The Red Moon Anthology of English Language Haiku (RMA), the most honored series in the history of English-language haiku, was founded in 1996 by Jim Kacian, owner of Red Moon Press and Editor-in-Chief of the RMA. Volume 30 will be released early next year, likely in February or March.

As will Volume 21 of the Contemporary Haibun anthology, also published by Red Moon Press. The Contemporary Haibun Series, currently edited by Rich Youmans (editor-in-chief of the journal contemporary haibun online), is dedicated to presenting “a ‘state of the art’ overview of the haibun, tanka prose, and haiga published in the preceding year” from around the world. The series focuses on how these centuries-old forms are developing.

With heartfelt gratitude to the poets listed below for publishing with MacQ, I’m pleased to announce my nomination lists for the Red Moon anthologies. Drawn from the five issues of MacQueen’s Quinterly (26 thru 30) published in 2025 and submitted to Red Moon Press on 11 October 2025, these nominations are listed below in alphabetical order by author’s last name.

And my profound appreciation for Jim Kacian, Rich Youmans, Ron C. Moss, and the six editors of the RMA editorial team for their time and efforts in considering thousands of pieces—and for creating such lovely books to showcase their selections.

Best of luck to all of these nominees!

First, the nominations of nine haiku and senryu:

1. (“into the light”) and (“spring desolation”) by Deborah A. Bennett
   
   
2. (“chopping onions”) and (“in my pocket”) by Melissa Dennison
   
   
3. (“uncommon / kNOWledge”) and (“NEE / D    ing”) [ransom notes, aka experimental senryu] by Peter Jastermsky
   
   
4. (“ghost bike”) by Ron Scully
   
   
5. (“butterfly afternoon”) and (“wrens reconsidered”) by Thomas Smith
   
   

Next, the nominations of 24 haibun and an informal essay:

1. Fade to Black by Cynthia Anderson
   
   
2. Tangle and Split [haibun story] by Mikki Aronoff
   
   
3. Minutes from the PTA Meeting by Shawn Aveningo-Sanders
   
   
4. Tiny Love Story by Roberta Beary
   
   
5. Shimmer by Kevin Browne
   
   
6. Diary by Eugene Datta
   
   
7. The Color We Come From by Cherie Hunter Day
   
   
8. Silver Linings by Margaret Dornaus
   
   
9. Staking His Claim by Margaret Dornaus
   
   
10. Rediscovery of America [haibun story] by Keith Evetts
    
    
11. Today, Tomorrow, Always [haibun story] by Jennifer L. Freed
    
    
12. Effervescent [braided haibun] by Nikki Fryer
    
    
13. Magic and Stealth: The Joy of Ransom Notes [informal essay re experimental senryu] by Peter Jastermsky
    
    
14. Turning by David J Kelly
    
    
15. The Invented Hours by Kat Lehmann
    
    
16. Adam offers apples to tempt the Land Girls as told to me by the London-born one. [ekphrastic haibun story] by Joan Leotta
    
    
17. Coming of Age by Clare Martin
    
    
18. A Burrito with Bashō [haibun story] by Keith Polette
    
    
19. Fire Stealers by Keith Polette
    
    
20. The Cadence by Kala Ramesh
    
    
21. During Your Shower Break by Gary S. Rosin
    
    
22. Returning to the Oncologist After the Mask Mandate Is Dropped [braided haibun] by Tracy Royce
    
    
23. Morning Ritual by Daryl Scroggins
    
    
24. Missing █ by Lew Watts
    
    
25. All That Shines [haibun story] by Mary White
    

Links to MacQ’s nominations for the Red Moon Anthologies in previous years:

RMA 2024

RMA 2023

RMA 2022

RMA 2021