Global Haiku • Fall 2017 |
|
reader response essay: renku: |
too much laughter by My collection of haiku stems rom my main inspirations: people in their everyday lives and the games of softball. Throughout the semester, found ease writing haiku looking at life situations from either my perspective or more as an observer. Many of the haiku I wrote from my perspective describe me as a person and show my different loves and passions. Haiku has challenged me to look deeper at events that occur and has made me realize that inspiration from haiku can come from anywhere. I hope you enjoy my haiku collection. The title “too much laughter” comes from the first haiku, representing my positive outlook on life:
|
paddling away |
marriage proposal |
middle of my prayer |
watercolor |
playground |
my reflection glistens |
soft breeze |
|
ball is hit to the clouds |
First Base ball zooms towards her |
Right Field midnight game |
Center Field her glove flies off |
Left Field outfield— |
Neema's Smiling Eyes This summer I had a job at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Missouri. I was a camp counselor there for a month and each week I would get 12 girls in my group and I would get to know them individually and do fun activities with them. The camp is a life changing experience for those that come to it, I just never realized the impact it would have on me. I remember one day of kayaking classes I taught while working at camp. After I explained to all the girls about kayaking and the game they were going to play while out there, I get them all into their kayaks and we head out onto the water. I head out in my kayak and watch the girls laugh and play while they are paddling around playing a game. I just sit them in my kayak and let the waves take me when they want to go. Just watching those girls have no cares in the world and constant smiles on their faces was a joy to see. It got better when I see one of my girls not really playing the game, but just kayaking all over the place. I start paddling into her direction. The girl's name is Neema and she is a refugee from Congo. She was sent to the camp for the week by some nice generous people. Neema has not experienced many of what a normal kid at the camp has experienced before. Everything she did was special because usually it was the first time she had ever done it. That was the case with kayaking. I went over to her and we did not really talk much. She spoke limited English so I would always have to ask yes or no questions to get an answer out of her. Neema looked at me with a smile on her face and curiosity in her eyes. Together we started exploring the banks of the lake in our kayaks. Our kayaks would just glide across the water and Neema's eyes would just wander around looking at all the nature that surrounded her. I just followed her the rest of the time and it made my heart content seeing her enjoy something as much as she was. Her smiling in that red kayak of hers in an image I won't forget for a long time.
Kalli Farmer This memory and response was my favorite because I had a very similar experience this summer as well. I worked as a camp counselor in Rhinelander, Wisconsin this past summer at a sports/outdoors camp. My cabin, which was full of 13-year-old boys, went on a canoeing/camping trip on the Namakagon River for three days. All of them loved sports, but one named Judd Carmel had always wanted to catch a fish. He was watching me fish when we stopped at our campsite during the first night. I handed him my rod and said, "You told me you wanted to try catching a fish. Why don't you give it a try?" I showed him the proper technique of casting and reeling. He was at the bank for roughly an hour with no luck. It started getting dark and I told him to try again tomorrow. I woke up the next day and noticed Judd wasn't in his tent. He was down by the bank fishing. I sat by him and told him to cast by some rocks on the other side. He threw the bait by the rocks and I noticed a tug on his pole. He started reeling and hauled in a gigantic bass. He was hooting and hollering and he had the biggest smile on his face that I had ever seen. I was so proud and happy that he set a goal and reached it through persistence. Neema's smiling eyes remind me of this great memory that I made during this summer at camp. I like the story because summer camp is a wonderful experience for kids and a rewarding experience for counselors. Both kids were taught something they had never experienced before that the counselors thoroughly enjoy and love sharing with others. The haiku is perfect as well. I didn't have to say a word to Judd all I needed to see were his bright eyes and the huge smile on his face just like the reflection on Neema's eyes. Austin The story that stuck out most to me from this Haibun assignment was definitely "Neema's Smiling Eye". The first thing I noticed about it was that the writing was excellent. It seemed so person and so descriptive that it painted a picture in my head of what this camp looked like. The second reason I liked this story so much was because the haiku that came from it was one of my favorites on the kukai sheet. However, when I read it before i had a completely different understanding of what it meant. I imagined something totally different than what the story describes. But I also love this one because it was very touching. You can tell the other cared deeply about this camp, Neema, and her relationship with her, even though they didn't talk much. It was enough for her to always remember Neema. Because of this, it is memorable for us readers as well. Trey
|
© 2017, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.