This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
We've been on a wild, emotional ride in 2016, from the war in Syria, zika virus and bad air days to the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series in 108 years and a presidential election like no other.
Fortunately, there is something stable that Utahns can count on Jell-O at their Thanksgiving table.
For the 10th year, The Salt Lake Tribune asked readers to wax poetic about Utah's official state snack, and they answered the call with nearly 250 entries in our adult and two student categories.
Most poets poked fun at this wobbly dish that will take its place next to the turkey and mashed potatoes at Thursday's holiday table.
But plenty used their three-line works to comment on current events, from president-elect Donald Trump to local politicians and the LDS Church. These poems earned extra points with our judges from the Utah State Poetry Society.
So on this food-filled holiday no matter whether you're red or blue let's gather and enjoy our award-winning Jell-O haiku.
Adult
1st
This year we've survived
Zika, bad air days, and Trump.
Give thanks eat Jell-O!
Patricia Mead
2nd
LDS Jell-O
All flavors and all colors
Always fit the mold.
Jerry Johnston
3rd
Anxious quivering
Of things not yet understood
Jell-O, give us peace.
Chance Gallegos
Honorable Mention
Poor. Nowhere to go.
Salt Lake's elected reply …
Let them eat Jell-O!
Thomas Morgan
Worthless Jell-O molds
the candidates both jiggle
on the big issues.
James Rodriguez
A wobbly middle
Makes the top shake and jiggle
The Mormon wiggle!
Glen Ruff
Jell-O: Tasty treat?
Or my legs when I'm hiking
up Angels Landing?
Christen Bezoski
Vote for gelatin
to make salad great again.
Jell-O's the winner.
Vicki Dimond
Lee, Hatch, Love, Chaffetz,
with wiggle, jiggle morals:
Hand me the dessert.
BJ Rop
She made a new mold
But still missed the prize. Guests leave.
Her blue Jell-O melts.
Gregory Clark
My heart, whole body
Tremble; bones feel like Jell-O
Donald Trump has won.
Eden Hall
Red or green Jell-O
You can choose which one you want
But it's still Jell -O
Natalie Rohde
Secondary (7-12)
1st
Like molded Jell-O
This world shaking and trembling
barely holding form.
Kara Llewellyn
2nd
Jazzy gelatin
Jams to its own juicy jive
Jump. Jiggle. Jell-O
Jacob Page
3rd
Potatoes steaming,
Turkey tender, plates heaping,
My eyes on Jell-O
Rachel Dyreng
Honorable Mention
Reliably sweet
Vote Jell-O for president
Two thousand sixteen.
Sydney Kossin
Trump vs. Clinton,
BYU vs. Utah.
Jell-O vs. none!
Xana Rogers
Feels weird to the touch
It wiggles and it jiggles
Full of mysteries.
Hannah Pitt
Sweet colorful food
Firm as Hillary's servers.
Soft as Trump's toupee.
Spencer Kirkham
Elementary (K-6)
1st
When Thanksgiving comes
Jell-O thoughts brush through my mind
Give thanks for Jell-O
Zoey Wirthlin-Ngugi
2nd
Some love green Jell-O
Trump would build a wall with it
Hillary wouldn't.
Gavin Bullock
3rd
Flip, flop, squish, wobble
Cold and green like the forest
Wiggly like a tramp
Yilin Han
Honorable mention
Jell-O is jiggly
Just like a little earthquake
A delicious mess
Jared Stark
Sweet, mouth watering
Whiny, edible, tart, sour
Wiggly, green, squishy
Eloisa Natalicio
The Jell-O Judges
The best way to handle nearly 250 Jell-O haiku is to bring in the experts from the Utah Poetry Society. These nine members pored over the gelatinous gems looking for proper style and originality: William Asplund, Vera Bakker, Markay Brown, Paul Ford, Barbara Funke, Cyndi Lloyd, Kolette Montague, Eric Reed and Juanita Watts.
More poetry fun
The Utah State Poetry Society's invites Utah writers to enter its annual contest. There are nearly three dozen categories, with a range of required subjects including love, humor, children, inspiring women, the old West and haiku. To learn more, visit utahpoets.com. Submissions will be accepted Dec. 1 through Feb. 1.