alone in my room
I dance to the music
in my head

Savannah Riestenberg

surrounding myself
with the melody
I've lost my place

Savannah Riestenberg

light streams through
the colored glass
rainbows

Savannah Riestenberg

sunlight shows
dust
the piano bench

Shannon Netemeyer

surrounding myself
with the melody
I've lost my place

sunlight shows
dust
the piano bench

surrounding myself
with the melody
I've lost my place

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

bottom quarter champion

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

counting the beads
on my old rosary
four missing

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

counting the beads
on my old rosary
four missing

Shannon Netemeyer

miles out
miles to get back
alone running with God

Alexander Erickson

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

Alyssa Becker

scratching
at an old scar
that has almost faded

Shannon Netemeyer

TOP half champion

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

CHAMPION
 

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

reading under the maple tree
a single leaf
lands on page 42

BOTTOM half champion

five stars
a bottle of wine
an empty chair

Alexsenia Ralat

hair in a bun      sweatpants
not a care in the world
Sunday

Morgan Vogels

reading under the maple tree
a single leaf
lands on page 42

Shannon Netemeyer

peaceful silence—
all I can hear
is my heartbeat

Caroline Lodovisi

five stars
a bottle of wine
an empty chair

reading under the maple tree
a single leaf
lands on page 42

reading under the maple tree
a single leaf
lands on page 42

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

reading under the maple tree
a single leaf
lands on page 42

bottom quarter champion

lap around the block
listening to
our song

lap around the block
listening to
our song

college lecture hall
my feet dangle
off my chair

lap around the block
listening to
our song

Anna Harmon

the soft lull of crickets
accompany Chopin
evening meditation

Savannah Riestenberg

college lecture hall
my feet dangle
off my chair

Anna Harmon

head bobbing—
textbook becoming
a pillow

Renee Sample

alone in my room
I dance to the music
in my head

Savannah Riestenberg

surrounding myself
with the melody
I've lost my place

Savannah Riestenberg

light streams through
the colored glass
rainbows

Savannah Riestenberg

sunlight shows
dust
the piano bench

Shannon Netemeyer

This is one of my favorite haiku because it reminds me so much of myself. Music is an intricate part of my life; I used to constantly play saxophone and guitar, but I have lost a little touch with both. I can remember locking myself in either a practice room or bedroom and just play my music without a care in the world. For the most part, it would be really relaxing and I wouldn't think about the time until someone snapped me back into reality. Now, since I don't play nearly as much as I used to, listening to music take me away from reality. Every morning while I do my morning routine, I have to have some music playing to help me wake up. Music is vital to my mornings because it keeps me calm when I know I have a long day ahead, and like many people, I am most pessimistic in the mornings. The only down side to this is that I lose track of time and end up having to rush to my class! Ryan

Both of these haiku kind of both a lonely aspect to them but they also give of a little bit of hope. When I look at the colored glass haiku I think prisms with light shined on them more. I wouldn't notice the rainbows shining through the glass if I was
talking to someone but if I was by myself might take more notice in them. The rainbows are a symbol of hope as well. When I read the piano haiku I can see the lonely aspect of it but I see it more as something that you used to do but gave up. By
taking notice of all of the dust it can be encouraging to go back play that instrument for the fun of it. Matthew

When reading this haiku, I imagined the piano bench in my own home. Every weekend, my mother would tirelessly clean our house. Even if you don't see her cleaning, you know she is by the gentle sounds of the notes on the piano, from her dusting off the keys. In a very disgusting way, I find "dust" as a word describing the growing up and changing of lives. I see this world like this because dust in the home is usually composed mostly of dead skin. Everyone that lives in the home contributes to the dust. Even if the piano hasn't been played in years, the piano has still been impacted by the people around it. In a disgusting way, I find this comforting. Renee

counting the beads
on my old rosary
four missing

Shannon Netemeyer

miles out
miles to get back
alone running with God

Alexander Erickson

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

Alyssa Becker

scratching
at an old scar
that has almost faded

Shannon Netemeyer

My current spiritual identity is greatly evolving right now, and the first haiku served as a sobering reminder of the growing distance between myself and the notions of faith I once held. The second reminds me of the laps I take around campus, often five or six a night. Together they paint a vivid memory of the deep reflection I engage in, my feet wearing down the same tracks of pavement over and over as I make peace with myself and the world. Kaia

I felt close to this haiku because it was over the same topic as many of mine have been. The speaker has been running for a long time and is in a space where he is completely alone with his surroundings; alone with God. I feel like the speaker has strayed from the path that he believes God is leading him down, and does not necessarily want to be in the position that puts him alone with his thoughts. Though from my perspective this is what the runner is feeling, he also is aware that he is with God, as if he is asking for help and he knows God is with him. The usage of the word "with" was intentional. It could have been "to" or even "from" and the haiku would have had a completely different meaning. But the word "with" is hopeful and comforting. Shannon

I really like this pair of poems together. The feeling of pain is presence in both, harsh memories or regret come with both. The bed missing someone you lost and the scar reminding you of earlier tragedy work together well. I could even draw a connection between someone leaving your life also leaving a scar emotionally. Alex

I love this match, as you feel a sense of remembering in both: remembering what used to be. I see them as both talking about relationships. In the first I sweep my hand over the place my lover used to sleep next to me, missing them deeply. In the first, I feel myself scratching at something that used to be, maybe an old relationship that is almost completely mended, and I know I shouldn't but I want to re-open the wounds. Love, love, love these haiku. Alyssa

