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Happy Holidays, merry company of haijin!

The 14th edition of Mizu no Oto – Every Image Has Its Haiku has come to an end.

This was the “Cristhmas” edition, with some hiccup due to the festive commitments and the fact that I took the umpteenth cold of the season.

I take advantage of this award to renew my heartfelt best wishes to all!

The next edition of the contest will be posted on 11th January. See you, brave haijin!

Some news from the Potassium Realms:

• @bananafish started a partnership with @crowdmind community! These awesome guys want to support works of creative ingenuity on Steemit, and they like our contests and our way to enjoy writing together. Here you can find the official partnership announcement, where you can show some love. You can also vote for @crowdwitness as witness (quite evident!), in order to support Crowdmind back.

• If you aren’t yet in our Discord channel, The Bananafish Realms, please subscribe here: https://discord.gg/ZWmEUWT
  We want to give you the warm welcome in the Tribe, and to chat together having a lot of fun!
  We now have got also a room in the Crowdmind Discord channel, in which we can spread our chaos too: https://discord.gg/Cdzjcfu

• The Prophet and the Knights keep on working on the “secret” project. A treasure hunt where you will be able to choose your destiny through a labyrinth of stories and death-life choices... in the end, a rich reward of 10+ STEEM will wait for one lucky participant like a pot of gold under a double rainbow! During the Christmas holidays, we will use our free time to write the stories, so that they will be ready to be published soon after.

Here are the winners of this edition!

Best Haiku award (2 STEEM):

@stever82

Joyous wintertime
The lesser, bright lights inspire
whilst watching the wreath

In my opinion (which is fallacious like that of anyone), this week the best haiku were that of @stever82, that of @cyemela and that of @oscarina. I decided to reward the first because I like the figures of sound, like the alliteration to the third verse. Actually, I think they are the only figures of rhetoric fully granted in haiku.

Popular Choice award (1 SBI share):

@gracielaacevedo

Ritual sagrado
Luces que regocijan
Noche de amor
**
Sacred ritual
Lights that rejoice
Love night

For my own fault, I did not post a comment in time to vote, so there were few votes. I ask you for forgiveness. The parity situation between @gracielaacevedo and @javert68justice was resolved thanks to a providential commentary by @evagavilan. Thank you all for helping!

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Our two awesome winners achieve the right to decorate their footer with this exclusive and beautiful banner by @f3nix:

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The banner is customizable with the name of the winner. Please, contact @f3nix on Discord or via comment if you like this option.

Best vote comment (1 SBI share):

@josemalavem

La foto de @marcoriccardi ha generado ejercicios de honda espiritualidad y sensibilidad, a tono con este tiempo que nos une a todos en el planeta alrededor de sentimientos muy nobles. Desde mi apreciación y gusto destaco los ejercicios presentados por @javert68justice, @gracielacevedo, @artofwisdom, @evagavilan, @salvao, @cyemela y @oacevedo. Me pareció particularmente interesante el de @artofwisdom por abrir otra visión: me remontó a “las puertas de la percepción” de Blake y Huxley; sin embargo, me entorpece su lectura la traducción a la que accedo. Así, pues, opto por el sentido de regocijo, esperanza y bondad que expresan en sus textos @cyemela, @gracielaacevedo y @javert68justice. Mi decisión es a favor de @gracielaacevedo, que en sus sencillas frases condensa la celebración del espíritu que anima la atmósfera luminosa navideña.
**
The photo of @marcoriccardi has generated exercises of deep spirituality and sensitivity, in tune with this time that unites us all on the planet around very noble feelings. From my appreciation and taste I highlight the exercises presented by @javert68justice, @gracielacevedo, @artofwisdom, @evagavilan, @salvao, @cyemela and @oacevedo. I found @artofwisdom particularly interesting because it opened another vision: it took me back to the "doors of perception" of Blake and Huxley; however, I find it difficult to read the translation to which I have access. So I opt for the sense of joy, hope and kindness that they express in their texts @cyemela, @gracielaacevedo and @javert68justice. My decision is in favor of @gracielaacevedo, which in its simple phrases condenses the celebration of the spirit that animates the luminous Christmas atmosphere.

I admit that at every edition I try not to reward José too much, but the pretexts for not doing so are very difficult to find, given the enthusiastic and constant work of comment that he makes. I'm joking, it's a pleasure to read him and give him the right prize!

Domo arigato gozaimasu to the other awesome participants: @felixgarciap, @salvao, @theironfelix, @artofwisdom, @manoldonchev, @cyemela, @emergehealthier, @oscarina, @oacevedo, @josegilberto, @mllg, @evagavilan, @gracielaacevedo, @javert68justice.
Keep on writing beautiful haiku!

I wish you can spend the holidays close to your loved ones!

Your humble Bashō-fish

@marcoriccardi

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[banner credit: @f3nix]