Haunted Echoes

This Challenge is part of the Vocal+ Fall Poetry Series. Learn more

The Prompt

A haiku is brief, but it can still send a shiver. Three lines are all you have to distill mystery, tension, or fear.

Your poem doesn’t need to tell a full story. Suggest, unsettle, leave space for the unknown. The restraint of the form makes what lingers even more powerful.

Write like the page itself is holding its breath.

In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:

• A haiku (Strict 5-7-5 syllable structure)
• Submitted to the Poets community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before October 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• 5 Winners: $200 each
• 15 Runners-up: $15 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $5 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be a haiku (Strict 5-7-5 syllable structure) and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until October 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Haunted Echoes Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win, you must be over the age of 13 and reside in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need a Stripe account created and connected to receive prizes. Entrants located outside of these countries will not be eligible to win.