This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In Utah, one should never underestimate the force of Jell-O.
That's true on Thanksgiving and when it comes to The Salt Lake Tribune's annual Jell-O haiku contest.
It's the ninth time we've asked readers to wax about Utah's official state snack. And in 2015, Utahns were particularly poetic.
In all, we received 335 entries in our adult and two students categories, nearly 100 more than last year. And the entries just keep getting more competitive: We had a three-way tie for first place. (Really, we liked all three and just couldn't pick a favorite.)
Many poems poked fun — or showed disgust — at this wobbly dish that is often mixed with fruit or vegetables and placed on the holiday table right next to the turkey and mashed potatoes.
But plenty of writers were quite clever, using their three lines to make a statement about current events. Topics ranged from our national parks and college football teams to the ups and downs of the stock market and a particular presidential candidate with one-of-a kind hair. These poems earned extra points with our judges from the Utah State Poetry Society and Tribune staff .
So on this food-filled holiday, enjoy our 2015 list of award-winning Jell-O haiku and keep the force of Jell-O with you until next Thanksgiving.
—
ADULT
1st (three-way tie)
Dare you add carrots?
I am no vegetable dish.
Away vile shredder
— Mark Fotheringham
Our Arches and Bryce
are nature's pearls of great price,
and our Jell-O's nice.
— Patricia Mead
Cloying conundrum:
No nutritional value,
Cultural icon
— Penny Smith
2nd
Becker, Biskupski,
Cougars and Utes can agree,
Jell-O is jiggly
— Justin Calder
3rd
Slick globules of green
posed shivering and ashamed
clothed in shaved carrot
— Spencer Clark
Grades 7-12
1st
Arches, Bryce Canyon
But what represents Utah?
Green Jell-O instead
— Luke Glissmeyer
2nd
When I eat Jell-O
Memories of yesterday
Blossom in my mind.
— Joseph Bingham
3rd
Trump could win it all
If he would ditch the toupee
For a Jell-O wig.
— Emma Calvert
Elementary
1st
GOP Jell-O
yes it is Republican
bouncing and voting
— Carly McAleer
2nd
Watching the debate
Don Trump's hair caked like Jell-O
New hair style: Gel-Oh!
— Dillon Bush
3rd
End of the rainbow
Pot of gold? I don't think so
Just lots of Jell-O
— Jack Goodman
Honorable Mention
Adult
Mr. Dow tumbles
in Chinese handcuffs — we watch,
our knees now Jell-O
— Shelley Blundell
A balancing act,
Translucent Jell-O swaying
Dangerously spooned
— Greg Erickson
Soft, cold and famous
Utah snow? No, green Jell-O
Good to have them both
— Teresa Panushka
Utah vote results,
Like Jell-O, often have a
Little wiggle room
— Mary Richer
Trembling green tower
Cool carrot shavings entrapped
My dog turns away
— Celia Wiscomb
Shimmering beehive
Bouncing mound of Zion bliss
Giggles in my mouth
— Tara Anderson
One scoop of lime green
Beside au gratins puts the
fun in funeral
— Jeff Richards
No green Jell-O here.
My wife is a jack Mormon.
I am a jack Jew.
— Aharon Shulimson
If only Utahns
Loved Medicaid expansion
As much as Jell-O
— Kim Smart
Church denies gays' kids
But allows gay scout leaders.
Is church Jell-O spiked?
— Dirk Sprunt
At the Jell-O zoo
Beasts wiggle to kids' delight
In rainbow colors
— Virginia Hall
Green Jell-O salad
Funeral potatoes, ham
Family, goodbyes
— Leland Sevy
7-12
The only way I
Would eat a carrot is if
Jell-O embraced it.
— Sarah Calvert
Jell-O is the base
Memories are built upon
Meaningful stories
— Jon Evans
Water found on Mars
Changing life as we know it
But is there Jell-O?
— Hailee Hansen
Jell-O sways in wind
Yet still is a masterpiece
Like Donald Trump's hair
— Micah Black
Take a picture now
Before your Jell-O crumbles
And the truths are found
— Sami Hallows
The economy
Wobbles side to side, up and
Down just like Jell-O.
— Robert Steagall
K-6
Jell-O all around
from the rooftop to the ground
try not to get stuck
— Lilly Occon
A Jell-O pillow
Sinking into fast. Oh no!
Just a silly dream
—Brigitte Davis
Jell-O is so fun
A big earthquake on a spoon
And really good too
— Logan Brown
Hulk want the Jell-O
It fun to play with and eat
squish through teeth, fun, fun
— Joshua Johnston
When I get hungry
I just eat the wall, it is
Made out of Jell-O
— Wyatt Pennell
Yummy Jell-O worms
Making trails of Jell-O juice
Crawling up my leg
— London Saiki
—
The Jell-O Judges
The best way to handle 335 Jell-O haiku is to bring in the experts from the Utah Poetry Society. These eight members pored over the gelatinous gems looking for proper style and originality: Bob Bader, Vera Bakker, Gary Christian, Paul Ford, Barbara Funke, Cyndi Lloyd, Kolette Montague and Eric Reed. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Kathy Stephenson, joined them on the panel. For more information about the poetry society or to join a chapter, visit utahpoets.com