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School's Out: Haiku by Randy Brooks
flag on the coffin . . .
her gloves off to hold
the child’s hand tight
Randy Brooks, School’s Out, 19
When I first read this haiku, it gave me chills, I absolutely love this haiku. I think it has a lot of different elements to it we can all relate to. I think that we all understand what a flag on a coffin represents, someone who has probably died for our country. This is such a significant yet sad event in history. It also shows the element of loss, and a mother holding her child’s hand tight, almost like so she won’t lose her child as well. It’s like she is grasping on, for their sake, but mostly for hers. The child probably does not understand the gravity of the situation and the mother is so upset for everything in the future, the child growing up without a father, the mother being alone, everything. I get a little teared-up when reading this, but I thoroughly enjoy it! Whitney Minor
This haiku is a snapshot to me of President Kennedy’s funeral. I can see the famous picture of Jacqueline Kennedy holding her son’s hand right in front of the casket while it’s being carried. This haiku is black and white to me because I can remember seeing it in the newspaper and on a black and white TV. Cindie Zelhart
I really liked this one because of the words, how it relates to society today, and how it’s written. The words are just words that sink in when you immediately read them. I like how the image changes colors too from black with a flag on it, to a white glove, to a skin color of a child. It relates well with society today and the war that is going on. I think that this haiku is too well known personally by people today. And finally, with the angle that it is written, it lets the words sink in more. I just like it all together! Andi McCoy
Sisters bent over
The heating vent
adult talk below
Randy M. Brooks, School’s Out, pg 24
I see the bonding of sisters, being secretive. I see this as being a close time for them… Whether it is good or bad. When I think of bent over a vent though I think the are doing wrong. They are also over a heated vent. They could be so hot and sweaty because they are so nervous because they are doing something wrong. The heat could also resemble the adult talk they are hearing though the vent. If it is a “heated” conversation. Adult talk below is more interesting to listen in on. I used to do that when I was little. I would put my ear on the wall or the carpet in order to listen in on conversations in the house, when I was supposed to be in my room sleep or studying. Lorin Glazer
First kiss
Deep in the woods…
Sunbeams filter down
R. Brooks School’s Out, 33
toes dangle in the lake…
watermelon juice
drips off his chin
R. Brooks School’s Out, 37
I choose these two haiku because they both remind me of moments with my husband. On one of our first dates we went walking in the woods on a beautiful sunny day and another time we sat on a dock over a pond talking. Both remind me of very special times and I love how haiku can remind us of these times. Lindsey Jones-Harper
the bride's mouth
stuffed with cake . . . the groom
answers for her
R. Brooks School’s Out, 39
I just really like this haiku because everyone can imagine the image. At almost every wedding the bride and groom literally shove the wedding cake into each other's mouths and onto the face. It's just a happy, stress free time that is infectious. The line that the groom answers for her is a cute way to show the joy. Brittney Gillespie
sculpture garden…
the marble bench
cool through my jeans
Brooks, School’s Out, 55
I love this haiku because when I watch the home channels they always do these garden designs where there is a marble bench and sculptures around it. There is an elegant feel that comes off of the scene and this haiku describes my outdoor design dream perfectly. Also, many benches that are made of marble usually are cold even on a hot day. The funny thing is that jeans comprise of a very thick material but the jeans seem to not be able to take away the coldness that comes off the stone. In addition, the garden seems to have flowers all over the place with variations in color. The statues are replicas of Greek or Roman art, and you just get the feeling that you are in a beautiful place. Alya Saqer
his vomit wiped up…
my bowl of wheaties
soggy now
Brooks, Randy, School’s Out, 62
I really like this haiku because it gives me an awesome visual and tells a great story. I relate it to the title of the book, School’s Out, because I see a story about a person that parties a lot when he is not in school. There is an apartment on campus where two students share it, and one of them is eating his wheaties, enjoying the morning atmosphere. All of a sudden, his roommate comes stumbling in the door, still drunk from the night before. He makes it to the kitchen and then starts viciously, projectile vomiting all over the kitchen floor. The other roommate stares at the vomit and then looks back at his soggy wheaties. He is extremely disgusted at the resemblance. Joan Tirado
