Bite, bill, and bureaucratic cold win haiku on Halloween
October 31, 2025
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Nearly 100 health care poems crept into our inboxes this Halloween. See the winning poems and poems in KFF Health News’ 7th Annual Halloween Haiku Contest, illustrated by Onna Zenda.
The judges’ favorites were inspired by tick migration, Medicaid work requirements, and rising copayments.
Follow KFF Health News’ social media accounts (X, Instagramand Facebook) for more of our favorites. Enjoy!
First place
Checkups turn into panic. Coupons rise in value like enchanted flames. My wallet screams “Boo!”
– Arnav Shah
Second place
There is no rest after death. Even ghosts have to work now to get the benefits.
– Christine Hayashi
Third place
Searching for legs and teeth riding on blood puppets, all ticks and no cure!
— Carrie Morris
While Halloween may be coming to a close, KFF Health News reports year-round. Send us your haiku At any time for inclusion in our morning briefing: https://kffhealthnews.org/contact-haiku/.
2024 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners
2023 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners
2022 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners
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