Medical Debt and Nurse Shortages Haunt Winning Halloween Haikus

Oct. 31, 2023

Readers, beware! There’s a bitter chill in the air and bloodcurdling screams coming from our newsroom. We received more than five dozen spooky submissions to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ fifth annual Halloween haiku contest. Here’s the winner and the top runners-up, illustrated by Oona Tempest. The judges’ favorites were inspired by school nurse shortages and the nation’s gut-wrenching medical debt crisis. Keep an eye on Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News’ social media accounts ( formerly known as Twitter; ; and ) for more of our favorites. Enjoy! 

1st Place

A black and white cartoon ink drawing shows two young children standing in an abandoned school nurse's office. One child is dressed up as a witch. She is sick and coughing. The other girl is dressed up as her cat, and holds onto her friend with concerned expression. They face an empty chair. A ghost nurse floats behind it, unable to help them. Below the drawing, a haiku reads: "Costumed coughs in school! / Kids seek care but find instead / A ghostly nurse chair."
(Illustration: Oona Zenda/Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News; Haiku: Madeline Steward)

Costumed coughs in school! 

Kids seek care but find instead 

A ghostly nurse chair. 

— Madeline Steward 

2nd Place

A black and white cartoon ink drawing shows visitors on a tour bus pointing and screaming at a hospital building that has come to life. It has money signs for eyes and is holding medical bills. Below the drawing, a haiku reads: "Other countries ask: / Medical debt, what is that? / Hospitals say, "Boo!""
(Illustration: Oona Zenda/Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News; Haiku: Tom Cook)

Other countries ask: 

Medical debt, what is that?  

Hospitals say, “Boo!” 

— Tom Cook 

3rd Place

A black and white cartoon ink drawing shows a person that has fallen into a 'bobbing-for-apples' trough gasping for air. In the water, they are surrounded by apples and medical bills. Below the drawing, a haiku reads: "Bobbing for apples. / Drowning in medical debt. Either way, get wet."
(Illustration: Oona Zenda/Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News; Haiku: Brynne McBride)

Bobbing for apples. 

Drowning in medical debt. 

Either way, get wet. 

— Brynne McBride 

While Halloween may be coming to an end, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News reporting continues year-round. Send us your haikus at any time for possible inclusion in our Morning Briefing: /contact-haiku/. 

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2022 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners

A black and white cartoon drawing of a witch lying on her back looking at her phone with a frightened expression. A black cat stands on her stomach and paws at the window, where viruses and bacteria are floating menacingly outside. At the bottom of the drawing, a haiku reads: "Covid, Ebola, / Monkeypox, seasonal flu – / Who needs Halloween?"
(Illustration: Oona Zenda/Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News; Haiku: Paul Hughes-Cromwick)
A black and white cartoon drawing shows two skeletons in a mirrored position looking at each other. One is a real skeleton while the other is a human in a costume. They are thinking. A spider holding a face mask is hanging between them. Below the drawing, a haiku reads: "Ghastly, grotesque, sick! / You mask up to trick-or-treat, / But not for covid?"
(Illustration: Oona Zenda/Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News; Haiku: Micki Jackson)
A black and white cartoon drawing shoes a headless horseman holding surprise medical bills while yelling, "surpriiiiiise!" Below him, a haiku reads: "Surprise billing curbs, / Like the famed headless horseman, / Remain incomplete."
(Illustration: Oona Zenda/Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News; Haiku: Michael L. Millenson)

Related Topics

Health Care CostsChildren's HealthHospitalsMultimediaNurses

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