Kukai 3
Mattoon PACE Global Haiku--Kukai 3, Fall 2005
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snow outside |
Grandpa— • I love this. My grandpa’s were both very special to me that kissing their bald spot for luck is something I would have done. It also makes grandpa’s feel good thinking they bring good luck to their grandchildren. Mickey |
family portrait: • This is perhaps my favorite in the Kukai 3 and to be honest, I’m not even sure why. I think it is because it raises more questions than it answers. As the reader, I want to understand more about this haiku and where the author is coming from with it. The first line, “family portrait:” seems straight-forward enough, but the final lines create a sense of sadness and/or regret – I’m not sure I know. The sense of intrigue created with those final lines makes this haiku hard for me to walk away from. Starr |
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he hugs me and says •• I like this haiku because it sounds real. Some haiku sounds really nice and sweet and in someone’s world is real, but in all actuality too good to be true. This haiku reminds me that no one is perfect even if seen that ways in the eyes of others. Megan I like this haiku because it is simple yet heart-wrenchingly honest. I’m certain every parent carries some amount of guilt when it comes to the decisions and approach they’ve taken with their children. The first and second line of the haiku convey so simply yet clearly the innocence and trust that young children exhibit – and all it take is one word, “guilt” for the reader to understand the conflicted feelings that the mother is experiencing. Starr |
Grandpa's shop •• This reminds me of my grandpa, and some of my childhood memories. My grandpa is deceased now but ever since I remember, he was retired. He had many gadgets in what he called “his shop” and did a lot of woodworking for friends and family. I also thought there was nothing that my grandpa could not make. When I would go and visit my grandparents, my grandpa would let me help with picking out the very best wood for the project that he was now on. I also thought this was a great honor because I got to be part of the finished project. The finished product was always amazing and I am forever grateful for being a part of that. Brooke This haiku reminds me of my two oldest sons and their grandfather, “Poppy.” A few years ago, Poppy bought Trey and Chase, my two oldest sons, birdhouse kits for Christmas. They were excited to open up the gifts Christmas morning and find the kits, but were quickly disappointed because Poppy would not be there to help them put together the birdhouses. So, I arranged for them to go and spend a few days at Poppy’s house. When they came back, they had put their birdhouses together and sanded and painted them. Even though it was winter, I hung the birdhouses up right away, because they were so proud of what they had accomplished. It was one of the rare times they shared just with their Poppy. Jenny |
superbowl Sunday • this reminds me of the year that my grandmother passed away, and the funeral was on Super bowl Sunday. I can just remember after spending part of the afternoon, in the freezing cold, walking in afterwards and all the men’s faces were glued to the TV. I was furious!!! Susan |
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freezing rain pelts the window •••• This poem put me in mind of a cold and rainy day heading into winter. When the first cold of winter arrives, it seems so much colder than what it is until our bodies are able to get used to it. It is always nice to remain in you warm, comfortable clothing (old faded sweatshirt) and just snuggle up on the couch without a care in the world. Brooke When my husband is gone for longer than one night I wear a shirt of his so I can feel closer to him. I also like to take his old sweatshirts and wear them around the house. Mickey |
white lights ••••• When the snow falls on outside Christmas decorations the twinkling of the lights reshapes. The heaviness of the snow covers some lights but they are still flashing but not as bright as others. I like the way the word T w I n K l E gives the feeling of the intensity of one light over the other. Snow adds a different affect to our visual and this interpretation draws you into the picture. Missy This haiku is pretty. I just saw this exact scene on Thursday night when I was driving home from work after the snow fall. The fresh snow always looks perfect and then to see white Christmas lights beneath it almost burning holes in the snow so they can be seen is beautiful. The weight of the snow is no match for the twinkle of the lights. Megan I love how the word twinkle in this haiku displays the sparkling movement of the lights. I’ve always wondered how lights could continue to function under so much snow and in the cold. My favorite things about Christmas lights during the winter is when there is a big snow and instead of each light being evident on a bush or house trim the entire thing glows with a beautiful soft light. This haiku captures the simple beauty of the winter season. Maria I love the use of the word “TwInKlE” – how clever! This haiku is really visual. It is so easy to picture the white Christmas lights on an evergreen bush buried underneath the snow but still vaguely visible and sparkling. Starr |
