1

Thanksgiving Break
a new tradition 
we stay home

2

avoiding grandpa’s touch
long talks
I can’t escape

3

thanksgiving dinner
every year
less family

Asa Pilger (6)

This haiku is very relatable to me because I have a big family. Now my cousins are starting to get older and have kids, so it’s starting to get to the point where they have several thanksgivings to go to, so it feels impossible to get everyone together at the same time. Every year, there is numerically more family members joining the family, but that makes it harder for everyone to physically be together. Hope Self, Fall 2025

I like how you can feel a sense of aging in this haiku. It reminded me so much of my family. My grandparents have passed. My aunt and uncle from Wisconsin have gotten older and do not drive down for the holidays anymore. My cousins have grown up and moved away, and have not come home for Thanksgiving the last few years. I saw the table with more and more empty chairs. It honestly felt a little sad as I miss getting to see everyone and catching up. Emily Edwards, Fall 2025

4

driveway full
of unfamiliar cars
a new uncle every year

Ridge Batchelor (8)

5

awkward chatter, 
empty seats
at thanksgiving dinner

6

deep dish pizza 
chatter in the restaurant
we are family again

Sam Ramirez

7

grandma’s house
her beagle
still loves me

Asa Pilger (5)

8

sibling laughter
as mom calls
cap

9

falling into old routines
she joins her mom
to walk the dog

Nicole Wells (4)

10

grandpa's talk
never ends . . .
I stuff my face

11

dry turkey
mash potato overload
another roll please

Grace Felz (9)

I like this haiku because it is relatable. I do not like Thanksgiving food as much, so I mostly eat rolls because they are my favorite. I usually snack on them throughout the party because that is about the only thing I eat on Thanksgiving Day. I think this haiku explains this situation perfectly and the words flow right into one another which makes the haiku smooth to read. Addison Weed, Fall 2025

12

granny’s house
sitting on the floor
playing games

Hope Self (8)

I liked this haiku because of the vibe and it was relatable. There aren't many adjectives here, so it leaves a lot up to imagination which is good. I also liked how relatable it was. I've done this before with my cousins, and it's very fun. Ridge Batchelor, Fall 2025

13

coffee shop and pretzels
new additions
to Main Street

14

football on Sunday
we gather
to eat the leftovers

15

hiding in the bathroom
again . . .
Thanksgiving dinner

Grace Felz

One of my core attributes is being antisocial, especially in large gatherings. I’ve always been one to more enjoy quiet times and solitude, and this haiku captures that trait excellently. I’m always looking for ways to escape from a crowd, if even for a moment, and the bathroom is one of the best locations for such a goal. Beyond gatherings, I couldn’t possibly count how many times I’ve used the bathroom to escape from something I don’t wish to be a part of, even for just a few moments, and that’s where the “again…” line of this haiku comes in. This is a frequent activity for the author, and I can identify with it greatly. Asa Pilger Fall 2025

16

my shoulders stiffen
as that uncle
reaches for a hug

Amanda Spotts (4)

Something I think a lot of older people don’t understand is that, just because you know someone through Facebook, it doesn’t mean that they know you. Every time I go to an extended family gathering, I would be hard-pressed to name just about anyone, much less know anything else about them. Of course, my mom’s meticulous chronicling of me and my sister’s lives through Facebook means that everyone there knows us, and we have to prepare ourselves for terrible, one-sided conversations with people who know everything about us but we know nothing about. This is made even worse by those who want hugs at any point during the event. It’s hard enough talking to someone you barely know, and much more so to give them a show of affection. Asa Pilger Fall 2025

This haiku captures the uncomfortable feeling of being around people we don't want to. I imagine the uncle as either an uncle who you aren't close with so the affection feels forced and unwanted or that they would be what many people consider a "creepy uncle". Either way it is an experience that many people can relate to and dread. I also liked the way that it was structured, having the shoulders stiffen brings focus, then the perspective of the uncle getting closer reaching for a hug. The order of the lines portrays the sense of unease, as he suddenly appears invading her space. Sam Ramirez, Fall 2025

