Haiku Kukai 05 Love Haiku Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2019
blindness Benjamin Kuxmann (5) |
her pregnant belly Morgan Bode (12) This haiku encompasses the idea of true love. I believe that pure, true love is selfless. The man in this haiku doesn' t get anything from tying his love' s shoes, it' s just purely out of love for her. This image is so beautiful to me. I absolutely adore it. Meghan Hayes, Fall 2019 |
compared to you |
replacing her bra |
popcorn bucket Alexander Bergland (8) My first date with my boyfriend was watching a movie together on the day Millikin was closed due to negative 30-degree weather. We watched Pulp Fiction (1994), and we were so nervous the entire time about how close we should sit next to each other and if he should have his arm around me or my hand in his. This haiku reminds me of that, those first little butterflies that just attack you when you first touch hands and smile and think about it days after it happens. Maddie Curtin, Fall 2019 I absolutely loved this haiku. I think it paints a clear picture for the reader, and also provides a lot of emotion in such few words. I love haiku about the beginning of love, and I think this “first touch” experience can create emotions that everyone can relate to. I also liked the slight anticipation after the second line, not knowing what would happen after they touched hands. Tori Stuart, Fall 2019 |
our favorite movie |
nobody knows Benjamin Kuxmann (9) |
our prom pictures Benjamin Kuxmann (6) |
hypnotits Alexander Bergland (9) |
freezer raspberries Madeline Curtin This haiku reminds me of my grandma, who always freezes, pickles, or just jars a ton of produce from her garden as the summer ends. As a child, I would always eat the frozen fruit she saved, and it was a reminder of when things were still warm and we could play outside. The longing to hold onto summer in this haiku is sad but expressed in a sweet way, using the imagery of raspberries to bring the feeling to life. Morgan Bode, Fall 2019 |
you held Madeline Curtin (6) I thought this haiku was very cute and also brought emotions of first touch in the beginning of love. I actually think the first haiku I wrote about can be paired very well with this haiku, as they both are discussing the beginning of love and how the little things mean so much. To me, this haiku must have gave the author a sense of reassurance that the person she liked or just started dating liked him/her back because they held their hand. Tori Stuart, Fall 2019 |
romance |
do you love the man Cassandra Reed (6) |
your head on my shoulder, Cassandra Reed (4) Being an introverted person with anxiety is hard. It' s even harder when you have friends with very high energy who you want to give so much love to, but you just don' t have the energy in you. This haiku reminds me of that friend that makes being an anxious introvert easier, who you can just do completely nothing with, who you don' t have to keep entertained. Someone you can just exist with, this haiku is that person. Maddie Curtin, Fall 2019 |
sea of people Madeline Curtin (10) I really liked the simplicity of this haiku. It also made me think of how special it is to not know where someone you love is and to them find them in a crowd. Especially if you really need them or haven’t seen them in a while it is so comforting to find that one person you’re looking for. I also really liked the word sea to describe the crowd. It created a better image in my mind than just a crowd of people or a group of people would have. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2109 |
jet ski joy ride |
zen garden Elizabeth Napier (6) |
heart grasped Benjamin Kuxmann (8) |
silent escape Elizabeth Napier (4) |
alcohol on his breath Gillian Genardo (11) |
pink sunset Gillian Genardo (6) |
he tells me Victoria Stuart (9) |
discovering the Victoria Stuart (9) |
spring breeze Gillian Genardo The themes of rebirth in spring serve this haiku well. The release of letting go of someone who was holding you back, along with the feeling of gentle breeze in this poem work well together. I often feel cleansed by the breeze, especially by a light warm breeze as we might feel in the spring. The feeling of being limitless comes along with this rebirth and cleanse. Morgan Bode, Fall 2019 |
holding hands Victoria Stuart (9) |
movie date Joel Ochoa (9) |
repeated glances Joel Ochoa (8) |
orange post its |
if he dares to hurt you Rebecca Jaffe (10) |
