Haiku Kukai 5

Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2018

blinds cracked
just enough for the sun
to shine on my face

orion's belt
a path that leads
me to you

Daria Koon

I like the reference to an actual celestial body. This just gives me a really beautiful image of a long distance couple. They are so far apart and yet they see the same stars and the same planets and the same moon. Also the fact that they likely have to fly to each other gives the space imagery another layer. I think it's a really beautiful and well written haiku. Hannah Ottenfield, Fall 2018

I really enjoyed the comparison between the orion's belt and the path in this poem. When I read this I imagine someone who is lost in their current ways. This person looks up to the sky seeking truth and guidance, and this person is led to this lover or friend. This path is clearly one that leads this person to a better life for them. Jordan Neighbur, Fall 2018

This haiku is just so sweet. It personally reminds me of how my boyfriend and I always look for Orion in the sky. It is something little that connects us and reminds us of small, beautiful things. I think it is also interesting because people would find and tell stories in the stars and this person is creating their own story in this constellation. It also reminds me of how people used to navigate with stars and this constellation helps the author navigate her feelings and relationships. Rachel Pevehouse, Fall 2018

cold Blue Moon
wash away
this life’s sorrows

stargazing
I reach over
to grab your hand

Sydney Rudny

The simplicity of this haiku is so powerful. The sentiment is so pure and sweet. There’s a hint of nervous energy in the poem which is complimented by where the break of the line is. It gives me a warm feeling and gives me a clear image of what this night would look like. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

bundled in mittens and scarves
laughing with my niece
as she counts the stars

blackout—
moonlight floods
the city streets

my soul collapses
into a black hole
a dying star

Wallowing in afterglow.
If I am to be Saturn,
she will be all of my moons.

on the front porch—
a kiss from you
in moonlight

finding a friend
in constellations
out of reach

Hannah Haedike

I often look up at the sky if I am outside when it is dark. I love finding stars and airplanes. There is a certain tranquility in viewing the night sky. Remembering that I am only a tiny dot in the whole universe puts life in perspective for me. Suddenly, whatever I am going through does not seem so bad. There are people looking up at the sky on the other side of the world, and I have no idea what their lives are like. There are planes holding passengers, and those individuals each have different stories that I will never learn. The astronauts up in space are studying planets and moons, and they are looking down on Earth right now. This haiku reminds me of the joy and peace I feel when I look up at the giant universe. I am not alone. Emily Sullins, Fall 2018

asteroids hurtling
we had no choice
but to collide

moonlight bends
i hold your hand
you pull away

Hannah Ottenfield (4)

This haiku tore my heart out. The first two lines are innocent and sweet images—those of young love in the summer. However, that last line is so simple and matter of fact that I can't help but feel sorry for the speaker. All of those feelings in such a romantic setting, only to be rebuffed? Ouch. I also love how the only traditional image is the first line. It allows the rest of the haiku to be as relatable as possible because most people can picture two people in the moonlight. Daria Koon, Fall 2018

distant galaxy
a plant pokes
out of the red dirt

Logan Bader (7)

backroad bonfire
spitting embers to the sky
moonshine

Logan Bader (5)

so in love . . .
we swear we saw
a shooting star

Isabella Loutfi

I like this haiku because it does a really good job of being one thing on the surface, but something else when deeper thought is applied. It could just be a couple telling the audience about that one time they went camping and saw a shooting star, but I also think that it is one member of the relationship after they have broken up, reminiscing about how they thought the relationship was so magical and perfect, but now they realize that it was in fact not, and that it was only perfect in their mind.

