Haiku Attempts Kukai 5 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2016
putting my face |
on the walls Shannon Netemeyer (8) |
first snowfall Shannon Netemeyer (3) |
Christmas at grandma's |
study room silence Caroline Lodovisi (6) |
muttering Caroline Lodovisi (5) |
porcelain skin |
Christmas music Jordan Comish (5) |
two bags of cookies |
he left his brothers Alexsenia Ralat (8) |
Resnet down again Alexsenia Ralat (7) |
if my blood were made Alexsenia Ralat (5) |
shoes laced Jacob Morgan (4) |
shoes hung up Jacob Morgan (7) |
soft red blanket |
blue blood seeps Jordan Comish (9) I also really like this haiku because of the whole situation going on with the football team. I like the fact that the entire Millikin student body has rallied around the football team to support the boys through this rough time. Although some may not agree with the decisions made, we still back our school because we love being a part of this school. I know for sure I love Millikin. I had considered transferring after my freshman year because I didn't like being so far away from home, but I decided I needed to come back for one more year to make an informed decision. Upon coming back for my sophomore year, I realized just how much I love it here and how homey it feels here. Morgan This was by far my favorite haiku from this kukai. As a Millikin athlete, I can relate to this on a personal level. When you're in a sport, especially in college, you become incredibly close to your teammates. You learn how to work hard together, self-discipline, communication, time management, and so many more valuable traits. Your teammates become your family and your support system, and nothing can take that bond away. I appreciated this haiku because it truly captured the essence of being a dedicated athlete. Caroline |
rock and roll |
darkness of orchestra Kaia Ball (3) |
mold grows thick Savannah Riestenberg (7) |
sidewalk closer |
homecoming weekend |
in the grey sky |
paper towel roll Ryan Sikora (3) |
blinding sun Ryan Sikora (9) The sunshine is supposed to be something positive, but I think the author is writing about when we want to be bitter or down about something instead of looking towards the positive side of things. Rather than being pleasant, the sunlight is blinding and they are soothed by the comfort of the torment in the thunderclouds. Jordan This haiku was very interesting to me. The idea of having incredible positivity staring you in the face and choosing to look to the negatives is very unlike myself; however, it was interesting to think about this perspective. Also, on a literal level, there is incredible imagery in this haiku. I imagined a passing storm with the sun setting but dark clouds in the east that had passed, like the aftermath of a big summer storm. Caroline |
an old scar Matthew Vangunten (10) |
arm shaking Matthew Vangunten (6) |
opening the blinds Matthew Vangunten (4) |
beers with my buddies Owen Pulver (4) |
boots and black |
noon shower |
double helix Kaia Ball (4) The visualization in this haiku is extremely striking. I immediately am thrown back in time to my younger years of childhood when I would lay out on the grass with my brother and try to find shapes in the clouds above us. The descriptive words and specific images in this poem cause me to visualize the clouds shaping into these creative images. Creating these new images in my mind when looking at the sky was one of my favorite activities. Sometimes I still like to go outside on a warm spring or summer day and do just this. It is so relaxing. Alyssa |
her eyes close Renee Sample (11) This haiku is my life in a nutshell. I enjoy taking naps during the day after I get done with class, and they normally end up being about three to four hours long. While I probably should be doing homework during this time, the thought never really crosses my mind until I wake up and regret sleeping for so long. Then, I get home from practice and I have a lot of work to do before I can go to bed. Unfortunately, even though I got a lot of sleep during the day, I still get tired. So, sometimes I decide to take a 30 minute power nap, which normally ends up turning into waking up the next morning right before class. Because of this, my roommates have told me that I am no longer allowed to take power naps when I am supposed to be working on my homework. Morgan This poem also made me laugh because I understand it and can relate. Sometimes I sit down with the intent of doing something and then I realize how tired I am, so I"ll allow myself to close my eyes for a couple minutes and I'll wake up a random amount of time later. Jacob I like this piece because it's personally relatable. There have been many times in which I've fallen asleep for a longer amount of time than I intended to, if even intentionally at all. But it stood out to me more because my girlfriend has a tendency to fall asleep unintentionally, and I smiled reading this piece. It was endearing and made me think of her, so I liked it very much. Jordan I feel this on a deeply personal level. My phone's alarm is a literal lifesaver and I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have a phone that could have multiple alarms going off at different intervals throughout the day. Alexsenia |
the workers |
Grandma's cookies |
long weekend Owen Pulver I like this poem because it made me laugh. It made me laugh because I can sort of relate to it, in the way that I planned the week prior to use the weekend to get a lot done but pushed most of it back towards the end. Jacob |
bonfire Owen Pulver I really enjoy this haiku as well because I love having bonfires in the summer with my friends. One of my really good friends from high school, Kyle, lives sort of out in the middle of nowhere, and he has an extremely large yard with a big fire pit as well. This summer, I got to experience a bonfire at his house for the first time and it was really fun because there aren't very many houses near his, so the bonfire literally lit up the sky. This haiku really reminded me of how much fun I had that night, just sitting around the fire with some of my closest friends from high school, reminiscing on old memories and sharing new stories. Morgan |
taking off the mask Shannon Netemeyer (4) I enjoy this poem because I feel that a large part of life is about finding out who one truly is, which possibly a lot of people never actually do. If one continues to reveal themselves underneath each mask, he or she may be more aware of who they truly are. Jacob |
forgetting my train of thought |
tending her mother's garden |
graveyard |
sliced sandbag |
empty laundry room |
