Haiku Kukai 03 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • May 2021
1 I look at her Tanesha Williams ••• As you may have already noticed, I am a hopeless romantic and I have no shame in that lol. So of course I’m always drawn to the haikus that effectively express deep emotions of affection and desire as they resonate the most with me. When I read this, I think of my partner who I could go on and on about telling you everything I love about him, but this haiku compacts all of those emotions into one. I picture someone who can’t help but to be consumed and immersed by their partner, like an array of fireworks going off in the viewer's eyes. When you look at the one you love, it’s like your heart drops dramatically (in a good way) and you’re rushed with a light but heavy fuzzy feeling throughout your body that you simply can’t explain; even now I’m having a hard time putting it into words. Tanesha Williams, May 2021 This is a very affectionate haiku that warms my heart. I like the use of the line breaks, the pause after the second line, and the use of capital letters for the last line. The capital letters just shows how important this person is to the author. I imagine the author looking at his or her beloved friend with their eyes glowing and a wide grin. Nick Laramee, May 2021 This is most definitely how I look at my best friends. So much pride because they are so loved and doing so well in life. There is only admiration when looking at them and it makes me so giddy. I think if you don’t feel this way about your best friends, you really need to find a new one (or new ones). Maddie Schroeder, May 2021 |
2 training wheels rolling Nick Laramee ••• this haiku reminds me of riding my bike all the time with my dad and him training me to ride without training wheels. I got so scared when he let go of me once that I screamed the whole way once I figure out he let go. Then I taught one of the kids I babysit how to ride without training wheels, and it made me think “wow I was that little.” Caitlyn Kesler, May 2021 |
3 one last time he Tanya Vaughn •••• This haiku has a sorrowful happiness to it. It makes me think of a pet that you are saying one last goodbye to before letting them move on. The last line does bring some happiness to it and bring the mood up. I imagine the person who is holding her is having flashbacks of all the memories that they had been through, reflecting on each one. Nick Laramee, May 2021 |
4 first day of school Nick Laramee •••• In the year of 2006/2007, I was playing a friendly game of tag in the house with my sister and already I’m sure you can see where this is going. At the time, we had hardwood floors and I was wearing fuzzy socks which anyone who has worn a pair knows how slippery they can be. As I rounded the corner, coming off of the stairs, my sister pushed me a little too hard and I fell face first. Luckily my two front teeth were still babies, but the doctor was only able to save one so for the longest I walked around with my front tooth missing. This didn’t dampen my mood or my energy though as I remained charismatic and smiled proudly in all my school pictures. Till these day we still look at them with laughs and warm hearts. Tanesha Williams, May 2021 I enjoyed this haiku because it made me think of my five-year-old niece. Due to the pandemic, she just recently started to attend in-person class twice a week as opposed to solely virtual learning. After reading the haiku, I can clearly picture us standing in the front, me with coffee in hand, waiting for the school bus to pull up to the house. I can picture her running around the front yard with so much energy. Her front two teeth are missing and that is the first thing you notice about her because she is always smiling or laughing. Leana Temple, May 2021 This haiku is so vivid. I always hated when my teeth fell out, I though it hurt, especially when I had a few that were wiggly. For this haiku I imagine a mother and a daughter looking through pictures of there childhood. The mother grabs a picture and shows it to her daughter. The daughter grabs it from her and smiles. The picture is of her first day of first grade. Her purple backpack and pink shoes. She has the biggest smile and not even caring that she looks funny with a missing front tooth. She points out to her mom that she cannot believe she looked so weird. They both laugh and agree that all kids with missing teeth look weird. |
5 swing of the bat Nick Laramee ••• I like this haiku. The CRACK in the middle was great! I am not sure if it refers to the crack of the bat or the crack of the stadium peanuts. Either way, I picture a sunny July afternoon at Wrigley Field. Who doesn’t love an afternoon at the ball field? Tanya Vaughn, May 2021 |
6 early morning Jacey Centola •• |
7 our first time out Austin Medina ••• |
8 full day planned Jacey Centola •• |
9 blind date |
10 winter dance Jake Pietryk •• I think this haiku reminds me of my first prom date with my boyfriend. We started to dance, and we told each other before the night that neither of us could dance. We started to get ready and of course I brought an extra pair shoes because I knew my feet would get tired. We got to the dance and the lights were out and the music blaring. I was wearing a short dress even though it was about thirty-five degrees outside. Our friends approached us and motion us to the dance floor. He grabs my waist, and we start to dance. I was never good at slow dances, and he was not any better. He never knew where to put his feet. He was struggling and tripping on his own feet and he was not paying attention to them. He was trying so hard, and he stepped on my open toed shoes. My toes were squished. |
11 never done this before Jacey Centola ••• |
12 purple lilac toes |
13 oh! oh! Tanesha Williams • |
14 the basement door Jacey Centola • My next favorite from the class Haiku was number 14. I can really vision the sounds of the floorboards creaking. The basement door is open, so it kind of brings some creepiness and suspense to this one. Like the door is wide open, so you think who is down in the basement, possibly someone forgot to close it. Until you hear the floorboards creak and that brings in a scary mood. Jake Pietryk, May 2021 |
15 walking on eggshells . . . Maddie Schroeder •• This haiku has trama written all over it. I picture a child doing something that is a task meant for an adult, but the adult in their home is asking them to do it. They wonder if they are doing it right or wrong, and if they are doing it incorrectly, what will the repercussions be? Tanya Vaughn, May 2021 |