you dork Rebecca Jaffe (11) This haiku makes me really happy, because it reminds me when m boyfriend calls me a dork or a goof. I think this haiku shows what a funny, sweet relationship looks like and it really lets the reader jump into the moment and experience it for themselves. I also really enjoy the simplicity of it and that it is only 9 word that really set a tone to a whole moment. Jessi Kreder, Fall 2019 I love this poem because I think it is so cute. It makes me think of my girlfriend because we both call each other dorks and names like that. I just love the lightheartedness of this poem. Every time I read it I cant help but smile. I can just picture this moment happening in my head. I feel like this has happened before where one of us couldn' t open something and the other said something like this. The happy energy in this poem is refreshing as sometimes our class can get heavy. Cassie Reed, Fall 2019 I thought this was interesting because I am typically the person opening the jar. I know so many people who can’t open jars or bottles. It’s funny to watch them struggle for a minute and then I shake my head and take it and open it in one or two tries. It’s just something some people can do and others need a little help with. Charlize Pate, Fall 2019 |
with each scar Rebecca Jaffe I think I really liked this haiku because I connected with it so personally. I am not sure if the author of this haiku meant biological sisters, sorority sisters, or a friend that they are really close with who is practically their sister. I don’t think the intention quite matters because I feel that if you share a sisterly bond with someone, then they are your sister. But for me, I have two, biological, little sisters and they mean the world to me. I would do anything if it kept my sisters happy and safe. As the oldest child, my sisters always come to me for advice and they look up to me as most little sisters do to big sisters. I think that the mistakes that I have made and the decisions that I have made are potential guidelines for my sisters to either learn from or follow. I would take a hundred broken hearts if it meant neither of my sisters would ever have to have that experience. Gillian Genardo, Fall 2019 |
first love, Madeline Wilson (13) I think that everyone really compares every love they have to their first love. Your first love is really something so special and something that you never really forget or get over. You always love and have feelings for that person. It definitely takes a toll on you and its hard to forget them. I feel like all the loves after are compared to it until you find something that remotely compares or the feelings slowly die down from the first one. The first time you give your whole heart to someone is something truly special and scary. Cassie Reed, Fall 2019 |
she giggles |
she starts to leave |
I see her car |
look at me in the mirror |
empty nest Benjamin Kuxmann (8) |
moonlit corn Benjamin Kuxmann (3) |
as she leaves |
looking into your eyes Jessi Kreder This one was an intense one, but also beautifully written. There is so much pain that comes through this haiku which is pretty incredible to do in such a little number of words. I picture a couple that used to be happy, but the guy cheated and it is such a source of pain that is evident through this haiku. It is a sad haiku from the read of it, but I think it is beautifully sad and that is why like this haiku. It is sad but brilliantly written and props to the writer for their vulnerability. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019 |
he lifts me off the ground |
she changes in front of me Morgan Bode (5) |
class warfare
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moving on too fast Morgan Bode (8) |
closed door |
click. Meghan Hayes (8) |
rusty hinge John DeAngelo (11) |
frantic city streets Meghan Hayes (8) I really like this haiku because it makes me feel like there can be is comfort in a place that can be uncomfortable. It makes me feel like this couple is walking through the streets of New York city and they don’t know where going, but the girl feels safe and relaxed because she feels her boyfriends’ hand on her waist guiding her through the crowed streets. I also really like how the word frantic starts the haiku off with an uneasy feeling, but the guy holding his girl slows everything down and creates a warm, calm tone. Jessi Kreder, Fall 2019 |
a heart of stone |
Sunday morning coffee shop Meghan Hayes |
she haunted his dreams |
still as dawn Jonathan Kuebler |
snapchat notification John DeAngelo (3) |
bird in flight Gillian Genardo (6) |
tale of ages past |
green summer dress Gillian Genardo (8) |
