Haiku Kukai 1 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • July 2017
the sleeping beauty Hailey Sharp I particularly enjoyed this haiku as it reminded me of my daughter, who will be turning eight next month. It flooded me with memories of rocking her to sleep when she was littler. I found this haiku to be moving, provoking fond memories, and comforting. The first line reminds of my daughter's princess obsession. I feel that this helped to further the imagery, and provide depth. The last line punctuated the haiku by specifically identifying, and almost paying homage to, the father-daughter relationship. Thomas |
voice of an angel Thomas Friend I really like the change up in this poem. I like that you "think" it's the mother singing to the child, but in reality it's the child sings to the mother, or father for that matter. I am not a mother yet, but I can't wait to be. I suppose in due time that will happen. I also like how sweet, and just innocent this is. There is nothing greater than a love between a parent and a child. I may not have human children yet, but I do have a four legged basset hound that has me wrapped around her finger. There isn't much, if anything I wouldn't do for that dog. Hailey |
the distant cricket Hailey Sharp |
to be three again Thomas Friend |
my youngest daughter Sean Dial |
treasure trove Jennifer Yeakley |
fading light |
fog covers the ground Norman Mears |
FECAL EXPLOSION! Thomas Friend |
moment of silence |
lost but not forgotten Thomas Friend I could relate to this haiku. I have lost something at least once in my lifetime. Checking where it should be, leaving to check somewhere else, and going back to the original place is in all of us. We are programmed to leave certain items in a certain place and after not finding that item, we still return to that area. We return with hope that it has some how returned to where it is suppose to be. The author then reveals in the end, that these are the steps they take in finding that certain item that was originally lost. I liked how the wording was placed. Norman |
into the darkness, I ride |
needle laid down |
pepperoni pizza from Monical's Norman Mears This is so true! I have gotten to the point where I do not like to eat any kind of pizza without Monical's French dressing. It is their staple product and I will even take it with me to other pizza restaurants. I am not a huge fan of ranch dressing so I cannot imagine eating my pizza with ranch. Nick |
eight zero eight Norman Mears I found this haiku to be humorous, and a reflection of life for the average Joe. Somebody is always getting lucky, but never him. The first two lines build excitement, anticipation, and hope. The last line crushes any hope, and replaces it with frustration. I was able to actually picture myself in my truck with a scratch-off, finding yet another loser, and cursing myself for having wasted money on it. Thomas |
rain delay Jennifer Yeakley |
still |
sweat dripping from his brow Hailey Sharp |
cold December morning |
rain-streaked window Thomas Friend |
night's first stars Thomas Friend |
snowed in |
sunshine is shining |
the setting sun Hailey Sharp I miss the days of making the trip to the local pumpkin patch. Once my kids grew older, and I was the only one who remained in the kitchen to finish carving pumpkins, I decided to end the tradition. When they were younger, each of my four children would delight in picking out their very own pumpkin. My youngest daughter would pick the closest one that didn't look too muddy (she has never been terribly particular). My oldest son would take hours if you let him so that he could find the perfect one. Either way, the memories are so very sweet. Jennifer |
paved country road |
country road |
Graham Crackers on top Zachary Dilbeck |
me time Nick Adams Sometimes in life the best thing is to just have time to yourself to relax and think about life. There were many times when I enjoyed getting up in the morning and driving 40 minutes to my work. It not only allowed me to wake up by the time I was at work but it allowed me to think about life. They say that the best therapy at times is “me time”. There are very little distractions and you are able to clear your head and think about what needs to happen. Zach |
steady as a metronome |
on a crisp morning |
the welder strikes an arc |
blueprints on the desk |
afraid of needles Norman Mears I like this Haiku because it sort of contradicts itself. The fact that someone who hates needled and is on their seventh tattoo is just interesting to me. I like that the person is afraid of the needled but is willing to accept it for the tattoo. Nick |
camp fire roars |
acre of green grass |
six seconds Brandon Suwanpratest Eight simple words to describe forty minutes of high school football. Depicting that it is on a Friday night, gives the high school football feel. Almost every town in America has at least one team. Smaller towns live, breath, and help support these nights. Some of these players are even held to a celebrity status. That status is determined on what happens on the football field between the first whistle blown, the six seconds of play, and the whistle blown to signify the end the play. Norman I really liked this haiku for several reasons, the most obvious one being the fact that I played four years of football. This makes it very dear to my heart. Another thing I like about this one was how it gave you a timeframe with the first line. Six seconds. Your mind is racing is something happening in six seconds or is that the timeframe in which it will happen. And then, with two more lines, it paints the entire picture of the Friday night football game. Your mind fills in all the blanks of the sweat and Gatorade, the caramel apples and popcorn, the chill in the air and the smell of competition… Sean |
field lines painted Zachary Dilbeck This Haiku reminds me of early Saturday mornings going out to football practice after Friday Night games back in high school. Also, reminds me of Wednesday morning practices at 6 am in college. The smell of the dew and the sight of the sunlight reaching across the fields. All of us knowing that we did not want to be there that early. Always brings back the good days of being young and excited about mornings. Brandon |
crack of the bat |
ground ball to second Norman Mears This haiku made me laugh. I have two boys who played t-ball. Neither of them loved playing the sport. They liked the uniform with their name boldly printed on the back of their shirt. They enjoyed the snacks that each mom would take turns providing. Their primary motivation for playing was to socialize as all the neighborhood kids were playing. I have spent countless hours sitting in my lawn chair cheering them on when they are up to bat. My oldest son was often chosen to play outfield. He would be the boy in this poem creating his bouquet. Memories of grass stained uniforms came to mind as I remember him rolling around in the outfield lost in his imagination. Jennifer |
the pool boy sweeps |
red nose and wig Norman Mears This one stuck out to me because of the red nose and big shoes. This is the story about a clown. One thing is that I do not care for clowns. They wear too much makeup and are always having a creepy smile on their face. The other big reason I do not care for clowns is because of the movie “IT”. This movie is about a creepy clown that lives in the sewer. I saw this movie at a young age and ever since I was never a fan of them again. Zach |
full moon glowing Norman Mears |
train whistle |
sun rising over trees |
faded tie dye |
with blurred vision Norman Mears This one really stood out to me because it's a real life situation. Everyone at sometime or another has had a little too much to drink. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't done this more than once in my life. This poem lets your mind wander as well. You could say that this specific person is having so much fun they don't want to stop drinking. You could also go the other way with it, such as drinking to forget the pain, or certain memories. When I read this my mind wanders to the darkside, probably because I've been there before. I once said I'm not drinking for the heck of it, but to numb heck of it. Hailey |
chill Thomas Friend This Haiku brings me back to last summer, when I was working at the baseball fields all summer long. Then I would come back home during my break or for the night and grab a cold beer from the fridge. I think the chill of a long neck as the bottle's neck from the fridge and of course the tired hand is that of my own. Brandon |
sitting on the porch Nick Adams |
bumpy dirt road Hailey Sharp |
staring into the fire Thomas Friend I really like this one as well. This haiku relates to probably 95% of the entire human race. Nearly all of us at one time or another have looked into a fire, let our mind relax, and thought about things in our life that we really would have liked to change or at least done a little differently. The fact that this haiku is so universal and is relatable to so many people is probably my favorite part. By reading this one haiku in which so many people can relate makes a common thread between them all and in some small way, finds you all together. This causes me to feel a sense of unity with all these other people, though small it might be… Sean |
chipped paint Nick Adams |
too warm |
dazzling morning sun Randy Brooks |
morning dew Jennifer Yeakley |
© 2017, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.