Before we turn to the current set I'd like to comment on a phrase in the last set, i.e. "anthropomorphic projections".   I had just made the point about haiku reflecting nature with minimal human intervention or presence such as assigning human characteristics to non-human things.  In this situation the operant word is minimal.  A few moments later I was again confronted with this same fault and  tongue in cheek I responded by using the  pompous phrase, anthropomorphic projection, half expecting some one to challenge it.  Still later as I surfed the net I came across The Heron's Nest.  I read the philosophy and guidelines of that magazine which helped me clarify my thinking about this common problem in haiku.  By the by if you're interested in haiku, its history and current events I suggest you check out the interview in the August edition of the World Haiku Review.   I found it very informative.   OK enough of that.  Let's get on to the next set.

 1.
bare brown dancing feet
decorated with brightly enameled
toenails

 2.
 cold wind blows about
 wood stacked upon blackened coals
 an empty matchbox

 I must say ku #1 conjures an interesting image....sensuous nautch girls with enameled toenails may as well toss in a   bejeweled navel or two as well. But I'm wondering about the awkward second line and very brief third line. Give this one a few more taps and see what you can come up with.  As for ku # 2...wood isn't the only thing stacked here.  It seems to me that some extra syllables slipped in as well to meet the appearance requirement of a haiku, i.e.  5-7-5 if you know what I mean.  The ku definitely has something hidden in there. Perhaps a tidy of the coal bin would bring it out.  Ku 2 goes ahead.

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 3.
smooth stones
the coolness of water
 held in their shapes

4.
 Toys in the attic
 Boats by the shore
 Flying was a tragedy

I'm going to be succinct here and pass ku #3 to the next level here and now. I can't get the drift or connection of toys, boats etc.

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 5.
 thousand fields of corn
 golden-bearded nodding
 red-winged blackbird waits

 6.
 old windmill -
 a soft gust
 rattles the blades

Why do you begin your ku, #5 so abruptly?  Would not an article such as "a" sort of lead us into the image?  I like the use of color. What would be the impact if you were to change the order of the lines to create more of a mystery, puzzle for the reader?  I like the rattled old windmill.  On to the next level with you.

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 7.
 The Yeti hears the bells
 at the monastery
 Cold Himalayas.

 8.
 ocean wave
 chases birds up the beach
 languidly recedes

Ding, dong, ding the bells can't carry this one any further for several reasons; one being the use of capitals.   I don't get much from this ku. But I have watched birds tease ocean waves myself as suggested in #8.  I can't decide right now about ‘languid’.  Let's see how this ku does in the next level.

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 9.
 breathe on the window
 and watch your fingers
 make it smile

 10.
 Content siamese
 folds its white human-like hands
 under purring fur

Hang on in ku #9.  How do you breathe?  With your fingers? Try as I may I can 't see how fingers make a window smile.  But that leaves me with a monstrous cat, albeit contented, with human-like hands.  Gadzooks I'll take the smiling window.

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 11.
 Flames mate with the wind
 Forest burns without respite
 Lick at clouds above

 12.
 eight legs dangle
 under the rose petal
 pendulum mummy

Writer of ku #11 you have an unusual topic for your ku.  Try again without the capitals and bring it together more.  The ku is rather truncated as it stands presently.  Oh yes, and of course the clouds would be above.  What an intriguing image in the last line! Pendulum mummy.  This  one's going on.

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 13.
 enter dawn
 stage right
 river awaken

 14.
 in the distance
 i am lost
 blinding darkness.

What a dramatic set of stage directions in a ku in #14.  Very interesting even though I'm a bit confused by the last line.  But let's follow this one through.  Ku 14, sad to say you're not the only one that's lost. Perhaps you could read up on the various forms of haiku to help you find your way.

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 15.
 drawing in the sand
 by the spring sea
 a labyrinth

 16.
 Swans rest on lake
 Like white pedals that reach
 Towards the sun.

Ku #16, Tchaikovsky  where are you now that we need you in this run on sentence posing as a haiku.  Haijin of #15 you have obviously composed ku before. Welcome to the next round.

