climbing the lilac tree
i cut the branches
to put in your hair
Mira Burens |
behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza
Jenny Tullis |
eyes locked
still
heart racing
Jakob Henderson |
the glance of
her eyes—
gentle as a river's sound
Nick Sablan |
behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza |
the glance of
her eyes—
gentle as a river's sound |
|
behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza
top
quarter champion |
|
First Third Chamption
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
|
bottom
quarter champion
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
|
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
|
her lips push against
my puffed up cheek
life isn’t all bad
|
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
Sarah Obert |
swirling party
you grabbed my hand
I only saw you
Jenny Tullis |
her lips push against
my puffed up cheek
life isn’t all bad
Harrison Atkins |
hot and heavy night
bright morning
she puts on my shirt
Eli Hartsfield |
|
TOP
half champion
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant |
|
CHAMPION
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
|
the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night
BOTTOM
half champion |
he gently places
a bright red rose
in her hair
Allie Bonk |
the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night
Nick Sablan |
a glitter of gold in your eyes
the color
I dyed my hair when you left
Sarah Obert |
a deep exhale
finally clears enough
to drink life in
Harrison Atkins |
the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night |
a glitter of gold in your eyes
the color
I dyed my hair when you left |
|
the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night
top
quarter champion |
|
Middle Third champion
the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night
|
bottom
quarter champion
last night here with you
same old songs
just once more
|
window shopping
a wedding dress
turns our cheeks red-hot
|
last night here with you
same old songs
just once more
|
window shopping
a wedding dress
turns our cheeks red-hot
Sarah Obert |
wedding bells
everyone waits
cold feet
Ashley Galloway |
renamed playlist
should have seen
this one coming
Jenny Tullis |
last night here with you
same old songs
just once more
Sam Thornburg |
the song you wrote
a whisper
to my heart
Sarah Obert |
her diary
a crimped corner
!
Sam Thornburg |
the indents—
in my bed
you left
Nick Sablan |
an empty house
knees bent in my bed
alone again
Harrison Atkins |
her diary
a crimped corner
! |
the indents—
in my bed
you left |
|
the indents—
in my bed
you left
top
quarter champion |
|
Bottom Third Chamption
the indents—
in my bed
you left
|
bottom
quarter champion
the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet
|
the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet
|
tears in my eyes
stomach coiled
oh how you make me laugh
|
the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet
Sam Thornburg |
smell of her perfume
these empty rooms
the door slams
Ashley Galloway |
tears in my eyes
stomach coiled
oh how you make me laugh
Harrison Atkins |
time apart
a stranger’s face
oh-those lips
Ashley Galloway |
© 2021, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.
climbing the lilac tree
i cut the branches
to put in your hair
Mira Burens |
behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza
Jenny Tullis |
eyes locked
still
heart racing
Jakob Henderson |
the glance of
her eyes—
gentle as a river's sound
Nick Sablan |
|
I remember my first kiss after reading this haiku. We were both extremely nervous as we snuck outside at lunch, but we had made a promise to meet that we both kept. She stood there looking at me waiting to make the first move while I was unsure if I should kiss her or wait for her to tell me it was okay. When the moment finally came it was more than what I expected. I enjoyed the kiss, and I can remember what we had that day because the taste has become a pleasant memory. Ron Bond, January 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
Sarah Obert |
swirling party
you grabbed my hand
I only saw you
Jenny Tullis |
her lips push against
my puffed up cheek
life isn’t all bad
Harrison Atkins |
hot and heavy night
bright morning
she puts on my shirt
Eli Hartsfield |
I absolutely love the way that this pair both give a feeling of vibrant intimacy. The first lines insinuate joy, vivaciousness, and perhaps multitudes of people. In the following lines, the poems turn from a larger scene, to something of intimacy between what I imagine are only two people. It’s such a wonderful feeling to share something with only one person. Sarah Obert, January 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
he gently places
a bright red rose
in her hair
Allie Bonk |
the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night
Nick Sablan |
a glitter of gold in your eyes
the color
I dyed my hair when you left
Sarah Obert |
a deep exhale
finally clears enough
to drink life in
Harrison Atkins |
|
My wife and I have always slept close together since we were married over 30 years ago. The need for intimacy supersedes temperature and anger. There are times when we separate but no matter what we wake up in the spoon position every morning. We both agree it is our need for closeness that keeps or relationship strong through adversity. Ron Bond, January 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
window shopping
a wedding dress
turns our cheeks red-hot
Sarah Obert |
wedding bells
everyone waits
cold feet
Ashley Galloway |
renamed playlist
should have seen
this one coming
Jenny Tullis |
last night here with you
same old songs
just once more
Sam Thornburg |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the song you wrote
a whisper
to my heart
Sarah Obert |
her diary
a crimped corner
!
Sam Thornburg |
the indents—
in my bed
you left
Nick Sablan |
an empty house
knees bent in my bed
alone again
Harrison Atkins |
the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet
Sam Thornburg |
her diary
a crimped corner
!
Sam Thornburg |
This was my favorite pair of the love haiku because of the perfect way these two are paired and, because of their vivid scenes. The first haiku was picked as the champion in the class and I completely agree, as it was also my favorite. Each poem uses a sense of empty space, or absence, to exaggerate their sadness. They are also both very personal, not only with their emotions but the bedroom area is normally a more remote/personal part of the living space. Caitlin Marshall, January 2021 |
I enjoyed the pairing of these two haiku because of the sense of innocent love they have when paired together. I know many people who in middle school, would’ve kept a straw they shared with their crush. An amulet to new love hidden out of pure embarrassment. The second haiku made me imagine someone young keeping a diary, writing about whatever current crush she was obsessed with, doodling hearts around their name on page after page of lined paper. Maybe on that day her crush asked her to the school dance, or they shared a drink, using the same straw. She marked that page in her diary so she could go back and pour over the words, still in disbelief about what happened on that day. Mira Burens, January 2021 |
This haiku ended up being crowned the champion and I think it is well deserved. I really liked the first line that uses an indent after pointing out the indent. This also helps paused the reader to visualize the imprint a person can make on a bed. The last line is also powerful for its double meaning. You left seems to refer to the imprints someone made on the bed, and the act of that person leaving more generally. We are left to wonder if they are gone for good, if they found someone else etc. It certainly left a sting saving that line for last. Harrison Atkins, January 2021 |
|
the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet
Sam Thornburg |
smell of her perfume
these empty rooms
the door slams
Ashley Galloway |
tears in my eyes
stomach coiled
oh how you make me laugh
Harrison Atkins |
time apart
a stranger’s face
oh-those lips
Ashley Galloway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
an empty house
knees bent in my bed
alone again
Harrison Atkins |
laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
Sarah Obert |
|
|
These two haiku showcase an “after and before” situation together, which I think is really great. The last haiku describes a long conversation between friends, relatives, or a significant other on the phone, while the first one describes what happens after they hang up. Perhaps it also describes visiting family/friends/SO and what happens after they leave. They fulfill each other and complement one another, having a sudden, short ending and a descriptive first two lines. It truly is strange how two independent haiku by two different writers can end up piecing together such a vivid, relatable scene. Sam Thornburg, January 2021 |
|
|
© 2021, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.