fallen angel
where did
you come from?

Matthew Marrero (4)

When writing this haiku, I purposely made it have an endless question. Where did you come from? What does the fallen angel symbolize, a person? An object, an opportunity? We all had the feeling of finding something that has impacted our lives. Matt

yellow school bus in sight
a new student hugs her lunchbox
to her chest

kitchen counter
tiny hands swatted away
from the candy bowl

Karmina Gant (2)

I liked this poem as well because the imagery is colorful. I can picture a clear candy bowl filled with colorful candy that is tempting the little hands of a child or children to reach their tiny hands inside. The haiku is simple, but the wording had detailed content. Jessica

rainy Thursday
son playing soccer
we cheer

being Italian
wondering who am I
in the family

Daniel Rivera (3)

I really enjoyed this haiku because I felt it told a whole story about what was on that person’s mind. I feel as if this person is kind of speaking out about who he is in his family. I like how he isn’t just speaking out about who he in the whole spectrum of being Italian but he narrows it down to inside his family. I also feel like this haiku is easy to relate to because many people wonder who they are at times and where their place is. I thought it was great that he made “being Italian” as one of the main phrases because it gave an image but also tells a story in its own. Karmina

an only child
his dog
forever a best friend

baggy eyes
last night’s pajamas
sunny side up

Jessica Joyner (3)

church choir
talking children in the pews
flicked on the ear

Jessica Joyner (5)

knock knock knock!
bright sunshine
one eye open

tiny black skirt
dark eye make-up 
two pigtails

Kiava Plato (2)

small girl cries
mother is gone
no faith

mother hen 
with a house full of kids 
no children of my own 

Kiava Plato (3)

front door open
friends come and go
a second home

Lena Rotramel (5)

I really enjoyed this poem because I could relate to it the most. The way that the author described the coming and going of friends made me think that friends come in and out of our lives, or friends are coming in and out of our homes because they have made it their second home. Both ideas are relatable, and are true. Jessica

cold beer and laughter
barbecue smoke lingers
on our clothes

Lena Rotramel (3)

a gentle river
on the banks
we roast marshmallows

the smell of barbeque
shuffling cards
with families reuniting

string of lights
on the Christmas tree
angel in the snow

Jessica Joyner (3)

pin striped pants
mud stain
mosquito bites

gliding through water
ripples turn to waves
relaxing

colorful kayaks
coasting in clear water
a family

Matthew Marrero

midnight rain
wet and cold
feeling incomplete

watching caterpillars
do they know
how much more they can be

Karmina Gant (4)

Caterpillars aren't aware of their full potential, that they can be beautiful butterflies. I think this can apply to children as well especially minorities. Children think because they are small or different that they can't accomplish much but they have their whole life ahead of them and they can be whatever they want. Kiev

crisp air
cousins playing hide-n-seek
rosy cheeks

Karmina Gant (3)

snow falling hard
warm under soft covers
mom whispers snow day

gathering a pile of leaves 
talking to myself 
no one in sight

Kiava Plato (2)

disabled brother 
leaves me alone 
to play in pile of leaves

Kiava Plato (3)

one last summer barbecue
laughter gets louder
sunlight lingers

Karmina Gant (3)

sunrise over the ocean
sipping coffee on the balcony
one woman jogging on the beach

a deep sadness
he wraps his arms around me
a new beginning

Lena Rotramel (5)

I enjoyed this one because of the story behind it and the message it is sending. It gives a great description of what they are trying to do and how they are going to stat fresh the next day. I feel like the best situation for this would be a married couple or a couple that has been dating for years and just went through a rough patch. Daniel

Reading this haiku made me think of a relationship where the woman feels secured. The symbolisms to being wrapped around a mans arms are a type of protection or a feeling of warmth. At the end where it says “a new beginning” it could be depicted as hardship being renewed. Matt

overwhelmed by trash
urine on the floor
a new puppy

Lena Rotramel (4)

This was my favorite because when I started it I had no idea it was going to end with it being about a new puppy that made the trash and urine on the floor. I thought it was surprising that it started with more of a negative approach but ended up being positive in my mind because it was about a new puppy. I could picture a person who just got this new puppy and the puppy got into the trash and pulled it all out on the floor in the middle of the night or while the owner was gone and on top of that there is also urine on the floor but to the owner it may be worth it. Overwhelming but worth it for a new puppy. Karmina

bomb pops
blue lips
smiling faces

Jessica Joyner (2)

cold shots to the back
fire hydrant water
in the streets

thinking of her
on a rainy day
silent home

Matthew Marrero (4)

stepping stones on the creek
a confident step
soaked shorts

purple porch sunset
my cigarette slowly burns
alone at last

Lena Rotramel

once again joined
getting married
to the whole family

Daniel Rivera (3)