Haiku Kukai 1 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2019
the ball changes hands |
eight people today |
friends back home |
excuse me, excuse me |
old tights Rebecca Jaffe (4) |
three best friends |
a house of women |
fog is a blanket Alexander Bergland (9) |
bright star |
from my new bed Elizabeth Napier (6) I know there were some opinions in class saying it’s sad the only thing available to do in this moment is watch the train go by, but I thought it sounded more like they were specifically watching the train in order to see the graffiti. It’s like a moving art show. A lot of it might be bubble letter swearing, but people still put time and spray-paint into it. Last semester my friend was supposed to write an article about train-car graffiti for the Decaturian. It didn’t end up happening, but it was still an interesting story idea, and this haiku reminded me of that. It’s also super cool they can see it from their bed. I think if this was supposed to be framed in a more negative light, they could have easily written something like: trains passing Or at least have mention their ridiculously annoying volume. That can wake you up no matter where you sleep on campus. Charlize Pate, Fall 2019
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new apartment Elizabeth Napier (5) |
2 years of love Jonathan Kuebler (11) I enjoyed this Haiku for many reasons. My favorite part of this Haiku was the "restart button" line. This word choice indicated a lack of sadness from the author toward the end of his or her relationship; I appreciated that the author was ready to move on, not longing for that relationship to restart. This created an optimistic outlook, as if the author was content and would soon create positivity in his or her life. Overall, I believe this haiku has a sad message, as the two years of the author's relationship now amount to nothing, but I enjoy the optimism behind the words "restart button." Tori Stuart, Fall 2019 This haiku connected with me on a very emotional level. At the beginning of this summer, I broke up with my high school boyfriend. Like the haiku, we had been dating for two years and it was probably the hardest thing I ever did. Madeline and John both told me that they thought I wrote this poem. Which was funny because I glanced over it, to begin with. I like that Jon wrote about the breakup in an optimistic manner because my ex did not see it that way. It really says something about his character. Meghan Hayes, Fall 2019 |
a coach |
rainy day Victoria Stuart The most striking thing about this poem to me is the use of the word “bye.” In my daily life, I very rarely hear or say “bye” rather than “goodbye.” When I do hear the abbreviated form, usually it is in snarky response to something, or out of disappointment. In combination with the use of “rainy day” this simple poem takes on a very sad tone. I believe many of us have struggled with parting with our childhood, especially those of us still transitioning to real adulthood, in our late teens and 20’s. Morgan Bode, Fall 2019 |
the summer cools |
boxes packed |
an empty suitcase |
tent flaps zip open |
pack up Victoria Stuart (3) This haiku was the one I think I resonated with the most during our kukai. It made me remember the exact moment I was leaving for college. Coming from Iowa, I did not know a single soul coming to school at Millikin which was really scary. But I knew I just had to pack up my stuff and drive to school and that I would meet new people and make new friends and I just had to trust that. Driving to school was super nerve-wracking because I wanted to trust I would meet people, but there was still that little part of me that did not know if that was the case. Thank goodness it wasn’t, and I’ve made many new friends just because I packed up and drove and trusted I would be okay. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019 This haiku has pretty much been my life for the last few years, so I feel this deeply. It has been a serious of packing up a bag, a van, or car with what we need to live. It is tiring, but I cannot look back, because new experiences and new friends are always on the horizon. I think most of us in this class are at the point where we start to question where and what home is. For most of our lives we think of home as with our parents, or the people who raised us in the same house for most of our lives. We think of home as our hometown, but now we have left, and all of a sudden where we come from is no longer our home. It is in a sense, but part of us will feel like a guest in our parent’s house every time we come back. What choice do we have but to pack up our stuff, make our way down the road, and start looking for a new place we can call home. It is scary and freeing, but it will all be okay, this is how it is supposed to be. We will make new friends. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019 |
