This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.