Haiku Kkukai 8 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2016
one path in the trees Alyssa Becker ••••• •• I like the phrase "my own two feet" in this haiku. There's also a cool aspect in the one, two idea. It's a whole theme of self-discovery. Jordan This haiku peaks my interest because I often enjoy walking in the wood; which happens to be between two lines of woods that are decently thick. I look many places, up in the often green but more recently yellow and red leaves, but also down at the bugs, sticks, and my feet. This haiku takes me to those peaceful places in which I observe my own feet as a part of a fraction of my world, not necessarily a part of my whole world. Jacob
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closing Caroline Lodovisi ••• I like this haiku because sometimes my apartment can get kind of crazy. There are always people coming in and out, and while I love the fact that at the end of the day, I can close the door to my bedroom and be able to just have a little bit of peace and quiet. Morgan |
lonely bleachers Owen Pulver ••••• This haiku made me think a lot about my future. I have been a swimmer since I was 8 years old. I am sure that once I am done with my four years of swimming in college, my swim career will be over. I will probably want to come to some swim meets when I am an alumni or maybe if my children swim, and I will be sitting in the bleachers. The idea of my swimming career coming to an end makes me sad and sort of scares me because it has been something that I have participated in as long as I can remember. I think I will choose to not think about that day until it comes (hahah). Caroline This one has some good meaning to me as a former athlete. I played football here for a year, but that doesn't feel quite like my last game. I think my real last game was back senior year of high school, we were facing Robinson again in the elite eight, and I was so psyched to get a chance to beat them, after such a close game in our first match. I even tried to keep playing after I shattered most of the bones in my right foot in the first quarter. We lost, but the team spirit stayed with us, we proved that Marshall was a contender again, and that was a good enough end for me. Doug I like this haiku because I remember playing in my last games in all three of the sports that I played in high school, especially softball. My little sister practices on the field that I played on in high school so sometimes while they're practicing, I am the only person sitting in the bleachers and it brings back memories of playing. Morgan |
old man Owen Pulver •••• I really like this haiku because I feel like it is very sentimental. It reminds me of what I see when I'm lab assisting. As a lab assistant, I simply walk around the lab room, helping students with their experiments and answering questions. The lab room has a very clear view of the cemetery right next to campus. One time while lab assisting, I was looking out the window, and I saw an old man sitting on the ground next to a tombstone. It was really touching to see because it really seemed like he was making his visiting time worth it. Renee This haiku moves me because I can imagine a lonely old man watching over his wife's grave. It is late at night or a super cold day where no one wants to visit a grave because of the already depressing settings. It makes me want to find someone that I will want to see even in their afterlife. There is an extra amount of love that has to be there in able to put that much dedication towards her. Ryan |
empty spot Savannah Riestenberg •• I like this one because I really miss my cat. I have a picture of her by my bed so I can look at her when I'm sad. I really love my cat <3 She likes to sleep on my face and I often wake up with fur in my mouth and it's kind of gross but I still love her. Alexsenia |
light turned off Savannah Riestenberg • |
old, creaky basement Anna Harmon ••• I like this haiku because it reminds me of the basements at the off campus houses where seniors live. Whenever I would go to a party in one of the basements, I would always think how nasty the basements were. It was almost as if your clothes would become filthier instead of clean just from being in on of those nasty basements. I will live in a house like this senior year, so I guess I will have to get over this in order to have clean clothes. Owen |
laying in the grass Alyssa Becker •• |
Cubs behind Alyssa Becker |
the goose waits Alexsenia Ralat & Douglas Sherrill |
bare trees Owen Pulver I really liked this haiku because of the way they made the tree seems like it was desperate to not lose its last green leaves. This haiku gives off a season, an image, and a feeling for the temperature outside. It was easy to put myself wherever this might take place and again, I really like their word choice. Matthew |
looks exchanged Alyssa Becker •
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killing time Alexsenia Ralat & Douglas Sherrill •• This haiku was nice and relatable. Everyone has a moment where they need something to kill time. I enjoyed the use of "watching ants" because a lot of the time killing time consists of getting distracted with something very simple and repetitious, and a line of ants was a great example of that. Shannon |
oldest ring Renee , Jordan and Anna |
I can hear the cheers Alyssa Becker ••• After the Cubs won the World Series, I could hear everyone in The Woods that was celebrating. One of my neighbors took down the “W” flag that was on their living room wall and she ran with it through the entire apartment complex screaming. As soon as the final out was recorded, the entire campus went nuts and it was really cool to see. Morgan |
a maple leaf Doug Sherrill ••••• |
I pick up the mantis Doug Sherrill ••• I really like the haiku about the mantis waving. It creates a sense of kinship between man and nature, and mutual respect and appreciation between insect and human. Alex |
what do they do Alyssa Becker • |