they said too little Victoria Stuart (10) Even though my parents are still together, I have many friends with split parents and I can not imagine the pain. However, I have been in relationships that have ended and I know that the end of things always leave you wondering. How could it have gone differently? How could it have been fixed? I can see a girl crying on two separate beds when I read this Haiku. Lizzie Napier, Fall 2019 This one is so powerful because this is truly what happens to couples. I really like how it gives two options on how the couple split. “They said too little or maybe too much” gives the feel like they weren’t always communicating well and when they did speak they would say the wrong things and hurt their partners feelings. This haiku shows where a lot of couples go wrong in their relationship and the two houses now line shows how they are out of each other lives because of the way the spoke to one another. Jessi Kreder, Fall 2019 This haiku struck a chord with me because it reminds me very much of me and my relationships with my friend. When I read this I'm reminded of the many times we would go over to each other's houses and how every once in a while we would get into pretty serious conflicts. It's a problem that pervades in our friendship because we all either say too much or not enough. It was pretty awesome seeing how this person was able to capture that feeling. John DeAngelo, Fall 2019 |
purple sky Gillian Genardo (4) I enjoyed this haiku because Jillian set up the scene perfectly by starting with visual imagery. The phrase “purple sky” gives the haiku a peaceful, serene tone. The reader can immediately tell that the haiku takes place sometime in the evening. The moment of transition is revealed when Jillian writes about “one last night.” This haiku reminds readers to embrace the peaceful, simple moments in life. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019 |
a tetris puzzle Gillian Genardo (3) |
a golden key |
the sun sets |
freedom was abundant Alexander Bergland (4) I really loved the feeling that I got while reading this haiku. It filled me with a total sense of serenity. This haiku took me back to the summers of my childhood. I pictured my two little sisters and I running around in our back yard during the summer. Too soon, the sky would start to turn to a hazy blue and purple, and then it would turn dark as pitch. When it finally got dark enough, my sisters and I would lie on our trampoline and look at the stars twinkling in the sky. In those nights, there was a sense of freedom and innocence. There were no responsibilities. In that moment, it was almost as if nothing in the world could ever be bad. When I read this haiku, I just pictured 3 little girls running around playing “Ghost in the Graveyard” and laughing with each other. Also, I really enjoyed the word choices used in this haiku. The words really filled me with this sense of wonder. I especially liked the words “freedom was abundant.” It made it sound like “freedom” was this tangible object. Overall, the haiku had this very beautiful imagery that created this perfect sense of peace. Gillian Genardo, Fall 2019 |
firefly lightning Maddie Curtin (5) Fireflies have always held a special place in my heart. The phrase firefly lightning is one of the most spectacular phrases I have ever heard. In my head, I could see the light of the fireflies connecting and making lightening like patterns. On the Fourth of July this summer, while everyone was watching a fireworks show, I was watching the field on the other side. There were fireflies everywhere that looked like nature’s fireworks. This poem reminded me of that. Lizzie Napier, Fall 2019 I greatly appreciate this haiku because it offered me a feeling of serenity and relaxation. This haiku leads me to picture scene involving a joyful group of people enjoying their day into the evening hours. Everyone is having a great time, but as darkness descends, they finally start to call it a night. As this occurs, the lightning bugs appear as a sort of farewell to the night’s adventures. Along with this pleasant mental picture, the haiku itself seems to slow down and become more relaxed with each life. Further adding to the idea of “retiring” after an exciting day of activities. Benjamin Kuxmann, Fall 2019
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faded photo Maddie Curtin (3) This was another haiku from our Kukai that I picked because I fell in love with the image it portrays. I thought this haiku gave this feeling of nostalgia. It seems like the speaker of this poem frequently looks back at this picture because it reminds them of either better times or simpler times. I like this haiku because it portrays such clear imagery. The photo isn’t just any photo—it's faded. The thumbtacks are not just any thumbtacks—they’re brass. The descriptive words used in this haiku make the image come alive. Personally, when I read this haiku, I pictured someone leaving again for college. This person has had this photograph for years and years now. I think it could be either members of their family or maybe them and a close friend. I imagined this picture was so special because it portrayed something or someone that the speaker held a great deal of love for. I saw this picture hung up on the wall of their bedroom at home with brass thumbtacks—the picture had been hanging in such a way that the sun from the bedroom window always hit it the same way and has caused it to fade. When the speaker left for college, they brought this picture with them because they’ve had it for so long and it meant so much to them. Now, the same picture (with the same brass thumbtacks) hangs on the wall of where they are living when away at school. This haiku just fills me with a feeling of happiness and peace. Gillian Genardo, Fall 2019 |
