5, in English this does not make sense. Seventeen syllables in English are about 60 percent longer in duration." (William J. Higginson)

"I try for short/longer/short lines, not syllable count." (Elizabeth Searle Lamb)

"I think the haiku spirit is far more important than the form. What is more important, the view through the window or the window frame?" (Paul Miller)

"Unless 5-7-5 occurs naturally, it does more harm than good to make it so." (Alan Pizzarelli)

"Sometimes it (5-7-5 syllabic style) seems too wordy when writing in English. However, if I need that number of syllables to complete my thought, then I will use 17." (Francine Porad)

"Sometimes, haiku does end up having 17 syllables because I cannot make it any shorter without its essence." (George Swede)

"The 5-7-5 often turns out padded, to make up the17 syllables. The form of the haiku should be an extension of its content. Each poem has its own best form." (Cor van den Heuvel)

"I am only interested in capturing moments in which man and nature are somehow linked and I write in the manner possible." (Anita Virgil)

"5-7-5 is very much part of a Japanese poet's tradition. English, alas, doesn't lend itself well to this device." (Arizona Zipper)

A long time ago I made it a rule to write my haiku moment/imagery in the restricted 5-7-5 syllabic form. Needless to say, I took every care not to choose wordy expressions or words that did not fit.

Japanese people write haiku in seventeen 'onji' (a kind of Japanese syllable count: one onji consists of one vowel or one consonant plus one vowel in Romaji), but I was not influenced by that Japanese syllable count. I write haiku in that strict form solely because of my language training.

After I started writing in this manner I must confess that for a while I found it tough and time consuming to put every new haiku into that syllabic form. However, I gradually became accustomed to that style of writing. The writing process that I forced upon myself became more and more relaxed as time went by. The words in that syllabic form glittered just like small pearls carefully set in a jewel casket. If I couldn't make haiku nicely in 5-7-5, then I would let the words go freely into three lines leaving syllable counting out of consideration.

Without agonizing too much over the work submitted during 2005 I was able to select one first prize haiku, two second prize haiku, three third prize haiku and around ten honorable mentions.

Mr. Tyler Pruett is awarded the first prize with the following haiku:

Moon
pulls my truck
down the road
--Tyler Pruett (Augusta, ME, USA)

He had never previously submitted to the MDN's Haiku in English. This is first submission with it, he also gets first prize. There is no necessity to alter its perfect simplicity. If you added one word more, the haiku would be too bulky and the scene would become less telling.

'In the moonlight, I drove my truck down the road' -- not a bad prose line, but that's all there is to it. It's simplification is superb. Furthermore, as the author gives the moon 'personification,' we feel without acknowledgment some mystical power of the moon. The neighborhood is all silent under the warm heavenly light and he drives his truck slowly and silently down to the road causing no nuisance to those around him. Good simplicity exercises one's imagination freely and deeply.

We now know very little about him, but his haiku can walk alone touching everybody's heart.

"Unfortunately my health is not so good at the moment your questionnaire is a little too much work for me right now. I hope you understand. Good luck with everything." --Tyler Pruett.

The haikus 'dust to dust' (Ms. Laryalee Fraser), 'shadows' (Mr. Francis Masat), 'hitchhiking' (Mr. Ed Markowski), 'sunny morning' (Mr. Victor P. Gendrana) and the honorable mentions -- they could all be strong candidates for the first prize if I scrubbed my face again before the selection.

Each writer should be acclaimed as a first-rate haiku poet with great honor.