Haiku KUKAI 04 favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • May 2026
1 ocean at dawn Oshea Darrington I think I talk a lot about this, but this is one I wrote that manages to carry a lot while staying relatively vague. The ocean is a symbol that’s so large and powerful, and impossible to control, and that coincides with promises we make in life. There’s no need to explain the promises or why they matter, the image is enough. It takes me to moments where I want to start over, clean slate, and let time take over things I can’t fix on my own. The waves are like a character in themselves, patiently carrying everything that’s too much for a person to hold. Oshea Darrington, May 2026 |
2 last train drifts |
3 the stray sleeps Oshea Darrington |
4 cab window fog Taylor Stewart |
5 first thaw Taylor Stewart |
6 garden row Taylor Stewart I loved this haiku because it makes me think of nostalgia. In tis haiku I see someone planting a garden with a wife or mom and they’re just enjoying themselves. Though eventually they will stop planting they may not stop laughing. When looking at the garden the other person is probably thinking of their loved one and the memories, they have together. I love driving past places and recognizing them and it’s even better when there’s a good story to go with it. Oniza Royeen, May 2026 |
7 summer heat Asia Sheumaker |
8 on the beach Asia Sheumaker This haiku captures a feeling that many people experience but often struggle to express. The image of standing on the beach and allowing the waves to speak suggests a moment of surrender and reflection. Sometimes emotions are too complex for words, and nature becomes a way to process them. I appreciate how this haiku creates a sense of calm while also hinting at deeper feelings beneath the surface. Kennetra Shelby, May 2026 |
9 drive home Asia Sheumaker I love this haiku because it reminds me of all of the times my siblings and I would fall asleep on those long car rides. I assume the author has had similar experiences and finds a lot of comfort knowing that he or she can sleep well trusting dad to drive home. Kyson Plum, May 2026 |
10 streamers hung Payton Hale I picture a room decorated with streamers stretched across the walls. Maybe the house is waiting for people to arrive. There's a sense of joy in a birthday celebration. The spaced out letters in “B I R T H D A Y” make the word feel stretched across the room as a birthday party would have. Carder Reich, May 2026 |
11 another round |
12 a light breath Payton Hale |
13 sunlight Caty Schmidt |
14 gentle river flows Caty Schmidt This was one of my favorites because it emphasizes the healing power of nature. The idea of a river whispering secrets gives the poem a peaceful and almost magical quality. I can imagine sitting beside the water and feeling my worries fade away. The final line connects the natural scene to an inner sense of tranquility, reminding me how quiet moments can bring clarity and comfort. Kennetra Shelby, May 2026 |
15 divorce |
16 dinner table Oniza Royeen This haiku captures a quiet act of love and thoughtfulness. The speaker does not describe a grand romantic gesture, but instead focuses on a small everyday action that reveals a deep understanding between two people. The phrase "without me asking" is especially powerful because it shows that the relationship is built on care and attention. The simplicity of the image makes it relatable while also emphasizing how meaningful small acts of kindness can be. Emma Babb, May 2026 |
17 dad’s white coat Oniza Royeen I liked this one because it creates a quiet but also powerful feeling of worry for some unexplained reason. At first, the white coat makes the father seem like a doctor. The final line, “his own pulse waits,” changes the entire poem by showing that he may now be the one facing an illness. The coat hanging by the door makes the moment feel still and uncertain because it is implied it is unused. I like how the poem reminds us that even people who care for others can become vulnerable themselves. Taylor Stewart, May 2026 |
18 red taillights ahead |
19 my head sinks Carder Reich |
20 under the pine tree Carder Reich I love the imagery with this one. I can smell the fresh palm sent and the slight breeze that brings the aroma. I love the completely understand how the sent could clear one's mind. Payton Hale, May 2026 |
21 music filling my head Carder Reich I really like this one because it's my two ways to clear my head one being the gym and two being music. So something about this haiku makes it seem so peaceful and finding your inner peace because typically I like to go by myself and just block everything else out. Caty Schmidt, May 2026 |
22 starry night sky Kyson Pflum I have often struggled with faith and this haiku encapsulates that feeling perfectly. I want to be more religious, but I personally just can’t find much comfort in it. I also love the crickets line a joke about not getting a response back when praying. I find lots of time with the people I’ve met the lack of faith have a surplus of cynicism. Oniza Royeen, May 2026 |
23 popcorn and candy |
24 cool fall afternoon |
25 a shared cookie Elaine McLaughlin |
26 old mansion in the sky Elaine McLaughlin |
27 running on their schedule Elaine McLaughlin |
28 park bench Emma Babb I enjoyed this haiku because it combines a peaceful natural image with personal reflection. The movement of the clouds suggests change and possibility, while the phrase "my next chapter" hints at the speaker's hopes for the future. The poem creates a calm atmosphere that encourages readers to think about their own life transitions. It reminds me that moments of stillness can help us gain clarity about where we want to go next. Emma Babb, May 2026 |
29 summer evening |
30 quiet creek trail Emma Babb |
31 rain taps on the rails Oshea Darrington |
32 late train tonight |