long weekend ••• In just a few key words, the writer of this haiku provides the reader with a sense of freedom. I can imagine loading up in a car with my husband and just driving wherever the road takes us. There is no time schedule; nowhere that we have to be. It is total freedom to enjoy a weekend full of endless possibilities. Donna This is something I have always wanted to do. I want to jump in the car and just go. We have talked about doing this on vacation but have never done it. I am jealous of anyone who does this. Mickey I like this haiku because it reminds me of going on road trips when I was in high school. It usually wasn’t a long weekend but a long lunch hour or two : ) My best friend and I use to drive out to the country by another friends house and just start taking turns here and there just to see if we could get lost. It was always amazing some of the places we would end up and the crazy things we would see. Megan |
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pollen on my feet • this is a childhood memory, not vivid, but a memory of dandelions in the yard. I can remember walking barefoot through the yard and how the dandelions felt on my feet. They would tickle the bottoms of my feet. Susan |
pipe cleaner body •• I think everyone has made one of these ornaments or had a child that has made such an ornament that is special to them. Bringing it home and being so proud of the creation. Its not fancy or sparkly like the other ornament but it stands out because of the handmade quality and love that was put into it. My mom still has our ornaments and decorations that my brother and I constructed as a child. These ornaments mean more than any other on the tree. Missy |
sunday morning |
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summer vacation •• This haiku sticks with me because of the last line, “with the oxygen tank.” The first two lines make the reader visualize a happy, carefree event and then, the oxygen tank brings in another whole facet that hadn’t even been considered. Perhaps a grandparent or maybe even a child is sick and has to be on oxygen. At any rate, the last line certainly puts an entirely unexpected, more serious perspective on an otherwise light-hearted event. Starr I like this haiku because it is both sad and happy. The family is all piled into a car, driving to their summer vacation destination. However, someone in the car (I picture the mother) is ill. She has to take an oxygen tank along with her on vacation to help her. Vacation is supposed to be an escape from everyday reality. The children are overjoyed to be going on this vacation, but the oxygen tank is a constant reminder that reality has not been left behind. It is a reminder that their mother is ill. Though they try studiously to avoid it, it is there, like a great big pink elephant in the car with them, haunting them all through their vacation. Jenny |
sunset ••• I think it is well-written and captures the feeling of walking on the beach. Sunsets are my favorite thing to watch. There is such a beauty and yet, you are sad to see the day end. Also, I can feel my feet sinking into the sand and leaving footprints. I love the way the author writes, "kissed by the sun". You get a sense of warmth on your shoulders, but not the burning sun. Jamie This reminds me of the famous poem footprints in the sand; or, just two people in love walking on the beach after a day of playing in the sun. This haiku gives a peaceful feeling. I don’t know if I feel that because it relates to footprints in the sand or just the relaxation of a warm summer night walking in the sand. Megan I think it is well-written and captures the feeling of walking on the beach. Sunsets are my favorite thing to watch. There is such a beauty and yet, you are sad to see the day end. Also, I can feel my feet sinking into the sand and leaving footprints. I love the way the author writes, “kissed by the sun”. You get a sense of warmth on your shoulders, but not the burning sun. Jamie |
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one tiny seed |
knock on the door |
brain in overdrive ••• A lot of us are in this mode right now. The end is near and to get everything accomplished we have to put ourselves in for overtime to meet our goal. The evenings are consumed with taking our brain out of work mode and putting it into school mode so we can complete our journey. Oh the sigh of relief we will all feel on Graduation Day. Missy |
© 2005, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.