Haiku Kukai 03 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • January 2026
1 morning shoes are tied Trevor Biggerstaff I hate early morning runs, but man to get it out of the way is so nice. Once you get out there, it gets easier. It’s that initial getting out of bed, then walking out the door. The wide open road, the morning dew, the bite in the air, is so nice. And then to get home from work and not have to lace up the shoes and get out on the road? PRICELESS. Bailey Maldonado, January 2026 |
2 coffee cooling Amy Webb-Braun I really liked this one because it is very relatable. I very often will make or buy a coffee, and when I first get it is is hot. However, after waiting for it to cool I get busy doing something else and I forget to drink it. Then, I find myself reheating it to enjoy it warm. Ava Armstrong, January 2026 I really loved this haiku because it makes me think of school mornings before class. I feel like I make a coffee or hot chocolate and then it gets cold before I can drink it because I am rushing around or I am trying to get ready and when I finally get the chance to sit down and drink it then it is cold. I just feel like this haiku is very relatable and I enjoyed reading it. Alexia Finch, January 2026 |
3 rain at recess Amy Webb-Braun |
4 bus stop silence |
5 golf cart Trevor Biggerstaff |
6 can't fall asleep Trevor Biggerstaff |
7 dingy train station Oshea Darrington I like this haiku because it shows a sense of urgency, unsure, but also calmness. When reading this I could think of how quiet the train station must have been. However, how scary it could have been not being crowded by many people. This haiku also shows how when things are quiet uncertainness often seeps into the air. Elli Sunde, January 2026 |
8 beer foam settles— |
9 bare floor, slow stretch Andrew Detmers |
10 quiet room |
11 in the night Oshea Darrington This haiku captures a super vulnerable moment where love meets uncertainty. Nighttime becomes the perfect setting for promises that feel bold and true in the dark, but fragile by sunrise. The poem pauses in the space between words spoken and words meant and highlights how the heart listens differently than the ears. The question “do you mean it?” lands with a quiet tone and shows how even beautiful moments can bruise when doubt joins them. Benjamin Howey, January 2026 |
12 thrift shop mirror Oshea Darrington I like number 12 due to the fact that, I tend to go to thrift stores from time to time. I understand this exact feeling that the haiku is trying to explain. Sometimes you are trying out a new style and either love it, or not. In this case though the haiku is saying it’s unrecognizable of a look for you. Grant Reid, January 2026 |
13 grit my teeth Kyle Goddard Everyone who has ever worked out knows this feeling. Trying to get to that number of reps you wanted to do can be so challenging, but that last one, and knowing you did it, feels so good. You feel accomplished and like you can take on the world when that workout is done and you’ve done what you said you’d do! Bailey Maldonado, January 2026 |
14 porch swing sways Bailey Maldonado I love the imagery and the senses that are used in this haiku. I love reading so I can relate to sitting on the deck or porch on a nice summer or spring day just drinking lemonade, having a snack, and reading a good book. I love the porch swing part because I have always wanted a porch swing and would sit on my grandma’s at the old house she lived in every time I would stay there and just read. Alexia Finch, January 2026 |
15 football in the background Bailey Maldonado I enjoyed number 5 the most because I love football. There is nothing better than not only watching football, but also being able to take a nap with the background sound of a game. This haiku relates with me very well along with puts a great image in my head. Grant Reid, January 2026 |
16 down to the basement |
17 bags packed |
18 essay is done Kyle Goddard I like this haiku just because I think its funny. There isn’t a lot of feelings better than finishing that essay and then figuring out you can even print it off and your efforts were for nothing. I think there is some irony in this and something many people can relate to. Trevor Biggerstaff, January 2026 |
19 in my parked car Benjamin Howey |
20 breakup night Katiuska Nunez I decided to choose this haiku to talk about because I can put myself into the shoes of the writer. However, I'm also sure that many people can connect to this haiku. Sitting in the bathroom or in your room contemplating and debating on what you're going to say and how you're going to say it. But also wondering how they're going to react and how the conversation is going to make you both feel. But there's also the feeling in the back of your mind that this is going to be a good decision but at the same time it is going to be a hard conversation. Elli Sunde, January 2026 |
