3 Matching Contest - Harvest Moon - Fall 2018 • Millikin University

harvest moon rises
the farmer
still in the field

Haley Vemmer

big brass doorknob
in the sky
harvest moon

Isabella Spiritoso

lily pads float
in the moon's reflection
summer night

Melanie Wilson

late night
moonlight reflects
on a kiddy pool

Hannah Ottenfield

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harvest moon rises
the farmer
still in the field

arrow down

lily pads float
in the moon's reflection
summer night

 

arrow down

harvest moon rises
the farmer
still in the field

top quarter champion

 

TOP half Chamption

lighting the night
a full moon shining
in your eyes

 

bottom quarter champion

lighting the night
a full moon shining
in your eyes

arrow up

rooftop conversation
quiet whispers between
you, me, and the moon

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lighting the night
a full moon shining
in your eyes

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lying in the grass
only a glimmer of light
from the moon

Naomi Klingbeil

rooftop conversation
quiet whispers between
you, me, and the moon

Mary Callaghan

quiet evening
moonlight
showering her face

Emily Sullins

lighting the night
a full moon shining
in your eyes

Hannah Haedike

 

TOP half champion

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lighting the night
a full moon shining
in your eyes

 

 

CHAMPION
 

lighting the night
a full moon shining
in your eyes

 

 

you blocked
my light     you were
my eclipse

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BOTTOM half champion

the dark night
she looks
to the moon

Sydney Rudny

      lonely moon
a dark side harbored
          me too

Jenesi Moore

he shadows
the light she holds
lunar eclipse

Mary Callaghan

you blocked
my light     you were
my eclipse

Jordan Niebuhr

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lonely moon
a dark side harbored
me too

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you blocked
my light     you were
my eclipse

 

arrow down

you blocked
my light     you were
my eclipse

top quarter champion

 

BOTTOM half champion

you blocked
my light     you were
my eclipse

 

bottom quarter champion

moon’s glow
we kiss goodbye
under her watch

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moonshine
cherry bomb
burns like a flame

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moon’s glow
we kiss goodbye
under her watch

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moonlit dashboard
a torn 80 proof label under
a dangling dream catcher

Logan Bader

moonshine
cherry bomb
burns like a flame

Mary Callaghan

beneath the covers
I feel moon's gentle kiss—
still

Alissa Kanturek

moon’s glow
we kiss goodbye
under her watch

Rachel Pevehouse

© 2018, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.

staring up at the moon
the child searches
for a face

Haley Vemmer

moon child
longing for the light
in the pitch black sky

Isabella Spiritoso

moonrise
do you think we could go back
to the way it was before?

Sophie Kibiger

light of the moon
big sister whispers
secrets

Isabella Loutfi

arrow down

staring up at the moon
the child searches
for a face

arrow down

light of the moon
big sister whispers
secrets

 

arrow down

staring up at the moon
the child searches
for a face

back champion

 

© 2018, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.

favorites:

harvest moon rises
the farmer
still in the field

Haley Vemmer

big brass doorknob
in the sky
harvest moon

Isabella Spiritoso

lily pads float
in the moon's reflection
summer night

Melanie Wilson

late night
moonlight reflects
on a kiddy pool

Hannah Ottenfield

This haiku makes me proud and appreciative. I imagine a hardworking farmer who has been struggling to make his/her shipment deadlines to retailers because of a lack of helping farmhands. The farmer spent all day the day before cultivating the field, and is now working his/her butt off to get the work done. It is kind of frustrating for them but there is a burning driving determination within them that keeps them going. Inspiring. Jenesi Moore, Fall 2018

I loved this haiku, especially the imagery that it provided me. I imagine the farmer holding some sort of tool, and I could see the metal gleaming in the moonlight. I pictured the man as very old, and I could see the wrinkles under his eyes. He was wearing an old red farmers cap and a pair of faded overalls, with tears from years of labor in the fields. This haiku also really reminded me of home. The harvest season is always a busy time, yet even though a lot of farmers are always under high stress, the harvest always seems to work out in the end. It also brought me back to the amount of support that the local community gives to our farmers during the harvest. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

 

I really like this poem because of the imagery it presents. When reading this, I picture someone sitting out on a dock with their feet dangling in the water. I can ‘hear’ the bullfrogs croaking in the distance. Looking out into the water, it is very still, and you can see the reflection of the moon and stars in the water. Overall, it is a very peaceful scene. Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018

