vibrant red and blue
floating to the top
Tuna the Beta fish

Mary Smith

•

I chose this haiku because it reminded me of my beta fish I use to have. I remember coming home one day to find my fish stuck in the small vodka bottle (like the ones you can get when you are on a plane) and I tried everything I could do get him out of that tiny hole, but he died. Anyway, I felt that this haiku gave good descriptive words for the beginning verse. I think the last line brings it all together, Tuna the Beta fish. Glenna

small old house
brings us closer
winter sunrise

Glenna McKenzie

baby blanket
silk sewed on
sooths the teenager

Andrea Earnest

•••••

This particular haiku reminded me of myself. When I was a teen, one of my best friends had died in a tragic accident. I remember curled up on my bed with a blanket with silk edging. Although it was not a baby blanket, it soothed me to cling to a blanket. It is strange how haiku brings out hidden memories, long forgotten. Peggy

The first one aroused maternal instincts in me. As a parent, it is hard to let them grow up and become adults. This haiku captures that sentiment, I believe. A teenager is somewhere in between an adult and a child, and sometimes they can be reluctant to let go of their childhood comforts such as the silk on the edge of a ragged, old favorite blankey. Mary

My baby blanket was originally white, with little yellow ducks, and a silk border. I had that blanket hidden away until I was fourteen. I would often still sleep with it on days that I need cheering up. The silk band around it had fallen off completely on two sides, the baby ducks were completely gone, and the white had turn to an Ivory color. Even after all the abuse, it was still the softest blanket I ever had. Sarah

young girl smiles
hiding tears
hair not growing back

Glenna McKenzie

••••••

This haiku is one that deepens in meaning as it develops.  At first, the reader is happy for the young girl smiling.  Then the reader becomes sad from the hidden tears.  I wondered what she was hiding, which was exposed in the final line.  My father has fought cancer once and my brother twice.  I am well aware of the effects of cancer therapy, and this is one of them.  I then felt sorry for the little girl with cancer, as well as for her grieving family and friends. Christina

This particular haiku sounds like a young girl that experimented with cutting her hair for the first time by herself and did not like the results. It could possibly be a factor that her mother tried to calm her down and let her know that her hair would eventually grow back. As the father of a young daughter, I am sure that this will be something that I will go through someday. Barry

I love this haiku. I believe that the last line shows the girl must have cancer, since she has lost her hair. It shows her bravery because she is hiding her tears. This haiku evokes strong emotions of sorrow and admiration; and also causes self-reflection. How would I handle myself in that situation? Jane

This haiku is lovely. It captures the human emotion of a young girl’s life. It appears that in the first line she is hopeful, then in the second she is doubtful, then finally the reality of her situation. This haiku is about the life and death struggles that could happen to anyone. What makes it so sad is that it is about a young girl instead of someone who has lived a full life and has experienced all that they may have wanted to in life. Marcie

This is a haiku that just leaves you with eye filled with tears. It almost brings you right to the cancer treatment center in the hospital where there is a roomed filled with teary eyed family member who are all praying for a miracle. I actually had a friend in high school who died of leukemia. It was just heart-wrenching to watch such a young friend go through something like this. I can truly say that she is the bravest person I have ever known. When she did get a chance to come back to school for a couple of days, she was so warm and fun-loving that it was almost (for a moment) that there was nothing wrong. She will be in my memory forever. Andrea

small old house
brings us closer
winter sunrise

young girl smiles
hiding tears
hair not growing back

top quarter champion

young girl smiles
hiding tears
hair not growing back

top half champion

together for one last nap
old man
old dog

bottom quarter champion

together for one last nap
old man
old dog

together for one last nap
old man
old dog

the smell of strawberries
from her hair
he closes his eyes

together for one last nap
old man
old dog

Mary Smith

•••••••

This haiku was both comforting and disturbing, which is why I liked it.  I also enjoyed the mystery in which one will be dying.  I have to imagine that the old man is planning on putting his old dog to sleep the following day, and is aware that this is their last night together.  On the other hand, I wonder if it is the man’s turn to die.  I sure hope this is not the case because the dog would be very upset, confused, and alone.  Then again, I’m sure that’s how the man would feel knowing he’s letting his dog go soon. Christina

I gather a very vivid image connected to this haiku. I see a weathered porch with an old rocking chair. The chair is filled with a wrinkly old man, with his work clothes still on, and his feet up. Next to him, lying down, is his old, faithful, hound dog. The dog is as wrinkled as he is, the weather is washed upon their faces, and they both rest on the porch after the dog’s last run in the field. Sarah

