Haiku Kukai 01
Global Haiku • Millikin University • May 2021
1 home alone Nick Laramee •• |
2 her wrinkled Tanya Vaughn • |
3 the courthouse hallway Tanya Vaughn • This haiku had a beautiful message to me. An unfortunate part of our society is that there are an obscenely large number of children in foster care systems. More often than not we hear the stories of the horrors these kids deal with. I personally knew a few kids who were exposed to the dark side of this system as they bounced from foster home to foster home. To read this poem and have it invoke the image of a happy family that is making an adoption official is a beautiful feeling that shows that while there is a dark side, there are is a light that shines through as well. Austin Medina, May 2021 |
4 my first Tanya Vaughn • This haiku shows communicates the love and affection that a mother has for her first born. I picture a young mother just days after giving birth, that spends hours a day just rocking in the an old rocking chair putting her baby to sleep, feeding him, or singing to him. I also feel like this was written way after her first born was birthed, and it is a mother who is reflecting on the past of proudly raising her child. Nick Laramee, May 2021 |
5 mother obsessed Nick Laramee •• This Haiku was one of my top favorites because I could totally relate. My mom's birthday is actually on Halloween, so you know she is into all the scary movies and murder shows. I can always remember coming downstairs and she would be watching criminal minds, NCIS, or either any classic horror film. So, I guess you could say she is obsessed haha. Jake Pietryk, May 2021 |
6 winter exhale |
7 dad’s shoulders Tanesha Williams ••• This haiku has such a nostalgic vibe to it. I picture a small child receiving a piggyback ride from their father in a local park. The father then pulls the spin in circle technique that almost every kid has received at some point in their life. I can just picture the overwhelming excitement and laughter that is coming from the child. Although it doesn’t say in the haiku, you can tell that the child and the father have a close relationship. Nick Laramee, May 2021 |
8 drained and exhausted Tanesha Williams •• I love this haiku mostly because it makes me think of work and wanting to just go home and relax. I remember when I was working, and this is what happened. Working a summer day from six am to six pm. I was energetic and excited all day at work. But the twelve-hour shift was staring to take a toll on my body. About an hour from when I was able to leave, I cleaned everything I could, which only made me more tired. I drove home halfway awake. I remember getting home and wanting to enjoy the feeling of just sitting and doing nothing. I laid down on my bed and before I knew it, I was asleep. It only took maybe two seconds for me to fall asleep because of how tired I was. The next morning, I woke up wide awake and I had a great night’s rest. Sometimes the more exhausted I am the better I sleep. I always love the hustle and bustle of my job which is probably why I like this haiku. However, I also like the feeling of getting home and just being ready to sleep. Jacey Centola, May 2021 I liked this haiku because it is so relatable, and I can picture it in my mind. After a busy day of working or studying, I am usually very tired and can knock out easily. Especially since I have been home for summer vacation. I feel like I am always on the move doing something, whether if it is with friends, family, or by myself. At the end of the day, I am drained, mentally and physically, and am ready for sleep. The poem makes me picture that, me just walking into my room, doing the bare minimum to get ready for bed, and my head hitting the pillow. Leana Temple, May 2021 |
9 that door is closed Leana Temple ••• I like the way this haiku starts in all lowercase and transitions to all uppercase. As the size of letters changes, so does the emotion; it builds. I wonder about the door… to a car, a house, or their heart. Whatever door it is, they are not opening it again. This haiku makes the message clear. They are done. Well written and brings many emotions up. Tanya Vaughn, May 2021 |
10 late night Tanesha Williams •• This reminds me of when me and all of my cousins would run around the yard at night with no shoes on playing hide and go seek and then getting called by our parents telling us that it is time to leave and that we need to go wash the dirt off our feet before getting in the cars. When I read this, I see kids running all around the yard in the pitch black with flashlights. I can hear laughter and parents yelling at the kids to not hide in certain places. I also see parents getting mad at their kids for getting all dirty. Caitlyn Kesler, May 2021 |
11 5.5 hours in the chair |
