Haiku Kukai 4 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2016
Dad's old guitar |
Spring sneaks in Cori Grzenia (7) |
the gentle stream Emilio Tejada (7) |
open door creeks Emilio Tejada (8) |
the bull horns |
Saturday night Cori Grzenia (9) |
autumn leaves |
grass in between my toes |
take a slice |
sneeze after sneeze |
I see the love Grace Ganley (10) |
twice in one week Marah Kittelson This haiku, though not incredible deep, really rang true to me because it actually happened to me. I was asked two nights in a row, on two different dates, with two different guys. It was pretty hilarious watching the whole thing play out, but nevertheless I enjoyed my two free dinners greatly! Katherine |
tea Marah Kittelson (6) This haiku is such a psyche in a way that's hilarious (because there's a psyche in a haiku) and in a way that's kind of awful (because what it turns out to be is very sad). I love The Sound of Music and I know all the words to every song, but even if you don't, it's almost impossible to read the first two lines of the haiku without singing the song and thinking about all the happy children on bikes and getting really excited. Then you get hit with the third line and it stops your Julie Andrews parade right in its tracks. I have a friend who always comes over to my apartment when we need to spill our pent-up sadness, and we never do it without making tea first, so it hit me pretty personally on top of that. I thought the shift was really well done because if you go back and read the haiku without singing, it still makes sense without that other dimension, but it was clearly written to throw you off. Natalie |
the furnace Marah Kittelson (6) |
snow drifts |
small girl in a purple dress |
gusty night Benjamin Brawner (6) |
dancing spanish guitar |
I tried |
summer night |
talking future Alexis Dockins I imagine a giant field full of multicolored flowers. They're all different sizes and textures; maybe the wind is making them dance a bit. There's a couple and they've been walking for a while, and they're starting to get tired. But before they turn back to the “real world”, he grabs her waist and puts a flower behind her ear. So, they decide not to move for a while, and to simply enjoy the scenery. Soon, silence turns to dreaming, and the couple begins to dream of the different “what if's” of their unplanned future. Taryn This brought me instantly to a meadow in summertime. I can see a young couple, maybe seniors in high school, sitting cross-legged on the grass across from each other. They're sitting knee to knee, so that he can wrap his long arms around her waist as they talk. It's late in the afternoon...the sun is starting to sink down, casting neon rays across the sky. They've been talking for so long, they don't remember how they got to talking about the future. 'Someday' seems so distant, is it really worth worrying about right now? She fiddles with a plucked wildflower as she starts to become nervous. What will their future hold? He delicately takes the flower from her fiddling fingers and tucks it behind her ear. "It'll be okay," he says. She chooses to believe him. Marah |
Cheez-its Alexis Dockins (3) |
barefoot girl Alexis Dockins (7) |
two parents |
throat scratches Genevieve Breitbach (2) |
squish squelch crunch |
grizzly bear hibernates |
surprise casseroles |
a new tattoo Cori Grzenia This haiku is very descriptive of getting a new tattoo. It blatantly describes the feeling of having something that means something to you on your skin. As the tattoo sinks in and becomes a part of you and your image and who you are. The way the haiku flows and its structure also helps with its imagery. It breaks down the image. Grace |
Ben & Jerry Cori Grzenia (5) |
patiently watching |
always the one to |
giggles |
the little girl |
family journey Corrin Littlefield As a kid, we took a lot of road trips around the country to take in the beauty of the National Parks. My brother and I would often fall into that restless car sleep—when you sleep soundly for a few hours, look out the window for 30 minutes, and then repeat. My favorite part of those road trips was always the silent minutes as tried to fall back asleep again. I would put my face on the window and look up and see just how different the sky was, though we were only a few states from home. This haiku just took me back to those silent hours of awe. Cori |
filled with confusion Erica Forbes (4) |
laying down in snowy silence Erica Forbes (4) |
undiscovered utopia Cori Grzenia (8) |
mudpuddle shenanigans Cori Grzenia (5) |
sitting on the toilet Erica Forbes (12) |
ink stone |
waves of jelly Emilio Tejada (3) |
through the light |
longboarding across the quad Marah Kittelson (4) |
the thumb dance Marah Kittelson (14) This one, once again, I connected to on a personal level. Most of the time, I am not afraid to talk to someone face-to-face, or make direct eye contact with them, but other the weekend I was faced with a situation which changed this about me quickly. When meeting with my ex-boyfriend for the first time, I was very upset. I was crying almost the entire time, and it was hard for me to explain everything that was going on with me. So, because of this, most of the time I twiddled my thumbs trying not to look at him, so that he didn't see me crying directly. This is what I thought of when reading this haiku, even though a lot of people related it to texting. Lauren |
dirt road |
patience is the key Joseph Pegura (2) |
