the powdered donut
bleeds its sweet filling
onto my white blouse

Jordan Caulk

sheer anticipation
a ruined sweater
jelly filled

Jonathan Robertson

I take a bite
of the tempting donut
stale

Matt Swofford

warm yeast
through the glass
the donuts glisten

Kennth Albin

the powdered donut
bleeds its sweet filling
onto my white blouse

I take a bite
of the tempting donut
stale

the powdered donut
bleeds its sweet filling
onto my white blouse

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

the powdered donut
bleeds its sweet filling
onto my white blouse

bottom quarter champion

box of glazed krispy kremes
my mouth waters
. . . Lent.

strangers in a donut shop
we talk novels
while my car gets fixed

box of glazed krispy kremes
my mouth waters
. . . Lent.

strangers in a donut shop
we talk novels
while my car gets fixed

Heidi A. Zapp

early morning meeting
she bites into a donut
to hide her annoyance

Emily D'Ambrose

box of glazed krispy kremes
my mouth waters
. . . Lent.

Molly McCullough

talking about my sins
hey I'm only here
for the free donuts

Kelsey Meredith

17th haiku --> these 3 vie for 1 spot above -->

1donut2donuts3donuts
never eating
ever again

talking about my sins
hey I'm only here
for the free donuts

1donut2donuts3donuts
never eating
ever again

Kelsey Meredith

I realize the law
of marginal utility
too many donuts

Darien M. Sloat

TOP half champion

the powdered donut
bleeds its sweet filling
onto my white blouse

CHAMPION
 

remember the night
we did donuts in the parking lot
. . . and then we parked

remember the night
we did donuts in the parking lot
. . . and then we parked

BOTTOM half champion

my brother
a doughnut shape
on his girlfriend's finger

Randi Mehrmann

down on one knee
I laugh
ring pop sparkles

Amanda Lee

baggins's
stole the precious
WE HATES IT

Alex Buchko

a ring
in my drink—
how original

Courtney Burress

down on one knee
I laugh
ring pop sparkles

baggins's
stole the precious
WE HATES IT

baggins's
stole the precious
WE HATES IT

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

remember the night
we did donuts in the parking lot
. . . and then we parked

bottom quarter champion

remember the night
we did donuts in the parking lot
. . . and then we parked

remember the night
we did donuts in the parking lot
. . . and then we parked

bored housewife
floats on by
in a rubber donut

remember the night
we did donuts in the parking lot
. . . and then we parked

Emily Crutchfield

empty tea cup
on the rim
a perfect red kiss

Sarah E. Kisly

rental car
88 miles left
on this spare tire

Charlie Decker

bored housewife
floats on by
in a rubber donut

Therese O'Shaughnessy

the powdered donut
bleeds its sweet filling
onto my white blouse

Jordan Caulk

sheer anticipation
a ruined sweater
jelly filled

Jonathan Robertson

I take a bite
of the tempting donut
stale

Matt Swofford

warm yeast
through the glass
the donuts glisten

Kennth Albin

I love the imagery of the first haiku. The use of “bleeds” gives a very clear image of the red filling oozing onto the white blouse. The fact that the blouse is white gives an even more distinct image. The red on the white portrays such a distinction between the filling and the blouse. This distinction between colors shows how unfortunate the situation was. I like how the second haiku shows how the incident happened due to the amount of excitement. This person was a little too excited to eat the donut. The last line is my favorite. I love how it is no longer the donut that is “jelly filled,” but the sweater is now “jelly filled.” Both of these haiku display a very clear image of the jelly on their clothes. Amanda

Before I begin, I have four words to say to the above haiku: story of my life. I am such a messy eater! I purposely avoid these jelly-filled temptations because I know that I will end up wearing more of the donut than I actually eat. I really like how Jordan said that the donut “bleeds” the filling. That word is so perfect and unexpected. In Jon’s, I like how it started with the feeling, then what happened, and then what caused it. The set up was very creative. Courtney

I really thought these two haiku were paired really well, because they both take different stances on maybe being a little two eager to eat the donut and forgot to make sure they had taken safety precautions to protect themselves from the donut’s attempt to get away. I also very much enjoyed the haiku written from Sméagol’s perspective from the Lord of the Rings. Jon

I liked these two poems in the kukai mostly because of the way they were connected. Also, I liked the fact that it is a very relatable topic that most people can connect too. Everybody has had that one good shirt or sweater that you spill something on and it seems like the end of the world. I also really enjoyed the word choice of both of them. I especially liked the word “bleeds” used in the first one, because it is so contrasting to the general idea of what you expect from the mood of a poem about donuts. I also enjoyed the phrase “sheer anticipation” used in the second one, because it really set up my emotions for the rest of the poem. Molly

I like this combination because they give just opposite feels. In Matt’s you are all excited about how this bite is going to taste and you an taste it in your own mouth, but then it’s stale. What disappointment. In Kenneth’s, I just picture myself at the Krispy Kreme looking at all of the warm donuts and know how good those taste when they are fresh. I just really like the fresh vs. stale idea in this pair of haiku. Emily C.

strangers in a donut shop
we talk novels
while my car gets fixed

Heidi A. Zapp

early morning meeting
she bites into a donut
to hide her annoyance

Emily D'Ambrose

box of glazed krispy kremes
my mouth waters
. . . Lent.