the silent field Jacob Morgan ••••• • I like to imagine this haiku as someone who is so wrapped up and engrossed in looking at the stars that they are completely oblivious to everything else that is going on. I really like that this haiku captures that feeling of awe and how we can become so unaware of what's going on around us. This haiku reminds me of being really into a book, and being so into that “book world”, that you don't realize that someone has been trying to talk to you or how much time has passed. Anna This one has a lot of imagery for me. I see myself laying in the field and staring at the sky, just taking in the beauty of the stars around me, then I suddenly hear something moving near me in the corn. I never found out what it was, probably just a coyote, but either way, I remember how tense I was in that moment, brought from utter peace straight to adrenaline fueled power. Doug I enjoy this haiku because it takes me to a perhaps particularly creepy feeling place, making me wonder what may be around the corner. I often venture out in the fields in the late summer nights; either with a friend or alone. When I first began, I would get creeped out by the sounds out in the field. But I kind of eventually realized that they were just sounds of the night and nothing to be really worried about. Jacob I like this haiku because it is very spooky. I like how the first two lines describe a very peaceful scene, and the last line changes the mood of the work completely. It is easy to put yourself into the scene and just reading it can give you goosebumps. Renee |
a small flash Jacob Morgan ••• |
grasshopper Shannon Netemeyer • I think that this haiku does a very good job of capturing a feeling while only describing a moment. This grasshopper does not seem to have any cares in the world, and is content by jumping from leaf to leaf. I think that this haiku really plays upon the lightheartedness and the easiness that can be found in nature. The grasshopper does not have any fear or worries and is living out it's life to it's greatest potential. Anna |
tall grass Jacob Morgan • |
feet pounding Morgan Vogels •••• This haiku brings a feeling that I had when I used to run. When you get exhausted it seems as though your brain begins to think about what hurts and the fact that your feet are hitting the pavement harder than they were at the beginning of the run. Then after realizing the current condition of my body my mind shift how much was left in the run. It always seemed like there was too much left. Matthew I like this haiku because it really shows the struggle of running sometimes. I like running to an extent, but some people will run just because it is a good way to lose weight. They enjoy the results rather than the process. These people always dread the process, the pounding steps show the tiredness and want to stop, but they can't stop because they're so determined to get to their goal. Ryan |
Lincoln statue Owen Pulver •• |
whistle blows Owen Pulver |
tornado siren Savannah Riestenberg • |
the only comfort Savannah Riestenberg •• |
four friends Ryan Sikora • |
the couch opens up Ryan Sikora ••••• ••••• •• The haiku beginning with "The couch opens up" is one of my favorites from all our Kukai. The scene created for me is a large group of people watching a movie in a room and two people early in the stages of a relationship are squished together because of the overload. Once the couch becomes a little more roomy, they both realize neither minded being squished. Alex I like the idea presented in this haiku of wanting to stay physically close to a person, even when it isn't necessary to do so. I think of togetherness, and nervousness over a new crush kind of thing. Jordan This haiku enlightens us with a sweet moment. When I read it, I think of a new relationship budding. These two people are at the beginning stages of having feelings for each other. I picture them being in the same friend group and hanging out at a party with all of their friends. When he neighbor gets up from the couch, the girl does not spread away from the boy. She wants to see where this goes, and is all of a sudden very drawn to him. Alyssa I like this haiku because it is very simple and cute. It reminds me of junior high school, when you were happy if you had a reason to sit by a boy you had a crush on. The person in this haiku had the excuse of the couch being full to sit so close to the other person. However, when the couch opens up, they don't move away from each other. Renee The first line of this haiku is so strange on its own, but with the other two lines, I absolutely love it. I have been in situations where I have purposely sat close to someone on a couch and not moved even when more space has opened. When you have a crush on someone you try to be subtle about things like this, but staying annoyingly close on a couch is not subtle at all. This haiku makes me laugh because as the staying closer person you think you are being so sneaky, but the other person is probably wondering why you don't move. This haiku shows that uncomfortable-ness perfectly. Savannah |
mind blank Matthew Vangunten ••• |
vandals Savannah Riestenberg •••• I love this one because it is totally unexpected. When you read vandals, you automatically think broken glass and crappy graffiti. Not a group of people repainting a house. This haiku is a nice surprise and it kind of made my day. Alexsenia I like this haiku because of the contrast that it creates. I think that this haiku does a really good job of using the element of surprise to its advantage. In the first line, you expect the vandals to be doing something bad or incriminating. However, this haiku turns that around to have them painting a house yellow. You don't expect them to be doing this, and it's that pleasant surprise that really makes this haiku for me. Anna |
abandoned beaver dam Shannon Netemeyer |
two years Shannon Netemeyer ••• The haiku that begins "Two years" is a really dynamic one for me. It can mean many different things depending on how I read it. I like to read it in a pleasant, appreciative voice. Someone has been gone from your life for two years now, and you still just remember their free spirited nature. Alex |
hurricane path Renee Sample ••••• •• I love this haiku because of the hope it instills at the end. The first two lines have the haiku moving in a negative and depressing direction. However, there is always a bright side and this is important for people to remember. Thinking on the brighter side can help people understand and get over tragedy, and this haiku encompasses this way of thinking. Caroline |