november |
full moon |
morning sun Erica Forbes |
she plays her favorite Erica Forbes (8) |
songbirds don't Genevieve Breitbach (12) This haiku really strikes me in my mind as I can almost hear the birds singing. Almost every morning at home I can hear birds singing and they always sound better the more that there are. It seems as if that they never try to drown one another out, but just add to the harmony. The simplicity of this haiku is also very effective because it leaves a lot of freedom for the reader to interpret. I also think that the choice of songbirds versus a specific type of bird adds to the effect of being able to hear the birds and letting the reader choose what the sounds are. Michael |
dawn breaks |
arms waving wildly |
she kicks the tree Genevieve Breitbach This is funny to me. I remember back when the parkour trend was really big and my friends and I would run around clumsily jumping off of things shouting parkour. Of course, this is not really parkour, but it is a very fun word to shout while jumping around. It has been a while since I have thought about parkour and it is refreshing to be reminded of the lost art. Jcob |
the wind is Genevieve Breitbach (3) |
giggle sister departing |
red carpet walkers |
dress and heels |
Sunday after the funeral Randy Brooks (3) I really liked this haiku because it reminded me of how life is a continuous circle. I imagine the same church that was filled with mourners is now filled with people celebrating the joining of two people in marriage. It reminds you that, although there is sorrow, happiness is always around the corner, and such is life. Whitney |
he cooks steak |
pants gone |
remake the bed |
his hand on my waist |
fireplace glow— Whitney Gray (5) |
camouflage and combat boots Whitney Gray (4) |
limited minutes |
leather bound book |
a book unfinished |
acting like children Tyler Trzcinski (7) |
a fallen log |
vines over stone |
his kiss |
I can only feel |
she visits |
off the path |
lucky bamboo |
stack of cards |
soft music plays Joseph Pegura (7) |
friday night |
sticking her head Joseph Pegura (12) A refreshing, relaxing haiku, I imagine myself standing with my head out of my dad's car's sunroof on the way into the country, either leaving school for summer, or at home in the summertime cruising through the hills with the sun on my shoulders and the wind in my hair. It is something I've loved to do since I was big enough to hold myself up. There is even a picture of me doing it as a three year old (while the car was at a standstill). I can see the blue sky, clear sun, a stray cloud or two, and the black roof of his car. I can taste the breeze and the sweet scent of summer on my tongue. My shoulders relax and my heart soars with the birds flying next to us. It's a golden moment where nothing matters but joy. Genevieve I mentioned this one in class, and even double-voted for it! Reading it just gives me a sense of freedom, happiness, and joy. I can remember my last days of final exams in high school. I would get in my car, jumping with joy, roll down the windows, open the sunroof, and glide down the open road rejoicing that summer had finally arrived. Katherine |
love turns to like |
crossing things off my infinite list Lauren Montesano (5) |
what to say |
footprints crack |
popcorn disappears |
scattered thoughts |
another day passes by
|
tingling in my nose |
I look into her Joseph Pegura My sister's eyes aren't exactly light brown, but they are brown, so this Haiku reminds me of her. She thinks she's good at lying to me, especially about her feelings, but I typically see right through the charades. She'll pretend everything is fine, and that she's not hurting, but I'll know the difference. So while this poem may have been written originally about a lover or girlfriend, it reminds me of the pain my sister feels quite often, and how she tries to hide it from me, even though she knows I'd support her through anything. I think anyone with a sister would feel the same way. Taryn |
a boyish knight |
petri dish for |
water bottle |
walking on beat Joseph Pegura (6) |
fall break |
crisp autumn night |
backwards hat Jacob Hamilton (3) |
pyramid of empty Jacob Hamilton (10) |
waited |
ketchup and mayo |
crunchy sweet kale |
fishing for Genevieve Breitbach (5) |
hoping the caf |
tacos lined up Jacob Hamilton (2) |
freshly mowed lawn |
corn fields fill the horizon Joseph Pegura (5) |
we jump on Joseph Pegura (6) |
the best cure Katherine Viviano (4) |
little tacos |
charred salmon Katherine Viviano (6) |
gown after gown |
hair up |
typing Lauren Montesano (10) This haiku brings me to every single paper that I have wrote in my college career so far. I can see myself at my desk as I am now, just searching for words to put on the paper that will just get torn to pieces after I turn it in the next morn. The words that I am writing do not come from the heart, but the brain which makes my writing meaningless. This is at some late hour, probably 3 a.m. I cannot keep pushing these asinine words onto the paper. Joe The structure and repetitive first few lines create a unique flow for this haiku. It seems to say that they continuously type and type and type day after day and they are never words that have any meaning. I can relate in some ways to this when it comes to some school work but it could also be related to texting a friend or not caring to speak to a person anymore. Grace |
shoes |
phone |
your smile |
hearing the dog |
