Global Haiku • Fall 2017
Dr. Randy Brooks

reader response essay:
Irony in Haiku by
Caroline Giles Banks

renku:
Tuesday Starting
by
Lane Casper
Maya Dougherty
& friends

Ugly Ornaments

by
Maya Dougherty

When I write haiku, they tend to be inspired by the experiences I’ve had throughout my life. A lot of my haiku are about my family. I like to focus and reflect on memories I have with them because my family is very important to me, and I miss them a lot when I am away at school. Writing haiku about them helps me feel closer to them. Although I do write some haiku about other topics as well, the haiku I write about my family are always my favorite because they allow me to preserve my most treasured memories as a form of art and, for me, that is the most rewarding thing about writing haiku. The title of this collection comes from this memory haiku:

the ugly ornaments
we made in kindergarten
mom’s favorites

Every year when my family decorates our Christmas tree, we get a kick out of rediscovering all of the ornaments we made in school when we were younger. We always laugh and joke about how terrible they look. My mom always tries to defend them, saying that we had worked hard on them when we were younger and, because of that, they’re her favorites. This is my favorite Christmas tradition, and one of my favorite memories that I share with my family.

swinging gently
on the wooden porch swing
end of a long day

gravel crunches softly
father and daughter
in silence

glossy finger nails
tap     tap     tap
against the wooden desk

the overstuffed chair 
in the library
knows me better than anyone

skipping stones
counting the ripples
out loud

bunny slippers
soft footsteps
sneaking to the fridge

bunk beds
she makes me laugh so hard
i snort

the gentle breeze
touches everyone
without judgement

i come downstairs—
the kettle’s on
a visit from grandma

alone at last
waltzing
through space

alone
             rejected
a clown wearing lingerie

first dress rehearsal
some wear sweaters
some wear lingerie

Mountain Crickets

Last summer we had a family vacation to Colorado. The house we were staying at was up in the mountains, and there were a bunch of nature trails we could take to go hiking. We would go on walks and we would sometimes see deer. We had to be very quiet so that we wouldn't scare them away; all we could hear was the chirping of crickets. One night my dad and I took a walk together. It was the summer before my senior year of high school, so we were talking about my future. We walked down a light grey gravel path. In the horizon, we could see the periwinkle outline of the mountains against the changing tones of the sunset. As we were walking, we came across a meadow, where we saw a moose with her two babies on the border between the clearing and the forest. We stood together and watched them. They were so far away that we could barely make out their silhouettes, they just looked like dark brown blobs, but it was still exciting to see in person rather than on TV. I hold this memory dear because it was a good bonding experience between me and my dad. We talked about how I wanted to go into theatre, and he told me that I had his full support and that he believes in me. I felt very sentimental, knowing that I would be leaving for college soon and I wouldn't be able to be around him or the rest of my family for a while. I am feeling especially homesick right now, so I wish I could go back to that moment when I was surrounded by my family, and I had the time to enjoy little things like chirping crickets and sunsets.

gravel crunches softly
father and daughter
in silence

Maya Dougherty

The story that stood out to me was the one titled “Mountain Crickets”. Immediately I was drawn to it because it talked about a memory from Colorado. Colorado is one of my favorite places to vacation. The fact that they were hiking, looking at nature, and admiring the sunset is all something that I enjoy and love about Colorado. In addition, the story about the author and their dad talking about their future also hit home. Having conversations like that with your family members is always important to me. I always look for encouragement, advice, and approval from my family. After reading this haibun I reflected on the past experiences I have had with my family like that and how I miss seeing them as much as I did before I came back to college. Kalli

I liked this haiku the most out of the memory haiku because of the sounds and images in it. I could clearly hear boots walking on gravel. I could see a father and daughter standing side by side in the middle of a forest. I could hear that silence—that content silence—that is peaceful and serene. It made me think of my own family, and going on walks together. Words don't have to be spoken to enjoy each other's presence. Lane