Easter dinner—
the frosted lamb cake
decapitated

home again
no longer
the tallest

1

eye to eye
as the truth is told
who turns away first?

faint giggles
from the girls bedroom
lighten the living room mood

large blue chair
father and daughter
silently side by side

3

I really like this one because it reminds me of my dad and me sitting in his chair while we watch tv only our chair isn't all that big. It's such a heartwarming image to have the father and daughter sitting close together. —Amy Soderberg

I am not really sure what else to say about this one but that it is one of my favorites. This completely reminds me of my father and I and how as a little girl I would sit next to him and watch Saturday morning cartoons silently only to hear our laughter. I love my father very much and I guess you could say I am daddy's little girl, so this haiku fit perfectly. —Liz Hattan

early spring chills
our gowns rustle
as we march down the field

Chrissy Hulse

early Spring morn
Easter lilies
open to the sun

2

rainbows
surround the yard
peacocks fan us

slobbers
on my face
angel kisses

2

I like this one for a few reasons, however I think I read it differently than I was supposed to. I pictured a baby, or toddler, crawling up someone's lap and just giving them the biggest slobbery kiss ever, because babies faces are slobbery and dirty like that. And I read the “angel kisses” as the author calling this little person an angel, because that is how I picture them and believe small children to be, angel, or gifts from God. —Chrissy Hulse

spring afternoon
lawnmower e c h o e s
through the Woods

2

he comes to me
each night
in my dreams

3

puppy dog eyes
stare back at me
and my wet leg

1

Courtney Ruffner

last year’s birthday
chocolate frosting
caked to the ceiling

uphill battle
hardly moving
still I try

closet horrors
running quickly
there’s no escape

long drive home
the soft melody
so cleansing

3

sun glowing
family pontoon boat
drifting with the waves

1

This was another one I really enjoyed in this selection. Once again this haiku really reminds me of a personal memory. Traveling to my grandmothers house in Michigan for the weekend and just relaxing and hanging out on the pontoon boat at the sandbar. Just being with my family is relaxing just in MI, but being out on the boat with the sun beating down and warming my skin , I feel so relaxed, comfortable and carefree. I really liked this haiku because it took me back to a place that I love and can't wait to get to again. —Liz Hattan

smiling with friends
I tip my cup
as the sun comes up

Matt Whitsett

skyscrapers
the ant pulls his meal
through the grass

8

I liked this one because of the contrast.  First we start with skyscrapers, then the vision of this ant pulling his meal through the grass.  It puts things in two different perspectives.  It makes you realize that everything has its own world no matter who or what it is.  How can that ant possibly know of the vastness of Earth, and how can we ever know the vastness of space.  Also, I thought maybe even the grass was the skyscrapers to the ant.  —Bill Flowers

ripe orange
the juice
from chest to navel

2

in boots
a boy
runs           st     l     s      runs
                   u  b e
                     m

fresh cantaloupe
the butterfly and boy
share the juice

arthritic hands
the piano keys
still move

6

Ryan Jones

single red rose   
poem attached  
anonymous

1

happy birthday grandpa
bitter cold rushes
through the cemetery 

1

Down deep
In a
Deep
down
comforter

5

frost-withered
the prized roses
hang their heads

 
 
fresh fruit the sign calls out for the old woman

Amy Soderberg

bundled up
in the snow I dream
of a warm bed 

spring sun
quiet conversation
in the grass 

8

I like this haiku because it is so peaceful. When I read it, I imagine a fresh spring day, almost summer, not warm enough for tank-tops but definitely t-shirts and sandals. You go on a bike ride, maybe get a slurpee, and then spend the next few hours just lounging in the grass, sipping slurpees and talking about your plans for that night, for the summer, for the next year, or for the rest of your life. It's a very calm, relaxing feeling that this haiku presents, one that nicely jives with the season of spring. —Alyson Ludek

smoke rises
father stands proud
over the charcoal grill 

deep breath in
she makes a wish . . .
for another year 
 
((((((ripples))))))
through a puddle
nearby hunt club

3

I really like the way the author wrote the word "ripples". I could picture it so vividly. I also liked how it took me to another place. I never thought of a hunt club. It was a great change in scenery. —Lauren Taylor