SECOND ROUND

2.
cold wind blows about
wood stacked upon blackened coals
an empty matchbox

3.
smooth stones
the coolness of water
held in their shapes

I have a definite feeling that ku #2 has been padded for the sake of form. Look at the second line.....it seems to me that on blackened coals would have been the natural choice but upon makes the syllable count correct. There is an interesting image lurking in there with the suggestion of fuel, fire, coals and matchboxes challenging the notion of cold winds.  So what you may have in the first two lines is the scene of cold in a potentially fiery  environment only to have the cold reinforced by the empty matchbox.  But I am not forgetting about the forced syllables.  Ku #3 on the other hand does not have that problem.  To me the problem is one of sequence.  I think line 3 has come in too soon.   Would the image been  more secure if lines 2 and 3 were switched?   Compared to cold winds blowing smooth stones hold their shape and pass to the next level.

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6.
old windmill -
a soft gust
rattles the blades

8.
ocean wave
chases birds up the beach
languidly recedes

What have we here?  Two,  seemingly, balanced and well  constructed ku. Note the differences in the actions recorded.  The old windmill is jostled by a gust rather than a breeze.  Breeze would have blended with blades to tie things together.  Still, it's a gentle image.  I like it.  You'll recall my earlier comment on this ku when I referred to the birds teasing the waves.   I've seen the scene often at the beach. Those funny seagulls prance around daring the waves to soak them.  So the waves  oblige, as they must, and advance  on the shore.    Of course the birds hop away just out of range. The waves sigh on the sand and the game begins again.  I can't make a decision on these right now.  I have to think about them.  Ku 8 is too close to a run on sentence now that I examine it again.  So the old windmill advances.

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9.
breathe on the window
and watch your fingers
make it smile

12.

eight legs dangle
under the rose petal
pendulum mummy

In ku #9 we have what I suppose is a frosty winter's morning, one of the few uses of a kigo in this set.    At least that what it reminds me of but the familiarity stops at that. I can't for the life of me connect fingers with making the window smile.  Please enlighten me via email.  I would appreciate it.  Ku 12 passes to the next level while I try to sort out a pendulum mummy.

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13.
enter dawn
stage right
river awaken

15.
drawing in the sand
by the spring sea
a labyrinth

..........river awaken.  Curtain.  Show's over.  That leaves ku #15 on for the next scene.

THIRD ROUND

3.
smooth stones
the coolness of water
held in their shapes

6.
old windmill -
a soft gust
rattles the blades

When I get down to these two ku I'm going for the more cohesive windmill.  I still can't sort out the coolness of water and stones held in their shapes. Windmills to the final level.

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12.
eight legs dangle
under the rose petal
pendulum mummy

15.
drawing in the sand
by the spring sea
a labyrinth

Simplicity is the key factor between these two.  Compared to pendulum mummy the image of a labyrinth is easier to grasp. I can see this ku more clearly than mummies. What did you have in mind by pendulum mummy?  Please let me know.

FOURTH ROUND

6.
old windmill -
a soft gust
rattles the blades

15.
drawing in the sand
by the spring sea
a labyrinth

Old windmill you're a worrisome one you are.  Worrisome because I have tried to meddle with it without success.  I focused on the word, gust.  I tried puff.  No that didn't work.  Breeze was compatible with blades but lacked the harmonious auditory combination with soft.  Try it yourself.  Doesn't soft gust sound more suitable than soft breeze?  Well it does to me.  So far as sounds go I think "rattles" is also a good choice.  OK so let's leave that one for a moment and turn to the sea side.  Several things come to mind. One is the alliteration of  sand, spring and sea.  Also note how the poet has kept any mention of a drawer from the scene; a skilful use of anonymity. Of course this raises the question or poses a mystery of what/who made the labyrinth? Indeed another skilful technique to hold the reader's attention. Now the big problem with the mystery in this ku is the failure to solve the it.  This has been one of my more difficult calls but I chose the windmill because of it's more clear account of a natural event as the winner.   A tough call.

THE WINNER IS:

6.
old windmill -
a soft gust
rattles the blades

 Darrell Byrd