Haiku Kukai 2 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • January 2016
our song comes on Kailey Hurst (4) |
the velvet night— Alizarin Salmi (3) |
sunrise temptation |
Grandma's chocolate chips Uriah Walker (4) |
days blur by Megan McGurr (3) This haiku is a good summary of many people in society. Over working can cause people to lose relationships, family and romantic. It can also decrease social skills and networking abilities. A person can be so concerned about work, they forget to take care of themselves. It is important to still take care of yourself and your basic needs. A social life and fun is actually a part of this. It is good for a person’s mental health. If a person is at work all day and all night they never have time for anything else. A person’s favorite excuse is, they need the money. But if you are never able to live, why have all the money, if you can’t use it to enjoy your life? Uriah I really enjoyed this one because it is so true in our society. I see this all the time where people are so involved in their job, trying to get that next promotion, a raise, or they miss important things in their children’s lives because of a meeting or work-related issue. Some people are so worried about saving all this money so that they can wait until they are 60+ to enjoy it. It does not make sense to wait until then to start living the life you always wanted to. Families fall apart due to the lack of a parent being around. Relationships and marriages end because one person becomes consumed by their job that they either do not make time for their partner, or they do not have the energy or desire to do anything once they get home from work. It is such a sad thing and it is hard on the rest of the family. We should be enjoying our lives, traveling, experiencing the things we want, and realizing what matters more than any paycheck. Family and love are what matter most, not the material things. I really like how the author used the word “blur” because the days can pass so quickly that they can turn into wasted years. Also, ”consumed” is an important word because you can feel the weight of workload. Heather |
October sunset Alizarin Salmi (3) |
the shadow of our chairlift Betty Hartnett (3) |
autumn fog. . . Alizarin Salmi (3) I like the eerie feeling I get from this haiku. I can imagine the heavy fog settling around a dark brown picket fence. The fence is missing pieces from the top of some of the pickets. A large black crow lands on one of the pickets that is not broken. It caws as it quickly shifts its head, peering through the dense fog. In my head I actually pictured something like a horror film. It gives off that dark, terrifying feel. I think that if I was to walk up to a scene like this I would turn away. I think that the fact that it gives that horror movie feel is probably what drew me to it. I really like horror films and stories and it really resonated with my interests and pulled me into the haiku. Samantha |
morning kiss T.J. Grifin (2) |
down on one knee Heather Dolye (4) I really enjoyed this haiku when I read it through the end. From the first two lines, I pictured someone proposing to his girlfriend of a few years. Maybe they are out to a nice dinner and it would make sense for him to propose, based on how far they have come in their relationship. The second line, “the woman gasps . . .” makes me picture a scene where she is surprised, yet filled with excitement and knows what is coming. Then the third line comes along and he ties his shoe, surprising the girl and almost a disappointment after getting her hopes up. I like the structure of the haiku, with the indentation in the second line and the ellipses at the end of the second line. Both of these give the poem a sense of suspense and made me pause when I read that line and think, “What could happen next?” I thought I knew where it was going, and then the third line was a surprise. Emily |
warm oven |
skyscrapers Uriah Walker |
You clinched my hand |
in the shadow Alizarin Salmi (2) |
sunlight shining through Megan McGurr (3) |
college freshman Betty Hartnett (2) I enjoyed this haiku because it reminds me of my mom. She calls me a lot, especially in the morning to make sure I am awake and doing everything I need to do. It is talking about an overprotective mother. When the student was in highschool, this mom was probably always on them. Telling them to do their homework, clean their room, and other chores they were supposed to do. Now that this student has moved away and is off to college, the mom is having trouble letting go. She is still calling them every morning as if they never left. She hasn’t grasped the fact that her baby is growing up and on their own now. Uriah |
intimate embrace on the lakeshore |
entangled in him Megan McGurr (3) |
