International “Kusamakura” Haiku Competition
(HIA Kyushu Competition)

Kusamakura Taishou (Grand Prize), Dorota Pyra's speech

Dorota Pyra

Ladies and gentlemen!

With the great joy I have received news about awarding my haiku the Grand Prize of the International Kusamakura Haiku Competition. It is a great honor to me ! Thank you so much!

I would like to thank the organizers of the competition for the promotion of beautiful haiku poetry and openness – through competition – to the work of poets from around the world.

I also thank the jury for honoring me with Grand Prize and I'm deeply moved that I could become a part of the ceremony, which takes place today in Kumamoto.

A few years ago, in August 2009 I had the pleasure to visit Japan. One of the cities that I was visiting at the time, was Matsuyama. Following the fate of one of the greatest Japanese writers, poets and essayists – Natusme Soseki, we can find an information that he spent part of his life right in Matsuyama. The town has a Botchan Clock, which commemorates the scenes of Soseki's novel – “Botchan”. I remember that the clock impressed me. I did not think then that my thoughts will go one day to another city associated with Natsume Soseki. That city is Kumamoto and today, right here, together with You is my haiku.

My town is Polish city of Gdansk stretching over a Gdansk Bay. I live by the sea and I know smell of sea, its taste, color; I know its sound at any time of day or year. I know the sea from the experience and I am grateful to the fate, that this knowledge gives me so much joy. But I also know that somewhere in the world there are people to whom seas and oceans reveal so much different – dramatic face.

Haiku I wrote, has been created under the influence of the events of the day 11 March 2011.

Photos and videos recounting effects of tsunami on Japanese shoreline hit me emotionally and left deep trace on my soul.

Talking about a such delicate matter as feelings and emotions is extremely difficult, especially when these emotions relate to the tragedy. Therefore allow me, I will utter my reflections and feelings in words of haiku:

after tsunami
a surplus
of emptiness

Thank you.