12 6AM Leana Temple •• I absolutely love this Haiku because I start all my mornings this way. I work at a coffee shop, so I love coffee. I always have a coffee before I do anything else because it is like I can’t function without it. Coffee is always the start of my day. I imagine the sun rising on little house. The alarm goes off and young mother crawls out of bed. She starts the coffee pot and starts to gather cream and sugar. The coffee pot which is making a lot of clicking noises and hearing the coffee brew to pour. She uses a tablespoon of sugar and a splash of cream. She gathers her newspaper and her coffee and opens the front door. She sits on her front porch bench and sips her drink. While sitting on the porch she imagines how her day will be. Jacey Centola, May 2021 |
13 sisters play Maddie Schroeder • This haiku caught my attention right off the bat. The use of words and imagery really made the poem interesting to me. I imagine a bird perched over some rocks, sitting still as it stalks its prey, cicadas. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Then boom, it swoops down off the branch and into the rocks. Pecking at the exposed cicadas, eating a few of them, as the others panic and cry for help. Jake Pietryk, May 2021 |
14 here at a hotel Maddie Schroeder • This was also another one of my favorites from reading my classmates Haiku. I remember growing up staying in a lot of hotels whether it was a weekend baseball trip or for football. Most hotels we stayed in always had a problem with the A/C so it would get hot in there sometimes. Also, I feel like after a certain time the hotels always went silent and you could hear faint snoring from a neighbors room or from across the hall. Jake Pietryk, May 2021 |
15 brother gone Maddie Schroeder •• Like we discussed during the Kukai when reading this poem, I also have a brother that left for the military. My brother is two years younger, and our dad left when we were very young so most of our life was just me, my brother and our mom. For practically our entire lives we shared a room and spent almost all our time together but, that also led to a lot of arguing and fighting. When he was 18, he left to go back to Florida to go to boot camp. Not having him around made things quiet, weird and honestly kind of lonely. Spending all those years around each other was exasperating but I did not realize how much I would miss him when he was gone. This haiku did a very good job of bringing those feelings back to me. Austin Medina, May 2021 |
16 blizzard all around |
17 voices from downstairs Jake Pietryk ••• Reading this, I immediately thought of my older sister who has a particularly annoying way of waking me up. She works the night shift, so when she is getting home from work, I am still in bed sleeping peacefully most days. She comes home and first gets her two children so by the time she’s coming upstairs she has my niece and nephew with her not far behind, so I hear their little voices too. She's talking about plans for the day, things she needs my help with, my niece is bounding around the room, full of energy, and my nephew is just babbling away. The only time I’m consistently home with my family is in the summer so the light from outside is shining in my window and overall, it’s a lot for my senses. Morning is still one of my favorite times though. Leana Temple, May 2021 We live in a two-story home. This haiku reminds me of my husband waking up our teenage son each morning for school. He is reluctant to get out of bed, as most teenagers are. The voices downstairs get louder when he does not get out of bed. Everyone once in a while, there might be a bang on the wall from downstairs. Tanya Vaughn, May 2021 |
18 a letter in the mail Jacey Centola • |
19 engine growling |
20 a creaky porch swing Jacey Centola • |
21 summer night Jacey Centola •• I could relate to this one because it reminds me of the fourth of July and sitting on blankets or in lawn chairs with blankets over me watching the fireworks. I can smell the funnel cakes at one of the food stands. I have a lemon shake up drink by me in a big cup and I am surrounded by my family. I hear loud booms and all different colors being shot up into the sky over the pond. This makes me think that summer is halfway over. Caitlyn Kesler, May 2021 This was my second favorite poem from our first Kukai. It brought back memories for me so that is why I think it caught my attention. Every fourth of July me and my brother take a trip to Indiana and buy fireworks. We bring them home and have family and friends over at night. Everyone hangs out in the front yard and sits around while we blow off the fireworks. I find it relaxing to sit there under the blanket and watch all of the vibrant colors explode in the sky. Jake Pietryk, May 2021 |
22 hiding Caitlyn Kesler •• I love the mood shift in this haiku. The first and second line of the poem makes you think that it is taking place in some sort of war or battlefield where it may be preparing you for something brutal in the third line. The third line however, is a complete shift to an innocent setting with a bunch of kids having a snow ball fight. Nick Laramee, May 2021 |