This haiku had great imagery. I imagined a bright white full moon at a campground that my family and I go to often. In the backside of the lake closer to the shore, there are dozens of lily pads. Since the campground is away from any major cities and isn't affected very much by light pollution, the amount of stars you can see is incredible. I pictured myself sitting in a kayak at night near the lily pads, just watching the sky while the moon lights up the lake. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

This haiku took me back to my childhood when I spent a lot of time outdoors. My grandpa has a lake on his property and I would spend a lot of time by that lake or exploring the woods surrounding it. When I got older, I would have huge bonfires and have a ton of people camp out in this clearing. When the night grew old, we would sometimes take walks down to the lake together and just appreciate how beautiful the night was. This haiku reminded me of those wonderful nights I used to have. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

 

 

 

 

 

lying in the grass
only a glimmer of light
from the moon

Naomi Klingbeil

rooftop conversation
quiet whispers between
you, me, and the moon

Mary Callaghan

quiet evening
moonlight
showering her face

Emily Sullins

lighting the night
a full moon shining
in your eyes

Hannah Haedike

I imagined with this haiku someone lying in a field alone, laying on a blanket and watching the stars. This night was a perfect one for visibility—the moon us slightly covered by clouds, so that only a small amount of light from the moon pollutes the sky. There is no artificial light to be found, and the person can see every single star perfectly. The person is content being alone at this moment, where everything seems to be frozen in place and completely serene. They clear their mind, and allow themselves and their problems to feel small compared to their surroundings. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

While reading this haiku, I imagined a summer night at my childhood home. I imagined my younger self, excited for nightfall, running out as soon as the sun goes down, laying in the backyard and watching the sky, hoping to spot a shooting star. The moon is the only light, and it’s extremely calming. I feel safe in the blue glow, and I hold on to the hope that something will fly above me. Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

 

This was honestly probably my favorite haiku from the contest even though it didn’t win. I think the imagery is spot on and I picture maybe New York City or somewhere in Chicago, it’s a brisk night with a cool breeze. There’s a little cocktail party happening and almost everyone is holding a champagne class. I can see the little outdoor Christmas lights that are strung up around the perimeter of the roof and there’s scattered seating here and there with a great view of the city and skyline. You can still hear all the cars stories down because the city never sleeps, but in the far corner of the rooftop you see two individuals close enough to where they’re just out of ear reach of the rest of the hubbub and they’re close enough to share simple whispers back and forth. Right above them is a simple, yet serene moon, almost appearing as if it’s a part of the conversation as well and every so often the two individuals will glance up at the moon and then to the city and then back at one another. It’s a very intimate and special scene and truly just makes me quite warm and happy inside. I’ve realized my favorite haikus tend to always make me feel a sense of contentment and this haiku definitely does that. Hannah Haedike, Fall 2018

I used to live in an upstairs apartment complex where my front window led to the top of the porch of those that lived under me. My mom never knew, but I went out there and sat on their porch roof all the time to clear my head. When I got my first boyfriend, I'd sit out there underneath the stars, where he'd eventually join me. He'd climb up the railings that held the roof up. We'd sit out there for hours....talking about nothing....talking about everything....it was amazing....yeah. This haiku reminded me of that. :) Jenesi Moore, Fall 2018

This haiku took me to a time at public observation night here at Millikin. The physics majors always host these events, and they use the high powered telescope in Leighty Tabor to capture high resolution images of the moon and various planets. This one specific night was extremely clear, and the temperature was about seventy degrees with a slight breeze. I recalled the serenity of the moment—taking a break from homework and the business of life to escape to a wonderful night. It was the most peaceful moment I have had in a long time, and I can remember just taking in every moment of that night. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

This haiku captures a moment. I can hear the quiet whispers of two people laying on a roof underneath the moon. It is a quiet night and they are sharing a moment together, wrapped up in a blanket, perhaps in secret. I like the idea that the moon is in on their conversation. It makes me think that it is a full moon, and it is so big that it simply cannot be ignored. I like that "whispers" is the selected verb for this interaction. It makes the connection to the quiet but undeniable presence of the moon in the conversation even stronger. Melanie Wilson, Fall 2018

I love the use of the verb showering in this haiku. It brings on a tactile sensation that I don’t often experience in haiku, especially ones that deal with moonlight. Because the evening is described as silent, and the moonlight isn’t described visually in depth, it leaves this shower to speak for itself. I imagine the woman in this haiku just soaking in the joy and the moonlight, and the thought gives me a lot of peace. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