My favorite pair from the first competition was "laying on my dented pillow/ I sweep my palm/ over the void in my bed," and "scratching/ at an old scar/ that has almost faded." I think I liked these two so much because they show something missing, or a little bit of regret. The first one almost seems like a relationship has either fallen apart, or maybe their significant other is away for a while. I can't say I have experience in this area, but it just made me really sad when I read it. I also really like the second one because it reminds me of playing softball. There were some times when we would play on fields that had awful sand that would rip up our legs, giving us raspberries. One time, I had one that was so bad (I got it at Bay Port High School playing in a summer league softball game when I did a delayed steal at home, which is hard to do, and was safe) that it left a scar on my left leg for a long time. My dad always loved pouring hydrogen peroxide on them and watching the sore bubble up while we winced in pain. Looking at the scar always reminded me of how much fun I had playing softball, but now the scar is gone, leaving me to have to remember memories in other fashions. Morgan

These haiku made a very nice pair about the aftermath of a lost relationship. Although the second haiku is not directly about a relationship, that is how I interpret it. Both haiku appeal strongly to the senses with their word choice. In the first haiku I love the words dented, sweep, and void, something about them makes the haiku that much more relatable. The action word of scratching in the second haiku makes it seem like I am in that moment of scratching at my skin. I like that my mind immediately relates this haiku to a relationship because it is so easy to dwell on the past to the point of accidentally re-opening a bond with a person you thought had ended, as happens often with scars. Both haiku seem kind of stuck as to whether the ended relationship is a good thing or not, and I like that indecision. Savannah

five stars
a bottle of wine
an empty chair

Alexsenia Ralat

hair in a bun      sweatpants
not a care in the world
Sunday

Morgan Vogels

reading under the maple tree
a single leaf
lands on page 42

Shannon Netemeyer

peaceful silence—
all I can hear
is my heartbeat

Caroline Lodovisi

What a vivid haiku! I picture myself laying on a blanket in my backyard during the beginning of fall. The earth is peaceful as I enthrall myself in the pages of one of my favorite books. Just as I am about to turn the page, a light breeze blows, plucking off a single leaf. I curiously watch the leaf as it floats its way down towards the bare green earth. Finally, it floats right down onto my page, page 42. The world is at peace in this moment, it is fresh, it is inviting. Most of all, I just relish in this moment of time, when time almost stops. The leaf falling pulls me out of my book to stare at the beauty that surrounds me. Through this haiku I feel appreciation of the world around me and of life at its simplest; it could not be more beautiful. Alyssa

lap around the block
listening to
our song

Anna Harmon

the soft lull of crickets
accompany Chopin
evening meditation

Savannah Riestenberg

college lecture hall
my feet dangle
off my chair

Anna Harmon

head bobbing—
textbook becoming
a pillow

Renee Sample

These haiku are my favorite matched pair because it perfectly represents two reoccurring college struggles I face. The first haiku reminds me that I sometimes I am not old or responsible enough to live on my own. There is never a time where all my dishes, laundry, and apartment are cleaned at the same time. For my roommates and I, there just aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with our daily obligations, and be responsible homeowners. It just makes me think about how convenient it would be to have my parents around to do all the housekeeping stuff while I'm busy with school. The second haiku makes me think about all the days where I have to stay up late because I have an exam the next day. As the hours go by, I just get more and more tired, and equally as frustrated because of just when I think I'm ready for the test, I have something else I need to look over. The only thing that goes through my mind during these times is the excitement the weekend will bring and going to bed that night. Ryan

I think this haiku really captured the essence of a college student. Many students feel like and are treated like adults. However, most students still feel like children and are maybe not ready to approach life after graduation. This haiku encompasses the contrast in feeling like an adult in a large lecture hall, but also feeling like a child at heart at the same time. Caroline

At first, I thought this was just an observation of a short person whose feet literally did not touch the ground from the desk and I thought it was humourous. But with closer inspection, I can find a much deeper meaning within that actually connects with me personally. When I read this haiku, I am reminded of the fear that is always in the back of my mind that I am not ready for the next step in my life. Even though I am about to turn 20, I still feel like a child and that I have no idea what I am doing or how I am supposed to make it through life on my own. The feet dangling off of the chair symbolizes still feeling youthful while in an adult setting, sans college lecture hall. Though at first glance this haiku could just be written off as a funny observation, it is up for a deeper and more meaningful interpretation. Shannon

counting the beads
on my old rosary
four missing

Shannon Netemeyer

alone in the chapel
replaying
an old voicemail

Shannon Netemeyer

counting the beads
on my old rosary
four missing

Shannon Netemeyer

laying on my dented pillow
I sweep my palm
over the void in my bed

Alyssa Becker

I matched these because they're both about religion and they both give you that feeling of something missing from the picture. Of a person looking or remembering something or someone that just isn't there anymore. It's kinda of sad, but in a good way. Alexsenia

Both of these pieces are heavy about missing something. In the first, it could be about falling out of faith, or missing a necessary piece in the process of forgiveness. In the second, the presence of a person is what's missing. I just think it's a really good match because both are pains that many people can relate to, and both weigh heavily on our hearts. Jordan