rolled out
yoga mat
dusty gym floor

Tanya Vaughn

up, down, up, down
belly in, belly out
peace

Leana Temple

downward dog
in and out
stay consistent

Jacey Centola

Cobra’s Pose
lift
and breathe

Tanesha Williams

rolled out
yoga mat
dusty gym floor

downward dog
in and out
stay consistent

rolled out
yoga mat
dusty gym floor

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

rolled out
yoga mat
dusty gym floor

bottom quarter champion

bus peels away
empty house
at last, peace and quiet

bus peels away
empty house
at last, peace and quiet

thoughts empty
to darkness
what's for dinner?

I go to the dojo
class begins
this is my second home

Austin Medina

bus peels away
empty house
at last, peace and quiet

Jake Pietryk

being still
so much to do
is that on the grocery list?

Tanya Vaughn

thoughts empty
to darkness
what's for dinner?

Jake Pietryk

TOP half champion

rolled out
yoga mat
dusty gym floor

CHAMPION

11:11
close your eyes
and make a wish

11:11
close your eyes
and make a wish

BOTTOM half champion

one oreo
left in the pouch
who did this?

Nick Laramee

she eats a
salad
midnight chocolate cake

Tanya Vaughn

music playing through
my air pods
one more set

Caitlyn Kesler

soft music
lit candles
and a good book

Austin Medina

she eats a
salad
midnight chocolate cake

soft music
lit candles
and a good book

soft music
lit candles
and a good book

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

11:11
close your eyes
and make a wish

bottom quarter champion

11:11
close your eyes
and make a wish

11:11
close your eyes
and make a wish

lying straight
trying to be quiet
(don’t wake her up)

ear against the pillow
           the cool side
eyes shut

Leana Temple

11:11
close your eyes
and make a wish

Tanesha Williams

lying straight
trying to be quiet
(don’t wake her up)

Maddie Schroeder

the music blaring
ready to fight
the punching bag

Jacey Centola

the clanging of weights
the smell of sweat
my muscles are sore

Austin Medina

weightlifting
clank, clunk
time to add more

Jacey Centola

bar curls
weights slamming
bulging veins

Jake Pietryk

thinking of his kids
he bumps up
the treadmill

Nick Laramee

weightlifting
clank, clunk
time to add more

thinking of his kids
he bumps up
the treadmill

thinking of his kids
he bumps up
the treadmill

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

she walks alone
in the early morning
dogs bark

bottom quarter champion

she walks alone
in the early morning
dogs bark

she walks alone
in the early morning
dogs bark

waves hitting the beach
sun falling
peace

she walks alone
in the early morning
dogs bark

Tanya Vaughn

early morning run
blood flowing
I feel refreshed

Jake Pietryk

waves hitting the beach
sun falling
peace

Caitlyn Kesler

sitting on the beach
blue water, blue skies
finally relaxed

Caitlyn Kesler

TOP half champion

she walks alone
in the early morning
dogs bark

CHAMPION

two squirrels fighting
at least . . .
that’s what we told the kids

two squirrels fighting
at least . . .
that’s what we told the kids

BOTTOM half champion

Breathe2Relax . . .
with raindrops
and focus

Maddie Schroeder

breathing in
breathing out
easier without a mask

Tanya Vaughn

when it's that quiet
it's too quiet
         it's loud

Leana Temple

two squirrels fighting
at least . . .
that’s what we told the kids

Nick Laramee

Breathe2Relax . . .
with raindrops
and focus

two squirrels fighting
at least . . .
that’s what we told the kids

two squirrels fighting
at least . . .
that’s what we told the kids

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

two squirrels fighting
at least . . .
that’s what we told the kids

bottom quarter champion

quickened heartbeats
I Love You—
those three little words

quickened heartbeats
I Love You—
those three little words

I look at him
and—
all my worries disappear

hands covering face
listening to silence—
and a heartbeat

Maddie Schroeder

quickened heartbeats
I Love You—
those three little words

Tanesha Williams

I look at him
and—
all my worries disappear

Tanesha Williams

sitting at her desk    I catch myself staring

Nick Laramee

rolled out
yoga mat
dusty gym floor

Tanya Vaughn

up, down, up, down
belly in, belly out
peace

Leana Temple

Cobra’s Pose
lift
and breathe

Tanesha Williams

thoughts empty
to darkness
what's for dinner?