not ready, Maddie Curtin (3) |
fire crackles and pops Alexander Bergland This haiku lifted out of me some of the most heartwarming memories from my childhood. My family spent so many weekends while I was growing up were spent camping. A campfire and s’mores were a commonplace within our camping weekends. This haiku made me hear the popping fire, taste the sticky s’mores, and feel the sad exhaustion from running out of wood at the end of the night. This haiku, if I had to choose one word that encapsulates it, is warm. There are warm memories, warm words, and warm feelings. Madeline Wilson, Fall 2019 As I read this poem I felt like I was at a bonfire. I felt like I was in that moment surrounded by people who I love and care about. I could smell the burning smoke of the fire and taste the sweetness of the s'more. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. The last line of the poem makes me think that they had a great night and burned through all of the firewood that they got. I felt like all my family was all there around me and we were all just enjoying time spent together. I love roasting marshmallows and the time that it takes to get the marshmallow to a golden brown so I instantly thought of that. This is just a happy go lucky haiku that makes me feel warm and happy. Cassie Reed, Fall 2019 |
bed of quiet moss |
phone call every night Morgan Bode (7) |
the red planet Randy Brooks (5) |
a deep breath in Charlize Pate (3) |
chalk dust |
lemmas and theorems |
heavy eyelids |
an idle swing Madeline Wilson (4) I loved this haiku strictly for the imagery that it displays. To me, this haiku gives off this very “Southern Gothic” feel. When I was reading it, a very distinct image popped into my head. I pictured this old farmhouse in the middle of this sea of green grass. The house is painted in an eggshell white color and the dark red barn is just off to the right of the house. The farmhouse itself has two stories and lots of big windows. In the front of the farmhouse is a large wooden porch with porch lights that give off a warm, yellow glow. On this porch sits an old wooden porch swing. As the warm summer wind comes in, the swing rocks ever so slightly and the little bit of golden sky turns dark. I think this haiku is beautiful, but I also feel that it has a haunting element to it as well. The images juxtaposed together create one large scene in mind that gives this sense of isolation. I think the word “idle” is was gives this haiku the specific tone that I pinpointed. The words to this haiku are very helpful in painting the picture. Gillian Genardo, Fall 2019 |
lightning bugs fill |
the clouds part Madeline Wilson (3) I just feel very warm inside when I hear/read this haiku. It evokes this image of various nature scenes, and I can just feel the Earth move with this haiku. I can even imagine two different scenarios where the Earth's hum is deafening and terrifying, or it can be absolutely silent and a person has their ear to the dirt just to even comprehend it. This haiku does a great job of evoking imagery and because of that I love it. John DeAngelo, Fall 2019
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the bed sheets Elizabeth Napier (7) I really liked this poem I guess because I could relate to it. It really does feel weird packing the bed sheets that I really like and taking them to college. It doesn’t feel right at first when they are on a new bed, but like everything it just takes time. Then, it feels like a piece of home that you brought with you. I also like this haiku because of the simplicity of it. There aren’t many words, but it says a lot. And the simile is top notch, it makes the poem in my eyes. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2019 I’ve observed on multiple occasions. Personally, I envision the situation with one of my roommates, who last year definitely dragged her comforter wrapped over her head around the room. Occasionally my sister or I will have a lighter blanket that gets dragged around the house in the morning. I really enjoyed the comparison to a mobile home, though. When I don’t want to get out of bed because it’s cold, or I’m not ready, but I absolutely have to, it’s nice to be able to drag a bit of continued comfort around like a home. Charlize Pate, Fall 2019 |
getting back Charlize Pate (3) I really like this one because it makes me imagine the “Millibubble” a lot. I’m not sure that is what the author was going for, but that is what it makes me imagine. I really love Millikin, but sometimes it really does feel like we are in a bubble that is about to pop at times. We are in our own little bubble here that sometimes feels suffocating and I know I am not the only student that things that. I just think it’s a really cool image that I can picture really easy and that is why I enjoy this haiku a lot. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019 |