In this haiku, I pictured two friends out late at night, parked in a car as they get ready to say goodbye. One friend has feelings for the other, and seeing her face illuminated in the blue light of a full moon makes their heart skip a beat. She looks so beautiful, as if she is not of this earth. It hurts the other’s heart to feel this unrequited love, but she would never act upon it anyways. What they had was too perfect, even though there was a tiny chance it could be even more magic. Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

This poem made me warm inside and gave me a smile. I just imagine two young people that are either falling or in love, and they are together at night time. It is dark, but the one person still sees light through their love's eyes. It's just a great metaphor. Jordan Niebuhr, Fall 2018

This poem made me feel warm inside. I picture two lovers staying out late together and having a long conversation, however, it is not the moon that is bringing light to night, but it is the other person’s company. I also love the visual of someone’s eyes being brightened by the full moon above them. I feel that this poem could almost be a scene in a movie or a painting. Isabella Spiritoso, Fall 2018

A full moon is what I imagined on a crisp fall night. A couple is walking home from an event that took place. I imagined that maybe this night was a turning point in their relationship and maybe in the moment they are going home that they will say something big or do something big such as a proposal or say I love you for the first time. Before doing anything they stop and take in the moment and do not say just trying to remember everything from the curl in their hair to the moon in their eyes. And then it happens, the big moment, but for the rest of their life they will remember every aspect, even the little things. Mary Callaghan, Fall 2018

 

 

 

 

the dark night
she looks
to the moon

Sydney Rudny

      lonely moon
a dark side harbored
          me too

Jenesi Moore

he shadows
the light she holds
lunar eclipse

Mary Callaghan

you blocked
my light     you were
my eclipse

Jordan Niebuhr

 

This haiku made me feel a bit more solemn than most made me feel. It made me think about the duality of nearly everything in life. Everyone has a bad side and baggage. It is just a matter of how well we hide it. This haiku made me think of my own baggage and how I handle it. I had a sort of introspective journey about my own past through this haiku. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

I found this poem very touching and I enjoyed the comparison between the people and the moon and eclipse. It was sad to think of this potential story, as it could relate to a potential abusive or unhealthy relationship, but I think the reader could interpret this in multiple ways and still be touched by it. Jordan Niebuhr, Fall 2018

I really liked this haiku because I feel like a lot of people get stuck in a place of accepting someone that is not as good for them as they think they are. Many people think they are stuck being with someone because they have been with them for so long or because they love them, but sometimes those partners just hold people back from their true potential. This haiku made me think about people in these situations and hope that they realize that their partner’s are not as good for them as they think. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

 

This haiku made my heart weep. I imagined a long relationship that started off great but as time went on it turned negative. I imagined negative energies coming from both but neither are strong enough to say goodbye to each other because they have become codependent on one another. This haiku was created as an after realization once they parted that the one partner realized that they have so much more to offer than what they thought they did due to the negative relationship. They may have been held back and not even realized it because their world was surrounding their significant other. I imagined that they are starting to do things for their self and not for the other person and are on the road to self love rather than putting all their love towards someone who is nothing but a negative succubus to their energies. Mary Callaghan, Fall 2018

This haiku is sad, but I really appreciate it. When I read this, I automatically thought about a long romantic relationship. And I thought about a long one because when you’re with one person for a long time you can easily get comfortable. You get comfortable with how they treat you, whether it’s good or bad, because it’s all you’ve known for years. But this haiku was clearly written after the separation and then after the healing process has been set in motion as well. I know from experience that when you get out of a long-term commitment with someone you thought you loved, you have to do a lot of rebuilding of who you are and most of the time it’s not easy and there will be lots of pain and heartache throughout the way, but there’s always that spilt second recognition of your own self-worth and looking in the mirror and seeing yourself from the extraordinary individual that you are. And this author has recently had that moment in the mirror and made the clear matter of fact observation that whoever was in her life wasn’t doing anything for her talents or abilities, but rather was covering them and possibly making herself feel worse about herself than she ever needed to feel. This is a haiku of a strong individual, a fierce individual, and an individual who realizes and appreciates they’re own self-worth. (you go girl) Hannah Haedike, Fall 2018

I enjoy the clever use of the image of an eclipse in this haiku to explain a toxic or draining relationship. The person the narrator is talking about has blocked their light, which gives the implication that they were abusive or manipulative in some way, not letting the narrator reach their full potential. This haiku is written in the past tense, which is not super common for haiku, but I think it is fitting in this instance. It helps to show the passage of time and the progression of the situation. The narrator was stuck behind an eclipse, but it is passed and their light can now shine through. Melanie Wilson, Fall 2018

 

 

 

