Elaine Riddell

Elaine Riddell lives in Hamilton, close to the centre of the city and near the riverbank walkways. She has retired from teaching, but continues to take on a small amount of contract work. She is a mother, a grandmother and a caregiver to her husband who has Alzheimer’s. Elaine enjoys writing haiku, tanka and other poetry and her work has been published in journals and anthologies in New Zealand and overseas. Awards include second place in the moonset haiku competition, USA, 2008; second place in the Katikati Haiku Pathway Contest, NZ, 2008; first place in the Mu First International Haiku Contest, USA, (2010); second in the Wintec Open Poetry Competition (NZ National Poetry Day, 2011) and second in the Tanka Society of America International Tanka Contest, USA, 2011.

                                                                                                         frost shimmers
                                                                                                        the distant mountains
                                                                                                       so close

                                                                                       Matsuo Basho Haiku Contest (2010)