Jared Stahl

a toothless smile
explodes from beneath
her pink Easter bonnet 

2

three generations
in the warm kitchen
I get to stir 

11

I liked this haiku because family is one of my values in life.  I am one of those people who love holidays because I enjoy being surrounded by family.  I imagine a teenage girl, her mother, and grandmother are all in the kitchen cooking for Thanksgiving.  The mother and grandmother decide that the teenage girl is getting old enough that she should have a job in the kitchen this year. —Miranda Baker

white buds
bursting
from mangled branches 

2

feeling off balance
I look down—
two different shoes 

1

two curious eyes
an overheating child
snow day

Michele LaBrose

mountain hike
maple leaves
magically transform colors

sparkling water
peaceful wild ducks
until I pitched in a piece of    bread

between two mountains
crystal clear creek
a school of goldfish

2

messy lumps
in my ponytail
mom in the hospital

1

your surprise visit
chocolate milkshake
sweeter than usual

5

Xiu Ying Zheng

we crack beers
to a half-sunken sun
a wave rolls up to our toes

hang over
indents of Mardi-Gras beads
on my face

4

I enjoy this haiku because it is about typical college life when people drink on the weekend, and they get so drunk that they pass out in their clothes.  The next morning they realize that they must have been really drunk to sleep in their clothes from the night before.  I imagine a woman with Mardi-Gras beads around her neck.  When she got home she passed out.  In the morning she realized that she must have passed out and didn't move all night because she noticed the indents from the beads on her face. —Miranda Baker

not quite sunrise
two more hours
until Smurfs

5

This haiku makes me laugh. It starts out with a sentimental tone like you are waiting for the sunrise with a significant other in some cabin on a lake. However, it ends up that it's a little child wanting to watch cartoons. I really enjoy the light-hearted tone that connects to me to the simple mentality of a child that just enjoys life, and is not afraid to get up early. —Paul Scherschel

one week . . .
a strand of her hair
on my bed sheet

1

This last haiku is the one I've chosen to write about. I couldn't possibly pick one signal haiku to be my absolute favorite out of all of these. They are just all too good. But this one hits home for me. My boyfriend and I are two hours apart during the school year, so we can't afford to see each other very often. This haiku makes me think of missing my boyfriend and a comment he made once. It had been a week since we had last seen each other and we were talking on the phone. He mentioned that the other night he found one of my hairs in his bed and said it made him miss me. It reminded him that I had been there with him and now I'm so far away. It seemed so sweet and this haiku really captures that moment. —Jennifer Griebel

your head on my shoulder
as I slowly lean in
. . . you turn away

2

I think this haiku is romantic and surprising.  The first two verses gave me a very romantic and warm image.  I imagined a girl with her boyfriend on a date.  The boyfriend is leaning in to kiss the girl…and the last verse was a complete surprise to me…I never would have completed the image as she turning her head away.  After reading this haiku, I wanted to know why did the girl turn her head away, is there a story behind this?  If so what would it be? —Xiu Ying Zheng

clear water reaches
...far past the horizon
the sun, melts my back

a cool summer day
the whispering willow
tells secrets to the wind

breezy backyard
bare feet
soft grass

2

his black eyes
burn me
a kiss

tiny arms
wrap around
the nape of my neck

Tricia Scholl

evening on the porch
we watch the traffic
slowly pass by

1

I like this haiku because it is so calm and peaceful. I imagine a summer evening and couple or a father and son sitting out on the porch just staring at the traffic in silence. —Jared Stahl

lying in bed
I watch the rain
pound upon my window

3

I really like this haiku. I have always lived in the second floor of my house at home, and I had a window near my bed. Every time it rained hard, it would pound on my window. A lot of times it would wake me up in the middle of the night. It was fun to watch the rain hit the window, and it would almost have a rhythm at the same time. Often times when I am have been upstairs in my room studying, the storm would once again make the sound on my window. —Aaron Meyer