Jake Pietryk

I love that these two haiku were put together. The first haiku is very detailed about the environment of the area. However, right when the 2nd haiku begins, it shifts from talking about the atmosphere, to only talking about the person, and how focused the person is on completing their workout routine. It shows that the atmosphere doesn’t really matter for the person doing their workout, just that they are at peace and determined to complete their workout. Nick Laramee, May 2021

Although the first haiku is my own, I did not pick it for that reason. I picked these two as a match because despite the fact that the two structures and meanings do not relate, they can be read as a full poem. Oftentimes when people hear the word “match” they think of things that go together, that correlate, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes things can match in the way they coordinate, how they sound, or how they look. When this plays in my head, it’s almost like someone is assuming the position, preparing themselves, with a focused mind and suddenly they begin to wonder what’s for dinner; maybe because their tummy rumbled. See, it flows, just not how you would expect it to; sometimes you just have to think outside the box. Tanesha Williams, May 2021

bus peels away
empty house
at last, peace and quiet

Jake Pietryk

thoughts empty
to darkness
what's for dinner?

Jake Pietryk

the music blaring
ready to fight
the punching bag

Jacey Centola

soft music
lit candles
and a good book

Austin Medina

one oreo
left in the pouch
who did this?

Nick Laramee

she eats a
salad
midnight chocolate cake

Tanya Vaughn

music playing through
my air pods
one more set

Caitlyn Kesler

soft music
lit candles
and a good book

Austin Medina

This was my first favorite match from the Haiku contest. I really liked both of them how they have a certain common similarity. In the first one, I really like how the first two lines tell you that there is one oreo left, and then kind of frustration settles in. Who did this? Like seriously if you're going to leave one cookie left, you mise well have eaten it. Not going to lie, I have done this before, I felt bad eating the last cookies, so I left one in there for someone. With the second one, I also really liked this one. I feel like it is very hard to eat strictly healthy. It can go on for so long, until you have to spoil yourself. I also enjoyed the wording and how the single word, “salad”, is alone on the second line. Jake Pietryk, May 2021

I thought these two haiku worked together in a sort of satirical and funny way. I really liked the first one because that is a constant struggle for me trying to eat better. I always try to eat good, but the desserts always pull at me. I must enjoy a good dessert before going to bed. The second one makes me think of my siblings and when they eat the hole box of oreos after I tell them to save me one. I always come back to one left in the package. Sometimes it makes me mad, but honestly, I am just glad I got one. I find them both to have a funny side to them because they are almost weird things to do, but they just happen. I always wonder why at some points of the night I am just craving food, especially chocolate. These haiku can also leave a feeling of being angry. Because when you eat chocolate cake in the middle of the night, in the morning it kind of makes you mad at yourself. The second one can also make you mad because who would leave one more oreo, just to upset the next person who comes along looking for a good snack. Although these haiku are similar one presents a question and the other talks about an instance. The first haiku also read quicker because the second line only has one word in it. I feel that helps with the sound and impact of the haiku. The second one takes a bit longer to read and feels slower to read to understand truly what it is taking about. These to haiku to me, help me realize what I struggle to do trying to eat healthier. Chocolate cake sounds so good especially at night and you know there is only one more oreo, but do not think you need the calories, so you leave it for later. Imagining these haiku bring out the same emotions which is why I felt they were similar. Jacey Centola, May 2021

I liked this match because there is such a contrast between the two. In the first poem, it almost feels intense. Like the person has their music playing/blaring in their ears to keep up the energy through their workout. I would imagine the person is focused on whatever song is playing to distract themselves from the discomfort and exhaustion the last set will bring. The second haiku, however, gives me very relaxed vibes. Unlike how I imagined in the first haiku, the music is soft and contributes along with candles to create a laid-back, relaxing environment. And instead of being focused, as I imagined in the first haiku, the mind is allowed to wander and be taken into the world of the good book. Even though it is not overtly stated in both haikus, I think the music plays a great role in setting the mood. Leana Temple, May 2021

being still
so much to do
is that on the grocery list?

