dishwasher started
heat stolen
shower turns ice cold

Jennifer Toney

This poem resonates with a lot of people, in my mind. I think everyone has had the experience of getting out of bed on a cold day, the floor is freezing and you half run to the bathroom to turn on the shower. You step in, expecting to find it steaming hot, enough of a wake up for the winter morning, just to find that someone else is showering or just flushed the toilet or turned on the dishwasher, and the shower that was supposed to warm you up, feels like ice being poured over your body. You hop right out, as a matter of instinct, trying not to fall on the way. You yell out the door to tell someone to shut the water off, but no one is home. So, you have to walk the apartment or house to find out what is using water to turn it off, still freezing cold and walking through in a towel, just to find that a roommate turned on the dishwasher before they left, using every inch of available hot water for the next hour or two, but you have to be in class in a half an hour, so you get in the cold shower long enough to rinse off and then throw two or three layers of clothes on and venture out to the ice covered sidewalks and bitter cold air to get to class on time. —Colby

chapped lips
scraping the windshield
of my Mitsubishi

Sylvia Hilton (2)

Especially with the weather the way it has been lately, I can strongly identify with this haiku.  In fact, probably everyone could relate to it if they have ever owned or driven a vehicle and had to start it up and scrape it off the morning after a big snowfall.  You can almost feel your chapped lips.  I really enjoy the descriptive word scraping; it gives you a good feeling of the effort involved and the frustration of having to take extra precautions before starting out your day.  There is a sense of urgency because the chapped lips imply extreme cold, which would push you to want to brush and scrape off your car as quickly as possible to get inside where it is warm, or at least wind resistant. —Katie S.

tomorrow I guess
tonight maybe
I don’t know

Maureen Coady

10 degrees
ignition starts
ass cold on leather seat

two wool mittens
she smiles
at the sight of her breath

Alida Duff (10)

This haiku struck me as the best narrated from our class--regardless of whether or not it was this person's first attempt at writing.  I know I did not have enough command over the style to write something that well during this assignment.  I believe I like this one the best because it follows the format of a few words to describe the setting, then a sentence to complete the thought.  Also, this haiku communicates "cold" to the audience without coming right out and using the words "ice" or "freezing."  The audience gets a hint with the mittens, but you're sure it is cold when the girl/lady is pleasantly surprised to see her breath. —Adam

With this one, I see a girl or young woman stepping out into the first snow of the year.  She has been anxiously waiting for this moment, craving winter so she can feel the cold in her bones. As she leaves the front door of her home and steps into the crisp, blustery air, she holds her hands out in front of her to admire the new mittens a friend knitted her for Christmas. While doing so, she catches sight of her frosty breath against the white snowy background and slowly smiles, realizing that winter is indeed finally here. —Jenny S

I like the "two wool mittens" because it reminds me of a different time, a time when I loved cold, snowy weather.  Why? Because I wouldn't have to go to school hopefully and could go outside and play in the snow.  I can just picture a little girl, or even an older girl re-discovering the joys of snow, getting ready to go out and play on a snow-day.  In the life of a child, that was as good as it got...missing a day of school.  I really like this one just because it is a stark contrast to how adults perceive winter weather (i.e. The drudgery that is show removal for one. —Travis

a sunny day
the pond is frozen
he skates on the sky

Tony Douglass (9)

I picture a young boy who has waited all winter to try out his new ice skates that he got for Christmas.  I see this young boy very excited that the pond has finally froze, so he can use those new ice skates. His mom told him today was a good day to go skating because the sun was out, so it wasn't bitterly cold. The reflection of the sun on the ice makes the ice look like the sky.  I see a mom watching her young innocent child, enjoying himself as he skates on the ice. —Jenny M.

Crunchy snow
the same pair of boots
cold toes

wind burnt skin
white winter snow
shoes soaked all the way through

Julia Shaver (3)

I feel this haiku very accurately portrayed my vision of the cold winter days.  I can see myself, tightly bundled, prepared for the bitter cold ahead of me.  With only a tiny portion of my face left exposed to the winter wind, wrapped with scarves and shielded with my stocking cap, I head out into the blinding white snow.  The wind licks my face, turning my cheeks and nose a vibrant shade of rose.  With each step, I can feel the ice cold slush seeping through the tiny holes in my tennis shoes.  Soon, I can feel my skin begin to wrinkle from the water soaking into them.  All for the sake of walking to the mailbox, I hardly find winter to be worth the trouble.  —Alida

no fun
no snow
frosted winds make me cold

wind howling
layers of clothes
finding the holes left open

Julia Shaver (5)

I can just imagine a buttoned jacket, wrapped scarf, and gloves, but the wind is so strong and so cold that any part of the whole get-up that isn't efficiently sealed off is going to get that wind.  I feel the cold going up my sleeves, on my chest through the slits between buttons, and on the back of my neck where my scarf sags a little. —Sarah

