full body cocoon
only getting colder
feverish realization

Kaia Garbacz

cobwebs cover 
the old barn 
a dog whines

Kailyn Coates

the cold air  
on my neck 
chills

Elly Hermanson

out on the ocean
fog all around
a loud shriek

Sean House

cobwebs cover 
the old barn 
a dog whines

out on the ocean
fog all around
a loud shriek

out on the ocean
fog all around
a loud shriek

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

bottom quarter champion

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

I stare at my reflection for too long . . .
g o o s e b u m p s.

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

Ny Scott

having goosebumps 
    just getting my
first kiss . . .

Ny Scott

sitting alone—
hairs on my neck stand up
someone is looking at me

Sky Choe

I stare at my reflection for too long . . .
g o o s e b u m p s.

Leah Flint

TOP half champion

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

CHAMPION

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps
 

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

BOTTOM half champion

lyrics swim
he hits
the high note

Anna Quick

goosebumps
in a field of poppies
flying monkeys

Randy Brooks

his voice
echoes through the chapel
goosebumps

Grace Brixa

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

Madelyn Letourneau

goosebumps
in a field of poppies
flying monkeys

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

bottom quarter champion

fingertips that rival ice
tracing patterns of nothing
goosebumps

fingertips that rival ice
tracing patterns of nothing
goosebumps

first day of fall
breeze through my window
goosebumps crawl up my arm

fingertips that rival ice
tracing patterns of nothing
goosebumps

Bella Birdsley

fingers grazing
leaves a trail
of goosebumps

Tanner Essex

cold whisper 
sweeps my skin 
go os e bu mp s 

Hannah Smith

first day of fall
breeze through my window
goosebumps crawl up my arm

Maddie Alger

full body cocoon
only getting colder
feverish realization

Kaia Garbacz

cobwebs cover 
the old barn 
a dog whines

Kailyn Coates

the cold air  
on my neck 
chills

Elly Hermanson

out on the ocean
fog all around
a loud shriek

Sean House

I will say, again, that I love the creativity that comes from someone taking a prompt and finding a way to incorporate it or establish a connection to it without actually using the word or definition in the work. There is something so crisp about this haiku that just establishes a strong autumnal vibe or feeling, and reminds me of late October, as things start to really turn cold and Halloween is right around the corner. It reminds me of a movie or a scene in some sort of feel-good Halloween film, and I can clearly picture that high pitched whine coming from the dog and being right on the edge of too loud that it makes your ears ring and your head spin ever so slightly. I love this haiku, immensely. Skylyr Choe, Fall 2023

I just appreciate some haiku for the vivid imagery it evokes. This painted such a clear picture in my head. I saw a rotting barn standing in a field in the fall, while a dog lays outside waiting for its owner to come get it. It’s a chilly day on the farm, and this sheep dog wants to see his owner, but he hasn’t come by lately. Maybe this dog curled up in the barn to have puppies. I could come up with a million stories for this haiku and that’s why I love it! Tanner Essex, Fall 2023

I just love the sense of foreboding that this haiku produces. The air is still and it’s probably early in the morning and whoever is out on the ocean is cutting through the water, and out of nowhere you just- you hear this awful, terrible sound that makes the hairs on your arms and neck stand up, but there’s nothing you can do except maybe call out to ask if they’re all right because you are alone and in a boat probably miles from shore and you are stuck surrounded by water. Gives me chills to just think about it. Skylyr Choe, Fall 2023

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

Ny Scott

having goosebumps 
    just getting my
first kiss . . .

Ny Scott

sitting alone—
hairs on my neck stand up
someone is looking at me

Sky Choe

I stare at my reflection for too long . . .
g o o s e b u m p s.

Leah Flint

This might have been my favorite one we read in class on tuesday. I really liked the thought of, again, a relationship, but for some reason it took me to a couple at one’s childhood home for thanksgiving with their whole family. It makes me think about them reassuring each other, but there is still a slight chill because it is colder outside and it also has an unexpected soft touch.

