Hawkeye Haiku Contest
Ready, Set, Write!
The Hawkeye Haiku contest is officially underway! You have until 4 p.m. CST, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, to compose and submit your haiku.
Prompt
Write a haiku that explores the theme of “home” using a traditional 5-7-5 syllable pattern.
Contest Guidelines:
Contestants must develop a traditional "home" inspired haiku. How do you define it? Is it a place you return to, the people who surround you, a cherished memory, a familiar tradition, or a feeling of belonging?
Haiku has evolved throughout time, but we’re asking you to follow the traditional 5-7-5 syllable pattern for your entry. The structure of your haiku should adhere to the following:
- It should be only three lines, totaling 17 syllables:
- The first line is five syllables.
- The second line is seven syllables.
- The third line is five syllables.
- Punctuation and capitalization are up to you and don’t need to follow grammatical rules.
- It does not have to rhyme; in fact, a haiku usually does not rhyme.
- It can include repeated words or sounds.
Each contestant may submit only one haiku entry for this contest.
Haiku Examples:
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
—Matsuo Basho
The season gives way.
Winter lays down her mantle,
As spring bursts to life
—Kelly Roper
Winners' Prizes
Winners in each of the four grade-school categories will receive an Iowa scribe pack and $25 bookshop.org gift card.
Winners in each of the two adult categories will receive a $50 bookshop.org gift card.
Deadline and Submission Format
- Deadline: You must submit your completed haiku by 4 p.m. CST, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. All entries not received by the University of Iowa Center for Advancement by that time will be ineligible.
- File format: You must upload your haiku at foriowa.org/write-now as a Word document (.doc), text file (.txt), or rich text format document (.rtf). Haiku submitted in Apple’s Pages format will not be accepted. The name of the file must be the first word of your haiku. For example, if the first word of your haiku is “candy,” then the name of your file must be “candy.doc,” “candy.txt,” or “candy.rtf.” Contestants will also have the option of submitting their haiku via email to write.now@foriowa.org.
- Font: Submissions must be typed in 12-point font.
- Anonymity: Your name must not appear anywhere in the haiku document; you will only submit your name on the web entry form.
- Length: The maximum length for each haiku is three lines. Entries with more than three lines will be disqualified.
Grades 3–12: Submit your Haiku
Adult: Submit your Haiku
Learn More
Enjoy some of these amazing writing samples from your fellow Hawkeyes. Check out entries from past winners and explore the University of Iowa's writing resources to inspire your own creativity.