06 Matching Contest - Kuro - Fall 2025 • Millikin University

man of her dreams
in the mirror
her blackened eye

Emily Edwards

deep night
my reflection pauses
in the dark window

Chelsea Hammons

muddy path
I stand
and sink

Natalie Brodsky

stormy sky, 
withering flower 
on his tombstone 

Sam Ramirez

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man of her dreams
in the mirror
her blackened eye

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stormy sky, 
withering flower 
on his tombstone 

 

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man of her dreams
in the mirror
her blackened eye

top quarter champion

 

TOP half Chamption

not long enough
she licks my hand
for the last time

 

bottom quarter champion

not long enough
she licks my hand
for the last time

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not long enough
she licks my hand
for the last time

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the cat I see 
every day
never returned

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loss of the family dog
the house feels
too quiet

Hannah Swan

not long enough
she licks my hand
for the last time

Ridge Batchelor

the cat I see 
every day
never returned

Nicole Wells

memento mori 
everything 
evaporates 

Nissi Bamgboye

 

TOP half champion

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not long enough
she licks my hand
for the last time

 

 

CHAMPION
 

not long enough
she licks my hand
for the last time

 

thin winter light
a single crow
on the powerline

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BOTTOM half champion

flowers wilt 
in my red vase
good while it lasted

Abbey Matthews

birthday party
deflated balloons 
she celebrates alone.

Sam Ramirez

scribbles
in my head
overtake my thoughts

Grace Felz

tumor removal
prolonging
the inevitable

Asa Pilger

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birthday party
deflated balloons 
she celebrates alone.

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scribbles
in my head
overtake my thoughts

 

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birthday party
deflated balloons 
she celebrates alone.

top quarter champion

 

BOTTOM half champion

thin winter light
a single crow
on the powerline

 

bottom quarter champion

thin winter light
a single crow
on the powerline

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dark study room
my computer screen
outshines the moon

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thin winter light
a single crow
on the powerline

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dark study room
my computer screen
outshines the moon

Amanda Spotts

the moon
not so bright
tonight

Addison Weed

broken streetlights
only the moon
to light the path

Nicole Wells

thin winter light
a single crow
on the powerline

Chelsea Hammons

© 2025, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.

 

07 Matching Contest - Mido - Fall 2025 • Millikin University

dancing and singing
not caring
how I look

Ridge Batchelor

strobe lights and music
the elbow
I didn’t see coming

Nicole Wells

turn on the wii
we dance like
little kids again

Hannah Swan

beating heart
head beating
to the same drum

Emily Edwards

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strobe lights and music
the elbow
I didn’t see coming

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turn on the wii
we dance like
little kids again

 

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turn on the wii
we dance like
little kids again

top quarter champion

 

TOP half Chamption

midnight snack run
we sit in the car
laughing for hours

 

bottom quarter champion

midnight snack run
we sit in the car
laughing for hours

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midnight snack run
we sit in the car
laughing for hours

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sunshine breezes
through my car
summer in the country

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midnight snack run
we sit in the car
laughing for hours

Hannah Swan

midnight snack 
spills on the ground 
the dogs fight

Abbey Matthews

soft sunlight
I breathe differently 
for a moment

Chelsea Hammons

sunshine breezes
through my car
summer in the country

Amanda Spotts

 

TOP half champion

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midnight snack run
we sit in the car
laughing for hours

 

 

CHAMPION
 

midnight snack run
we sit in the car
laughing for hours

 

you can't control,
what you can't 
control what you can 

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BOTTOM half champion

freshly brewed coffee
slightly burnt 
tastes like home

Natalie Brodsky

blues and red hues 
in one night 
nothing left to lose

Sam Ramirez

well into fall
flowers in bloom
no one tells them what to do

Asa Pilger

winter air
lego plants
never die

Grace Felz

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freshly brewed coffee
slightly burnt 
tastes like home

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well into fall
flowers in bloom
no one tells them what to do

 

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well into fall
flowers in bloom
no one tells them what to do

top quarter champion

 

BOTTOM half champion

you can't control,
what you can't 
control what you can 

 

bottom quarter champion

you can't control,
what you can't 
control what you can 

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you can't control,
what you can't 
control what you can 

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just let it happen
my dad tells me
fatherly advice

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right mind 
never gets 
anything right

Nissi Bamgboye

you can't control,
what you can't 
control what you can 

Hope Self

a new hat
for my dad’s
metal dinosaur statue

Hannah Swan

just let it happen
my dad tells me
fatherly advice

Ridge Batchelor

© 2025, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.