you smile
a snowflake
lands on your nose

Allie Bonk

to live simply
tulip dipped
in rain

Harrison Atkins

car windows down
radio blasting
hand flowing through the wind

Allie Bonk

our toes in the sand
oh      the full moon

Caitlin Marshall

you smile
a snowflake
lands on your nose

car windows down
radio blasting
hand flowing through the wind

you smile
a snowflake
lands on your nose

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

a tadpole amongst the frogs
i scoop him up into a jar
late bloomer

bottom quarter champion

a tadpole amongst the frogs
i scoop him up into a jar
late bloomer

truck shaking off the morning 
ready for 
a fun day

a tadpole amongst the frogs
i scoop him up into a jar
late bloomer

fresh brewed
she takes a sip
good morning Monday

Ashley Galloway

truck shaking off the morning 
ready for 
a fun day

Eli Hartsfield

a tadpole amongst the frogs
i scoop him up into a jar
late bloomer

Mira Burens

youngest of three
a voice
that could direct traffic

Sarah Obert

TOP half champion

a tadpole amongst the frogs
i scoop him up into a jar
late bloomer

CHAMPION

a tadpole amongst the frogs
i scoop him up into a jar
late bloomer
 

my father
tucks the dog in
like his third child

BOTTOM half champion

packed ice rink
a single
outstretched hand

Sam Thornburg

monkey mind
jumps and leaps
into the GORGE

Parag Sachdeva

home from college
grandpa hands me
a beer

Jenny Tullis

my father
tucks the dog in
like his third child

Mira Burens

packed ice rink
a single
outstretched hand

my father
tucks the dog in
like his third child

my father
tucks the dog in
like his third child

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

my father
tucks the dog in
like his third child

bottom quarter champion

I queue
a love song
he skips it

beams of light
through the screen door
truth comes out

I queue
a love song
he skips it

beams of light
through the screen door
truth comes out

Ron Bond

squinted eyes peer
down a         long hall
it echoes with laughter

Caitlin Marshall

I watch in awe
the hands that held me
caress piano keys

Sarah Obert

I queue
a love song
he skips it

Jenny Tullis

you smile
a snowflake
lands on your nose

Allie Bonk

to live simply
tulip dipped
in rain

Harrison Atkins

car windows down
radio blasting
hand flowing through the wind

Allie Bonk

our toes in the sand
oh      the full moon

Caitlin Marshall

I liked this pair, and it was the hardest haiku for me to pick between in this collection of haiku. The delicate nature of the both of them was what drew my eyes to both of them. They both also have very distinct seasons that they embody, winter and spring. I especially liked the way the second was written. I can visibly see the tulip with water droplets over it. Both of these haiku give me cool colors, like variations of purples and blues. Caitlin Marshall, January 2021

fresh brewed
she takes a sip
good morning Monday

Ashley Galloway

truck shaking off the morning 
ready for 
a fun day

Eli Hartsfield

a tadpole amongst the frogs
i scoop him up into a jar
late bloomer

Mira Burens

youngest of three
a voice
that could direct traffic

Sarah Obert

I liked this haiku because it brought back a lot of memories from my childhood. My family is very animal-friendly, and we would take care of a lot of animals that needed help. So this haiku reminds me of all the animals we took in.
More specifically, it reminds me of when I found a toad in my garden and decided to keep it as a pet. I put him in a fish tank with a bunch of dirt and stuff, my dad and I went out and bought crickets for it too. But sadly, the toad disappeared in the tank and nobody in my house noticed for a while. Eventually, we went digging in the fish tank and found the toad… And by found him, I mean we found his skeleton. We have taken care of a bunch of other animals too (that did not die). The following are animals we have taken care of: three baby bunnies, a baby raccoon that fell out of a tree, a baby squirrel, a baby bird, and a baby skunk. My family nursed all of the animals until a rehabber took them in. The only animal we ever got feedback from was the three bunnies: once they were released, the smallest bunny died, but the other two were fine. Allie Bonk, January 2021

packed ice rink
a single
outstretched hand

Sam Thornburg

monkey mind
jumps and leaps
into the GORGE

Parag Sachdeva

home from college
grandpa hands me
a beer

Jenny Tullis

my father
tucks the dog in
like his third child

Mira Burens

Again, this haiku brought memories from my childhood. When I was little, my dad and I would go skating a lot. This haiku reminds me of a specific moment when I was on the ice. My brother and dad were skating around, and I was gliding into the middle of the rink when I fell and landed on my knees. My younger brother’s friend (who was much older- maybe around 20?) came and asked if I was alright and he held his hand towards me to help me stand back up. My little brother also plays hockey, so this also reminds me of whenever he would fall down (or get pushed down) while he was playing a game. Allie Bonk, January 2021

I absolutely love the way these two Haiku represent this coming-of-age type of affection. Both are sentimental to me, but in very different ways. One shows the transition from youth to adulthood, through the way one’s elders begin to treat them differently. I remember when I first started to drink comfortably in front of my parents, and it was the oddest experience ever. I also love the way both of these Haiku represent a fatherly- figure, or a paternal type figure. The second Haiku is particularly sentimental to me, because I saw my own father with my late dog. The way my dad treated my dog, especially towards the end of her life, is something of wonder to me. I remember overhearing him speak to her, and when I went to travel abroad my Junior year, he would send me videos of the two of them on walks. Both Haiku represent a way older men are capable of connecting with animals and youth. Sarah Obert, January 2021

This haiku reminds me of my dad and his close relationship with our four cats. We have a black cat named Charlie (he is the sweetest cat ever, a dream cat), and he and my dad are buddies. My dad wakes up at 5 am every day to feed the cats and give charlie treats.
Charlie is a very vocal cat, so whenever he is laying on the kitchen counter and my dad passes him, he always had to meow at my dad (almost like they are having a conversation). Charlie also knows that his treats are in our pantry, so whenever someone opens the door (more specifically: me or my dad), he jumps on the counter (or goes to the edge of the counter if he is already on the counter) and meows/stares at us because he thinks we went in the pantry to give him treats. So, I really liked this haiku because it reminded me of the strong bond my dad holds with my cat charlie, and it also describes how my bond with my cat mason is (mason is sort of a bully, but he’s also a huge lap cat- he mostly lays on my though). Allie Bonk, January 2021

beams of light
through the screen door
truth comes out

Ron Bond

squinted eyes peer
down a         long hall
it echoes with laughter

Caitlin Marshall

I watch in awe
the hands that held me
caress piano keys

Sarah Obert

I queue
a love song
he skips it

Jenny Tullis

I loved this haiku. It is beautifully written. It paints in my mind the image of a grandparent playing the piano and the grandchild, all grown now, watching. It’s that sense of comfort you get. It’s the realization that those are the same hands that held your tiny body. It’s amazing. Ashley Galloway, January 2021

I enjoyed this haiku. I have never liked the same music as my family. I’m always the one that says, “Oh, I love this song” and they all look at me like something is wrong with me. I never win by the way. Ashley Galloway, January 2021