pull back the ivy
and hold back shriek
your name on a grave

lurking eyes
cold cabin wood floor
faces

Quentin Key (3)

her goodbyes
are silent
her last Christmas

Rachel Asifiwe

I feel the brush
of lips touch my brow—
death

bloody hands
shaking after the deed
What have I done?

Bayleigh Tabor (4)

This one I found to be very intriguing, very dark, and it formed a very clear picture but still left you wonder; what was the deed, was it a human or animal victim, how many? I was also sort of feeling in the dark mood last night in a few of the haiku’s that I wrote so I really appreciated this one! I also think that the capitalization of what in the last line and ending with a question mark really adds to it. Sydney

I look across the horizon
men like ants
how many shall die?

Sydney Brangenberg (3)

in a nursing home
too hard to breathe
as she leaves

Rachel Asifiwe (2)

after the fight
my shadow stays
as everyone leaves

Rachel Asifiwe (4)

This is my other favorite one because of the imagery and meaning behind it. I picture a big fight between a friend group or an assembly of people. Differences are prevalent and cause a large fuss between these people. After the fight, everyone leaves the room with the idea that the conflict was solved. Or everyone leaves in frustration. Either way, the shadow left in the room says a lot about how one person is affected. The shadow left behind could be the closeness that they had for the other people in the room, which is now damaged. The shadow could also be the things that were left unsaid in the argument. There is a serious sense of lingering feelings and an unfinished business left behind in this haiku. Nathan

light
room cloaked
in smoke

Quentin Key

shaking hands
with dark thoughts
the weight of a heavydirtysoul

the car pulls up
it takes me away
leaving my shadow behind

Sarah Hoadley (2)

monuments blush
at the sights
they see

the holidays
of empty promises
divorced parents

Bayleigh Tabor (3)

looking over a shoulder
knowing       everything
hands tighten

Nathan Heppermann

This haiku intrigued me, through the interpretation and the setup of the haiku. When reading this, I imagine someone who knows important information. This information is infuriating him though, so he lingers behind the person with tightened hands; as if that will restrain himself from telling the secret information. The line break in this haiku makes the reading more dramatic and draws me into it. The phrase, ‘looking over a shoulder’, paints me a good visual of the setting. Overall, I think the author worded this fantastically. Sarah

walking along
the dusty isle . . .
which book to choose

Sydney Brangenberg (2)

little girl
tugs at her
mother's dress

Bayleigh Tabor (3)

as we reach the land
he stands
and waves the flag

woodchips on the ground
anxiously wait
to be played on by the children

Bayleigh Tabor (2)

melting snow
quietly reveals
a lost treasure

Nathan Heppermann (3)

elderly woman
sews and sews
her needle breaks

Bayleigh Tabor

mid breath
my heart stops
looking into her eyes

Nathan Heppermann (6)

I like how this can be movie scene like with the last breath being in the arms of your loved ones knowing that they with be alright without you. And the other being the feeling of seeing the girl of your dreams and she takes your breath because she is stunning. Quentin

in a desert
a drop of water
counted as rain

Rachel Asifiwe (3)

This haiku has a double meaning; in that it can be interpreted in a literal and metaphorical sense. A drop of water in the desert could seem like a lot. On the other hand, in life sometimes the smallest of things make the biggest impact. Something that seems insignificant, in fact means a lot to someone. Whether if it is helping someone with their misfortune or brightening someone’s day, the smallest acts can have the biggest ripple effects. Sarah

I like the double reading that this haiku presents. It offers a lucid example of what is occurring in the haiku. Typically, a desert is a vast area with sand, dirt, and a lot of sunlight. Everything in the desert has either adapted to the extreme temperatures, or is in constant searching of resources. From humans to plants alike, even a small amount of resources will do. This drop of water could come from a water bottle or just one drop of precipitation from a rain cloud. Either way, this drop means a lot to the receiver as it is counted as a large blessing of rain. The second means to count every blessing, big or small, as something that is wonderful in your life. Especially in a time of need, even the smallest bit of compassion can go a long way. Nathan

in a dark room
she cries
as the bell rings outside

eclipsed sun
mirrors
a watchful iris

at the grave
he cries
as he sings

Rachel Asifiwe (2)

a piano
in the woods
only performs in the rain

Nathan Heppermann (5)

This one is probably my favorite out of all of the ones that were on this sheet! I play the piano, love the piano ad music in general so I was drawn to it. When reading it, I could clearly picture this old, broken down piano in the woods that was abandoned, longing for someone to come and play a tune on the keys. Then a storm will come and the only time it makes any noise, the keys are hit, is when the raindrops fall. I can hear the sounds, the rain falling and the inconsistent, random notes playing from the piano. Sydney

dancing with pointed toes
the lady
quickly runs away

dark stranger
i've not known you long
yet feel true love

Bayleigh Tabor (2)

This is a romantic haiku, which attract my intention. I describe my self as a person who falls in love quickly as long as the other person makes me believe in his love. It does not matter how well you know the person, love can become stronger than expected. I imagine myself loving someone who I have known for a longtime but the love might not be the true one. No matter how you meet a stranger, as long as the love is true, he can be the true one. Rachel

This gives me a few different reads the first one being the feeling that you get when you run into some that you don’t truly know. But exchange but for just a moment, and it isn’t unpleasant in any way. And after that moment you feel the true connection made and long for another chance to learn more about that stranger that could be the one true love. Quentin

wedding day
dress doesn't fit well
couple fits perfectly

Sarah Hoadley (3)

My uncle’s weeding was postponed because the dress of her fiancée and bridesmaid were not well designed. I was so upset because my uncle was ready for the ceremony but her wife could not let the weeding happened. This haiku is a good one for what has happened to my uncle’s weeding. What matters, is the way the couple fits not their outfits. I consider the dressing and all other stuff of the couple as accessories, they are not very important than he couple. Rachel

from the moon
to the sun
here I come

Rachel Asifiwe (3)

wonderful memories
slip through my fingers
         there
                     she
                              goes

Nathan Heppermann (6)

in and out
of the morning's winter fog
the runner ahead of me

opens the bible and kneels
to pray . . .
yet still no answer

Bayleigh Tabor (4)