16 finding songs Maddie Schroeder •••• I find this haiku very relatable. I often listen to music that matches my exact mood. When I’m in a happy mood or I am working out, I listen to very loud pump-up music. When I’m feeling sad or down, I’ll listen to slower, more thought-provoking music. The author also talks about matching feelings to someone through music. I image a couple that listens to music that matches the mood of whatever they are doing. Nick Laramee, May 2021 I liked this haiku because it made my mind go to multiple places. The first being, as soon as I start ‘liking’ someone, I immediately find some way to connect music to them. Sometimes it's about how the song makes me feel about the person, it could be that I heard the song for the first time with the person, a song we both love, literally any kind of connection/tie. The second thing that came to mind is how finding the right song can also be a way of expressing yourself to your significant other. It can work to portray one’s mood, set the mood, express certain feelings like irritation or admiration. You can find a song that has lyrics to describe how another person has made you feel and express feelings you just have to look. Leana Temple, May 2021 |
17 six flags. plush green |
18 a box of her Tanya Vaughn • |
19 I will not hide who I am— Tanesha Williams •••• |
20 what if |
21 100-feet in the air Nick Laramee •• |
22 hot summer sun Caitlyn Kesler •• This haiku is probably my favorite one from Kukai tonight. I love this one because it talks about the relaxations of summer. Especially in Illinois where we do not have any beaches around and pools are how we relax in the hot summer day. I imagine a young mother who is watching her children run around the yard. She gets tired of their screaming and yelling so she decides to relax in the pool. She lays on the blow-up chair and sits on top of the water. She fades into the relaxation of the water. She is floating away from the sounds of her children’s screams. The pool cooling her off on the hot summer day and being able to ignore the yelling. |
23 toes in the water Jacey Centola •• I like this haiku because it reminds me of the beach, and it is so relaxing. I just did this last week on the beach and life was never so good than what it was in that moment. I hate the taste of beer, but for some reason it tastes so good by the pool or on the beach. Caitlyn Kesler, May 2021 |
24 do my tattoos upset you? Austin Medina •••• Although people are beginning to become more accepting of them, there is still a large part of society that frowns upon people with tattoos. Most associate them with the characteristics of irresponsibility, immaturity, recklessness, and many more negative denotations that attack the owner of said tattoos. For me personally, I look at my body as a canvas where I am free to draw and express myself as I please. This does not mean that I’m a menace to society and that I have ill-intentions behind my actions. It shouldn’t be the determining factor of whether or not I get the job or if I’m considered a model citizen. The determining factors should be based on my experiences, my qualifications, what I do for society as a whole, and most importantly my personality! It’s time for society to remove the stigma on tattoos because they do not define who I am as a person. Tanesha Williams, May 2021 I don’t have any tattoos, but this one made me chuckle. Most of the time, tattoos have stories (even the stupid ones). I think nowadays tattoos are more acceptable and should be. There are tattoos that fill in eyebrows or are eyeliner… to me that is pretty smart. Less money used on makeup. It is a big decision on the tattoos that someone does get because they are permanent. Will they look good when your skin is older? Will they still have a good memory or meaning when older? I think people who judge them are honestly just scared themselves. Maddie Schroeder, May 2021
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25 new décor Caitlyn Kesler • |
26 masquerade party Nick Laramee •• |
27 one werewolf Caitlyn Kesler • |
28 it’s gone Leana Temple • |
29 new desk Austin Medina •• Everyone loves the feeling of a clean room, especially when you’ve acquired new furniture and decorations. You feel all bubbly and happy inside. The walk you do to step out of the room and close the door only to walk back in right after to see all that you’ve accomplished. It is almost as if you feel rejuvenated, fresh, and most importantly a new and improved you! You are content and you have found peace within yourself. Your home, but more specifically your bedroom, is your most sacred place. It’s where you feel safe and free to be your own person; decorated to your own personal satisfaction. Tanesha Williams, May 2021 |
30 bad day Jake Pietryk ••••• The person who wrote this haiku is speaking my language. When I have had a bad day, I blare the music in my car on the way home. There are times I am a little shocked by how loud it is when I get in my car the following day. Great therapy to shake off the bad and get into a better headspace. Tanya Vaughn, May 2021 This haiku spoke to me because music means so much to me. On a bad day especially, I tend to turn to music for comfort. You can find a song to match any vibe and if I feel a particular way I can turn to a certain playlist. I tend to also want to be alone after a bad day, just to reflect, allow solo time to feel down, and work back, in my way, to a better mood. The headphones also act as the barrier between others and myself, so it is understood that I do not want to interact, for instance, when I am in public with them in. Leana Temple, May 2021 |
31 home plate Jacey Centola •• I love this one because this circumstance seems to never happen to my favorite pitcher – Yadier Molina. He is just one of those catchers that can catch the impossible. When watching other catchers, you expect them to catch like Yadi, but they just aren’t. The ball goes past their mitt way more than it should. While imagining this happening, I just imagine another team on bases against the Cardinals and the catcher just absolutely blowing it for their team. Maddie Schroeder, May 2021 |
32 rainy summer day Jacey Centola ••• Another one of my favorites was number 32. I like how they included that it is a rainy day, so it implies there is not much to do outside. So, they spend their day in the coffee shop. Either reading a book or doing some work on their computer. I feel like the coffee shop is just a very relaxing, quiet place to be, especially on a rainy day. Jake Pietryk, May 2021 Another one of my favorites was number 32. I like how they included that it is a rainy day, so it implies there is not much to do outside. So, they spend their day in the coffee shop. Either reading a book or doing some work on their computer. I feel like the coffee shop is just a very relaxing, quiet place to be, especially on a rainy day. Jake Pietryk, May 2021 I liked this one because I spent countless days in the coffee shop at Millikin studying and drinking coffee. When it was raining I found it so relaxing to sit by the window with coffee and studying for my nursing class while watching it rain. I love to listen and watch rain, but I hate hate storms. Caitlyn Kesler, May 2021 |
33 splashes of water Jake Pietryk •• |
© 2021, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.