gathered around the fire Emily Mihalkanin (4) I like this poem because of the strong imagery it gives me as the reader. I can imagine a fire pit surrounded by Christmas carolers or a family singing Christmas carols together. I can see the small and intimate group wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, or I guess maybe the group could be called The Ugliest Sweaters. Either way it is a fun image to see in my head. The ugly Christmas sweater, and ugly sweater parties are just a fun tradition that I enjoy about Christmastime and so this haiku just makes me smile and think about Christmas. I can’t believe the holidays have come and gone already! Heather |
a collared dead cat |
after the sorrow |
peeling, slicing, |
bonfire |
SUNNY side up T.J. Grifin (3) |
her dog Betty Hartnett (6) |
FANNNNCYYYY |
ran into a lady Emily Mihalkanin (4) I thought this was a very neat tribute to the movie Finding Nemo. I found it reminding me of the scene where Marlin and Dory had just escaped Bruce and his gang of sharks. After they have escaped becoming dinner, Dory and Marlin find the mask. Dory begins to say, “ Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” The play on words go perfectly with the lady with memory loss because Dory the fish suffers from short-term memory. Even though I thought of Finding Nemo, I took myself to a hospital where I bumped into a patient with memory loss because of Dementia. She greeted me with a smile and warm welcome. However, she could not remember I had been her nurse for the past couple weeks. Like the phrase “just keep swimming,” she just continued to swim through life, no matter her set backs. Hannah |
the minister Betty Hartnett (5) |
Divorce . . . |
leaving the doctor's office Emily Mihalkanin (2) |
monkey bars T.J. Grifin (2) |
kids begging their mothers Emily Mihalkanin (3) |
since I scolded them Betty Hartnett (2) |
violence in America |
summer love Emily Mihalkanin I like this haiku because I can relate to it. I can see myself in the summer, finding a girl I think fits my dreams, and then all of a sudden it doesn’t work out. One person really puts more effort into a relationship than the other which causes problems in the long run. During the summer time, its easy to spend time with the person you found but when August hits, a lot of feelings change. I think the weather has a big part of this because everyone in the world is waiting for summer to hit to show off something they have. You can think since this person is this way in the summer that they are like that all year around, when really they haven’t showed their true colors. TJ |
below zero— Betty Hartnett (5) |
the angel— Samantha Bies I think a lot of people can relate to this. Feeling stuck whether in a job, in a town, or in a family. They want to be able to move, to soar along their dreams. Someone who is pure as an angel, but cannot chase her dreams. I think of a little girl. Trapped in a household filled with violence and anger. She desperately wants to go away. Has many dreams that she wishes to accomplish, but she is stuck here with people who do not love her. She doesn’t have enough money to make any of her wishes come true. She holds on to her dreams and lives vicariously through them. Megan |
always Mom Betty Hartnett |
gunshots ringing . . . |
bonfire Alizarin Salmi (2) |
squirming Uriah Walker (4) |
swinging legs Uriah Walker (5) |
her little dress Samantha Bies (4) |
underneath it all |
still pond Heather Dolye (3) I really like the image that I was able to create from this haiku. I could picture the woman sitting on a bench and watching fish swimming under the surface of the pond. She thinks of the unborn child in her stomach. Interestingly I can't decide what the woman is thinking. I know she is worried, but I feel as though there are two different types of worry that the woman could feel. She perhaps is worried about the pregnancy, it could have been an accident and she is worried to tell the father. I also see an excited worry. She is happy about her baby, but wonders if she can provide it the life it deserves. That's what I find interesting about this haiku, there is no direct answer, and can change depending on the feelings of the reader. Samantha I like the sparsity of this haiku that reflects such a complex web of thoughts. An expectant mother has many thoughts to collect, thoughts about the pregnancy, her body, the new baby, the doctor’s appointments, the things the baby will need, financial concerns, perhaps her own birth or childhood, her parents, grandparents, siblings, and etc. In this haiku she is trying to bring them together, perhaps to reconcile some things or balance needs I the various areas. For all this, the still pond is the place to go, even if it is only in one’s imagination. Betty |