Tanya Vaughn

downward dog
in and out
stay consistent

Jacey Centola

soft music
lit candles
and a good book

Austin Medina

sitting at her desk    I catch myself staring

Nick Laramee

bus peels away
empty house
at last, peace and quiet

Jake Pietryk

soft music
lit candles
and a good book

Austin Medina

Once again, here I am with my unique set of pairs. I matched these two together because of their aesthetics and the images that they create together in my head. When you read them, you feel comfort and happiness. You feel as if what you’re doing in that moment is the only thing that can garner your attention. And similarly to the previous match, you can also read these two as a complete phrase. If you do, you may picture a young man staring at a young woman completely involved with her; stunned by her beauty in the delicate moment paying attention to every detail. I love when things can have more than one meaning and more than one way to interpret it. Tanesha Williams, May 2021

This was probably my favorites match from the contest. Although they were not paired originally, I think they have some of the very same emotions. For these two I think the work together well and almost make one big story. I imagine a young mom who is watching the kids school bus drive away after helping the kids get on. The bus slowly drives away, and she starts to make her way to couch. She decides to have a nice relaxing day all for herself. Lighting soothing scented candles she turns on some music and finds her book. Both haiku seem to work together for my imagination. They both present a way they find peace and the satisfaction of relaxation. They both are used in almost the same structure and read very similar. Both haikus talk about the development of peace in their haiku but in different ways. One is very relaxing and brings in materials to help soothe the mind. The first one talks about ruckus being taken away or a worry being lifted off the shoulders and that is what brings the peace. Both haiku were one of my favorites and it so happened to work out that they were very similar. Jacey Centola, May 2021

the clanging of weights
the smell of sweat
my muscles are sore

Austin Medina

weightlifting
clank, clunk
time to add more

Jacey Centola

bar curls
weights slamming
bulging veins

Jake Pietryk

thinking of his kids
he bumps up
the treadmill

Nick Laramee

I really enjoyed this match as well; I like how both of these poem's appeal to your senses of sound and smell. They are somewhat similar with the choice of words used. For the first, I like how you can visualize weights clanging, possibly hitting the ground after a set. Then after a while, I know gyms can get hot, you begin to smell yourself sweating (not the best smell). Then you can feel the soreness of your muscles after an intense workout. For the second, I also enjoyed the second line of the clank and clunk. Again, describing words for the weights bouncing around the weight room. I feel like this is someone's warm-up set and after they are loose, they begin to add on more weight. Jake Pietryk, May 2021

she walks alone
in the early morning
dogs bark

Tanya Vaughn

two squirrels fighting
at least . . .
that’s what we told the kids

Nick Laramee

waves hitting the beach
sun falling
peace

Caitlyn Kesler

sitting on the beach
blue water, blue skies
finally relaxed

Caitlyn Kesler

I like these two because I go for walks a lot by myself and I can hear the dogs barking as I walk by their house, and I always smile because at least something noticed me walking. I like the squirrel one because I babysit, and we always see squirrels “fighting” and the kids ask me what they are doing so I just saying they are fighting but they really aren’t fighting but the kids do not need to know that. I like these two matched up because I can relate to both of them. Caitlyn Kesler, May 2021

I enjoyed both of these haiku. These haiku give me a feeling of relaxation. It feels as if there is no land in sight other than the land behind the. The first haiku mentions the sun falling, where the second haiku leaves you feeling like it is the middle of the day. Both haikus paint a beautiful scene of blue water and relaxation. Tanya Vaughn, May 2021

I liked this pair because they brought me to two completely different instances, both of which I perceive as enjoyable, just different. With the first one, I can picture myself out on the beach with family and/or friends. The sun was high, but now it slowly cooling, there are plenty of other people out, doing their own thing. The view is what is peaceful because it is never-ending and leads to relaxation. In the second haiku, its more of a relaxed vibe. Maybe with one or two other people, enjoying each other’s company. You can look out on the water and see where the sky and water meets and makes you sink into relaxation. Leana Temple, May 2021

hands covering face
listening to silence—
and a heartbeat

Maddie Schroeder

quickened heartbeats
I Love You—
those three little words

Tanesha Williams

I look at him
and—
all my worries disappear

Tanesha Williams

sitting at her desk    I catch myself staring

Nick Laramee

early morning run
blood flowing
I feel refreshed

Jake Pietryk

These both work so well together and they are so cute. I imagine a boy and a girl thinking about each other in this scenario. I compare it to how I look at my boyfriend, when I look at him, my worries disappear . . . it just so happened that my boyfriend wrote the other one, so it is sweet. It is so hard to describe love and feelings between two human beings sometimes, so the actions just speak louder than words. Maddie Schroeder, May 2021