33 new phone Oshea Darrington This haiku stuck with me, just like the name popping up in songs. It reminds me of a song I don't listen to much anyone despite liking it a lot because its title shares a name with a friend of mine that stopped talking to me after an argument we had last fall. Elaine McLaughlin, May 2026 This haiku resonated with me because it explores how memories can follow us even when we move forward. Although the speaker has a new phone, reminders of a past relationship remain through old song lyrics. I like how the poem uses a modern image while expressing a timeless emotion. It shows how music can preserve memories and feelings long after a person is gone, making the haiku both relatable and emotionally powerful. Kennetra Shelby, May 2026 This is a really creative haiku. I can imagine this person had a difficult breakup and is constantly reminded of what once was anytime the ex's name is mentioned. I like how it was used in the method of a song; I just find it really unique. Kyson Plum, May 2026 Even though this is a little more specific to me, I still think there’s a lot of connections that could be made to other people’s circumstances. It’s like a memory that sneaks in at the wrong time. Every time I try to move forward, the past shows up in little ways, whether it’s a place, an object, or a song. I like the idea of the phone still remaining small and ordinary, but the weight of the words being almost too much to hold. It’s like an ache you can’t let go of. Trying to forget it’s there while never building up the courage to erase it, because of how much it meant to an older version of you. It’s honest and longing. Oshea Darrington, May 2026 |
34 shoes screeching Blake Whitener |
35 old armchair by the fire |
36 worm on the hook Blake Whitener |
37 summer hands open Kennetra Shelby |
38 outside the bell rings Kennetra Shelby |
39 pond light at dusk bends |
40 hospital shift Emma Babb I find this haiku very relatable. I work in the ER at the hospital, and I often find it is hard to make time for myself during shift. Sometimes I go a whole 12-hour shift without being able to eat lunch. I think the detail of the coffee growing cold also shows how the person working is probably growing tired. Payton Hale, May 2026 |
41 cornfield sunset Emma Babb |
42 empty gym Emma Babb |
43 baba’s plate Oniza Royeen |
44 rom-com night Oniza Royeen |
45 woods parking lot Oniza Royeen This haiku makes me think of stray cats and dogs in my neighborhood. I imagine a girl driving home from work. She stops her car because something is laying in the road. Just as she thinks that the animal is dead, it gets up and walks off the road, seeming annoyed by the lights of the car. The girl, confused and amazed, turns off the car and gets out to get the cat. The cat then runs as fast as it can. Asia Shuemaker, June 2026 |
46 house full of silence Kennetra Shelby I sometimes relate to this haiku, but for me it's usually peaceful when the house is quiet and not a "for once" situation. I find that I'm at my most productive when everyone has gone to work and school, or when everyone's gone to bed. Elaine McLaughlin, May 2026 |
47 morning stillness |
48 driving home alone |
49 dew on the grass blade Tariqkah Abdullah |
50 feet dangling |
51 mountain trail |
52 early morning Kyson Pflum |
53 trees wither Kyson Pflum |
54 finally arrived Kyson Pflum This haiku makes me think of when going on vacations. I imagine a family that is cramped into the general class for a plane seat. They have a 14-hour plane trip until they get to their destination. As they get off the plane, they try to stretch their legs and arms out. While they are doing that, they see the waves of open water and go running to the waves before even checking into the hotel. Asia Shuemaker, June 2026 This haiku feels relatable and something everyone has experienced. The sore legs suggest a long car ride to the beach, while being covered in sand makes the experience feel relatable. The phrase “finally arrived” carries a sense of satisfaction as if the destination was worth the struggle. Carder Reich, May 2026 |
55 first paycheck Oshea Darrington This is a fun one because I recently got a new job in the nursing department and when my first paycheck hit I was like I could definitely get used to that. It's a lot different than the serving job I had so it's setting me up for the future for sure. Caty Schmidt, May 2026 As I'm anticipating my first full check from my summer job, I definitely understand this. It still feels weird to me when paychecks come in. They feel like so much money to the little kid in me still but in reality, they're not much. That first one always hits different though, because it feels like the first time you've truly had your own money that you're entirely responsible for how it's spent. Elaine McLaughlin, May 2026 |
56 two strangers Oshea Darrington |
57 midnight drive Oshea Darrington |
61 dust settles at sundown |
62 staring at the ceiling Elaine McLaughlin I liked this haiku due to how relatable it is. I always feel like a have a never ending amount of things to do and not enough time to do it. Sometimes even just looking at the things you have to do for the day make you want to head straight back to bed. I always have trouble sleeping so I also liked the emphasis of them being tired with dark under eyes. Oniza Royeen, May 2026 |
63 lost Elaine McLaughlin |
64 lights up backstage Oshea Darrington |
65 landscaper’s house Oniza Royeen I thought this haiku was kind of funny along with the irony; it shows that a person’s work does not always reflect their private life. A landscaper normally controls weeds and keeps yards looking neat, but weeds are growing around the landscaper’s own mailbox. This made me imagine someone who spends so much time caring for other people’s feelings that they have little energy left for their own. Taylor Stewart, May 2026 |
66 2 a.m. music Oniza Royeen |
67 midnight moon Payton Hale |
68 morning fog Emma Babb |
69 hospital parking lot Emma Babb |
70 mother and daughter date |
71 a frog's croak |
72 he hands over the tulips Payton Hale |
© 2026, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.