Haiku Kukai 2 • Global Haiku • Millikin University • June 2016
dances at the door Briana Curtis (7) |
tell me a secret Tives Gardner (2) |
dry Sahara Christa Hunt (3) |
night draws near Daniel Koffman (2) |
Dear Lord, |
the ravenous look |
I switch the tassle Christa Hunt (2) I enjoyed this poem because it reminds me of how I accomplished so much and I keep opening new doors in my life. Whether it was my 5th grade graduation or my high school graduation I have accomplished something great in my life and the 1st grade just resembles opening that next chapter in my life. I wish I still had my graduation cap and gown from back then. Ty I really like this poem. I feel as if this poem is a reference to me being a teacher. I am majoring in elementary education. Therefore, I might be teaching first grade one day. It also has the voice of being about how teachers have to deal with an administration. This sounds like the teacher is being forced to move 1st grade. Teachers and the administration at a school constantly clash with each other. I feel this poem captured this struggle. This poem can also read as a new teacher who has graduated from school. Overall, I enjoyed the feeling of this poem. Teresa |
my voice Teresa Brase (6) I found this poem very interesting because I like the use of space and planets because it adds more potential for vast imagination. It makes me feel relaxed at ease as the voice that comes out of me is in space but cannot be heard. It makes feel that no matter how much I tell someone a life lesson, they would not listen because the voice is lost in space. Rakan |
my lord please help |
prized pig |
birthday of a newborn |
the salty kiss Tives Gardner (5) |
unbridled laughter Christa Hunt I like this poem because it reminds me of sleepovers. Sleepovers are a time for friends to get together and have fun. There’s so many of you having fun and laughing obnoxiously, then suddenly you hear a knock at the door. After the knock you grow silent or become quiet. The silence and low voices does not last long because moments later you’re bursting into loud laughter again. A great way to enjoy any sleepover. Bri |
shadow play |
stepping on Teresa Brase (6) |
babysitting |
her hair defies gravity |
sometimes Briana Curtis (3) |
love Jasmine Gregory (6) This poem makes me think of my childhood and my adulthood. The basic meaning behind this poem is that the child has a splinter in their food. Therefore, someone who loves the child is removing the splinter from their foot. Another interpretation of this poem for me is removing a splinter from my mom. My mom is very squeamish about things like removing a splinter. I feel like I have transitioned from being a child to being a competent adult that can help my parents when I remove her splinter. Teresa |
bittersweet behind my teeth |
crisp beer |
pressing the button |
“you’re funny,” he says |
graceful execution Christa Hunt This haiku has really cool imagery in it. It brings to mind a scene in a high-end strip club, a dancer spinning around a pole. There are men in suits, men with brandy in their hands. They’re enraptured by this stripper, and she dances to burlesque music. “Graceful execution” is a great way to start this haiku, and when you end it with “arabesque,” it turns into a really beautiful poem about a stripper. A pretty poem about a dance-like action. Alexa |
magic lamp Alexa Duncan (4) |
audible smack— Daniel Koffman (7) |
pleasant ringtone |
rocking chair Emily Holthaus |
grandma |
tiny fingers Mackenzie Larrick (8) |
first date |
two Jasmine Gregory (2) |
frog lips Alexa Duncan (2) |
good skin |
cloaked in red Alexa Duncan (4) |
flashing lights |
porcelain Alexa Duncan (4) |
salad Christa Hunt (2) |
shots explode Christa Hunt (2) |
summer night |
blizzard warning |
are you satisfied |
summer night |
toys spread out Emily Holthaus The imagery is excellent in this haiku. You can instantly see the messy room and imagine all the fun that took place, leading to the nap that’s happening now. It gives a real sense of the enjoyment of life that is felt most especially when you are a child. Dan |
hair grows Alexa Duncan (4) |
I draw the same Daniel Koffman (5) |
ravens |
autumn breeze Emily Holthaus |
slyvia plath |
waking up Jasmine Gregory (2) |
pistol put away |
wrinkled hands Mackenzie Larrick (8) This haiku makes me imagine a daughter holding one of her grandparent’s hands in the hospital. I can hear complete silence except for that demanding clock ticking faster and faster. It appears to me in my head that these are the last few days for the older person, and the time is flying by for the daughter or granddaughter. It is extremely tough when someone is given their last few days in their lifetime. Emily |
sirens |