 

moonlit dashboard
a torn 80 proof label under
a dangling dream catcher

Logan Bader

moonshine
cherry bomb
burns like a flame

Mary Callaghan

beneath the covers
I feel moon's gentle kiss—
still

Alissa Kanturek

moon’s glow
we kiss goodbye
under her watch

Rachel Pevehouse

This poem gives off a really sad vibe. When reading this poem, I get the picture of someone who has had big dreams about something, whether it be about a career or life changing event or love, etc., but something has happened to kill that dream. At first, I pictured this person having driven to someplace significant to their dream, but the more I think about it, I start to picture an empty vehicle in a ditch. The loss of this dream has impacted this person so severely that they have turned to alcohol as a band aid, which has resulted in them crashing their car. Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018

I thought this haiku was very well-written. When reading it the first time, I could immediately picture what he was describing. Though he doesn’t describe any specific feeling in the poem, my felt response was very distinctive. This poem made me feel empathy for whatever this person must be going through, because for whatever reason, this poem made me feel like there was alcohol abuse involved; I think it was the contrast of 80 proof, an extremely high alcohol content, against the dangling dreamcatcher. Having these two juxtaposing images gave me a feeling of the person giving up, but a reminder of hope is still there. Isabella Spiritoso, Fall 2018

I think this one is very clever. I like the use of 'moon' in 'moonshine', because it references alcohol but also evokes an image of a late night of partying. I think each line functions independently and also complements each other line very well. I envision someone at a house party, not in the center of attention but maybe in an empty room in the house. They had just taken a strong shot and are anxious about going back to the party, maybe there's someone there they didn't want to see. They watch the moonlight and hope for something better. Hannah Ottenfield, Fall 2018

I loved this haiku mostly because it captured such a different tone than the other moon haiku. Instead of the calm serenity of the moon, the scene is vibrant and flaming, almost like the moon’s antagonist, the sun. The vocabulary used in this haiku is colorful, and I just imagine so many brilliant reds and oranges, and this boldness is very new to me in haiku form. There’s an excitement and sense of life that is very attractive and compelling to me. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

I love that this haiku has a lot of sensory details. I have never had moonshine, but I assume that it probably burns your throat on the way down. In third line, “burns like a flame,” I can feel the tingling burn in the back of my mouth and throat. The phrase “cherry bomb” gives this haiku another tone. Instead of being a downer about the occasionally unpleasant affects of alcohol, the cherry bomb line makes this haiku sweeter and possibly more feminine. I can almost taste cold maraschino cherries in my mouth, and then the burn of the moonshine. Artificial cherries also have a very distinctive smell. It’s kind of sickeningly sweet, like cough syrup. Isabella Loutfi, Fall 2018

 

 

I loved this haiku so much. I imagined a first date that has just ended, but neither of them really wants to leave. They’ve enjoyed each other’s presence so much that they wish they could spend the entire night together. But, their night has to end, and the share their first kiss. The moonlight illuminates their tender touch, and they both leave with full hearts. Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

I really enjoyed this haiku, I like the personification of the moon. I think it's playful and cute but also really beautiful. It evokes a pretty image of a couple saying goodbye after a date and they both had a really great time and even the moon is watching out for them, they feel on top of the world. Hannah Ottenfield, Fall 2018

 
This haiku reminded me of first dates. I imagined a boy dropping off a girl and the only thing lighting up the night is the moon. Before she goes into the house they kiss goodnight with only the moon to see it. Overall this poem brought me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

I am a sucker for a good lovey-dovey haiku. This in particular makes me think of my super awkward, nervous high school boyfriend. After we’d go on a date, he’d drive me home and then we’d sit in my driveway with the car off waiting for one of us to make a move. It was like we both knew that this was the part where we are supposed to kiss, but we were both too nervous to actually do anything. It was pretty cringy, but I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy when I think of this. It was just some wholesome puppy love. I feel like the third line could either be meant as the kiss happened under the watchful eye of someone, or someone participating in the kiss was falling the shots. I was usually the one who got fed up and eventually initiated the goodnight kiss, so this part was amusing to me. Isabella Loutfi, Fall 2018

I loved this haiku, and the main reason why is because of my double reading of the word "her". I know that it could directly be referring to the moon as a her, and stating that the goodbye kiss was under moonlight. But I immediately read "her" as meaning the girl's mother. I see a boy and girl standing on a porch underneath the moonlight. It is the end of a date and he goes to drop her off on the front porch, and she sneaks and gives him a goodbye kiss as her mother peaks at them from behind the curtains. Such a cute scene. Jenesi Moore, Fall 2018