starlit snogging
our future secured
lightyears away

                  silver
          sliver

      cuts

           across
                    your   face

Isabella Loutfi (7)

a la luz de la luna
la araña teje
su telaraña

by the light of the moon
the spider spins
its web

la luna
she beams at me
I smile back

Isabella Spiritoso

This haiku also brought on a feeling of serenity and peace by just being simple and concise. The use of Spanish or Italian was subtle and did not overshadow the rest of the haiku, which I thought was a really difficult and artful thing to do. I love that beams (which could be a noun) is used as a verb here. It really gives it a sweet extra meaning. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

shooting star
something so far away
it will never come true

rock bottom
I turn to the moon
for advice

Alissa Kanturek (5)

shooting star . . .
wish this moment
would never end

Naomi Klingbeil

In this haiku, I pictured a couple on a first date. They’re taking a break, stargazing before one has to drop the other off. Both have had such an incredible night that they wish they could just stop time and get lost in the stars. As a shooting star goes by, they squeeze hands, holding a little tighter as if they could wish for more time. Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

 

first winter snow
stars that hold the light
that once was hers

freckles on your shoulder
I trace
new constellations

whispering stars
    gossip about
              a new planet

starry night
we talk for hours
first date

Jordan Niebuhr

I imagine a young guy and girl sitting on a bench outside. It is almost 11:00, and they can’t seem to end the date. They finished dinner at 8:00, but they wanted to keep talking. These two were unsure and nervous about how the date would go, but they hit it off. The guy and girl are soulmates, and though it is way past the hour they would normally head home, they feel perfectly content to stay on the bench talking until dawn. This is only the beginning of their future together. The guy and girl have found their perfect match. Emily Sullins, Fall 2018

This haiku just made me smile. Being able to talk to an individual easily is one of the most important things to me in a potential relationship, and late-night talks are always the best for me. During the night is when I become my most "philosophical," and I always love talking to people during this time because I feel like I learn the most about them. The starry night line is a beautiful image that creates both a setting for the haiku, as well as the mood—these two individuals are just excited to be spending time with each other. They have stars in their eyes during this first, idyllic date. Daria Koon, Fall 2018

umbrellas up
just in case
the sky falls today

Melanie Wilson (10)

a moon made of cheese
I wish life was as simple
as then

Daria Koon (5)

laying on the
splintered picnic bench
gazing at fallen stars

engagement dinner
the whispered serenade
under a waning moon

space trash
floating calmly
the sun devours it

Logan Bader (8)

you blaze through
my life
meteor shower

Rachel Pevehouse (5)

This haiku made me think of toxic friendships or relationships. Although they are great
during and amazing to watch and be around, in the end, they end up ruining everything. The use of the word blaze was really nice imagery when reading this haiku and was very fitting for the celestial bodies haiku topic. I imagined that there was maybe a couple and during their time of the honeymoon stage everything seemed amazing and beautiful but as time went on things got progressively worse. Once the relationship ended they each realize the negative effects they have on one another. Mary Callaghan, Fall 2018

moonshine
pale wheat stalks
bow in the wind

open windows
pants drop
I did not need to see that

Daria Koon (9)

I loved this one simply because it was humorous to me. I can just imagine how uncomfortable but funny a situation like this would be. I also liked how it was a play on the “moon” topic for the haiku this week. It was outside the box, funny, and effective. Overall, it was a great piece. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

just enough light
from the moon to see
stars in your eyes

starting over . . .
each sunrise brings
a second chance

aries boy
virgo girl
stars not aligned

the sun mourns
as her knight
fades

fake smile
the eyes
give her away

beyond the clouds
a celestial body
rules the sky

        galaxies away
neighboring planets
say hello

red lipstick
smudged at corners
venus shines dull

Hannah Ottenfield

While reading this haiku, I imagined a girl who hasn’t had a very good night. I picture that she was maybe stood up by an important date. This date was very special for her for some reason, maybe she was going to tell her date she loved them. They didn’t show, and it broke her heart. She’s been crying and upset all night, and her makeup is smudged with sadness. Venus, the goddess of love, has failed her. Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

little girl
the moon
follows her home

Mary Callaghan (10)

 

 

 

millions of stars glistening
another road
not taken

Melanie Wilson

I imagine the "road" not taken as the sky. The "narrator" seems to feel stuck, perhaps in a small town, and longs to escape their boring life and take to the sky/fly away to somewhere new. I imagine this person sitting on a roof or in a car or in a large field for hours and staring up at the stars, hoping for a better life than they have now. Hannah Ottenfield, Fall 2018

a galaxy away
they sit
laughing at us

Mary Callaghan (7)