17

piepiepiepiepleasetakeithome

Amanda Spotts (6)

I liked this haiku because it reminds me of my Grandma.  My Grandma will always send me home with a pie on Thanksgiving. I have a major sweet tooth so if there's a family party she will usually send me home with cookies of some sort. She also loves sweets but she tells me if she keeps pie in the house she'll eat too much of it. Even if I insist on her keeping a pie at home, it will always somehow make its way home with me. Natalie Brodsky, Fall 2025

18

i linger 
in the upstairs bathroom
a minute longer

Amanda Spotts (7)

This haiku is really relatable to me. I find myself running to the bathroom during family events just to hide from everyone for a little bit. That minute alone is so helpful to try to reset and put on a smile again. Grace Pelz, Fall 2025

19

stretch marks
right before
the feast

Coraline Nelson (3)

20

making excuses
not to visit . . .
I had time

Coraline Nelson (10)

21

one table now
the extra folding chairs
stashed in the attic

22

one plant left
an orphan i’ll bring home 
to mom

Chelsea Hammons (5)

23

thanksgiving day 
all I want 
is pumpkin pie

Natalie Brodsky (4)

24

endless blooming
where it shouldn't be growing
scar tissue

25

candy jar
the first thing i see
at Nana's house

Chelsea Hammons (4)

26

older brother 
for the first time 
looks older

Natalie Brodsky (6)

27

pajamas all day
in a quiet house
such a busy day

Natalie Brodsky (8)

This reminds me so much of most of my school breaks. I always leave a pile of things to do over break. Then, I end up getting no break because I waited until the last minute to do everything. However, it is nice to get a bunch of work done and never have to get dressed. I am also usually at home alone for some or all of my break, so it is always quiet in the house, sometimes too quiet. So, I usually have some type of instrumental music going in the background as well. This haiku just gave me so many cozy vibes. I could just see myself sitting on the couch surrounded by all of my school work with a cup of hot cocoa in my hands. It is just a perfect moment. Emily Edwards, Fall 2025

28

so many dishes
to choose from . . .
my plate is full

Addison Weed

29

crowded street
filled with . . .
where am I?

30

full table
I sit
at the counter

31

frozen in
a stranger
shovels my driveway

Hannah Swan (7)

32

secret santa
gifts from a stranger
I know

33

thoughts put down on paper
quickly typing my ideas
I slayed the assignment

Addison Weed

I like this haiku because it reminds me of art and reaching a flow state. In art, a flow state is where the challenge meets the artist’s skill level, allowing the artist to reach maximum potential. This concept is observed in many other majors, like in this haiku for example, in writing essays. I love haikus about intersection, and I love how this one intersects a flow state with school and how it can be relatable to any major. Jordana Samnick, Fall 2025

34

burning ashes 
there’s still 
work to be done

Nissi Bamgboye

I love this haiku. It makes me think of the chance encounters with a conversation buddy we have over the course of our lives. From a supermarket, to a restaurant, if it’s a public space, there’s always an opportunity to click with someone and have a great chat. Whether one forms lasting contact with the new friend or not, it depends, but what matters most is that there were two or more people able to find common ground in each other where they least expected. I think that’s beautiful, and this haiku brings me just a little bit more faith in humanity. Nissi Bamgboye, Fall 2025

35

dark already . . .
does the moon
get tired?