lightning strike Rakan Algatani (2) Using the words “lightning strike” to start this haiku really grabs your attention. Realizing that it is being used to describe a discussion between people immediately sets it in a very sudden, intense moment. You never know if a lightning strike is going to be this bright, amazing thing to watch or if it is going to burn something to the ground, but then in the next line you feel the let down as you read the word “tragedy.” It’s a great representation of those serious conversations that you know will only end wonderfully or horribly, with no in between. Mackenzie |
float like a butterfly Briana Curtis (5) |
he holds me tight Jasmine Gregory (5) This reminds me of the final goodbye between couples. Even in the final goodbye you feel the love between the two. They have a multiple understanding with one another where words are not necessary. The guy holding her tight signifies him not wanting to let her go as well as the protection he has been giving her. Bri |
the bend in my back |
charming Daniel Koffman (6) This haiku is what happens when Prince Charming gets too full of himself. He stands in front of his mirror, combing his hair, practicing his best smiles. He remembers a time where he charmed a girl he wasn’t particularly interested in. He only did it because his parents wanted him to. The girl falls in love with him, of course, and he doesn’t return her feelings. Charming, when he feels like it, when he wants to be. It requires no effort. Alexa |
beach chair Emily Holthaus (3) |
downward dog |
front yard turns upside down |
arched back |
the dog pose Teresa Brase (4) |
blood rushing |
as I cry on this floor Tives Gardner (5) |
lifting iron Rakan Algatani (5) |
the empty monster Teresa Brase (5) I had two different readings of this haiku. The first is more literal in a health sense. The heart is a monster inside of your body that controls whether you live or die. It never stops beating because it is always hungry for blood. In a more figurative sense, the heart is like a monster that is desperate for fulfillment. It wants to be loved and cherished by others, so it is always hungry for affection. Mackenzie This to me seems to be a letter to the person from their heart. The heart has a high metabolism for love. The little bit of love or maybe the abundance of love given is not enough. It just leaves the heart wanting more. The heart seems to be crying out in this moment letting the owner know that it needs more. I feel like the last two lines serves as like a signature letting the owner know to keep the love coming because the heart will always want more. The heart will never be too full for more. Christa |
deep breath |
to lift or not to lift the drumstick Christa Hunt (4) |
young boy does the splits Daniel Koffman (4) |
zero altitude |
a slow bouncing jog |
frigid morning air |
sweating like a rainstorm |
legs in the form of a pretzel Emily Holthaus (4) I really like this Haiku because it gives a very serene feeling. I get a very spiritual occurrence. This person is deep in meditation deep, into yoga. The person is sitting very still however their soul is moving and not just moving but raising. Maybe the person had a bad day and is releasing the earlier stress. It this case the soul might have started off a little heavy. As the yoga ensues the day is washed away by peaceful and the calm feeling of quiet. Christa |
whimper |
sunlight dapples Alexa Duncan (2) |
bees buzz Alexa Duncan (2) This haiku made me smell a coffee mug as the caffeine goes through my body, which makes me want to fill the mug again to fell the pleasurable experience. Rakan |
dark blue jeans |
days slowly go by |
running Jasmine Gregory (4) I loved this poem! It reminds so much of myself fits ridiculous. My father has been a coach my whole life, he was my coach in middle school and he taught me everything I know about the game of basketball. Now that I graduate I to have a coaching job back in my home town and looking forward to fallowing the steps of my father. Ty |
sweat soaks Mackenzie Larrick (4) I can relate to this haiku as someone who doesn’t care much for exercise, but who was forced to stay in shape for years while serving in the Air Force. I spent countless hours sweating and wondering how much longer it would last, how many more push-ups to do, or laps to run. Only really knowing that no matter what, I couldn’t give up. Dan |
the balance of Briana Curtis (6) |
melodic give and take Christa Hunt |
nasty florida water |
blister covered feet Mackenzie Larrick (2) |
20 pounds Briana Curtis (8) This haiku to me is extremely relatable to many past and current experiences. Trying to stay fit and healthy is harder than it seems and it is hard to keep striving to make yourself better. Not that I necessarily try to lose weight, this poem reminds me of some people who make New Years’ resolutions who maybe set their goals too high for what they can truly do and make progress at. I see a person saying, “I’m going to lose 20 pounds.” Then a couple weeks later they move down to 15 pounds, and then they just say fine I’ll start with 5 pounds. I sometimes make goals that are somewhat out of reach at the time, but I do eventually want to reach them. Emily |
© 2016, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.