This haiku was very comical to me. I always think about and ponder whether there is life outside of Earth, specifically when I am talking to my girlfriend on the phone. She is obsessed with the idea of conspiracy, and she trusts none of the government when it comes to these conspiracies. When I read this, I imagined myself laying on my stomach in my dorm room in Dolson, and listening to her talk about aliens have already been found and researched in Area 51. The government is hiding it from the citizens to prevent turmoil, and only the presidents and secret service know about the secrets of Area 51. It really sparked a nice image and made me think about our amazing late nights conversations. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

I strongly believe that there must be other lifeforms out there in space. The chances of us being the only ones seems impossible to me. I even have a tattoo of an alien head tattooed on my right thigh. It was my first tattoo that I got when I was 17. I got it to go with my belief of aliens. I think that if they do know we exist, that they would be laughing at us because they would obviously be superior to know about us before we know about them. It is just an interesting image to think about. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

repeated wedding bells
grandma has more rings
than Saturn

Jenesi Moore (9)

her smooth pale skin
exposed
moonlight

outcast like pluto
yet i still align
with the universe

restless night
stomach knots
i'm on another planet

venus
shining brighter tonight
she blushes

Jordan Niebuhr (6)

we laugh
in harmony
I can never stay mad at you

Isabella Spiritoso
 
This haiku made me really happy. It reminds me of those certain where you'll get really mad at but then two seconds later they have you smiling again because you just can't possibly stay mad at them. This poem also reminded me of the people where you'll get mad at and want them to leave but as soon as they go you want them to come back even though you're still mad at them. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

tattooed heart
unspeakable names
stretch with each beat

eyes glazed . . .
doctor explains
our odds and options

Isabella Loutfi

This haiku really brought it home to me. This summer, my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have been fortunate enough in this life to not have much experience with cancer in my family or my close circle. It was a very scary time for us as a family, making sure that we were working with the right doctors and ensuring the best treatment plan. But this haiku is exactly how it feels: no matter how the doctor explains it, you can't really listen to what they are saying as the information is almost unbelievable and of course your thoughts are going to the worst. Naomi Klingbeil, Fall 2018

through her white tee shirt
he could see
her heart beating

Isabella Loutfi (7)

backwards cap
baseball tee
the cutest smile

on the windshield
an orange envelope
parking ticket

wiped out
he lies on the couch
with no motivation

black lipstick
falling in love
with myself

Hannah Ottenfield (7)

I just love haiku about self-love! The black lipstick represents a choice that the author may not have made when they did not love themselves. I think it represents bold choices made when you feel confident with yourself. I also visualize the author meticulously applying the black lipstick and looking in the mirror feeling good about themselves. I also like how the last line of "with myself"is by itself because it is unexpected after the second line since one would expect the author to fall in love with someone else. Rachel Pevehouse, Fall 2018

animal shelter
thousands of eyes
stare at me

Logan Bader (6)

one athlete
one dancer
writing the same poem

graveyard shift
grinning ear to ear
he spins the dough

Logan Bader (3)

miles apart again—
the phone calls
become less frequent

Logan Bader

This poem was a little too real. It may be discussing a long-distance relationship or the relationship between family members. It's sad because no matter what the meaning may be to the reader, we all can relate to it in some way. For example, when I am at school I talk to certain family members less because I am so busy. I have seen so many relationships, romantic or otherwise, dwindle and fade away due to distance and that's just so rough. Jordan Neighbur, Fall 2018

This haiku made me really nostalgic. In high school, most of my friends were upperclassmen when I was a sophomore and one of my best friends was a year older than me and he went to California for school. This made me think of the lack of communication that grew between some of my closest friends and I. Although we still each other over breaks there is a big disconnect which makes it difficult to maintain relationships with people. I have also become absolutely horrible at communicating with people if I do not see them in person so a lot of my relationships with some of my closest friends, even my sister, have become difficult to always maintain because communicating through phone calls or messaging is difficult when you're in different time zones or just busy in general. This haiku really resonated with me because it has affected me and my relationships since people started going away for school. Mary Callaghan, Fall 2018

from the back
of mom's minivan
is grandma watching us?