the doorbell's ring
long-stemmed roses
for someone else

early June morning
water like ice
swimming lessons

endless drive
watching the sun
set and rise

6

Stacey Orr

white horizon...
another snowflake
makes a home in my hair

2

syrupy kisses
another pancake
poured on the griddle

5

This one I like because it is very sweet. Not just because of the syrup, but also because you imagine a young couple, staying home on a Sunday morning, making each other pancakes and just enjoying each other's company. Perhaps they don't get to spend much time together, and so this morning is a sweet treat for them. The overall warmth and laughter of this haiku is what I enjoy most about it. —Alyson Ludek

cold tile
a barefoot waltz
on the kitchen floor

8

Again, this was one of my favorites when it originally was brought to life; I truly enjoy the visual and the emotions that it portrays for the reader. It creates a scene so powerful and full of emotion that you can picture two people lost in each other's eyes spontaneously in each other's arms in the kitchen enjoying the moment. This is a timeless and priceless moment that this author captured beautifully. —Chrissy Hulse

mulberry bush
a purple mouth
bestows sticky kisses

1

hushed conversations
twenty flames dance
over chocolate icing

2

Bri Hill

last night
before we separate
. . . endless kiss

1

cobblestone steps
stacked up—
uneven doorway

damp floorboards
underneath
. . . her picture

1

new rollerblades
worn once
before the fall

missing paramedics
she smoothes
my hair

Julie Forehand

forever
at the railroad crossing
long august day

in the church
candlelight
ashes on her forehead

walk in the park
the flag blows
in the spring wind

2

Easter morning
the sound of my alarm
not enough sleep

Aaron Meyer

       river fog
curls at my ankles
      boat dock

7

I believe this is my favorite haiku from anyone this semester. I really love its simplicity. For some reason, every time I read it, I am reminded of the song “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.” It is just a nice, calm feeling evoked by the author. I can imagine the chill of the morning, sun still not quite up, the soft colors and the muted vision from the fog, as well as the sound of the water lapping against the dock's legs. This haiku allows for all five senses to come alive and work as one. Well done. —Erin Osmus

Valentine's Day
I give him baby booties
he smiles

at the crowded bar
he wishes her neckline
wasn't so
             low

1

smoky bar
the drunk lady
misses      her stool

1

orange tinted snowflakes
         f l o a t i n g
through the streetlight
                3am

3

Jennifer Griebel

elbow to elbow
buttery popcorn melting in my mouth
lights begin to dim

distant hearts
same evening moon
I feel him near

3

windy afternoon
the rippling sound
of her kite

2

I really like all the senses that come out in this one.  I can just feel the wind and hear the rippling sound of the kite.  I can almost smell the springtime when everything is coming to life again.  It just reminded me of being a kid and enjoying the little things in life. —Bill Flowers

surrounded by family
taking her last—
breath

dreaming
of her wedding
groom's face a blur

Miranda Baker

barefoot
the sunlit deck
scorches our feet 

1

night’s end
her dress a puddle
on the bedroom floor 

7

i loved this haiku when I read it and I still find myself coming back to it because of the endless possibilities that can come from reading it. the word choice of "puddle" is so precise and wonderful. it implies carelessness upon the part of the girl who let it drop from her body, but there's also this implied beauty in the way it's just lying on the floor. a puddle in my mind is so calming and soothing, and that's the way i pictured the night's end for the girl - after the wild partying, she comes home and lets it all go. it's just such great imagery. —Jessica May

spring morning
I shave my legs
for no one

4

slow dance
back of his shirt
damp with sweat

1

This is a great one. I can't say that I've had this experience, but it would seem to be something that would happen after a night of dancing--people do get sweaty. And that they're doing a slow dance now implies to me intimacy, closeness, the end of the evening after many fast dance sequences. Or, the girl is noticing this and finds it gross...haha. That's always a possibility as well. —Ryan Jones