23 concrete driveway Caitlyn Kesler •••• I really enjoyed this haiku because it brought up pleasant memories from my childhood when I was younger. I think of hopscotch with my sisters and mom. Going to search for a rock in our front yard that would work just right. I picture my mom playing with us in front of our house on a hot summer day. But it also reminds me of last summer with my five-year-old niece. She just turned old enough to semi-understand the purpose of the game so playing with her was fun. Being able to do things with her that I did with my mom is interesting. Leana Temple, May 2021 I loved this one. All I can think about is the feeling of chalk on my fingers and having the chalk all over. I tried to fill the driveway in as many colors when I was younger, so it is just relatable. I also do this with the girl that I babysit. She always draws as many large rainbows that she can. Maddie Schroeder, May 2021 |
24 smell of fresh air |
25 multiple layers of clothes Austin Medina •• |
26 clear blue skies above Austin Medina • |
27 rosy cheeks Austin Medina •• I love this haiku because it describes my favorite part of winter. I am not a huge fan of the cold, but this describes the perfect winter day. I imagine little kids playing in the snow. The are covered in snow and making snow angels. The mother outside watching them decides she is going to start some hot cocoa. She goes inside, very cold, and winded. Her cheeks are so red, almost the color of a rose. She starts to grab the hot cocoa when she realizes the kids will be playing for awhile. So, she decides to enjoy some by herself. She makes her drink and even adds a few marshmallows. She decides to sip her drink watching the kids out the window. The bright sun, glaring off the pure white snow. Her eyes focus and she sees frozen snowflakes stuck on the window. The kids all come inside and they also enjoy hot cocoa looking out the window. Jacey Centola, May 2021 |
28 the bar top counter |
29 it’s 6am Tanesha Williams • |
30 long night walk Jacey •• Walks are always where I tend to spill my thoughts. At nighttime, all you can hear are the sounds of the frogs and bugs and see the stars and the moon. This one just really reminded me of going on a walk in a particular neighborhood with a certain person. It just makes me happy and feel calm. Maddie Schroeder, May 2021 |
31 cold goo on Tanya ••• |
32 there will be flowers. there will |
33 long car ride |
34 I watch the sun rise Caitlyn Kesler •••• This haiku makes me smile. I see a college student, and it is the first day of class in their freshman year. They wake up early enough to see the sunrise. They are nervous about the first day, but the excitement of this new day, a new beginning, has their skin just a little tingly. They head to class a little bit early to find their first class. They arrive in time, and class begins. Tanya Vaughn, May 2021 |
35 right foot, left foot Caitlyn Kesler • |
36 the cats are playing Tanesha Williams •• I could relate to this one the most because I have three cats and around 7:00 every night they are running in circles around the house, jumping on things and chasing each other. My parents and I have no idea why they do this. We just think they are crazy. When I read this I see my cats running laps around the house meowing at each other. I also hear them running upstairs above us knocking things down. Caitlyn Kesler, May 2021 |
37 birthday Maddie Schroeder • |
38 dripping sweat Nick Laramee •• |
39 treehouse Tanya Vaughn • |
40 ringing bell Nick Laramee •• |
41 new backpack Tanya Vaughn • |
42 foot on the break Leana Temple •••• This poem reminded me of how I felt 10 years ago when I first started learning how to drive. I was young and just started learning to control these big metal death boxes known as cars. I was nervous and a little scared. There is a realization of how much responsibility it is to drive, especially when are doing it the first time on your own. I enjoyed this haiku because it reminded me of a time in my life that feels like it was so long ago now. I am 25 years old now and drive regularly but I still remember how scared I was the first time I sat behind the wheel. Austin Medina, May 2021 All that this one makes me think of is when I first started driving. It is so nerve-wracking because you don’t know what to expect or how much control you have of the car. Thoughts are racing by thinking, how hard do I push down on the gas? It really is all about calming the nerves when driving. I also have gone through Atlanta and the only way to get through the hectic traffic is to just breathe and focus. Maddie Schroeder, May 2021 |
43 sun beaming through the blinds Jake Pietryk •• |
44 drenched in sweat Jake Pietryk • |
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© 2021, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.