21 winter dance Katiuska Nunez The first haiku I chose was from page 1 of Kukai. The poem feels very cold, intimate, yet lonely. I see this scene being painted as a first date. A date to a winter dance, it’s a cold night. You’re bundled up to avoid getting avoid getting cold. The girl has her dress coat on and the man in his suit with a layered jacket thrown over. As they walk, they don't hold hands, but their coats are constantly brushing past one another. It feels isolated almost. These people are together and so close but never share touch. Their coats and their voices may bounce off one another but never anything more. Faith Wilson, January 2026 |
22 first date— Katiuska Nunez When I think of this haiku, I picture my first date with my girlfriend. I decided I wanted to treat her and impress her, so I took her to Beach House in Decatur, Illinois. The whole time, I was so nervous that it was hard to fully pay attention, but now I can look back on that moment with a sense of nostalgia and appreciation. Gavin Dobson, January 2026 The second haiku I chose was from page two of Kukai. This haiku makes me remember the nerves and butterflies that comes along with a first date. The first line starts of with a light and happy tone. You can feel the anticipation. The second and third lines are used to further that anxiousness and tense feelings. It says how they're pretending the menu matters meaning they're paying more attention to that than one another. This haiku was very effective in terms of making the mind wonder. It made me envision several scenes that could be played out from this poem. From what was said the date may be going bad, which is why they are more involved in the menu then in each other. As they are still looking at the menu, they may have not warmed up to each other yet. They may not be comfortable just to start talking and may be overthinking. A good haiku makes the reader see multiple possibilities at once and makes you wonder about the following events. Faith Wilson, January 2026 I get the feeling of awkwardness on a first date, like both people are nervous and don’t know what to say yet. Pretending like the menu has them taking their time but rather there just trying to get time to find the words to say to each other. I like that this haiku capture that uncomfortable in-between stage before people start to open up to each other. Andrew Detmers, |
23 snowy sidewalk |
24 ghosted again Benjamin Howey I liked this one because it does pretty well when it comes to capturing a bit of the essence in what being in the dating pool is like today, or at least the Gen Z dating pool. A lot of people are scared of or avoid commitment; I’m one of those people as well, but that's because you just can't trust nobody these days ! The people I grew up with became boy/girl crazy, only care about sex, don't have an adequate career in mind or any plans lined up with it, prioritize drama in and out of social media, and a whole bunch of other baloney ! I bet you if we didn't have any access to social media everyone’s futures would be so different. A lot of our generation get our many different opinions from social media, whether it's “Red pill” or “Blue pill content” (I have no idea what these exactly mean but I know what it looks and sounds like) or people giving their stories on how to “finesse” the dating game. I dunno man…It’s a lot going on…Have you noticed yet that I’ve just been yapping and that this paragraph is just a hot jumbled mess…I don't feel like rereading it. Kenraylee Carr, January 2026 |
25 hot gym Elli Sunde Most women I think know this feeling. Especially if you’re new to working out or new to the gym. “what are people thinking about me? Am I doing this right? Are they staring?” We try to look busy, look down at our phone to seem like we don’t care and know what we’re doing. But then the phone died?! Now not only can we not look distracted, but our music is gone?! I think the music being unavailable would be the worst for me. Music gets us pumped and ready and willing to push and keep going! Bailey Maldonado, January 2026 |
26 pink nosed calico Kenraylee Carr |
27 only one cheat day Elli Sunde I really like this haiku because I think its funny and relatable. It's always one small thing that turns into 2 that turns into 3 and so on. After a while it’s almost like you forgot and are doing the complete wrong thing. I also like this because I think it shows some responsibility and owning up to something. Trevor Biggerstaff, January 2026 |
28 lively coffee shop |
29 rubber ducky Gavin Dobson This reflects the feeling of always being busy while quietly wishing for time to slow down, the rubber ducky staring symbolized moments of rest and self-care that are constantly postponed. Daily responsibilities take priority, leaving personal needs pushed aside. The duck’s stillness suggests how the speaker comes last in hurried life, aware of the need to pause but unable to make the time. Amy Webb-Braun, January 2026 |
30 moonlit bedroom |
31 ring of . . . |
32 hot chocolate Elli Sunde |
33 plushy mat |
34 yoga mat on floor Grant Reid I liked this one because it reminds me of the times when would do yoga, or some sort of medation. I do enjoy doing yoga but I very rarely do it, I often don’t make time or am too tired at the end of the day to do it. I wish I would do it more because I do enjoy it and I like the way it makes me feel. Ava Armstrong, January 2026 |