mom and dad |
i lay under the oak |
sitting on my balcony |
his hair grew with time Elizabeth Napier (9) I really love this haiku because it makes me think of two people that were really close at one point had drifted apart and met again one day. It makes me think the writer had this special person that they lost, but they never lost feelings for the person. I think it shows how you can know someone for so long and see them evolve and change but still pick out the little things that stay the same such as a smile. Jessi Kreder, Fall 2019 |
dominoes Charlize Pate (6) I read this poem in an interesting way, perhaps I was a little rushed when I read it. I interpreted this poem’s subject as the Domino’s pizza right next to the Wood’s. I thought to myself how is dominoes ever your friend? It is simply a restaurant that has good, cheap pizza. Then the more I thought about it I decided that much like friends are there for you, a pizza can be there for you in rough times too. Furthermore, I spend money with my friends because we go out and do stuff just like dominoes takes my money. It came as a shock to me when Alex talked about it as dominoes the game, and an old friend who wins all his bets off him. Although based on spelling my interpretation of the haiku is most likely incorrect, it is still amazing to me that we can read the same haiku and think about things completely opposite. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2019 My family on my dad’s side typically gathers once a year. We do not play dominoes often, it is usually Texas hold ‘em or another poker game. My uncles, a couple aunts, a few of my cousins, and my grandma gather around the table. It is no surprise if the night ends with my grandma quietly sipping her second glass of wine while she wins hand after hand, taking our money. Only fitting, I suppose, since she taught everyone at the table how to play poker. This haiku brings warmth to me: the feeling of family gathered around a table after the sun has gone down. Talking, laughing, celebration, and frustration take their turns visiting each of us still sitting at the table until only a couple of us remain. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019 |
coffee Charlize Pate (5) It is difficult to start a day at university without a mug full of coffee. A lot of homework? Coffee. Staying up late to party? Coffee. Need an excuse to catch up with an old friend or to try and get closer with a new one? Coffee. Coffee is the solution to so many of our problems in college and our early adult life. It is the fuel that we pour in our gas tanks that get us through the day. Some of us are big trucks, and others are Priuses. Some of us prefer premium, and some get by on unleaded. Regardless of the type or the quality, coffee is here for all of us. That first bitter taste on my lips in the morning is a warm hug that makes me smile while I walk out the door of my apartment. I just wish it also worked in my car. I would save a lot of money at the pump. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019 |
no more sleeping in |
the warm tea Jessi Kreder (4) |
eighteen candles |
stomping feet Gillian Genardo (3) |
heavy backpack |
keys clink in my hand |
the long road winds John DeAngelo I find myself lucky that I am already aware of what I want to do with my life. I am just 20, yet I have already found the purpose that I want my life to have. That purpose also happens to be the one singular love of my life. How lucky is that? This haiku resonates well with me for when looking ahead, I see these long roads that I must traverse to fulfill my goals. Difficult they will be, of that I am certain. Still, those roads wind around my heart and I want keep them close to me for ever and ever. Nawaj KC, Fall 2019 |
it's been months Joel Ochoa I love this haiku because it perfectly describes the first few weeks of classes. I cannot begin to count how many times I have said "let's get coffee" or have been asked to go. It's crazy how much you miss by not seeing people for a few months. Some people had an uneventful summer, but others have completely changed since May. I also enjoy the visual symmetry of the lines. They don't have the same number of words but they line up which makes them very appealing to my type-A brain. Meghan Hayes, Fall 2019 |
daisies blossom John DeAngelo (5) This Haiku evokes happy feelings and reminds me of the beginning of a romantic relationship. Furthermore, one's heart may feel like a blossoming garden when two people have a mutual desire to grow closer with the other person. I also enjoy the symbolism with the garden, how the author's heart was in full blossom. At the beginning of relationships or the beginning of anything romantic, one's heart usually beats very fast at the smallest things. I think the word "blossom" represents these feelings very well. Tori Stuart, Fall 2019 |