I feel that this haiku is tremendously written, and is one of the best in the entire course. Mary wrote this one because her son was going through some troubling times with his dog and the cancer that it had. It is a very sad haiku and the owner knows that the end is inevitable and wants some final alone time with his dog. Barry

It is said that a dog is man’s best friend. With this haiku the reader gets the feeling that the dog and the man have been together for a very long time (use of the word old). It is bittersweet, though. It brings comfort because they are together, and closely, as designated by the nap. But it is also sad because it is the last nap for one or both of them. Jane

I chose this haiku because it was so simple and sweet. I like the first line best, “together for one last nap.” It is very sad to think that the old man and his best friend will be taking their last nap together before they die. But at least they were together. When I read this haiku I could imagine this man and his dog sleeping on the couch wrapped in a warm blanket. Glenna

I like the twist on the old man and the dog last nap together. This haiku makes me wonder if the old man is about to die or if the dog is about to die because both are old. Tia

the cave cricket
missing one leg
still able to find a mate

Glenna McKenzie

••

This particular haiku, brought out sadness and warmth. I felt sorry for the cricket because he was missing one leg. Then when I read the last line, it brought warmth and happiness for the cricket because he/she was still able to find happiness/mate. Peggy

the smell of strawberries
from her hair
he closes his eyes

Glenna McKenzie

•••••

The second haiku is powerful because it arouses the sense of smell very well. I picture a romantic couple together, and the girl has clean, freshly shampooed hair and the shampoo she uses is strawberry-scented. Mary

Love is in the air, or should I say hair! Obviously, someone is enchanted with his partner and as he closes his eyes, his image of her is as strong as if she were right beside him. Something as simple as a strawberry can trigger his imagination, and from that love resides. Marcie

I like this haiku because it brings me to right to the strawberry pickin’ fields that we go to in the summer. My husband and I go ever year and pick strawberries and we just love the smell that the strawberries give off in the summer. They smell so sweet and refreshing. It doesn’t matter how hot it is out, those days always seem to have the best memories. Andrea

I also like the strawberry haiku because it reminds me of a happy couple when a man thinks about a strawberry shampoo his spouse might wear in her hair. Tia

your spine
cracked and bent
my hand lingers

Becky Ives

top half champion

together for one last nap
old man
old dog
 

champion

tank tops . . .
we talk into the night
on the steps

bottom half champion

tank tops . . .
we talk into the night
on the steps
 

field work
old John Deere coat
discolored

Barry Cripe

••••

I loved this haiku because I used to work in the field with my dad.  I remember shopping for overalls and hunting boots, while the other girls shopped for dresses.  My dad gave me my grandfather’s old hunting coat when I was young, and I still have it.  Yes, it is worn and faded, but it holds memories of my grandfather and of old times.  John Deere is a prominent name in field work, and my father has many of their tractors, etc. Christina

I have been raised around the “Do it yourselfers,” and these men wear every thing until they can’t any longer. My grandfather had his own gardens for the family’s vegetables. There was some type of maintenance that needed to be done regardless of the weather. I can still see him at their old house, bringing in wood, and cleaning his tools for storage. Sarah

This haiku was written by myself and brings a lot of vivid memories about helping my father on the farm working the ground. To this day, I still have this coat and even though it is in bad shape, I still wear it outside if I need to do work. It is amazing how many people will keep something in their possession that looks like so little but in their hearts means so much. Barry

alumni tournament
Nike basketball shoes
need shoestrings

Barry Cripe

next to Astroturf
painted with wildflowers—
an overgrown lawn

Christina Reed

••

This haiku reminds me of my trip to Kiev, Ukraine at the orphanage. My experience with the adoptions was bittersweet, because my beautiful son was used to extort money from Americans. I was determined not to leave without my son. I spent many days, almost two months in Kiev, visiting my son at the orphanage until his visa was approved.
So when I read those words it takes me back to the old orphanage playground, spending time with my son. Peggy

Since my husband is a manager for a lawn care company this haiku first reminds me of how he talks when we are driving past houses in our neighborhood. It is so funny to hear him say things like, “can you believe that whoever lives there lets his lawn get that out of hand” or he might even say “our lawn would look like Astroturf, next to his”. I just love to hear him talk about one of his passions. It makes me realize how much it means to him for our lawn to look nice. Andrea

tank tops . . .
we talk into the night
on the steps

Sean Lee

•••••••

The third haiku took me back to my early teen years. I spent many, many summer nights just as described here. I lived in a large house with four bedrooms upstairs and a huge front porch. My girlfriends and I would always wind up at my house because I lived on a popular street corner and we could watch for all our friends to drive by. Mary