This haiku is my favorite.  It describes ever day for me during the winter season.  I hate being cold and it seems like no matter how warm I dress, there always seems to be somewhere that the cold can seep into and destroy my warmth.  This winter I even added an extra scarf to my outfits and I still get that little blast of air on my neck.  It chills me to the bone.  I can see the wind whipping around me so that it can do it's best to chill me.  I think that it gets satisfaction from this, after all, isn't that the winds job?  Anyway, this haiku would be the one that I feel that I can relate and envision the best. —Jennifer R

frost on the pane
fingers cramp
as they dance across the ice

Maureen Ritter

I imagine someone looking out the window.  It's dark.  Everyone else has gone to bed and this person is up alone, unable to sleep.  She (I guess I've decided that she is a girl!) is looking out the window, across the open land and staring into the empty darkness of her surroundings.  Her hand is pressed against the window pane, and it is so cold that her fingers have gone numb and have begun to cramp.  I think she's concentrating so hard on her thoughts that she doesn't seem to realize her hands are so cramped up. —Juliana

fresh shaved face
slapped
by the cold air 

Travis Meisenheimer

When reading this last haiku, I imagine a feeling.  It is one that I know well and sends shivers through my entire body.  To me it suggests juxtaposition:  the clean, refreshing feeling after having just shaved with the harsh, unrelenting and frigid wind.  Also the delicate nature of the human being existing within a nurturing climate and then exiting, consciously and purposely into the domain of the freezing north wind.  Called to mind as well is the implied process of covering oneself with warm clothing in preparation for exiting the womb, only to realize, once outside, that the most delicate of the collection of fragile parts is the first to succumb to the wind's icy touch.  —Nick

wet white wonder
wool-filtered breath
hearing only my shovel

January night
a case of warm beer
no ice needed

Travis Meisenheimer (5)

I chose this one to write about because I can relate to it the best. I can see my friends and I at my house realzing that there is no more room in the cooler and fridge, so we looked around and said well put it in the snow. No more worries about it and it was the best tasting beverage. —Mike

There isn't much to say about this one except that cold beer is by far one of the simplest and greatest pleasures of life, and the fact that it happens to be getting naturally cooled by the cold air outside is just simple genius. I think everyone has done this at some point in there life, when the fridge is full in the winter, you end up putting things like beer outside, and just the vision I get of a big pile of snow with the silver cans all stuck in it tickles me. Also, being in college, ice is normally all the way over in BWA, and it's too cold to walk that far, so having a world covered in snow is like having an endless ice machine. Basically I enjoy the ingenuity and simplicity of the beer in the snow. —Casey

at the crosswalk
I wait
while heated cars pass

Travis Meisenheimer (5)

on his deck
steam meets snowflakes
my curls are frozen

cold
breath in the air
loss of feeling in toes

bitter cold
burning our ears and nose
as we walk to school

running late
unlock the doors
to find they are frozen shut

I enter my womb
escaping the cold
of new experience

cold sunday night
a big pot of soup
this week's lunch

nearly frostbitten
even lukewarm
is too hot

by the radiator
cocooned in a sleeping bag
I hate my roommate

Casey Wilen (6)

This last one is my particular favorite. I envision a student who is forced to sleep on the floor due to his roommate’s guests who are occupying the beds. Unable to sleep on the cold hard floor, his resentment toward his roommate as well as his anger at himself grows as he lays awake. Why did he agree to give up his bed? A good night sleep wasted to generosity. —Jennifer T.

rising sun
the snow descends
car battery . . . lifeless

puck slides
past stick and pads
crowd cheers

my only friend
listens closely
'til he melts away

Jennifer Rule (9)

This haiku was very lonely and sad to me.  I picture a young girl sitting next to a snowman talking to him, telling him all her family problems, knowing that he will never tell a soul.  She talks to him daily, in the back of her mind hoping and praying that the sun will not come out and take him from her.  Then the day comes and the sun beats down strongly, causing bits and pieces of the snowman to slowly melt away, as the little girl stands by and cries. —Alison

I chose to write about this haiku because of the reality of the picture it paints.  At first I pictured two close friends sitting inside behind cups of coffee sharing thoughts on a recent life event.  But then the last line changes the warm fuzzy feeling to pity.  I see a small girl alone in a park bundled up in oversized and over-warn winter clothes talking to the snowman she built.  She returns everyday&until spring.  Wow!  I really like this one, despite the fact that it almost breaks my heart! —Leigh Ann

I really like the image that is stirred up by this last haiku.  I picture a young boy, about 9 years old, playing in the snow of his backyard by himself, completely forgetting that the snowman he just built is not really alive.  The boy continues to go out there every day and talk to his new "friend" and this gives the boy so much comfort, because the snowman is the best listener in his life.  When the weather finally warms up, the "friend" starts to not listen as well as he used to.  He is becoming more and more invisible to the young boy.  Eventually he melts away and the boy feels a sense of confusion and sadness, questioning why his snowman, his friend, had to go. I like how the writer uses a juxtaposition of adoration for something and then presents the notion of confusion.  "My only friend listens closely" gives the feeling of the ideal friend who always listens and gives encouragement.  Coupled with "'til he melts away" gives the haiku the new feeling of something letting a person down but not knowing why and not being able to blame it on anything or anybody.  In essence, the moment is so bittersweet. —Molly

