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2021 Halloween Horror Haiku contest

Posted on October 4, 2021January 28, 2023 by Richard

This year we have decided to dig up an oldie but a goodie. Welcome to our 2021 Halloween Horror Haiku contest. People tend to have a lot of fun with this one. We are going to publish the top 3 haikus on a page with links for the authors bios and social networking profiles.

Haiku has to be a traditional form, but we are not going by conventions. Five 7 Five is ok here. Also the Haiku must be Horror. Scarier the better. We want scary, ironic, terrifying, monstrous, but not gross. I don’t like gross poetry, it makes me woozy. Gory is ok, but not graphic, if you can walk that line.

Anyway quick rules:

Haiku
5 7 5 form
Scary, freaky, ironic, not gross
Deadline is October 30, 2021
Post the Haiku in the comments below
If you have any questions the only other answers I have is this example. I wrote it. It’s not fantastic or anything. Also, I’ve screwed up the count many times on these things, so if it is off, you let me know in the comments:

Ex-lover

The transformation
left her naked, shivering
beside the remains

I know it’s not traditional to put a title with it, but I think it’s a nice touch, so feel free.

Write your haiku in the comments below, enter as many times as you like. 1 haiku per comment please. Some people are reporting not seeing the entries on this page. We are working on the issue. Click here to see the current entries.

(Note: you do not have to register or login to our site to leave a haiku or comment. All comments are currently being moderated, so it may take a little while for your poem to appear)

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Richard
Richard
Richard Everywriter (pen name) is the founder of EveryWriter and a 25-year veteran of the publishing industry. With degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology, and Education, Richard has dedicated two decades to teaching writing and literature while championing emerging voices through EveryWriter's platform. His work focuses on making literary analysis accessible to readers at all levels while preserving the rich heritage of American literature. Connect with Richard on Twitter  Bluesky Facebook or explore opportunities to share your own work on ourSubmissions page. For monthly insights on writing and publishing, subscribe to our Newsletter.
Richard
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Category: Expired

53 thoughts on “2021 Halloween Horror Haiku contest”

  1. Lorna Wood says:
    October 6, 2021 at 5:58 am

    Bike wheels left spinning
    for candy more trick than treat.
    Kids don’t play there now.

    Reply
  2. Cailey Johanna says:
    October 6, 2021 at 7:11 am

    change

    the monarchs are cold,
    frozen in shadows, in frost,
    halted migration

    Reply
  3. Cailey Johanna says:
    October 6, 2021 at 7:14 am

    dark clouds an omen,
    wild wind like coyote howls —
    the storm has begun.

    Reply
  4. Kiera Baron says:
    October 6, 2021 at 7:31 am

    hidden in vineyards
    grapes turn into bottled wine
    and bones blend with vines

    Reply
  5. Kiera Baron says:
    October 6, 2021 at 7:38 am

    woodpeckers tap tap
    on skeletons and souls lost
    wandering the trees

    Reply
  6. Grady Allen says:
    October 6, 2021 at 10:00 am

    The Tall Man by Grady Allen

    He was there. Standing in my doorway every night. Just watching me. I don’t know how he got there, or why he was there. But he was. I could hear his staggered breathing. He sounded of death, and smelled of rot. At morning he would disappear back to our basement.

    Reply
  7. John Gagen says:
    October 6, 2021 at 10:02 am

    They didn’t know. 11:00 pm, and dark. Far from light. They shouldn’t have been there, they should have known. Impossible to see but he didn’t need to, he knew they were there, and he didn’t like them. He decided. They didn’t know. Oh god they didn’t know. Gone.

    Reply
  8. J.D. Lewis says:
    October 7, 2021 at 9:54 am

    From beneath the bed,
    the monster trembled in fear
    of the child above.

    Reply
  9. Debra Toyber says:
    October 8, 2021 at 6:37 am

    Evil dressed as good.
    Angels dressed up as devils.
    Nothing is ever good.

    Reply
  10. Judith says:
    October 9, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    Drunk parents two kids
    One twists the head off a cat
    One twists brain in knots

    Reply
  11. Judith says:
    October 9, 2021 at 1:02 pm

    Ghosts witches goblins
    But the scariest of all
    Mallow Cups in bag

    Reply
  12. Chad Parenteau says:
    October 11, 2021 at 11:12 am

    2021 Horror Haiku

    Terror in city.
    A killer takes to the streets
    with no mask on.

    Reply
  13. David L Painter says:
    October 11, 2021 at 2:25 pm

    Sound of a chainsaw
    hungry man laughs at it all
    liver for dinner.

    Reply
  14. David L Painter says:
    October 11, 2021 at 2:26 pm

    Basement stairs descend
    fright takes hold from within
    down you go anyway.

    Reply
  15. Maid says:
    October 11, 2021 at 4:26 pm

    graveyard alive
    body tremble on first see
    making burnout world

    Reply
  16. Ambar Perez says:
    October 12, 2021 at 7:33 am

    Wind is blowing far
    Kids are after the candy
    And some for much more

    Reply
  17. TAHIRU JONAH NASARA says:
    October 12, 2021 at 10:21 pm

    chuckling snores
    a broken teddy drowse
    in stain cloth

    Reply
  18. Browning Mank says:
    October 13, 2021 at 6:09 am

    SLASHER
    Cocky kids cower
    Something wicked this way comes
    Freddy? No, Jason.

    Reply
  19. Browning Mank says:
    October 13, 2021 at 6:52 am

    STRAWMAN ARISEN.
    Dorothy? Brains. Brains.
    If I only had a brain…
    Crack. Munch. My pretty.