dark alley way Shannon Netemeyer • |
technologically Amish— Ryan Sikora •••• I think this is a deep haiku, and I enjoy the relation to how the world is expanding. It speaks of how technology is now necessary and how this group of people will soon not be able to work in a society that is not specifically theirs. I can feel the author struggling with themselves, on whether to stay true to their Amish roots, or follow along with society, abandoning their beliefs and I think everyone can relate to this mental tug of war. Shannon This haiku is representative of many individuals today. Technology is so quickly changing that it is hard to keep up if you do not immerse yourself in the new. When I think about applying for jobs, it honestly scares me a little bit because I know that I will have to have certain skills and assets that set me apart from my competitors. Knowing how to use different technology is a stong skill in today's teaching world. Most of the time the students in your classroom will know more about the technology than you do. How can I best implement this into the classroom? This is one factor that could sway the interviewer's vote. Alyssa |
old man Owen Pulver •• |
salt on a pretzel Morgan Vogels |
hot summer day Matthew Vangunten • This poem is extremely cool to me because of this past summer; my best friend and I grilled steaks on his back deck almost every night before we'd go on a walk. These walks were some of my favorite times; some of my favorite memories that I possess. I would always encourage people to walk at night and observe the stars; one may eventually learn about themselves. Jacob |
scrapes and scratches Douglas Sherrill |
this rain Douglas Sherrill ••••• • I like this haiku because this feeling tends to be something I can feel on most rainy days. I always want to stay in bed since rainy days make me sleepy so the rain could be pulling me down in this sense. It also could be referring to a rainy day where either nothing goes right or to a rainy day that just makes the day gloomy. The gloomy day situation always catches me off guard because nothing went wrong to make me feel down other than the fact that it is raining. Matthew I can imagine the weight one feels when they're sad and it rains. It just kind of makes everything heavier, more real almost. Alexsenia I definitely think my mood is affected by the environment, and so this haiku rings true in saying that the fact that it's raining outside is depressing. Jordan I absolutely love the movement in this haiku. I can see the rain, I imagine it a heavy rain, and I can imagine the feeling of the author as it falls. The line "pulling me down" is not meant to be literal, but to describe the feeling the author gets when it rains. You can feel the emotion match the weather with the way it is written. Shannon |
winter gloves Caroline Lodovisi |
3rd grade class party Anna Harmon •••• This haiku reminds me of the Valentine's Day parties in grade school. On the day before, everyone in the class would either buy or make valentines. In the afternoon we would not have any class, and some of the moms would bring in cake and other treats. Everyone would give each other valentines, and we would usually play a game like Heads Up 7 Up. These parties were greatly looked forward to back then. Owen This haiku really captures childhood and children's love. I remember being a kid in elementary school passing back and forth valentines, giving one to each person in my class. This simple love brings back nostalgic thoughts for me which is why I loved it. Caroline |
leftovers: Anna Harmon |
I shouldn't Alexsenia Ralat |
old dog snores Anna Harmon ••• This haiku reminds me of my dog. Growing up, she would always sleep at the foot of my bed. She would always snore and sometimes she would have dreams. When she had a dream, she would shake and growl in her sleep, and sometimes she would jump up and bark. When she realized where she was, she would lay down and go back to sleep as if nothing happened. Owen |
city mutt Anna Harmon •• This Haiku makes me see a grungy pup, left alone to wander until someone finally takes him into their home. Until then though, he sits there, with the snow falling on him, he should probably try to find some shelter. the poor little guy might be spending another cold winter outside, alone. Doug
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her silhouette Douglas Sherrill ••••• I love this haiku. The love that this man has for the woman of his dreams is practically seeping out into the sand as he sits and watches her. She does not even know that he is looking at her, but rather she is playing with the waves and laughing as her hair blows in the wind. He smiles thinking how lucky he is to have her. The sunset behind her is beautiful but it only adds to the beauty of his maiden. She is simply the best thing that could have happened to him, and they complement each other. Alyssa I am usually not one for romantic haiku, but this one is really sweet. I can picture a man sitting back on a beach watching his wife dance and play in the waves. For some reason I picture an older couple who is always finding something new about each other to love and find beautiful. Savannah |
phone rings Owen Pulver •• |
struggling to open Owen Pulver ••••• •• This haiku shows natures power over man. No matter how hard we try to outsmart nature, it will always win. We can make new technology all we want, but we will never overcome the sheer power of nature. This one man struggling with his umbrella shows just how pointless this fight is. Savannah |
four legs Renee Sample ••• |
lamp on the nightstand Shannon Netemeyer ••• I like this haiku because of the repetition of the word lack. It reiterates that there is something wrong going on with the lightbulb. This especially reminds me of all the events that happened in the last day. One of my fraternity brothers was really nervous for a position that he was running for. Unfortunately, he did not get the position he wanted. Afterwards, during the rest of the elections, he always had his head down and didn't want to run for anything else. His head reminded me of a dull light bulb. Ryan |
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fresh snow Savannah Riestenberg |
© 2016, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.