a day of sledding
torturous snow
melts within a sleeve

Sarah Scheck

I was able to relate to this poem instantly. Especially with the snow fall that we finally got, I was on my way to go sledding as I read the poem.  Sledding is such a great way to keep your childhood, yet at the same time has its downfalls.  Sliding down the hills and dodging others on the way down is such a thrill.  However, as you fall off the sled or land in a big pile of snow, the sleeves of your clothes get wet and cold, freezing into ice chunks.  Sledding was a big part of my childhood, when it was wintertime.  Each weekend, my family, cousins and all, would go to my grandparents house and head to the park.  They lived two blocks from the park that had huge hills.  When we were done, we would walk back and grandma would have hot chocolate ready for us all.  This poem just related so well to my experiences. —Brianne

walking to school
avoiding ice patches
can't stop smiling

no time to blowdry
I break off
a hair-icicle

Jenny Schultz (4)

I enjoy this haiku because I can definitely relate to it.  It brings back images of high school mornings, when my time management skills were lacking.  Without fail, I would never have enough time to properly get ready.  Ultimately, the blow-drying would be unceremoniously cut from my morning routine.  In the winter, this is particularly dangerous, not simply because of health-related risks, but also for the "frozen hair factor." If you've never had long hair, then you've never experienced this phenomenon, but is entirely possible to break off a chunk of your hair in this manner, if you're wet enough and it's cold enough outside.  The chunk is frozen solid and grainy to the touch.  It really should be considered the 8th wonder of the world. —Maureen R.

weeks apart
we stay up late
to cuddle

Jenny Schultz (5)

This one (weeks apart) was one that I could especially relate to.  My boyfriend is my best friend.  He and I have shared much together, including a common belief in the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  This week, we are not spending any time together; we will not see each other or communicate in any way because we want to take some time to focus on our walks with the Lord without distracting each other in any way.  I miss him terribly, but I trust that he is meeting the Lord in dynamic ways.  At the conclusion of this week, my hope is that we will stay up late, holding each other and discussing all the ways that the Lord revealed Himself in our personal lives.  In the Bible, God is called "the light of the world" the warmth brought into my boyfriend and my's life this week will be the driving force behind our love and affection.  Without Christ in our lives, our relationship would be dull and cold.  I cannot wait to see him after this week, to stay up late talking and sharing our experiences, and holding him my arms to show him that I missed him and I love him no matter what. —Maureen C

I can really relate to this because my significant other and I have a long distance relationship so I can feel the pain of spending a week or more apart from a loved one.  I can also feel that excitement to want to stay up all night because you never want the night to end, and more importantly all you want to do his hold each other.  It is as if you are cold without that other person, but when they are near everything seems warm. —Megan

a gust
and a shiver
I held her

Mike Mays (3)

This Haiku is short, sweet, and to the point.  In eight words I can picture many different elements that make this poem complete.  Although short, the Haiku precisely points out what is going on with a man and a woman.  To the point and very passionate words allow me to decide what I feel is happening in this Haiku.  I can very quickly and easily envision a couple sitting in one of their living rooms.  A slight gust of wind catches them off guard and makes them a little chill.  He gently holds her tighter to make her warm and more comfortable. —Ted

This one really hit me because at this particular moment the heat in my room has turned off for some reason and I’m sitting here fully clothed under a blanket. I haven’t been this cold in a long time.  I feel as though my window is open and wind is actually blowing around the room.  The only thing that’s keeping my hands from shivering is that I’m typing non-stop.  The last line, “I held her”, makes me wish that my boyfriend was here to keep me warm.  I haven’t spent a lot of time with him since school has started because we’re both so busy and the fact that it’s so cold makes me want to be held more than ever.  This haiku seems very appropriate for my situation. —Sylvia

I like this haiku because of the visual picture I got when reading it. I saw a young college couple standing outside in this terrible cold with their feet in the fresh white snow. They are waiting to get into their friend's car, which is locked, and can't find a way to get warm. The girl trembles with cold and so her boyfriend wraps his body around her as much as he can to attempt to keep her warm. The wind doesn't let up and continues to send a chill through their bodies, but at the same time the girl and guy are both secretly happy to have a reason to get so close. —Casey T

sweet morning scent
hot to my lips
keeps me awake

Benny Hooper (4)

I can immediately smell the scents of the morning.  There is coffee and eggs cooking.  The images of coffee or tea too hot to drink but you just keep sipping it.  This is the one thing that keeps me awake in the morning.  You can feel the hot liquid flowing down your body as you drink it walking to class in the cold. —Julia S

This last haiku has me thinking of just getting up on a cold morning, with the snow coming down.  As I walk to class, I have a cup of coffee that will get me threw the day.  I can smell the scent of the snowy day as well as the aroma of the freshly brewed coffee as I take a sip.  I also think about how because it's so cold, I take a big sip of the coffee and end up burning my tongue.  Then my taste buds are ruined for the day, but the warm feeling of the coffee going down on this cold day is well worth it. —Tony

pale round face
filled with color
on tip of the nose

hands are numb
grabbing a quick smoke
right before class

walking to class
fighting the wind
can’t feel my hands