batter up Heather Dolye (3) This haiku is a great description of the pride a parent feels each time their kid steps up to the plate to bat. I feel the pride looking through the chain-linked fence. However, It was me looking at myself batting through my own father’s eyes. I could feel his emotions and thoughts that were running through his head each time I stepped up to the plate. I could also feel the nerves a parent might get watching their child. Maybe the batter was a clutch hitter and the team was down by 1, bases loaded, and 2 outs. All the tornadoes need is one hardball hit to the outfield that drops. I wish I could go back to playing on my high school softball team. I miss the enthusiasm and excitement about the game. Hannah |
tears in her eyes Samantha Bies This is a nice one because it took me back to the time when my mom first seen me take a drink. She didn’t really cared if I drank, but just didn’t want me to get carried away with it. I never came stumbling in but I know if I did my mom wouldn’t be happy. Making my mom cry is never on the agenda and I will avoid that anyway I could. She could be mad that I even allowed myself to drive seeing how unstable I was. Drinking and driving probably wouldn’t be the best idea and the consequences could be life threaten. I think this one is just a mom being a mom and caring for their young. TJ |
Sunday Heather Dolye (3) |
graduation day Heather Dolye (3) |
quick grocery store trip Heather Dolye (7) The haiku is light hearted. Someone makes a quick decision to run to the store hoping to not see anyone they know. Wearing no makeup expresses their vulnerability. The last line really tied the haiku together. Revealing numerous run ins with acquaintances. Kailey This haiku also made me laugh, because of how typical this situation is. I pictured myself, needing something small, only one thing, from the grocery store to complete my meal for the night, and I run into a big group of people from my class in high school. It is a very awkward situation, seeing as though I haven’t talked to them in years and haven’t seen any of them around. I can relate to the part about not wearing any makeup, and how it isn’t necessarily embarrassing but since I haven’t seen them in a while, and I look different that I would if I got ready that day. I like the ellipses after the second line, making me pause and think about what could happen next at the grocery store. At first I thought maybe this person will meet someone they like and fall in love with later, but no, they are seeing people from the past, not the future. Emily
|
floating away Samantha Bies |
Hannah Mahr (6) I love the simplicity of this. For me, because I’m very familiar with the problem of addiction, I went straight to that issue, though this may have been just one occasion for the individual in the poem. I’ve heard alcoholics say that one drink is too many, but 100 are not enough. Betty |
Kailey Hurst (2) |
the booster seat child Heather Dolye (2) |
I look up to the sky Megan McGurr (5) I imagine a teenager sneaking out of their window to look at stars on their roof. I imagine them looking up into the sky contemplating life. I think the person is missing a loved one. When they look into the sky, they see all the beautiful, twinkling stars. One star is especially bright, and they take comfort believing that is their loved one. Alizarin |
corner desk |
my black pants fit Heather Dolye (7) |
reluctantly Kailey Hurst (4) |
her eyes open Samantha Bies (2) |
candlelight Heather Dolye (5) I like this haiku because it paints a cozy, warm image. I picture two people sitting closely together, candlelight brightening the den. I picture antique tea cups, and bookshelves on the walls. I picture an intimate moment shared between two people. Alizarin |
matching Uriah Walker |
sheets cover the ground Samantha Bies (2) This is very mysterious. At first read I didn’t understand the potential depth this haiku entails. The reader can create a murder scene in their mind. I get the impression the dead body is female or a small child. The small prints could even be from an animal living on a farm out in the country. The intruder was unexpected and maybe the victim was trying to flee the area for protection. This haiku is open ended and leaves many unanswered questions. Kailey |
fork in the road |
that evening Betty Hartnett (2) |
each night |
in the fresh snow Samantha Bies (3) I like this haiku because it can be read in many ways. I like that they used snow, I feel like it gives it a colder and sadder feeling. Someone out wandering in the cold. I also like that they added the word “lonely”. It doesn’t give too much away but it lets the reader understand that the person is alone. No one walking beside them. And the last line, I like because it’s almost like this person is going nowhere, but everywhere at the same time. They are wandering aimlessly with no point of destination. It makes you wonder what they are thinking. Or what had happened to make them want or need to leave alone. It leaves a lot up for imagination and I love that. Megan |
|
empty nest, Hannah Mahr (3) |
© 2016, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.