his honeyed words Alexsenia Ralat (17) When I read this haiku, I picture heartbreak. This is relatable for anyone that has ever been led on by someone that they really liked. Even when you realize that the person is not good for you, it is still hard to accept. It takes a long time to lose the feelings that you once had for them. Even long after they are gone, they still sometimes cross your mind and that old hurting feeling comes back. This haiku gives a message that anyone who has ever loved and lost can understand. Owen I really like this haiku because of the use of the term honey. Honey in itself is something that is sweet and desirable, even innocent. Yet the author compares the lovers voice to be like honey, and the love betrayed has left the author scrubbing away the residue... I just think it's a very powerful piece tha many can relate to. Jordan |
torn photo Alexsenia Ralat (7) I like this haiku because it makes me think of something that really meant something to someone but it ended abruptly. It caused an initial moment of anger, frustration, or confusion. Then after calming down they realized that they don't want to forget the great memories that the picture represents. I thought this was really simple and well written as it creates a large impact. Matthew |
cold bottle |
dewy evening |
pocket change Kaia Ball (9) |
tightrope teetering Kaia Ball (4) I feel like this describes how I feel on a daily basis. I'm constantly walking that tightrope, fighting to keep my balance. Some days I pray to God that they didn't forget the metaphorical net. Sometimes I hope that they did, because if I fall, it's over. Everything is over and I don't have to worry about keeping my balance and staying focused anymore. I don't have to worry about anything. Alexsenia |
traveling carnival Shannon Netemeyer (8) I really like the comparison of the carnival and the polaroid picture in this haiku. Both of these things harken back to days past when they were still popular. Although both of them are still around they are not nearly as popular as they used to be. I also like the spacing in combination with the mist, as though you can't see the words until the mist passes. The mist also reminds me of the fog of a polaroid while it is developing. Savannah |
a dragon's guise Ryan Sikora (6) |
running uphill: |
old bean bag chair Owen Pulver (8) I like this haiku because it reminds me of my whole freshman year in the dorms. All my friends would always go to Renee's room and she had this brand new beanbag chair at the beginning of the year. It was one of the best most comfortable places to sit on in the room, so everyone would use it. By the end of the year, the chair was in a significantly worse condition than when it started at the beginning of the year. Ryan |
long sidewalk Anna Harmon (11) |
black Friday Ryan Sikora (7) This haiku points out how materialism plagues modern society. Some peoples only care is what cool new gadget they will get, and they will wait for hours outside a store on a cold November morning just to save a few bucks on it. Meanwhile, other people line up just so they can eat. It really points out how trivial some things that we care about are, and how we like to ignore serious problems because we might have to sacrifice something to fix them. I really like how the author juxtaposed the shoppers and the poor in this haiku. Owen |
door by door |
a cold north wind Randy Brooks (8) I like this haiku because it shows someone who is confused about whether he wants to continue his relationship or not. He thinks his time is done with this person, but also is not sure if splitting is the right decision. There are so many factors when deciding to end a relationship, like commitment, distance, and so much else. It's never easy ending a relationship, but sometimes it is in best interest. Ryan |
lost at night |
raindrops Owen Pulver (4) |
laying on the pavement Shannon Netemeyer (7) Many people thought of a car crash with this haiku but it reminded me more of when my brothers and I would play wiffle ball with friends. We usually played after dinner and would go until it was too dark to even play. After hours of play we would be exhausted and I remember looking up every now and then as the night sky got darker and darker. Matthew |
as the leaves fall |
car ride Anna Harmon (6) |
train passing |
heavy storm. . . |
snow refuses to fall |
her glasses Alexander Erickson (4) |
scars from the hike Alexander Erickson (5) |
borrowed book Anna Harmon (9) |
Friday night |
shimmering |
the pages have yellowed Alexsenia Ralat (6) |
rocky bluffs Owen Pulver (4) |
did you buy chocolate Alyssa Becker (8) |
new moon |
from under the swell Alexander Erickson (15) I like this haiku because it reminds me of the first time I swam in the ocean. I imagine the sun on the horizon with the goal to swim out as far as I can as if I was going for the sun. I also imagine jumping over the waves as they roll by and when a large wave come by I would try to body surf it back to shore. Matthew I absolutely love this haiku! When I read it, I can feel myself underneath the shallow pool water. As I slowly swim to the surface, I squint my eyes open to see the sun also peeking back at me. As I near the surface the sun shimmers in the water and reaches out to me to join it at the top. I reach my hands up to break through the surface to the sun. What a happy, vivid, warm picture this haiku paints! Alyssa |
the professor rattles off |
winter night Shannon Netemeyer (4) |
no moon here Savannah Riestenberg I like this haiku because it shows how I feel sometimes when I am in a bigger town or city. As someone from a small town, I am used to being able to look up and see the stars scattered across the sky. I am used to being able to drive down a road passing nothing but corn and the occasional farm house. I do not dislike the city, but sometimes it feels like I am being crowded. Whenever you drive there is at least some traffic, and the lights block out the night sky. This haiku really displays the disparity between small towns and the city. Owen |
a knock on the door Morgan Vogels (6) |
finding her old calendar Anna Harmon (3) |
imagining myself Shannon Netemeyer (5) |
symmetrical buildings |
picking at my skin Alyssa Becker (9) This haiku makes me think about how there is always pain in our lives. We all have our own challenges in our lives, and they may cause us pain, but we have to fight it. I don't think a life without pain is worth living because I learned basically all my life lessons because of challenges and pain I encountered. Ryan |
wind chill Anna Harmon I liked this haiku looking through the kukai. I missed it the first time and am glad that I saw it looking through this time. The haiku embodies the comfort that people find in home. Also, with it being fall and getting cooler, I thought about the comfort of snuggling in bed when it is cold outside. Caroline |
the keys |
© 2016, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.