she complains Jonathan Kuebler I like this poem because my girlfriend and I always are fighting for the blankets during the wintertime. We always play fight when it comes to stuff like this and its always so funny and it makes me laugh when we do “fight” for the blankets. I really like this end part though with the girl stealing the heart of who ever is reading the poem is just shows the love the two have. Its nice just having that connection between the two and maybe the girl does not know she has stolen the heart of the reader. That is what makes the poem better because we do not know how the girl feels about the other individual in this poem and it makes it more interesting. Michael Hoelting, Fall 2019 |
family reunion |
silently hammocking Joel Ochoa |
salt in old wounds |
scrolling through old texts John DeAngelo (11) |
her nose in the old textbook John DeAngelo (8) |
ivy covered bridge Joel Ochoa (8) Ooo I love the imagery here. Ivy on a bridge is not only tangled like hands can be, but it lasts for a long time and attaches itself to the concrete or brick of the bridge. Much like how we think the person we are with now will be around for a long time while our hands hold each other’s. But looking back, we see the difference between us and ivy; ivy lasts longer. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019 This song immediately makes me think of Lily Allen’s rendition of “Somewhere Only We Know.” If anything can make me cry, it’s that specific cover. Every couple has their special place, and the ivy covered bridge sounds quite magical. I remember many places that never felt special until someone else was added into the equation. This haiku is gentle, nostalgic, and bittersweet. I can’t imagine going back to the special places from past relationships. If I had to go back to that path by the lake, the dock by the pond, or that bench in the park, I’d cry. There are so many emotions in those places, and the memories would come flooding back like it was only yesterday. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019 |
little seed |
bedroom wall Michael Hoelting (4) |
my first bingo |
dick Joel Ochoa (13) |
wolf moon Maddie Curtin I really like this poem because of how the heart is being opened to the moon as if you are telling the moon your secrets. The imagery is particularly good as well because I can really see the image of an individual pouring their heart out to the moon. I was wondering why this person is looking to the moon for help or why they are talking to the moon and not a friend or loved one. Is the moon more trustworthy than everyone else in their life or is there no one in this person’s life? Michael Hoelting, Fall 2019 |
sunflower Maddie Curtin This is such an easy scene to imagine. I read this in class and mindlessly started scribbling a sunflower next to the haiku like it was a suggestion. Seeing a word or name on a page filled with words a person finds less interesting makes it stick out and doodling is such an easy way to make that one name even more appealing. Charlize Pate, Fall 2019 This haiku makes me feel all gooey inside. I am a big fan of pet names and the thought of this person calling someone "sunflower" just makes me smile! Sunflowers usually symbolize loyalty and longevity, so this person calling the person they love sunflower implies that they intend on keeping this person in their life for a long time. They are also called the happy flower, so the nickname sunflower shows how happy the author is with that person. Meghan Hayes, Fall 2019 |
distant water tower |
alone in the woods Jonathan Kuebler |
gazing from the sidewalk |
I close my eyes |
day old braids Madeline Wilson (9) |
breezy day |
he hands her Gillian Genardo The first read of this haiku made me smile because of the picture this haiku created. I could imagine two little kindergarteners who don’t actually know anything about love showing a simple act of kindness to each other and it just makes me really happy. Kids are so pure and I remember my “kindergarten girlfriend” because I think we all understand little kids and their little crushes. This haiku is just so pure and the picture that it creates so strong and that is why I enjoyed it so much. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019 |
birthday candles |
black funeral dress . . . Gillian Genardo (8) |
oh to be a fly |
he smiles Elizabeth Napier (8) |
a little friend Elizabeth Napier (3) |
midnight walk Elizabeth Napier |
hiding from the world |
the ice caps are melting |
embraced in a movie |