tail wagging Lauren Montesano (10) This haiku just brought me back to my home. All of my life I have been around dogs. Every time I come home, my dogs' fur would go flying as they greeted me at the door. I personally feel that we do not deserve dogs as humans and that they are the true angels that walk with us. “Tail wagging” just makes me see the curly tail of my black lab at home, she is such a sweetheart. “Home is where the dog is” is just a statement that I could not agree more with as well. Joe |
feet: noun |
pat pat patting Katherine Viviano I liked this haiku because it reminded me of my dog. Everyday that I got home from school, he would come and greet me at the door hoping that I would spare some time to play with him. He was such a loyal dog that would do anything for you. He truly was my best friend who would always make me feel better when I felt sad. For me nothing could replace that. For these reason I picked this haiku because I felt like I could really generate a heart felt response. Emilio |
a winter wonderland now a slushy wasteland
|
my nose starts working overtime |
he looks up at a heron Erica Forbes (5) I really liked this haiku because I can imagine it in two ways in my mind. The first way that I imagined it, it was a little kid looking at an adult while the adult was doing something that was not a good thing for a role model to be doing. I can just picture the adult thinking, “uh-oh”, as the kid watches them. I can also picture an older brother or friend that is looked up to by someone that is just slightly younger than them. The older person is reflecting on what ways he or she can be a better role model. I also like the second line of this haiku because there is a very hard pause after it, making the third line more important and stand out more to the reader. Michael |
he bends down |
last night |
the vigilante creeps |
family reunion Marah Kittelson (5) |
wahpooh Marah Kittelson (5) |
blowing snow passes by me Michael Barber (10) This haiku creates a very strong feeling which I found interesting. It makes you feel very cold and empty. The wind blowing by the author is imagined to be cold and creates a desolate setting and then the next line continues that feel, but emotionally. Very good job creating feeling. Alexis |
cold feet Marah Kittelson (3) |
we miss him everyday Michael Barber (6) This haiku made me think of my grandfather who passed away this summer. Christmas was very hard for the whole family this year because he was missing. I have a very small family, so we are, naturally, very close to one another. When he passed away, it was a huge loss, but we saw it coming so it wasn't as devastating as it could have been. A while after the funeral we were doing just fine, not thinking too much about it, and living out our daily lives. However, once Christmas came around it became very hard on us and it was very prevalent that a lot of us were hurting, wishing he would come back, like this poem asks for. Lauren |
disheveled beard |
moose on the road |
one bun, two bun, |
kissing goodbye Lauren Montesano (10) I loved this haiku because after having pets your entire life, it gets pretty lonely without any around. One of my favorite parts about being home is seeing my dogs and cats, and each time I leave them it gets harder and harder. Whitney |
forgotten Lauren Montesano (5) |
bread crumbs falling |
on the screen |
expansion |
driving alone Michael Barber (10) This also connected with me personally because I am not a person who shows emotion in front of many others, only a couple people have ever seen my cry from personal experiences. So, when I'm in the car I let all of those held-back feelings out. This might include mouthing what I wish I could say to someone, singing along to a sad song, or yelling at the top of my lungs. While I'm doing this, I often worry that someone else can see me, but then I never really think of the fact that God can always see me, and instead of dealing with my issues on my own, I should talk to him. Lauren This haiku is one that I really appreciate. Everyone has had that conversation in the car with someone that they believe in, or if an atheist, they have a conversation with themselves. No matter who it is, I think that this is a moment that everyone can relate with. These moments have very introspective ideas that can change people's lives, while being completely mundane and of no special consequence. Noah |
watching the sunrise |
her eyes shining |
a night at home |
looking out the window |
down on his knees Whitney Gray (5) |
the little girl points |
I keep saying no Erica Forbes The girl scout army comes out around the same time every year. Everybody has been in a situation where they are leaving a building and a tiny girl asks if you want cookies. The cookies while they are delicious, are too expensive for my taste. I always want to buy the cookies but I know that I don't have the funds for them. It's best to go out with parents so that by chance a girl scout is there they can buy cookies for you. Tyler |
the last time Erica Forbes (10) |
three empty chairs Erica Forbes This haiku brings me back to the many times of going on break at work. We usually take breaks one person at a time so its normally a lunch that lacks conversation. The lunch is never lonely but I'm always alone during lunch. At lunch I feel relaxed and relived to not have to deal with people anymore. Working is stressful and leads to a lot of aggravation so lunch is the best part of the day for me. Tyler |