35 sitting very still Grant Reid This haiku feels calm and relatable, like someone is trying to reset their mind. Counting to ten is something that I am sure a lot of people do, I do sometimes, to help clear their mind in order to deal with stress. I also like the phrase “mind less heavy” it makes it seem like the breathing is actually helping remove the stress from our minds, even if it’s just a little bit. Andrew Detmers, January 2026 |
36 crack of Gavin Dobson It is the next morning after a hard day in the gym. A man is sitting up in bed contemplating his life decisions. Its only a week into the new year and he already feels like he was hit by a bus. He heads downstairs, hobbling along. Making it to the kitchen he drops a skillet on the stove and turns it on. Preheating the pan for a breakfast to come. He grabs a Gatorade out of the fridge and takes some vitamins. Knowing that these are best taken with food he cracks a few eggs into the now hot pan. Nothing like some protein packed eggs to help rebuild those torn muscle fibers. Kyle Goddard, January 2026 |
37 wilted flowers |
38 legs red |
39 slow breaths Alexia Finch |
40 deep inhale |
41 after parting ways Andrew Detmers This haiku expresses the super quiet heartbreak that lingers long after a goodbye. The spare hoodie stands in for the person who is no longer there- a soft, physical reminder of warmth now missing. The poem captures the total emotional tension between moving on and holding on and suggests that healing is not just sudden, but it is slow and layered. Even without mentioning sadness directly, the chill of “cold nights” really points to loneliness that the speaker tries to soften through memory. Benjamin Howey, January 2026 |
42 quiet, still house Bailey Maldonado |
43 five deep breaths Amy Webb-Braun The messages have been coming for days. A man has been chatting with a potential love interest through a dating app. Everything has been going well. Hitting it off it seemed like. Today he mustered up the courage to finally send a message and see if they would like to go out on a date. The notification chime rings at his desk. His hands are shaking. He calms himself down breathing slowly and picks up the phone. Kyle Goddard, January 2026 |
44 butterflies |
45 first date nerves Andrew Detmers This one is my favorite because I can relate to it…kinda ? I wouldn't call it a date, but it was my first time hanging out with a guy I barely knew alone. We both went to watch a horror movie (that apparently a lot of people were hating on online) and unfortunately for me, we were dead silent…The whole movie. He was the shy, awkward type and so was I ! Usually I’d whisper to my friends during movies to make stupid little comments, but I decided not to do so this time in hope that he’d make a comment first. Spoiler alert: dude was just as quiet as I was the whole movie, and even after the whole thing when I finally attempted to debrief about the movie he had little to nothing of value to say ! (At least in my eyes, but when I think about it from a different perspective the poor guy really did try…maybe I’m just too used to being surrounded by my best friends and no one else…). Kenraylee Carr, January 2026 |
46 band's last song |
47 stretching on the floor Amy Webb-Braun |
48 snow angel or devil Randy Brooks |
49 hurricane season |
50 candy crush |
51 winter dance Ava Armstrong |
52 weight room hum Benjamin Howey One thing I personally find enjoyable is working out. I see it as a healthy way to manage stress and emotions. During an intense workout, I can push myself, and when I am finished, I feel victorious. That feeling lifts my spirits and sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. Gavin Dobson, January 2026 |
53 online chats Kyle Goddard |
54 we say “just friends” Trevor Biggerstaff To me this haiku picks up some tension between two people who define themselves as “just friends” even though their actions reveal deeper feelings. Replaying the song hints at emotional intimacy and shared history that goes beyond friendship. The haiku speaks about 2 people who both recognize they are more than best friends, possibly even soul mates, but are held back by life and fear. The fear of not wanting to ruin what they already have, other relationships, or simply the risk of vulnerability. I hear an ache of unspoken love and choosing safety over honesty. Amy Webb-Braun, January 2026 The last haiku I chose from Kukai was from page two. I chose this poem because it reminded me a lot of a situation, I'm currently in. It's such a difficult situation when you and a friend know there could be more to your relationship, but no one wants to take the jump. The fear of messing up an amazing friendship stops you from seeing what things could lead to. I have a friend who is uncomfortable with this same idea. At times, I am too. I value this friendship so much and I'm not sure what I'd do without his company. We, too, have a song considered “ours”. Every time we see each other, we play it at least three times. Every time we lock eyes for a little longer than normal. Every time we match each other's pitch a little too perfectly. I always wonder what it would be like if things were different, but I will never take that step. Neither will he. Faith Wilson, January 2026 |
© 2026, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.