sunrise
at the beach
waves crashing at our feet

clumps of hair
the birds
nest

Becky Ives

I love this haiku as well. I could see birds gathering hair or straw to put in a nest for baby chicks. This haiku is so descriptive, vivid, and makes me think of spring time when birds do this. Tia

chirping and hooting
carried by
the light breeze

a cold winter morning
three pancakes
bubbling on the stove

Barry Cripe (3)

This haiku is great. This haiku reminds me of my childhood of waking up on a Saturday morning to grandma making pancakes. The smell of the pancakes cooking always woke me up. After reading this haiku I thought of those childhood memories. Just reading this haiku puts me into the mindset of delicious pancakes on a Saturday morning. Tia

white pickett fence
surrounds their winter home…
a cracked foundation

Peggy Brown (4)

Libby the beagle
whimpering
to get in from the cold

dove
tail
perfect fit

Becky Ives (3)

At first, I did not understand the meaning of this haiku. Once it was discussed in class, it apparently had two different meanings, which is exactly what a great haiku can do. The first description of a dovetail was that of woodworking, how wood could be made to fit together perfectly. The second was of a dove nesting, her tail fitting perfectly into the nest. This for me describes the technique of content links. Depending on what the reader is imagining, the haiku could have different meanings. The meaning of the story is completely changed if the reader is imagining woodworking and vice versa if the reader is imaging a bird. Marcie

twinkling in the night,
houses covered—
in colored lights

Sarah Bogle

trickling down the staff
the wax
of the acolyte's candle lighter

first winter snow
the mirror I look into
shows my mother's face

Andrea Earnest (6)

I really liked this haiku because I feel like I’ve lived this scenario many times. As I get older, I see my mother’s face more and more. Something about the first winter snow adds to the fact that you cannot hide from aging and one day, women will become their mothers, whether they like it or not. Sometimes I can see the sorrow of my mother’s aged eyes appearing in my own. Mary

eight foot drift
a little boy
tunneling through the snow

Barry Cripe (4)

I love those haiku in which I can imagine myself to a different time in my life where everything was so carefree and exciting. The thought of an eight food snow drift now would just leave me feeling cold and miserable. But, if you were to say that about 12 or 15 years ago I might have responded a little differently. As a child I was so determined to always be “doing” something. So when those big snows came our way, everyone would always know exactly where I would be all day long. Back then the snow didn’t seem as cold as it does now. I could stay out, playing in the snow for hours at a time without being really cold. I can just imagine myself making a snow fort and playing in it with my friends. I would love to go back and be that carefree once more. Andrea

weak sunlight
struggles to
warm the cardinal

layered fog hovers
this morning
soybeans lathered in gold

a crop field's moon
around the corn I roam
night in full bloom

Andrea Earnest (2)

nighttime beauty
staring up
at millions of stars

Glenna McKenzie (2)

winter night…
toes
under fur

Christina Reed (6)

the crunch of snow
beneath my shoes
winter words

numb fingers
committed to
shaping the snow

Christina Reed (6)

It’s the use of the word ‘committed’ that makes this such a great haiku. The person/child is oblivious to the pain because he is on a mission – to shape the snow. I like the feeling of perseverance this haiku portrays. Jane

frosty windows
~crackling fire~
thaws my toes

old man limping
stops to wave
nobody's looking

Glenna McKenzie (6)

I love this haiku! It is the kind that rips at your heart because the elderly seem to be so fragile, alone, and unnoticed. The observation that was made by this writer must have had the same reaction because she remembered this particular incident. This leaves the reader with the sense of wanting and needing to help someone, to give this person the attention, the quick wave, even if only for a few moments. Those few moments would be a memory for the old man possibly for the rest of his days. And the smile that would probably follow on his face would be priceless. Marcie

This old man is forgotten and has no value. He struggles to be seen by a world that will not notice. He is invisible. Although it does not say so I see it as being snowy and cold outside and he struggles through the snow. The colors are gray and not a lot of happiness is felt. Becky

mountain top
snow
below wildflowers

Marcie Holeman (3)

cold toes      cold nose—
warm heart

Christina Reed (2)