I just found it cool and I like the format for goosebumps. Ny Scott, Fall 2023

lyrics swim
he hits
the high note

Anna Quick

goosebumps
in a field of poppies
flying monkeys

Randy Brooks

his voice
echoes through the chapel
goosebumps

Grace Brixa

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

Madelyn Letourneau

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

Ny Scott

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

Madelyn Letourneau

This was my favorite haiku pairing because of the idea of a voice. The imagery in the second one is so calming which relates to the first one which is also calming, but for different reasons. Maddie Alger, Fall 2023

This was my favorite of the whole contest. It tells such a helpless story of wanting to find meaning or truth in someone’s words, but just knowing their actions won’t back it up. We often times get so caught up in people who hurt us that we don’t allow ourselves to see it. So they say whatever it takes to get us to love them again, and it affects us, even though deep down we know that it means nothing. Tanner Essex, Fall 2023

Both of these haiku made it very far in the contest so overall I think they were both very popular. I like them both for similar reasons. One being that when I read them I actually can feel and picture what’s going on. When haiku instantly do this or change my mood completely when I read them I become more fond of them. In this case both of these haikus did it for me. Elly Hermanson, Fall 2023

I like these two haiku as a match because they both leave me with a different feeling and or image about the effect a voice can have. In the first one, the voice is personified as one of strength. It gives off an image of taking of space and standing its ground. The voice’s power is what gives the effect of goosebumps. Whereas the second haiku personifies the voice of one that is weaker. Using the word “powerless” to describe it. Yet, since the voices are not described fully, it leaves me wondering who is behind the voices and why they both have effects on someone. Grace Brixa, Fall 2023

fingertips that rival ice
tracing patterns of nothing
goosebumps

Bella Birdsley

fingers grazing
leaves a trail
of goosebumps

Tanner Essex

cold whisper 
sweeps my skin 
go os e bu mp s 

Hannah Smith

first day of fall
breeze through my window
goosebumps crawl up my arm

Maddie Alger

This pair of haiku was really interesting to me. I love how they are both talking about tracing something, but in different ways. The first one has no road map. Where the fingertips go next is a mystery. With the second one, there is some sort of path that is being followed. I think these two next to each other is really cool. Hannah Smith, Fall 2023

I adore "fingertips" mainly for the phrasing of the first line. I think it is overall hauntingly beautiful and I think that this couple is so happy, but the ice cold gives a slightly edgy/ sharp connotation to the relationship. I find it fascinating to keep rereading. I feel like I keep finding new things. Cami Jones, Fall 2023

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

Ny Scott

fingers grazing
leaves a trail
of goosebumps

Tanner Essex

goosebumps
in a field of poppies
flying monkeys

Randy Brooks

your words
meaningless
yet they give me goosebumps

Madelyn Letourneau

Both of these haiku have to do with physical touch, which isn’t my favorite love language, but I appreciate the emotions behind them. In the top one, the haiku feels like an unexpected hug or when someone puts their hand on your back to comfort them. In the bottom haiku, it can be taken two ways. One being a hopeless romantic poem of a lover dragging their finger on their partner. Secondly, it reminds me of little kids keeping themselves occupied with their moms by drawing on them. Eden Niebrugge, Fall 2023

I really likes these haiku because with the imagery and descriptive words, I can almost feel the sensation of touch. I am very much a physical touch person, and both haiku really remind me of why. It makes me think back to when I was little and would beg my mom to rub/tickle my back. I can imagine the goosebumps that would form on my arms as a result. I always thought that it was me being cold, or that it tickled, but these haiku make me miss my mom (even more than I already do). Madelyn Letourneau, Fall 2023

These two weren’t necessarily ‘matched up’ but both held equal volume to my heart in opposite ways. First, I imagine this haiku as Wicked or Wizard of Oz and this brings me great joy as I just saw this on Broadway a month ago. Whereas, in the second, I believe this held greater meaning as I felt this one sadly. I believe this one touched my heart as many instances my ex’s words came out of his mouth and they were absolutely hurtful and even though they had no truth to them, it still stung a little bit. Mary Grace Gallagher, Fall 2023

fingertips that rival ice
tracing patterns of nothing
goosebumps

Bella Birdsley

two hands 
a soft touch 
chills on my arms.

Ny Scott

lyrics swim
he hits
the high note

Anna Quick

goosebumps
in a field of poppies
flying monkeys

Randy Brooks

I love how these two, in some ways, describe the same thing: a touch of someone on the arm. Yet they each have different imagery involved in describing that, with the first one being more vivid. Still, their tones are nearly identical and both speak to the power of that touch in that moment. Kaia Garbacz, Fall 2023

This was my favorite match from the second contest. While I can say I like the second one better they are both well-written and contain amazing imagery. I am a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz and think this haiku is a cool take on the prompt of goosebumps. Kailyn Coates, Fall 2023