the stars shine John DeAngelo The scientific veracity of the claim made in this haiku isn't really true. Not every star shines brighter when alone. For instance, an otherwise dim star becomes visible in the night sky when it's gravitationally bound in a binary system. However, this same claim is redeemed when viewed in a different light. For example, a star's personal identity is lost when it is a part of a globular cluster of million other stars. A star's brightness dims when it finds itself side by side with a much brighter or a much closer star. A star becomes invisible when a bright planet encroaches its territory on the sky. So, when viewed in this frame of reference, this haiku unveils a certain truth, a deeper truth, if I may say so. And I find myself drawing parallels between these instances and real life which makes it all the more interesting. Nawaj KC, Fall 2019 |
slowly burning embers Maddie Curtin (7) |
footsteps on |
maybe next weekend |
the midnight moon Jessi Kreder (7) |
fairy tale spins hair of gold Maddie Curtin (5) |
the mountains Maddie Curtin (5) |
one touch |
lights slowly fade Meghan Hayes I loved this haiku because it feels whimsical. I am a hopeless romantic. I am in love with the idea of love, and this poem is dripping with love. This haiku states a simple observation of the loss of light and makes it sound beautiful with the analogy of the shining of stars. The narrator is taking the time to look into this person’s eyes and see this quality in them, which is something that does not happen much anymore. When falling in love, the little details like the way the eyes shift with light matters. I know when I have fallen in love in the past, all of the little details like that mattered more than anything else. This haiku reminded me of the beauty of that. Madeline Wilson, Fall 2019 This haiku really gave me a ton of imagery and good vibes. I could see the night approaching and the sky getting darker and darker. I imagined looking up at the sky to find the brightest star at the moment. I like to play that game when it is just getting dark. Then, looking back down form the sky and locking eyes with that special someone and just being completely lost in their eyes. It is an incredible feeling to just stare into someone’s eyes who you love. This poem reminded me of that. I don’t know who wrote it, but it was great. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2019 |
August heat |
the kids laughing |
mother on speed dial Jonathan Kuebler (5) |
old moon Maddie Curtin (5) This haiku is really touching and I have a very vivid imagined response about it when I read it. I think about all of the people that I do not get to be next to that I really wish I could be. The cool thing about this haiku is that it makes me remember that the moon is something that connects us all and that the same moon that I see is the same moon that shines on my friends back home faces. I want them all to be safe because I miss them constantly. This haiku really makes me remember that and that is why I like it a lot. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019 |
laughing and talking |
knees touch Madeline Wilson (6) It's the first party we went to knowing each other's name. Him, wearing his go-to khaki pants, me, my favorite pair of jeans. We're sitting on the couch as the moon is getting higher and the sun is getting closer because neither of us want to go home. We brush knees, and I'm counting the moments between our palms, and somehow I miss him. I got butterflies just when we'd bump shoulders, and after 7 months of dating, "I love you's", and late nights talking about our favorite parts of the day, I still get butterflies whenever I get to see him smile at me, or even when we hold hands. I love this haiku because it reminds me of the little things that started my relationship with my favorite person, and reminds me that I'm still feeling those butterflies half a year later. Maddie Curtin, Fall 2019 This Haiku also reminds me of the beginning of romantic relationships. When two people first get to know each other, and possibly develop romantic feelings for one another, the littlest things (like touching knees) can create significant emotional responses. This Haiku represents these feelings perfectly, with the lines "the world turns" "upside down". Overall, I enjoyed the simple words used to describe these very complex feelings. Tori Stuart, Fall 2019 I really love this haiku because it shows how something so simple as touching knees can cause so many emotions. I feel like it really embodies how much a person can affect you when you like them so much. This haiku makes the touch feel so personal, yet such a big deal the world shifts. I think it’s important to remember that the world is turning upside down for the author and nobody else. Jessi Kreder, Fall 2019 |
I hold onto Madeline Wilson (8) |
recovering anorexic Morgan Bode (11) I loved this haiku because I found a lot of meaning in so few words. I find it truly incredible that a story with so much depth can be expressed in only three lines. I felt that the haiku not only expressed regret and sadness, but also taught me a lesson as a reader. As a performer, I get insecure in my body sometimes. However, spending all my time focusing on my flaw will only lead to wasted time and regret. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019 |
one leg and the other |