    Reply
  20. Browning Mank says:
    October 13, 2021 at 6:53 am

    CHILD’S PLAY
    He bit me! Blood streams.
    Cursed. Not a Good Guy, Andy.
    A f**king Chucky.

    Reply
  21. Browning Mank says:
    October 13, 2021 at 6:59 am

    JaSon.
    Drowned by Mom Mom Mom
    But when I do die. I don’t.
    Masked chants, “Kill Kill Kill “

    Reply
  22. Browning Mank says:
    October 13, 2021 at 7:32 am

    HALLOWEEN 2021
    I’ll Be Watching You
    On Sunday, Bloody, Sunday.
    Breaking Hearts and Bones

    Reply
  23. milagros says:
    October 14, 2021 at 7:18 am

    Spooky, scary nights
    candies, parties and laughing
    horror is alive.

    Reply
  24. Browning Mank says:
    October 14, 2021 at 5:44 pm

    HANNIBAL GOURMET
    Hell’s Kitchen serving
    Gray matter fava tartare
    Mixed with thoughts of you

    Reply
  25. Browning Mank says:
    October 14, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    WHO YA GONNA CALL?
    Thwack. Vocal chords slashed.
    Silence. I can’t scream, you can’t.
    Scream to save our lives.

    Reply
  26. John F. says:
    October 15, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    The lonely vampire
    Tracing his blood relatives
    In the old graveyard

    Reply
  27. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:45 am

    The Eater

    Red lips caked with blood
    Bits of flesh hanging from teeth-
    His latest victim

    Reply
  28. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:45 am

    SWAYING

    The leafless branch moaned
    Beneath the weight of the rope
    The dead man hung from

    Reply
  29. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:46 am

    THE AGE OF ATOM

    The siren sounded
    A flash of blinding light
    Wiped out the city

    Reply
  30. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:46 am

    HUNGER PANGS

    Ninety days at sea
    Stranded without any food-
    Devouring my leg

    Reply
  31. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:46 am

    SALLY

    The old man brought flowers
    And laid them down on his wife’s lap-
    They slid off her corpse

    Reply
  32. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:47 am

    THE NEIGHBOR

    Their daughter missing
    Sirens and her parent’s screams-
    Music to my ears

    Reply
  33. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:47 am

    THE GIRL I KILLED

    Every single night
    The girl I killed visits me
    Covered in maggots

    Reply
  34. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:48 am

    URDERER IN THE WOODS

    A roaring chainsaw
    Feet bleeding, they keep running
    But there’s no escape

    Reply
  35. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:48 am

    INSIDIOUS

    World at a crawl,
    Head spinning as he explains
    That I have cancer

    Reply
  36. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:48 am

    THE BEAST

    Deep down in the depths
    The ocean, dark and alone-
    Leviathan wakes

    Reply
  37. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:49 am

    I, THE VICTIM

    Fangs dripping with blood
    It takes another bite of flesh-
    Pray for a quick death

    Reply
  38. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:49 am

    ANTICHRIST

    It ate through her gut
    The pregnant mother screaming-
    The child, a monster

    Reply
  39. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:49 am

    THE RITUAL

    The infant screaming
    The priest walked it to the cliff-
    Sacrificial lamb

    Reply
  40. J B says:
    October 16, 2021 at 7:50 am

    THE MOUNTAINEER

    He fell, broke both legs
    All alone, he screamed for help-
    Only wolves answer

    Reply
  41. Browning Mank says:
    October 16, 2021 at 8:45 am

    PUMPKIN SLASHER
    Butcher wields his knife
    Gouging eyes out just for fun
    His wicked grin shines

    Reply
    1. Jason says:
      October 16, 2021 at 9:07 am

      Love it!!

      Reply
  42. Liyona says:
    October 18, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    I felt the red eyes
    Where breath and nails serve to haunt
    Am I alone here?

    Reply
  43. Browning Mank says:
    October 19, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    Hitchcock

    Bloody eye sockets
    No longer see a murder.
    Of crows stealing souls.

    Reply
  44. Kevin Osborne says:
    October 20, 2021 at 1:25 am

    Sleeping Beauty

    Disfigured vampire
    Smeared scars. Carnage over. Sleeps.
    Your Twitch makes me jump

    Reply
  45. Dee Mendez says:
    October 21, 2021 at 6:20 pm

    DAILY ROUTINE

    I eat death at night
    and smile at new souls in the
    morning. Then repeat.

    Reply
  46. browning mank says:
    October 23, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    A VAMPIRE SCREAMS
    moonlight. shadows writhe.
    so much biting pain. sunlight.
    bites the undead back.

    Reply
  47. Mandy Dokie says:
    October 26, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    The First Bite

    Blood dripped from her fangs
    The smell of his sweet, raw flesh
    Hung in the cold air

    Reply
  48. Mandy Dokie says:
    October 26, 2021 at 1:12 pm

    The Transformation

    The flesh rips away
    Here it comes. I’m not ready.
    The moonlight is here.

    Reply
  49. Mandy Dokie says:
    October 26, 2021 at 1:15 pm

    The Possession

    Who is inside me?
    I can feel it in my soul.
    Claw my way back out.

    Reply
  50. Aleem says:
    October 27, 2021 at 11:36 am

    Bones all over the ground
    Ravens flying all around
    Kids don’t go there now

    Reply
  51. Cailey Johanna says:
    October 29, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    Take knife to pumpkin.
    Cut away the rotting flesh;
    create a monster!

    Reply
  52. Avatar photo admin says:
    October 31, 2021 at 8:21 am

    Look for winners to be announced tonight at 8:30 eastern her on Every Writer! Happy Halloween.

    Reply

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