Molly McCullough

talking about my sins
hey I'm only here
for the free donuts

Kelsey Meredith

I was particularly drawn to this pair because the donuts seemed like pieces of the people that were around/eating them; they weren't a central object even though they were there. In Heidi's haiku, the donut shop is just a place to pass the time, and in Emily's, the donut is a coping mechanism of sorts. The central characters have been placed in rather displeasing circumstances: one has no car for the moment, and the other is stuck in an early meeting. The donuts add a sprinkling of sweetness to those situations, and I really liked how this pair fit together so well with this idea. Alex

I like this haiku pair. I think they fit together well because they both are expressing so much feeling. Yet they make you feel very different things when you read them. The first one feels like the excitement of new romance. The second one is obviously annoyance. I like the first one because it is so sweet. Kelsey

I especially like the pairing of these two haiku, as both haikus illustrate morning conversation and interaction. It is very obvious that while the first haiku shows an optimistic, delightful morning, the second haiku revolves around someone who would probably not be described as a “morning person”. While the attitudes of the haiku differ, it is interesting to see that the “donut” is used to a source of comfort in both situations. A sugary morning treat that children seem to be very fond of, is associated here with feelings of relief and happiness. In one instance, the donut brings to strangers together, while in the other haiku the donut allows the woman to indulge in a moment of isolation from the meeting. Therese

This pair really intrigued me because they were using religion in such contrasting manners. The first is employing extreme self-control in order to follow the rules set down by her religion, while the second is using its charity to gain. They really contrast in how devout the writers are about their faiths. The first is committed enough to actually endure for it, while the second is only really showing up and going through the motions in order to get at those donuts. They really illustrate the two extreme kinds of religious people: those who are actually in it for the faith, and those who only participate in order to gain, whether it be physical things or acceptance from peers who fall into the first group. Charlie

I chose these two haiku because there is such an obvious contradiction, and they’re both very well done haiku. The contradiction, I see all the time. Well, maybe not all the time, but I’ve experienced it many times before, as I’ve worn both shoes. Everyone knows church is not the most fun place, but having donuts, among other edibles in the morning sure do make it better, so I have to say I’ve been there. However, I do have faith in God, whoever he may be, and I also know the feeling of holding out on a temptation, because of my faith. No matter how tempting something is, persistence and drive can always overcome. Matt

box of glazed krispy kremes
my mouth waters
. . . Lent.

Molly McCullough

I take a bite
of the tempting donut
stale

Matt Swofford

This pair formed a little story for me; in the beginning, I see someone eyeing a box of donuts even though they had given up sweets for lent (kind of like myself). But, in a moment of weakness, they grab a donut to taste the sweet treat only to find that they were from a week ago and no one had bothered to throw them out. I definitely feel karma rearing its ugly head in here, almost laughing in the face of the poor person who had just wanted a single donut. Jordan

1donut2donuts3donuts
never eating
ever again

I liked this haiku because it is very relatable. It is very easy to eat too much when the food tastes so good. This is especially easy when the food is as delicious as donuts! Randi

1donut2donuts3donuts
never eating
ever again

Kelsey Meredith

I realize the law
of marginal utility
too many donuts

Darien M. Sloat

my brother
a doughnut shape
on his girlfriend's finger

Randi Mehrmann

down on one knee
I laugh
ring pop sparkles

Amanda Lee

baggins's
stole the precious
WE HATES IT

Alex Buchko

a ring
in my drink—
how original

Courtney Burress

down on one knee
I laugh
ring pop sparkles

Amanda Lee

a ring
in my drink—
how original

Courtney Burress

These haiku share a humorous view of the usually serious notion of proposal. In the first, two friends laugh over a ring pop engagement ring. It begins seriously, as he is “down on one knee”. Upon reading the second line, one may feel that the lady is being a little unfeeling; proposals of marriage are typically not answered with laughter. However, the reason is revealed in the third line: a candy ring is proffered instead of a real one. From this, the reader can infer that someone is pretending to propose to a friend in mock seriousness, and that the joke is meant for everyone’s amusement. Playfulness is added through the inclusion of a ring pop, a favorite child’s candy. In the second haiku, in a manner similar to the first, the first two lines leave one wondering what the writer’s response to the ring is. However, this second attempt at proposal is met with disdain and, it would seem, disappointment. It is interesting how a mock proposal seems to bring warm feelings and laughter, while a real ring, by way of its presentation, becomes unwanted; an object of scorn. Sarah

remember the night
we did donuts in the parking lot
. . . and then we parked

Emily Crutchfield

empty tea cup
on the rim
a perfect red kiss

Sarah E. Kisly

rental car
88 miles left
on this spare tire

Charlie Decker

bored housewife
floats on by
in a rubber donut

Therese O'Shaughnessy

I really like both of these haiku. I love the playfulness of the first one with the donuts in the parking lot and then “parking.” It reminds me of fun, wild nights and being young. I love haiku that remind me of crazy things I’ve done fun times I’ve had. I can remember doing donuts in the parking lot with friends right after it snowed. Winter can often bring you down, but then the snow comes and put’s a sparkly sheet of white over everything. There is something magical about the snow, and something so fun about doing donuts. I always feel a little reckless when I do them. I also really like the second one. I can clearly picture the red lipstick on the cup. I imagine two people getting together and drinking tea. I can imagine the girl putting on lipstick to impress the guy and then when she drinks the tea, it leaves a ring on the cup. I think these two pair nicely because I imagine a couple being a part of both scenes. Emily D.