i wish Jessi Kreder (12) I know this haiku is about saying goodbye to a significant other, either indefinitely or for a short period, but to me personal it doesn’t have anything to do with lovers necessarily. To me it can be just as much about leaving people or a place in general. I have met people that have changed my life in less than a day, and spent short amounts of time with a lot of amazing people who I knew at the time and know now that I will likely never see again, which makes saying goodbye so much harder. I would rather that painful moment of goodbye stretch out longer than a short band-aid pull of a goodbye. The pain of goodbyes is bittersweet. Maybe that’s why here I don’t say goodbye to people much here, I just leave because I know I will see them again, so saying goodbye instead of an “I’ll see you later” is unnecessarily and unintentionally painful for me. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019 |
hypnotist’s pocket watch |
a mug and Jessi Kreder
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faded square on the wall . . . Gillian Genardo |
enveloped by sadness . . . Michael Hoelting (8) |
loud restaurant |
mind racing |
a driving bassline |
cold morning Meghan Hayes I love the tension that is within this haiku. In a story setting, it is cold and the warmth of someone is right next to you, but there is still some distance between the two of you. This is mirrored in the spacing in the last line which I really loved. There is a special sort of electricity in the distance between two people before they touch. That energy and tension is what this haiku reminds me of, and it instantly brings me back to all of the moments that I have experienced it before. Madeline Wilson, Fall |
at the restaurant Michael Hoelting If I were to fall in love, this is the kind of love I would want. This semester, I’m trying to focus on my goals and forget about romance. However, this haiku makes me want to go fall in love. When I go on a first date, I pay careful attention to whether he uses the straw or not. In my opinion, love starts with core values, like how much you care about saving the turtles. When I am having a bad day, I must admit that I do not care for most love poems. However, I can say that this poem strikes a soft spot in my heart. I feel more optimistic, happy, and light, like a daisy blowing in the breeze. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019 |
Chicago skyline, Madeline Wilson |
captain morgan and dr pepper Madeline Wilson I really loved the imagery in this haiku. To me, this haiku explains how all of the little things add up to be true love. My parents have been married for 22 years and I hope to have a relationship like theirs some day. Every morning my dad makes my mom coffee and he knows exactly how she likes it. He also knows exactly what drink she’d get at the bar and what her favorite type of soft drink is. And my mom can do the same for him. I think their love for each other is very apparent because they know one another well. It’s clear someone loves you, pays attention to you, and understands you when they can get your drink order accurately. I think this haiku describes the moment that a person realizes that they love someone because they pay so much attention to them and know what their favorite drink is. Gillian Genardo, Fall 2019 |
the backpack I carry |
I’m a leg rest |
how dare you |
muscle Rebecca Jaffe (5) |
each glimpse |
leaning in to kiss Alexander Bergland (9) |
he finally calls Morgan Bode (6) This haiku affected me differently than it affected my peers. When I read this haiku, I felt a feeling of peace. When I broke up with my first boyfriend, I knew that I wanted to stay best friends with him. However, I did not know how long it would take us to get to that point. His healing process took much longer than mine, and the day that he called me to tell me about his new lover was a very exciting day. It meant that we finally hit a level of friendship again. For me, it was not painful; for me, it was a release. It meant that we had both moved on. Madeline Wilson, Fall 2019 |
homework Victoria Stuart (6) This haiku was personal to me because my girlfriend calls me a lot while she is doing her homework to use me as a distraction from finishing. I always have to talk to her while she keeps working and then she stops and answers me when she wants to take a break from her homework. Sometimes I can’t think of anything else to say and I just sit there and smile at her until she looks up and notices me and laughs. This haiku just made me think of doing that and it made me happy. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2109 |
like a dog Morgan Bode (12) |
instead of Good Morning |
breakfast chef Alexander Bergland (4) |
wrinkled hand Victoria Stuart (6) |
bonfire |
text from ex: Rebecca Jaffe (8) |
there’s nothing wrong Rebecca Jaffe (9) |
I have questions . . . he’s too busy Rebecca Jaffe (8) |
only in bikini bottom |
the krusty krab pizza Elizabeth Napier |
Spongebob playing |
© 2019, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.