Coraline Nelson (8)

36

huddled together
sobbing
our favorite show

37

fuzzy blankets
afternoon sun
I’ve made no progress

Coraline Nelson (5)

I like this haiku because it shows the reality of break. Many professors assign small tasks over break and it is easy to lose motivation to do those things. I sit at my desk and think about doing homework and I always get sidetracked. This haiku is very relatable to me. Abbey Matthews, Fall 2025

38

every move I make 
I lose 
more aura 

39

three appointments 
two repairs 
two-day break

Nissi Bamgboye (5)

40

a young couple 
try to stop and eat 
at each family gathering

41

67 . . .
is all . . .
to make them laugh

42

butterfly 
I spread my wings
my first tattoo

Bella Griffiths (9)

43

food passes in circles 
I wait patiently 
for the deviled eggs

Abbey Matthews (5)

44

a stranger 
I wonder what
their life is like

Ridge Batchelor (7)

I relate to this haiku a lot. Ever since I’ve come to campus, I’ve walked past strangers with super cool outfits, accessories, and/or bag charms, and I just can’t help but wonder how their experiences are like. I don’t usually go people-watching, but I feel that it's becoming more of a hobby than I realize as time goes on. I feel that this haiku summarizes my experience with that perfectly. Nissi Bamgboye, Fall 2025

45

moldy bread
we feed it
to the fish

46

fresh snow
we take forever
to shovel the driveway

Ridge Batchelor

I liked the bond that was implied in this haiku with them taking forever to shovel the driveway. They could have taken a long time for a multitude of reasons. The initial setting of “fresh snow” paints a nice picture of untouched white snow that I usually think looks very pretty. This is coming from someone who does not have to shovel the driveway, but I think fresh snow that is undisturbed looks quite beautiful since it has not been mixed with any dirt yet. These people could be enjoying their time, really hating their time, or gone to shovel their neighbors’ driveways and it would still fall under taking “forever” to shovel. I think this haiku is more about perspective, which I enjoyed. Nicole Wells, Fall 2025

47

red clearance tag
you are so
coming home with me

Bella Griffiths (9)

48

another coach
ruining 
what I used to love

Bella Griffiths (15)

49

winter midnight
the heater’s hum
keeps me company

50

reflecting rain puddles
the stoplight
changes twice

51

one glove
still
in your backseat

52

i blink twice
her hair
is just like yours

Amanda Spotts (4)

53

comforting embrace—
in a crowd
the only one who understands

Nicole Wells (4)

54

sunlight gone
a warm lamp glow
illuminates the pages

55

abandoned playground
I go down
the slide

56

playing a favorite game
realizing i’m washed
after three losses

Asa Pilger (7)

57

quarter zip
matcha and tote
peak perforative male

Grace Felz (9)

58

garbage bin
without a bag
saving the planet!

59

a familiar face— 
oops, 
false alarm

Nissi Bamgboye (10)

60

the villain’s pawns
we call them
henchmen now . . .

Coraline Nelson (3)

61

sus assignment
i notice signs
of ai generation

Asa Pilger (6)

62

in the grocery store
a stranger
complements my perfume

Hannah Swan (5)

63

stacks of assignments 
due in a couple hours 
cooked

Abbey Matthews (13)

I liked this haiku because it was funny and incorporated modern slang very well. I found it funny and relatable because I tend to leave my homework to the last minute and it becomes stressful. I liked how easily cooked was added to the haiku. It was written very well in order to incorporate that. Ridge Batchelor, Fall 2025

64

drive thru window
the car ahead
pays for my order

65

need to lock in
but I'm going delulu,
time to crash out

66

the sprinkler sprays
across the yard
we leap for hours

67

star-crossed lovers
      the sun sets
on the Southside too

Emily Edwards (6)

68

prom night
caught in the mirror
barely recognizable 

Natalie Brodsky (4)

69

drive back home 
singing nostalgic songs—
a sigh of relief

70

teenage fugitives
watch the sunrise
nothing gold can stay

71

blurry eyes —
a stranger mentions
his wife’s miscarriage

72

summer camp
I hear “skibbidi”
in the wild

Natalie Brodsky (8)

73

leaning against one another 
our blankets overlapping
we drift to sleep

74

circle of salt
ex-boyfriend can’t
get back in

Randy Brooks (8)

75

local store
I catch a glimpse of
a familiar stranger