2026 SIGNS DELIGHT READERS

The Haiku Newton Celebratory Reading on June 9th was a huge success. Seventy people attended the event at the Newton Free Library, which featured nearly all of this year's winning writers reading their work. The poets also shared reflections on what inspired their haiku or on their creative process.

We continue to hear raves about the range of topics, emotions, and voices conveyed in the haiku. As one attendee noted, "This reading addressed so many aspects of the human experience."  Another audience member added, "Everyone in the room felt a powerful sense of community as the poems were read."

We're grateful to everyone who attended, and to Fig City News, which ran a piece about the Haiku Newton project and the ability of poetry to bring people together.

A full set of this year's signs can be viewed at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street.

A second set was installed at the First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street.  

Four signs can be seen in front of The Linda Plaut Arts and Culture Center, located at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street in Newton Highlands.

The 2026 winning haiku were written by: Jody Callahan, Christine Carvajal, Hugh Dun Rappaport, Julia Dun Rappaport, Sable Fumante, Margaret Geller, Marilyn Halpern, Ruth Hoberman, Lyn Jekowsky, Debbie Knapp, Jim Krosschell, Julie Leavitt, Heona Liu, Robin Mayer Stein, Roxanna Myhrum, Grace Neilan, Susan Nisenbaum Becker, Ezra Robison, Annette Seaward, Clara Silverstein, Claudia Springer, and Richard Waring.

Scroll down to read all of this year's poems.