burnt crust
soggy middle
bride’s first dish

Amber Potts

a note he wrote
last December
I cherish everyday

Nicole Stonecipher

grandma’s quilt sewn by hand
thread bare now—
at the end of my bed

Jenny Millikin

winter wind
snuggled in the sag
of the old mattress

Karen McFadin

a note he wrote
last December
I cherish everyday

grandma’s quilt sewn by hand
thread bare now—
at the end of my bed

top quarter champion

a note he wrote
last December
I cherish everyday
 

top half champion

smiling at him
in old pictures
he smiles back
 

bottom quarter champion

smiling at him
in old pictures
he smiles back
 

sunny afternoon
the child says
I like my old ball better

smiling at him
in old pictures
he smiles back

sunny afternoon
the child says
I like my old ball better

Karissa Lindley

old blue bike
freshly painted
with my daughter’s name

Sue Short

smiling at him
in old pictures
he smiles back

Kara Hihiser

broken heart lies still
the trash is full of snapshots
Good bye fantasies

Kecia Wilson-Jackson

top half champion

smiling at him
in old pictures
he smiles back
 

champion

flattened
the cherished teddy bear
watches over his room

bottom half champion

flattened
the cherished teddy bear
watches over his room
 

from my grandmother's vanity
her favorite earings
I wear with dignity

Nicole Stonecipher

an exciting night out
wearing a pearl bracelet
from her father

Heather Senger

newspaper
child’s Birth date
starting to yellow

Rusty Johnson

flattened
the cherished teddy bear
watches over his room

Karen McFadin

an exciting night out
wearing a pearl bracelet
from her father

flattened
the cherished teddy bear
watches over his room

top quarter champion

flattened
the cherished teddy bear
watches over his room
 

bottom half champion

flattened
the cherished teddy bear
watches over his room
 

bottom quarter champion

bright purple
climbing clematis
up the old wagon wheel
 

soft and supple
dark with wear
the holster fits

bright purple
climbing clematis
up the old wagon wheel

soft and supple
dark with wear
the holster fits

Mike Price

out of style
prescription out of date
my first glasses

Jenn Perry

bright purple
climbing clematis
up the old wagon wheel

Mike Price

red autumn
faded with holes
boyfriend's sweatshirt

Traci

newspaper
child’s birth date
starting to yellow

out of style
prescription out of date
my first glasses

out of style
prescription out of date
my first glasses

red autumn
faded with hole
boyfriend’s sweatshirt

These were two of my favorite haiku. I matched them for several reasons. First of all I thought the first glasses and a child’s birth announcement are both firsts. Also even though the glasses are out of date and the paper is yellowing it doesn’t matter, because they will both be treasured forever, no matter what they look like. I will have to say I will keep my daughter’s birth announcement forever and I still have my first pair of glasses from seventh grade. Heather

I matched these two haiku together because they reminded me of my childhood, at two different stages. I remember loving my first pair of glasses, they were pink with Strawberry Shortcake and I wore them proudly! Now I look back and realize how hideous they were. I also remember wearing the clothes of my first love. I still have his favorite sweatshirt that I never gave back to him. Every time that I see it stuck in the back of my closet, I think of happy times during high school. Jami

Smiling at him
In old pictures
He smiles back

Broken heart lies still
The trash is full of snapshots
Good bye fantasies

red autumn
faded with holes
boyfriend's sweatshirt

a note he wrote
last December
I cherish everyday

I like this because it is all about pictures. Pictures can tell a thousand of words, just like the saying says. Sometimes you want to hold on to those pictures forever, some you want to let go of because of bad memories or circumstances. I think it is a good match because of the feeling about pictures you get when reading both of these haiku. Sue

