studying in lower Shilling
listening to
the faint snore

Xiu Ying Zheng

Friday morning algebra
the cute boy next to me
smells like stale party

Michele LaBrose

lecture too long
my pen
d
r
o
p
s

Amy Soderberg

professor stands confident
with blissful ignorance
pants unzipped

Paul Schershel

I chose the "studying in lower Shilling" to move on to the next level.  I liked the "Friday morning algebra" haiku because as a college student you can relate to it.  You always smell stale cigarettes and beer on people after they have been partying the night before.  However, I believe this haiku is too wordy whereas the "studying in lower Shilling" is simplistic.  The author described the moment in concise words, and it flows very well.  I can picture a girl sitting there trying to cram for her next test but is distracted by the snoring of this boy. —Miranda Baker

The "professor" haiku is wonderful! I have actually witnessed this. It seems to perfectly capture the relationship between some professors and their students. Some professors think they are better/higher than an average person and it shows in the classroom. I can see one of these professors lecturing in front of a class, saying things that only he finds witty, and having his zipper unzipped. The best part of this moment is when the professor realizes he has been going around all day with his fly unzipped. Perhaps then he remembers that he too is mortal. Overall, I think the "professor" haiku should advance. —Candace Golden

studying in lower Shilling
listening to
the faint snore

Xiu Ying Zheng

professor stands confident
with blissful ignorance
pants unzipped

Paul Schershel

stuffy library
a blonde's tanned legs
s t r e t c h e d

Ryan Jones

first week
already need to call
home . . . for money

Julie Forehand

friday night fish-fry
drinks are cheap
parents are buying!

Liz Hattan

stuffy classroom
daydreaming . . .
of the world outside

Stacey Orr

stuffy library
a blonde's tanned legs
s t r e t c h e d

Ryan Jones

When comparing these two senryu, I find the second one more effective.  The first poem certainly creates a nice juxtaposition between the feeling of a stuffy classroom and the world outside that the person can only long for.  However, the one thing that I wish were more defined is exactly what the person in the haiku is longing for...what is it about the outer world that he or she longs for?  The second poem also creates a nice juxtaposition between the feeling of being trapped indoors and a girl freely stretching her legs.  This second poem is set apart by the clarity of the second image and its unique use of form that allows the reader to feel the stretch of the girl's legs. —Bri Hill

Both of these haiku do a good job of conveying a sense of heat. In the first haiku, the line “stuffy classroom,” and “the world outside” give the setting of spring or late summer. The pause after daydreaming works really well, because you stop to think of what it is the person is dreaming about. This is effective when the last line is finally read and the haiku comes together. The second haiku is also very affective in the same matter. “A blonde's tanned legs” reveals that a girl is wearing shorts or a skirt that would usually be worn in the spring or summer. The second is the winner because the imagery is much more developed, especially with the letters of the word “stretched” being stretched out. —Jared Stahl

morning sun
hangover
stranger in my bed

Miranda Baker (8)

professor stands confident
with blissful ignorance
pants unzipped

Paul Schershel (20)

professor stands confident
with blissful ignorance
pants unzipped

Paul Schershel
first place