Mary Callaghan

I like this haiku because it reminds me of childhood and trying to learn how the world works. Learning in church about god and heaven and angels, and how when good people die they go to this place called heaven and are peaceful. Then struggling to understand this concept as a child, because it is not exactly real. I've had a many a conversation with my parents, both in youth and now, just trying to understand life and death, and what is real and what is not. I always pictured my grandma as an angel watching over us, and it was saddening when I realized that it is just not true.

34 missed calls
283 texts
all from mom

Naomi Klingbeil (5)

tree swing
caught in the wind of night storm
soaring higher than I used to

oversized t shirt
hides all
my insecurities

eating a salad
nose filled with
the pizza aroma

christmas lights
illuminate
our hushed conversation

Rachel Pevehouse

I love this haiku for several reasons. The first reason being that Christmas is my favorite time of year because of all the decorations, specifically the lights. Another reason that I like this one is because my freshman year of college, my suitemate and I covered our suite in Christmas lights, and would often sit in our doorways with the Christmas lights on and talk. Instead of having “heart-to-heart conversations,” we had “doorway discussions.” Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018

Facebook photos
a family reunion
I wasn’t invited to

lunchtime napkins
another thing
millennials killed

Sophie (7)

laundry day
four flights of stairs
I forgot detergent.

closing Time
I don't want to go
home

under the covers
one chapter left
five more minutes, mom

the pan sizzles
with lemon
salmon for dinner

visiting grandma
a pie cools
on the window sill

back alley
soccer game
one of the boys

Hannah Ottenfield (5)

This haiku reminded me of my best friend from back home. Like me, she is a biology major in college, and a retired athlete. Specifically, she used to be a soccer player in high school, but that never stopped her from playing two-hand touch football with my guy friends and I. She was a freak athlete and extremely tough—she would even play running back for us at times, and dominate. Even her personality meshes perfectly with mine—she has a very similar sense of humor to me, as well as the same personality. The haiku says, “one of the boys” at the end and it reminded me so much of her. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

the face
never changing
jack o lantern

the dishes
pile up
a good meal

I plant myself
in the present
a budding garden

Rachel Pevehouse

I like how hopeful and optimistic this haiku is. It evokes a self-loving air and feels super happy. I think being grounded in the present is important, living in the past is useless and the future is unpredictable. I like the image of a person as a garden, as no matter what is in it, it is constantly growing. Hannah Ottenfield, Fall 2018

I turn to touch
in the dark
firefly light

fresh tattoo
raised lines symbolize
my new forever

Sophie (7)

crunching popcorn
turning to find
the culprit

finally home
kicking off my jeans
freedom

Tokyo
polka dot dresses
swish to the lindy hop

overflowing
laundry basket—
i'd rather sleep

Jordan Niebuhr

This haiku made me laugh. It was very ironic because the other day I had enough motivation to wash and dry my clothes but for some reason, not enough to put them away. The basket of my clean clothes just sat in my room for about 2-3 days until I built up the energy to put them away. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

I relate to this haiku so much. I hate doing laundry, so I often let it pile up longer than I should. Then, after I find the motivation to do laundry, I don’t want to put my clothes away, so they end up sitting folded up in my laundry basket for a few more days. Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018

almost there . . .
the itch between
my shoulder blades

Welcome home
his hugs are warmer
than I remember

Alissa Kanturek (9)

I took home as a person rather than a place. So, she views being with him, or being in his arms, her home. Maybe she has been away from home for a long time, so they've been broken up, and she finally comes back home. She missed being in his arms and almost forgot the feeling. She realizes that his hug is much warmer this time around as opposed to the last. Naomi Klingbeil, Fall 2018

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