Traci Batchelder and Nicole Stonecipher
I thought these two together were very interesting. It makes me think of when Wes and I were dating. He is about 6’4” and 290, so a big guy. I always steal his sweatshirts because they are so comfy! I have one particular favorite that I stole when we first got together, it is now mine (smile). It faded, and is getting pretty holey. It is my favorite, and I refuse to get rid of it. When I match it with Nicole’s haiku, it enhanced my feeling even more. You can just feel the comfort and safety of a great relationship. When Wes does something really nice, like make something for me, or writes me a letter I save them. I am pretty sure I will save the sweatshirt too! Traci

burnt crust
soggy middle
bride’s first dish

a note he wrote
last December
I cherish everyday

a note he wrote
last December
I cherish everyday

smiling at him
in old pictures
he smiles back

I can so relate to the burnt crust, soggy middle, haiku. Just last week I made a Shepard’s pie. The potatoes over cooked. They didn’t burn…but they were well browned…The bottom wasn’t soggy, but rather dry. It needed more cream of mushroom soup. It wasn’t the first dish, but it was a dish that didn’t come out quite like it was supposed to…. In November my son called and left a voicemail on my phone. I still have it saved. He wasn’t feeling well that day, and had spent the night at my parents because I had class the night before. I remember distinctly, because Kaleb goes to a parochial school, he still had class on Veteran’s day. He was calling asking me to come to school to see the Honorary ceremony the kids had prepared for the Veterans. He sounded miserable, but he was sweet as can be, and at the end said “I love you mommy, have a beautiful day” I cherish this message, because every day when I drop him off at school I say “have a beautiful day” and we exchange our “I love you”s. This haiku, of the note he wrote, in a specific month, I can so relate to. It instantly brings my son’s voicemail to mind. I am not sure that I would have initially matched these two haiku. Simply because I relate Nicole’s haiku to my son, if I related it to a husband, or boyfriend, I would have been more likely to match them. They do fit well together in that context. Karissa

This reminds me of early relationship between husband and wife. I can just remember my first dish as a new bride, thinking to myself this is awful, he is going to think, what have I gotten myself into. We are either going to starve because her cooking is so bad, I will become a known full pledge member of the fast food chain or we are going to go broke buying groceries we never get to enjoy. Then remember how this man loved you so much that he would say anything to build you up even when you aren’t at your best. The second one remind me of going through a draw or box to get rid of unnecessary items and running across a love note or something really dear to heart one of your children made for you on a special occasion. The memories and the joy you felt coming rushing back as though it was just yesterday. A smile comes on your face and your eyes become moist from this tender memory. Kecia

I thought that these two haiku went together well because they kind of flow into one another. It reminds me of an older woman going through a box of items that her late husband probably possessed. First she finds some old letters and notes that he had written in year before. As she keeps digging through the letters she finds a timeline of pictures of him. The pictures remind her of memories that she has of him and they almost make her feel, for a moment, that he is still there. As she looks at the pictures of him, it is like he is sitting right nest to her going through them with her. Nicole

I chose this one as my favorite because I just love the way it brings out the love two people have for each other. How awesome a note a woman will always remember and cherish. There was real meaning and truth behind this note. Who knows why it was written but the feeling you get from it means something special. No matter what happens in life there will always be little things that we will all cherish and remember. Also there will always be big things in life that we will cherish as well. No matter what or how big or small we as humans have this connection with cherishing what is near and dear to us. Who knows there could of only been maybe just a few words or a lengthy note written that meant something to her. Kara

This reminds me of all the different cards that I have received from my kids since they were young. Most of the fathers day, birthday cards they made in grade school I have in a drawer in my bedroom. I will look at them every couple of years or so and it reminds me of when they were young and made these cards or just signed their almost readable names. Rusty

I have a note on my refrigerator that my son left on the kitchen table for me to find when I returned home from work one day. He wrote it after a particularly challenging week when he had been very disrespectful and hateful with his words. The note simply said, “I love you, Mom.” I know this is how he truly feels regardless of the outbursts he might have from time to time. Karen

soft and supple
dark with wear
the holster fits

from my grandmother's vanity
her favorite earings
I wear with dignity

I can feel soft material, well worn and comfortable. The first two lines could really fit anything you could picture that is a favorite old comfy item from a pair of boots, to an old sweatshirt or even a well worn leather chair. The third line gives you the picture of maybe and old cowboy with his holster that seems as worn as him and fits him like a glove. Like it was a part of him rather than an item he wears. Holly

This haiku is neat in how we are made fully aware of the feeling felt by the writer and probably her Grandmother. Mike