Haiku Attempts 2
PACE Global Haiku • Millikin University • Attempts 2, July 2011
sunshine |
in the kitchen •• |
he grabs a stick |
in the park • |
I run and run ••••• I like this haiku a lot because it reminds me when I get the urge to run outside. When you are in the moment and you are seeing multiple things and thinking to yourself with your earbuds in your ear you really don't listen to the song. It is more of a time to reflect on things or thinking about goals you want to achieve in life and why you are running. The music is usually just something that helps your legs keep moving and a certain pace. It just tells the point of what really goes on in your head while you are running. Tyler This haiku reminds me of every day that I am driving for work. I drive mile after mile and I talk on the phone all day and I can never remember what I just passed on the road. This is becoming a huge issue on the roads, and it is making them very unsafe. I am the first to admit that I partake in this every day, but it is part of my job. This haiku reminds me of this cause it does not seem like this person remembers much from their run, similar to my workdays. Zach |
I have not ••••• |
stars fill the skies ••••• |
window shades rolling up fast |
cicadas •• |
last one on the bus •••• I like this haiku because when I was a kid, the last day of school was always the longest. I never rode the school bus, but I remember my friends complaining about being the last one dropped off on the bus route home and how it took forever to get home. I could only imagine getting out of your last day of school, then having to sit on the bus for a long time only to be the last one dropped off. It would feel like the longest bus ride of a lifetime. Amber |
new backpack •••• |
sticky fingers •••• One of my son's favorite things to eat is cinnamon rolls. He has loved them since he was a child. This makes me think of him pulling them apart and having cinnamon and icing all over his fingers and face. Karen My niece always wants to make play do when she comes over. She also does not like to get her hands dirty. So she gets excited about the tasks until her hands get dirty. Then she wants to be done. I laugh because she tries so hard to get past her fear, but it never fails she is finished way before we get started. TyKyna |
open road ••• |
rainbow colored |
a cool breeze •• |
one blue canopy ••••• My father passed away in the month of June so, this haiku pulls at my heart. I remember the day of his funeral in bits and pieces. I remember well that although it was a hot summer day, the large tree near his final resting place provided a cool breeze and us with shade. We had picked this location a just week before he died because my father loved the outdoors. We were reaping the benefits immediately. Je'Taun I chose the one in red because it hits close to home for me and my family. My step-brother was killed in a ambush in Iraq in 2005. It was a very hot summer day in July in Kentucky when we buried him and I remember it like yesterday. No matter why type death is never easy. When you see the blue canopy no matter where riding along side the highway and see the local cemetery or wherever it automatically lets you know a life has been lost and it never is a fun time. Shauna I lost my grandma at the beginning of June this summer. This takes me to that moment we were laying my grandma to rest. Finally free from all the pain and suffering she had felt from more than 20 years of multiple sclerosis, it was a bittersweet day. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. Whitney |
cherry almond lotion •••• This haiku makes me think of when my wife travels for her job and is gone for nights at a time. The bed and the pillows are filled with her scent. You don't really notice things like that until someone is gone. The smells alone really make me miss her even more. I hate it when she travels for work but love it when she comes home. Aaron |
up at the crack of dawn •• I picked this as my favorite because it hits it right on the head. That early in the morning is the only time you can really feel that refreshed. It is the new day feeling that energizes you to get going. I envision myself standing on my back porch getting ready to go to breakfast. Stretching and just smelling the air and feeling it on through my hair and on my face. It's just calming and nice. Erica |
the glistening snow ••• |
you and me •••• |
bright red tomatoes • |
he picks |
the water boils •• |
a loud boom • |
I hold her hand and • |
brisk fall night • |
Decatur Celebration • |
pitch black darkness • |