I really enjoyed the imagery of this poem. I see nobody around except this couple--it is super late and everyone is asleep. The only people are them and the moon. The moon is glowing down on them saying goodbye, and it's just a sweet image. I really enjoyed this one. Jordan Niebuhr, Fall 2018

This haiku made me think of the word "watch" in a few different ways. I first thought that the moon is watching over the two lovers. Her glowy light is watching over the world, capturing it moment by moment. Going off of the image of the moon watching from above, I then thought of the face of a wristwatch, and that further enhanced the image of a moon with a face watching over the couple. I then thought of "watch" as a literal clock, perhaps the couple is running out of time to say goodbye, or will be apart for a long amount of time, which the watch is making apparent. Melanie Wilson, Fall 2018

 

 

 

 

staring up at the moon
the child searches
for a face

Haley Vemmer

moon child
longing for the light
in the pitch black sky

Isabella Spiritoso

moonrise
do you think we could go back
to the way it was before?

Sophie Kibiger

light of the moon
big sister whispers
secrets

Isabella Loutfi

I love the simplicity of this haiku. The simple writing goes very well with the childish curiosity that the haiku tries to communicate. There is something so pure and innocent about wondering about space, and things so far away. No matter how old someone is, the moon and space can make us feel that all of our stresses are insignificant, and the pursuit of the unknown makes us so curious and fills us with a feeling of wonder. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

This haiku is so innocent, it reminds me of my childhood. I have specific memories of watching the moon in the car on the way home from family events and looking at the dark spots. Not necessarily looking for any patterns, but just admiring it for what it was. It evokes a childlike curiousity and innocence that is interesting to experience. Hannah Ottenfield, Fall 2018

This haiku is just so cute. I definitely did this when I was a kid. There is so much purity and innocence in the image of a child looking up at the moon. The light of the moon is pure as well. Most of the time, it is a clean white light in the midst of darkness. Especially with the full moon, it is a beacon of hope. When I was little, I would stare so hard at the moon that I could swear that I actually saw a face. Children can convince themselves of anything, this is no different. Isabella Loutfi, Fall 2018

It was very ironic to read this poem on Thursday because that night at Millikin is public observatory night. I went for the first time and was able to get a close up of the moon through the telescopes. It's amazing to see the different detail that the moon's surface contains and how easily it is for kids to see some sort of face in the moon also. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

 

 

 

When reading this poem, I get the image of two sisters having a campout in their backyard. The night sky is very clear, and the moon is shining very bright; bright enough to illuminate the inside of their tent. The younger of the two girls sits, leaning toward her big sister in anticipation of what she is going to say. Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018

I thought this poem was really cute. It makes me think of two young sisters who have already been tucked in for bed but are restless and still wide awake. Then, the younger sister sneaks into the older sisters room and taps her to see if she is awake and she ends up slipping into bed next to her and they whisper secrets and stories to each other until they both fall asleep. I feel that the bond of sisters is illuminated in this poem by the light of the moon shining on them as they confide in each other late at night. Isabella Spiritoso, Fall 2018

This haiku made me nostalgic for a time I never had. I imagined living on a farm growing up with my sister and brother and we would play all the time in the field. We had no worries because we were far from civilization and we lived in a safe town. My parents, as long as they knew we were in the surrounding grass areas, did not care how late we played when it was the summer. I imagined my sister, maybe in middle school, and I, in 5th grade, talking about silly things kids talk about. I idolized her so all the problems she tells me about middle school I believe and everything she is telling me I am eating up. It is calm and nostalgic and the haiku took me back to a simpler, hypothetical, time. Mary Callaghan, Fall 2018

This haiku made me oh so happy. Because I love when the second line of a haiku tells a different story if you solely read it with the first line or solely read it with the third line. You can interpret the big sister being this girl’s light of the moon because she’s looking up at her sister and she’s telling her secrets just as one does when they look up to see the moon. This haiku makes me warm. I picture myself and my sister sitting out on the front porch steps when we used to live with our parents. In this scene, I’m back to being 7 years old when I thought my sister could do no wrong and was God’s gift to humanity (I now know no one is perfect and we all have our flaws even though I still love her and look up to her today). When I was 7, she was 12 and my sister always had the craziest stories. Even if they weren’t true, I would still hold on to every word she said like it was the best piece of candy and I didn’t want to lose it. I love this poem because it reminds me of the innocence and purity of a little sister looking up to her big sister. When people grow up, life hits them. We have responsibilities and heart aches, but this haiku brings me back down to real unconditional love and just living in the moment and cherishing someone you love. Hannah Haedike, Fall 2018