good morning Michael Hoelting (2) It's not exactly easy living away from one's family literally halfway across the world. Those phone calls you make to your mother are heart warming and reassuring. Even more heart warming they are to my mother, I am sure. This haiku acts as a friendly reminder of that. It further reminds me of the love and warmth that my mother pours through her voice in every little "Good Morning" that she wishes me. Nawaj KC, Fall 2019 |
massive caterpillar |
the sweltering heat Michael Hoelting This is a Haiku that really struck me because it reminds me heavily of what I went through this past summer. My cat had passed away and it brings me back very vividly to that day. I remember how hot it was and just how awful that day felt. My experience was slightly different from this persons but it reminded me very much of that day and that's why I picked it. John DeAngelo, Fall 2019 |
I used the body Michael Hoelting I love this haiku for its comparison of physical location to states of mind. It displays complexity which I think is refreshing in this poetic form. I feel very connected to this haiku in a way which is difficult to understand, but I think that makes it all the better. My reaction to it is very instinctual, like I just understand. I just want to say “yes” when I read it. The old trope of “going east” to conquer, reminiscent of American manifest destiny culture is invoked in my mind. However, this feels like a more content and individualistic expression of that sentiment. We are going north to achieve calm, and to use our minds. I want to read this again but on a mountain during sunrise. Morgan Bode, Fall 2019 |
freight train Madeline Wilson (3) |
Saturday brunch Madeline Wilson (2) |
the sky turns Cassandra Reed First, this poem is simply aesthetically pleasing. I love the comparison between women and forces of nature in all writing, especially poetry. This also reminded me of one of my own haiku, which I wrote about the sun setting earlier every day, and how it is reminding me of the onset of seasonal depression as my hours spent in the sun shrink. The comparison between the disappearance of the sun and a woman turning away, whether literally or “turning” as in changing, is a familiar feeling. Morgan Bode, Fall 2019 I reacted heavily to this haiku. I love the image of the sky turning blue. Even though there are only four words, I can see a large number of colors shifting and changing. Beyond the beauty in the haiku, I also just want to know more. Who is “she?” Is she turning towards the writer or away? Is she turning towards something or is she turning away? There is a deep story engraved in the corridor of this haiku, and I wish there was more information. I guess that is the charm of poetry: you get to write the rest of the story. I do not know what I hope the story behind these three lines is yet. Madeline Wilson, Fall 2019 Reading this haiku makes me see a picture in bright blues and yellows. I see a girl dancing and turning while watching the sky turn blue in the morning. This poem spoke to me because my dance classes are all in the morning. I wake up when the sky has just turned blue and go to dance class to work on turns. Lizzie Napier, Fall 2019 |
sidewalk chalk |
the sun sets |
full of heartache Cassandra Reed I am such a sucker for romantic poetry. This haiku really stood out to me because I am currently in a long-distance relationship. And it is super hard. This haiku brought me back to the last time I saw my boyfriend and all of the emotions that filled our last moments together. It was nice to see other people in the class are or have been in similar situations as myself. It adds a level of connectivity that I wouldn't have known before. Meghan Hayes, Fall 2019 |
fishnets ripped Rebecca Jaffe (5) |
the queen is weak Rebecca Jaffe (3) The first vibe I got from this haiku was Game of Thrones. Despite the fact I’ve barely watched any, it seems like something the characters would live by. It’s a powerful thought. But when I read it more carefully, it became more so. There is a queen, but immediately in the next line it’s like she’s completely discounted as weak enough to say the throne is empty. But the haiku generally just says to me to go for what you want. If someone thinks they can do a better job than the person in charge, then do it. Realistically, this would make for a very painful way of living in general if everyone did it, but most people won’t, so why shouldn’t I? Charlize Pate, Fall 2019 |
train whizzing on the tracks Nawaj KC (4) |
spanx, my dear old friend |
growling stomach Nawaj KC (3) |
summer heat |
this year Morgan Bode (4) Again, Morgan has an inspiring talent for expressing deep meaning through simple language. This haiku is short and uncomplicated, and yet her perfect choice of wording reveals a deeper story. I personally know that it can be very hard to move in without my mother because I had to go through my freshman year of college (last year) while my mom was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. It can be challenging to focus on college when one is distracted by thoughts about loved ones who are far away. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019 |
the sun setting |
hover fly |
© 2019, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.