DOWNTOWN TUCSON, AZ, February 21, 2023 – Calling all creatives, writers, and aspiring poets from the Old Pueblo and beyond! The Downtown Tucson Partnership (DTP) together with the University of Arizona Poetry Center are proud to announce the 4th annual Haiku Hike literary competition.

This year's theme is Planting Seeds. Poets are encouraged to submit haiku reflecting this theme.

Twenty winning haiku poems will be printed on acrylic signage and displayed in planters located on Congress Street and Stone Avenue in Downtown Tucson. All winners will receive public recognition and have their work featured on public signage downtown, online and in the media.

These signs will provide visual and cultural interest during the season, beginning on the first day of spring, Monday, March 20.

A haiku is a short poem form that originated in Japan.  In English, the form is often expressed in three lines of five, seven and five syllables, respectively. Haiku depicts a concise sentiment with rich imagery revolving around seasonal topics. Learn more about haiku here.

Interested poets may enter at downtowntucson.org/haikuhike and submissions will be accepted until the end of the day on March 9. Winners will be announced on DTP’s website, social media and by email to all entrants.

Last year’s theme was Metamorphosis. 1,056 haiku were submitted; 635 came from Tucson. 29 different states and 28 countries were represented in the submissions.