Using “tank tops” was excellent!!! First it sets the scene – you know it is hot. Then you find out the two have spent all night talking. Since guys and girls both wear tank tops it could be either. I like to think it is two lovers working things out. Jane

I chose this haiku because it reminds me of warm summer nights. I enjoyed the first line, “tank tops” because when I read it I was curious to read the rest to see what it was about. I could imagine sitting in the dark on the porch steps talking for hours. I imagined that the tank tops would maybe be two sisters gossiping and drinking wine on the porch. Glenna

This haiku reminds me of the youth and innocence of teenagers dating. I imagine a warm summer night with a dark sky full of stars, just enough to lighten the mood. Giggling, lighthearted conversation is going on. The hour is of no consequence to these two young teens, only each other. Marcie

The tank top haiku was also great as well. This haiku reminds me of sister walking on a porch late at night to talk about life. Tia

tank tops . . .
we talk into the night
on the steps

top quarter champion

tank tops . . .
we talk into the night
on the steps

bottom half champion

tank tops . . .
we talk into the night
on the steps

bottom quarter champion

tattered old glory
in place of the twins…
nine-eleven

tattered old glory
in place of the twins…
nine-eleven

your picture
ears bent
and faded

frayed edges
stays open
to a favorite Bible passage

Jane Rieman

••

I love the image of the old over-read Bible in this haiku. I have pages like this in my Bible, which almost open themselves automatically because they have been read so many times. The word “frayed” is very powerful and works well as the opening word for this haiku as it sets the mood. In comparison, the pair haiku also uses the word “faded” in order to add that element of over-viewing. I like how both of these haiku add movement words to their old objects by using words like “stays open” and “ears bent.” Christina

This is so true to my old bible. I used it so much that my favorite bible stories were actually coming out of my bible. I was always afraid of losing my favorite scriptures but I did like the fact that it was easier to find them because they were pretty much sticking out in plain sight. For Christmas my mom got a brand new bible so I don’t use my old one quite as often. I usually only use it when I want to find a certain passage quickly. Andrea

tattered old glory
in place of the twins…
nine-eleven

Peggy Brown

•••

This haiku practically speaks for itself. Nine-Eleven will forever be a time in which our country was turned upside down with the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. When the firefighters put up the flag that was torn up, it symbolized that our country was one and we will rise again with all of our glory. That truly was one of the best pictures in American history. Barry

I enjoyed this haiku because it was written well, but was very sad. I enjoyed the first line best, “tattered old glory.” When I read the first line I immediately imagined an old ragged flag, then when I read the rest of it I almost cried. I like the word tattered because of the way it sounds with all of the t’s. I liked how the author just ended it with “nine-eleven” and didn’t add any other words, because that just said it all. Glenna

your picture
ears bent
and faded

Marcie Holeman

••••

It reminds me when I was ten years old I had a pet collie, Ralph. Don’t ask me why I named her Ralph. She was the runt of the litter and had a crippled leg. I fell in love with her immediately. Although my parents tried to get me to pick a healthier dog, I wanted Ralph. I still have that picture. I was in Texas on the horse farm, sitting in a buggy with my sweet, crippled puppy. Reading this particular haiku takes me back to the farm with my puppy. Peggy

The last haiku reminds me of all my work on genealogy and collecting family information and photos. I have many pictures that sound just like this haiku. The ones of me and my brothers as children always bring back fond memories. Mary

I just cleaned out my file cabinet and I had a file folder just for memorabilia. There were some pictures of my daughter’s first puppy. He was lying in the grass, his ears half perked and half up, and she was rolling all over him. The pictures hadn’t been in envelope, so they had faded and been scratched up a bit. But, they made me smile. Sarah

faces behind glass
fairytale treasures
passed down to granddaughter

Sarah Bogle

•••

I like the way the author portrays a framed photograph using the phrase ‘faces behind glass’. The ‘fairytale treasures passed down’ makes you think the granddaughter is young – 4 or 5 years old. I can see them up in an attic. Grandma taking the treasures out lost in her own thoughts, and the granddaughter dancing and twirling around in delight at all the new/old treasures being brought out. Jane

Another beautiful memory. I see a mother telling a story of generations ago and how these treasures came to be in existence. How the trinkets were so special to someone that they wanted to pass them down to future generations, girls I would imagine. I do not know what the trinkets could be, perhaps a doll collection or china plates painted with Victorian images. Regardless, it is obvious that they are just as special to this granddaughter as they were to the child who began the collection many years ago. Marcie