This was my favorite kukai from kukai 2. The reason being is that I love the haiku that has very few words. They are very descriptive as this one is but they say so much. Usually I get the feeling that this is coming from a woman talking about a man. He has cold toes and a cold nose but he has a warm heart. He cares for her and looks after her best interests. It could also resemble that a person has very cold ways about them and the toes and nose represent these aspects, but in the end the person has a warm center that attracts the other person. Sean

a spigot waterfall
          of
           mud
          and
        grass…
          slipping
         between
           my
         toes

through the window
my snowman
smiles back
at me

Christina Reed (5)

night
snowy darkness
winter silence

Jane Rieman

I liked the simplicity and power of this haiku. I can imagine the deadly silent cold night, buffered in the snow. This is a creepy feeling when the kids are with my ex at his house, and I’m alone at mine. Somehow snow always causes a deafening silence both in and out of the house. I thought the choice of words here was wonderful. I loved the discipline used in limiting the length of each line to one or two words. Christina

in the doghouse
on his blankie—
watching the snow fall

Christina Reed (3)

under the
down
comforter

Becky Ives (3)

I stand in the back
of dad’s pick-up
pulling cherries off the tree

Glenna McKenzie (4)

New Year’s Eve
the beginning
of the end

the quiet house
both kids at school . . .
lonely mother?

Glenna McKenzie (2)

the quiet stillness…
small footprints on a path
to snow angels

Peggy Brown (4)

This is one of my favorite Kukai, but it was very hard to choose because there were so many that I enjoyed from last week. I chose this one because it reminds me of the times my children play in the snow. My daughter loves to make snow angels and both of my children laugh from the minute they’re in the snow until the time they are sitting at the table drinking hot cocoa. This haiku is so innocent and when I first read it I smiled. I enjoyed the last two lines best, “small footprints on a path to snow angels.” It was well written, and I could picture myself watching my children play in the snow as I read it. Glenna

sandcastle and seashells—
ocean water
sweeps them away…

Peggy Brown (4)

sand tickling my toes
Mai Tai splashing
with the crash of the waves

Andrea Earnest (2)

Instantly, I returned to Mexico. I can see the endless blue sky and white sandy beach. There are white linen canopies lined up a long the shore with waiters to keep my drinks full. I can hear the slapping of the waves as they come in and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. Sarah

dancing footprints adorn
the rooftop snow
squirrels all a-flirt

perspiring brow
deep reds and bursting yellows
on the tomatoes

Sarah Bogle

I can see and feel the heat from the summer sun I can feel the humidity in the air and smell the garden. This Haiku is running over with color and sights and smells. I am really surprised no one picked it last week. I like it a lot. Becky

ocean waves
pulling me
in

Jane Rieman (4)

This haiku is poignant and sad. Something draws at the mind and soul and leaves me feeling alone and isolated. The word pulling can be felt as something that cannot be resisted. There is simply no escape. Becky

walking…
to the nearest palm tree
where the sand isn’t quite so hot

Andrea Earnest (2)

This particular haiku brings back the great memories of my wife and I walking along the beach in our favorite spot, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. This is one of the most beautiful places on the planet and hopefully we will go back after I graduate from Millikin. It is amazing how a key word can bring back specific feelings and memories that will be in your brain forever. The key word in this Haiku is palm tree. The palm tree is a term that is significant of sunshine and the ocean breeze. This can bring a lot of happiness to people that need a little pick me up in their lives. Especially during the drab winter months of cold and snow. Barry

a college student
studying
two children rest

Barry Cripe (3)

a walk to the park
the little boy reaches out…
for mommy’s hand

Glenna McKenzie (4)

This particular verse reminds me of the many times my son and I walked to the park. He would always take in his surroundings, which slowed him down. I would just keep my pace and every now and then he would stop to notice a grasshopper in the grass or a shiny truck passing by in the street. As soon as he snapped out of his hypnotic state, he noticed I was a few steps ahead and begins to call out to me “mommies wait for me.” I would slow down and he would rush to me while extending his hand to reach for mine. As soon as we hold hands, he would let go and the process would repeat itself. Peggy

a cool mountain stream
I pitch a penny
and wish

Marcie Holeman (3)