Thank you so much. You told me to turn the sock inside out. I felt as though I was wearing not only someone else's sock, but someone else's shoe. You're right--an interesting exercise.
I think of your statement about haiku: "without judgment or the unnecessary presence of (the poet's) ego". Have to write without investing ego too much--let be what will be.
The contest is important to people. Creative energy and growth here. Kudos...