Alyson Ludek

rose petals float
in warm bath water
her gift to herself

3

among swept piles of trash
a bum fingers
discarded beads

1

sudden downpour
the only one with an umbrella
is my drink

4

snowflakes dance
in the streetlight
our frozen breath lingers

lit candles
on the kitchen table
dinner for one

Candace Golden

sound of night critters
not one inside
… bought the right tent

spanish moss
frames the tap dance
of a little boy

1

This one is just perfect. Simple language, the captured innocence of youth, and the setting of the south, implying sunny warmth and balmy air to me. I almost think it's a tango or a flamenco dance too, because of the word "spanish". I think it's a nice touch. —Ryan Jones

a single sunbeam
warms the back
of a sleeping baby

nighttime in the garden
the tulips close
for beauty sleep

Kelly Carruth

on his knees
the diamond ring
sparkling

meteor shower
at its peak
draws us together

1

7AM flight
a talker sits . . .
next to me

2

I just like this haiku because I feel that it is something almost anyone can relate to. The situation might not have happened while flying but could have been on a train or a bus. I can remember countless times when I would get on the school bus as a kid after having a bad day and not wanting to talk to anyone. Of course, those were the days when some chatterbox would plop down next to me and start talking non-stop. It drove me crazy! When I first read this haiku I was reminded of those days on the bus and thought that the haiku captured moments like that perfectly. —Courtney Ruffner

This is my favorite senyru (I think it's a senryu) out of them all. Firstly, the fact that such humor can be conveyed in such few words is brilliant. The placement of everything is great...including the ellipses. It just captures that tired, worn-out feeling you have when you're flying (and you might not even like to fly) on an early flight...you're not a morning person and you didn't drink coffee cause you figured you'd sleep on the plane. But then this person sits next to you, and they're probably either talking out of nervousness or just because they like to. The ones that talk about themselves aren't so bad - you can tune them out. The worst kinds are the kinds that ask questions incessantly and NEVER SHUT UP. and that's what i imagine throught this senryu. It gets me annoyed, and in that sense - I think it works. —Jessica May

nighttime showers
the flowers
begin to bloom

Lauren Taylor

windy spring day
somersault
of the soda can 

2

unopened newspaper
grandpa's recliner
sits motionless 

1

grandpa's rusty tractor
neighbors gather
to collect hay bails 

professor stands confident
   with blissful ignorance
         unzipped pants 

8

This is my favorite senryu. I can just picture being in that classroom and seeing the professor walking around talking totally unaware that his fly is down. I probably couldn't keep a straight face if the professor asked me a question. This is a funny senryu, and I really like the phrase “blissful ignorance”. —Jared Stahl

wet summer morning
poop splatters
in the milk barn

1

Paul Scherschel

chain link swing
head back
feet to the sun 

7

I really enjoyed this haiku.  It reminds me of when I was younger.  I would always want my babysitter to take me to the park so I could play on the swings.  When reading this haiku you can feel the wind in your face and the sun beating down.  I can also hear the sounds of a busy playground.  I really like this haiku because it takes me back to my childhood, and I think everyone can remember what it was like to be young and want to play on the swings. —Stacey Orr

I like this haiku because it brings back childhood memories and it is a fun haiku.  I can vividly remember how I used to swing so high on a swing that I literally had my head back towards the ground and feet all the way up towards the sun.  The next thing I know, my mom would tell me not to do that again, or I wouldn’t be allowed to swing anymore.  I like the word usage in this haiku as well; it is very descriptive, short, and straight to the point. —Xiu Ying Zheng

I really liked this haiku because of the motion of the visual image. Many of the haiku that I read are sensory based, but actually quite still as far as the image that they produce. This haiku, however, provides that sense of swinging quickly back and forth with the wind blowing through the child's hair on a beautiful, warm summer day. —Bri Hill

quiet warm afternoon
swinging alone
on the driving range

3

I am going to write about this haiku, but many of them are my favorites. The reason I chose this one is because I really enjoy the seasonal element used at the beginning. There seem to be other Zen principles used. I definitely see myself practicing for golf in this haiku. Golf is a sport played by humans, but it is a sport where one person can go out in nature. He or she can be alone when they go to play. I can see all of the green of grass along the fairway. There is a great sense of solitude and peace here. Some people may associate frustration of hitting that little white ball, but I see a chance to just go play out in nature. —Paul Scherschel

warm summer bike ride
untied shoelace
stuck in the chain

2

long ride home
thoughts of many good times
replay in my head

1

pitch black
. . . 10 Mississippi
ready or not here I come!