Heimliched out of me
pink candy heart
wordless now
Brooks,SO,Pg.72
This entry proved to have dual meaning to me. The 1st being literally if one was to swallow a candy heart and it becomes lodged in their throat. Their saliva would surely wash off the words on the candy. The second being symbolically. If someone swallowed the candy in love from a loved one and it caused them to choke I guess you could say the candy took the words from their mouth and reduced to gasps ands pleas while simultaneously taking the words from the candy. Ironic. And well executed. Jay Johnson
old calico
comes in from the garage—
cobweb whiskers
Brooks, School’s Out, 73
I really liked this haiku because reading it was like a flashback to my mother’s old cat, Muffin. Muffin wasn’t the biggest fan of children, especially loud ones-like me, and she would go into our basement and to find peace. Sometimes I would go looking for her and I would find her in the oddest places; I often wondered how she didn’t get stuck in some of the spots. Often she would stay hidden until it was time to eat, and when she heard the food being poured into her bowl she would come running. She would emerge from the basement covered in cobwebs, proof that she was hiding in some very secluded areas. Finding the cobwebs on her kept me away because I am not a fan of spiders and I was always afraid there would be spiders on her somewhere. Jenna Pelej
Pets love to think they are so sneaky. When my puppy is chewing on something she is not supposed to be chewing on, if you ask her what she has, she drops it but it gets caught in her fur. Cats are always going where they are not supposed to be. They wander in places they should not be. Dogs are the same way, they get into things and you just have to guess what they have gotten into. Shannon Hackl
we walk through
the empty farm house
her eyes well up
Randy Brooks, SO, 89
My grandma lived in a farmhouse, not too far from our house. I spent a lot of time there as a kid and it was always full of wonderful memories. However, after she died no one has lived in the house and it has fallen into disrepair. It is so sad. I remember the last time I walked through her house, I decided never to go back. I want to keep the wonderful memories I have and not remember the sad place it is now. Cindie Zelhart
after all these years
she asks about her mother...
I put on another log
Brooks, SO,91
I really like this haiku because the conversation seems a long time coming. Is it a third person who places the log on the fire? I dunno, but I suppose it doesn't matter a whole lot. The burning fire that is providing heat also gives off a sense of comfort as she asks questions about her mother's life. These are things that she never knew, answers that might shed some light on her own life. Phil Jones
up late with old friends…
my daughter and her blankie
out of the dark again
Brooks, SO
I just think this is so cute. This was definitely me when I was little. We used to go to my aunt’s house every year for holidays. She had a huge house that everyone could stay at instead of getting hotel rooms (which says a lot because my mom has eight brothers and sisters). The family only got together once or twice a year, so when we did, it was a big deal. The kids would have to go to the bunk bed room and sleep. However, I could always here them down stairs laughing and playing cards (I LOVE to play cards) and so, I would always get up. Now I understand my family’s frustration that I was awake, but I know they weren’t mad. Little kids with blankies and sleepy eyes are too cute to really be mad at. At least, this is what I got from your haiku. Rachel Morrison
one leg over the oar,
the college graduate
drifts
Brooks, SO
This one is me! It’s how I feel. About to graduate, life about to completely change, and I have know idea where it’s going. I can see the symbolism with the boat being life. The one leg over the oar could be showing symbolizing the part of life already completed. I just really connected with this one. Phil Koberlein
big brother’s grin…
the last piece of the puzzle
out of his pocket
Brooks, SO
I like this haiku because it is exactly the kind of prank my brother would pull on me. He was older than me and was usually nice to me, but he had his moments of devilish pranks. I can see me going crazy trying to find the last piece of a 10000000 piece puzzle all over the house and then him two hours later pulling it out of his pocket. The haiku builds up a little anger inside you because it just brings back those pranks that really annoyed you in the past. Keith Chandler |