are we there yet •••••••• This haiku is perfect for everyone. All kids go through the phase of asking are we there yet? I imagine myself when I was little asking my father that every five minutes. He would try to be patient, but you could tell he was annoyed. I hope my kids do not continuously ask this like I did. Brittany Anyone who has kids or has traveled as a kid can relate to this haiku. I said it several times as a child and hear it every time my husband and I take our children on a trip, short or long. Not only the wording, but also the punctuation of the haiku brings out the intensity and frustration these words can lead too. Our family often travels to Wisconsin Dells and the more routine the trip has become over the years the more the kids feel the travel time should be quicker. What is funny about our Wisconsin getaways is that we chose the Dells over other destinations because it is a shorter commute. We have now almost scene and done everything the Dells has to offer and have been planning to broaden our horizons, knowing a few hours into the trip books will be read, electronics will need to be charged, and the continuous saying of "are we there yet" will begin. Some choose to fly or ride by train, but my husband and I still feel the scenery is worth the time. Celeste As I child I could never ask this question, it was just understood that when we arrive we would be "there". Where ever we were going. My child on the other hand needs to know details of everything we do, especially while in the car. He is only 3½ years old but he has an amazing sense of direction. He knows what way Bloomington, Champaign and Springfield are. He knows that we have to go to Champaign before we can get to Indianapolis to see our friends. He is always asking are we in Champaign yet, are we almost there mom, are we huh huh I can't hear you. It amazes me how different I was raised compared to how I am raising my child. I didn't get beaten or anything as a child but I find it odd how relaxed I am with discipline compared to how I always said I would be. It is odd to me! Sara |
everyone is singing • |
the big oak tree •• |
blue sky •• I look at this two ways. She is seeing herself reflected in his eyes and suddenly sees herself the way that he does. It could also be that she sees her reflection in his eyes and knows that he sees her for who she is and in that moment she is perfect. This poem is very sweet and simple. you can see the two of them laughing and them she looks up and for an instant the whole would stops. Staci |
picnic •••• I really enjoyed the picnic haiku. I think does a great job of of putting you in a place, then I thought of the 3 other people with me and we were all sharing 1 blanket. I believe this haiku does a great job with these things. I think everyone would have a different place for their picnic but at the same time it is the variety that makes it enjoyable. Zach |
nighttime approaches ••• I chose this Haiku because as the summer comes to an end and the nights get cooler I like sitting outside and enjoying a glass of wine. As the night dawns the outdoors seem to stand still in time and I can appreciate the calmness. Beth |
cool fall afternoon ••• I can relate to his kukai in so many ways. I first go directly back to my childhood. We have a very large yard and would have mountain piles of leaves. The whole neighborhood would come over and help us rake leaves, only to be able to jump in the large piles of leaves. We had a blast….and my parents let us do it! I also think of me and my daughter in the present day. I am outside raking up the leaves, and she has the same thoughts in her mind . . . I am going to belly flop into this pile of leaves! We wrestle around, getting dirty, and having a ball. I love it! Adam |
campfire stories ••••• |
snow day ••••• This reminds me of me and my sister years ago. After a major snow fall, we would pray and pray that school would be cancelled the next day. We always looked forward to our dad staying home and helping us build a snowman. He would go way out! Not just the carrot nose, but we would use dad's old flannel shirt, gloves, and hat. We would, in return, help dad shovel our big driveway. Me and my sister would actually fight over who gets to shovel first, and who shovels more. Afterwards, we would all go inside and enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows as we warmed up by the fire. Kim |
a child measures •••••• In the sand and in the snow, my son always tries to mimic daddy, one way is placing his feet in my footprint and pretending they are his. His three year old voice telling me that those aren't my footprints, but his, warms my heart and makes me smile. I can just see my son doing what this haiku describes. Tim |
Christmas Eve ••• My favorite of these 5 is the blue sky his eyes capture me. I feel the eyes and sky are very much related. I like how it is two words per line and it flows very well. It gave me a visual of my husband's blue eyes and the pretty blue sky. Tera |
© 2011, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.