Nathan Carden

summer games
we put our feet in the circle
to make teams

cold chairlift
wind in my face
freshly waxed skis

1

smell of pancakes
she stumbles downstairs
crusty eyed

freshly squeezed lemons
s q u i r t
sun tea

2

Liz Hattan

she shuffles in the room
shrieking with delight
her mother's high heels

 green eyes fixed on passing strangers

4

I really like this haiku because of the visual aspects. The idea of strangers passing by and the straight line of the haiku. it's a wonderful way to express the haiku. —Lauren Taylor

crisp yellow sundress
smudged
by tiny fingers

5

I think this haiku is just really cute.  I picture my aunt with her children.  They are at the age where they are not conscious of what they do sometimes.  I can see them outside on a hot summer day eating watermelon.  After eating it, they don't wash their hands, and they run to their mom to come out and play, in the meantime, smudging her dress.  It seems as though she always has stains on her clothes because of her messy children.  I think my aunt would laugh at this haiku if she read it because it perfectly explains many moments in her life. —Stacey Orr

Ash Wednesday
dear God--
do cigarette ashes count?

2

school picture day
new white shorts
reveal my coming of age

1

Mary Reed

yellowed love letters
wrapped in a ribbon
stuffed in a drawer

3

your eyes follow
the amber wave
between my shoulder blades

2

finger combing my hair
I lean back
into your body

2

alone I sit
bourbon . . .
no ice

1

Erin Osmus

black leather boots  
on a Sunday morning: 
the walk of shame

Alyson Ludek 3

Thursday night 
drive around town 
we talked about nothing

Xiu Ying Zheng 1

the blind man trips 
i adjust 
my glasses 

Jessica May 3

I like this haiku because it's about something that ordinarily would not have been the focus of a haiku. It captures a completely off the wall moment and I think that is why I like it so much. I just like the imagery created by the author and the way I, as a practically blind person myself, can place myself in the situation. It's funny in a way but makes me thankful that I have glasses to adjust to help me see whereas there is nothing for the blind man to do. —Chrissy Hulse

he whispers . . . 
I love you 
rain 
on the windshield

Jennifer Griebel 3

spring rain 
we walk home 
umbrella unopened

??? 5

This poem was particularly moving for me, because it takes an entirely different view of rain. Most people today try to avoid getting wet . . . they run from the rain. In this poem, however, the people chose to leave their umbrellas at their sides and enjoy the feel of the raindrops on their skin. This poem displays a unique moment of people connecting to the natural world . . . simply by embracing it. —Bri Hill

quiet drive home 
he decides 
to come to church 

Jennifer Griebel 2

mowing 
the smell of rain 
lingers

Lauren Taylor 5

This haiku stood out in my eyes as being very interesting. I have always enjoyed mowing when a storm is rolling into the area or it has just started sprinkling. I never liked mowing when it was extremely dry out. It became dusty and wasn't nearly as enjoyable. If a light sprinkle has fallen or the wind has died down briefly before the storm, this presents a much better atmosphere. —Aaron Meyer

ashes fall 
from his forehead 
HIV-positive

Ryan Jones 2

This is a haiku that I particularly like but never wrote about before.  Its content is so serious for a haiku.  I think it is so powerful but at the same time, not overbearing.  So many emotions can be felt through the author's use of so few words.  I especially like the way Ash Wednesday is tied into it. It brings another serious issue into play.  The first time I read this haiku, I was blown away.  I didn't really know what to think at first. It perplexed me and I liked that about it. —Michele LaBrose