thin mints and bad bowling |
girls' night in |
my sister flops on my bed Natalie Smith (5) This haiku is 100% my sister. We were fighting last time I came home, for her birthday party. I told her that I came home for her and she said that she didn't care. That stung a lot but I knew that she missed me. This haiku reminded me of when we just sit in my room and talk about everything and nothing at the same time. My sister is great at coming in right when I'm about to go to bed because she wants to talk. The haiku made me miss my sister. Corrin |
silent |
hot lake Marah Kittelson (3) The gentle curve in the sinking letters makes this so powerful for me. My mind takes me to a serene small lake, or perhaps a gently flowing river. I'm in a canoe or rowboat, feeling the heat of a muggy summer day on my face, watching my last salvation drift away from me. A feeling of helplessness overtakes me, until I remember that I can jump in after it since I wore my swim suit under these clothes. My shirt sticks to my sweaty shoulders, and the idea of jumping into a refreshing cool pond sounds quite delightful actually. So I do and retrieve the oar. Genevieve |
alone on the deck |
he looks up to me Noah Klumpe (14) |
slide on the slide |
hands fixing |
struggling with the pole Noah Klumpe (5) |
mom calls us for dinner Natalie Smith (16) My parents are very timely people. This haiku is essentially my life in a nutshell at my house. When my mom finishes dinner she immediately calls for us as though we are just waiting for it to be finished. While the hollering is effective, it is very obnoxious and demeaning. I feel as though sometimes she presumes that we are doing nothing productive with our time, when we may actually be doing something productive. Noah I like this haiku because it reminds me of back in the day when I would be playing wiffle ball with the neighbor kids. My mother would call me in for dinner but I would not want to come in because I would be having so much fun. When I wouldn't respond to her, she would call again and out of fear of punishment I would go back home. Jacob |
the second hand |
under my blazer |
sitting on our porch |
on all fours |
walking in the park |
sun warms her chest |
broken fourth wall |
coloring book Tyler Trzcinski (7) |
cellar door |
old rollercoaster Tyler Trzcinski (7) |
walking through the forest Natalie Smith I liked this haiku because of the way it is written. Starting with “walking through the forest” immediately creates an image in your head and then the next line “alone together” is like an oxymoron and I like the way the two words are opposites, but when put together changes the meaning of both. Then the last line puts you into the setting even more and you can tell that it is fall maybe and leaves are on the ground. It also makes you think that the two people aren't talking because it is silent enough to hear their footsteps. Then you rethink alone together and it starts to get a different meaning, that maybe they are together, but not really. They are just walking alone, next to someone else. Alexis |
the beating of thunder |
mother's touch Tyler Trzcinski (6) This haiku reminded me of when I was younger. Whenever I had a bad dream, I would go to my mom's room and wake her up so she could help me feel better. She would tell me that everything was ok and that she was here. Sometimes I would lay in bed with her until I felt better. She always gave me things to think about so I would stop thinking about the nightmare. She would tell me to think about school and ice cream, little things like that, and it always worked. My mom was the best at making bad dreams go away. Corrin |
two cardinals
|
four pounds |
peaceful lake |
after the breakup |
first time sick Whitney Gray (4) |
that one aunt Whitney Gray (5) |
playground romance |
mystery novel |
taxes filed |
far-off dreams Taryn Pepping (7) |
commentator |
dinner party |
spider's lair Tyler Trzcinski (2) |
bathed in red |
oyster farmer Tyler Trzcinski (7) |
scrambling for every spare penny |
windows down |
standing at the front |
a loving kiss |
drunk magical snow globe |
she sneezes |
standing on top of a Jeep |
he rubs her back Corrin Littlefield (6) |
continual sighs Corrin Littlefield I can picture this too clearly. Roommates: one at the counter, minding her own business, doing her homework, the other on the couch, also doing homework, but mostly just emitting dreadfully loud sighs. Roommate number one starts to lose her patience as number two keeps sighing, obviously wanting number one to ask about it. The game continues until number one wants to kill number two, and number two leaves to go t her room, sighing the whole way there. Marah |
pebbles tossed |
clomping boots Whitney Gray (11) |
sitting Whitney Gray (10) |
grade class Natalie Smith When I read this haiku, I was instantly brought back to last semester, when I took my Elementary Methods class and had the opportunity to teach kindergarteners. Just watching the tiny students being excited to come to school and learn just warmed me up. The best part was that it was not limited to just my kindergarteners. The second grade class coming in next also had huge smiles on their faces and were excited for something as menial as another class. The hopeful innocence found in those students was refreshing, and I miss it already, though it was only a handful of weeks ago. Cori |
little cousins |
November wind Natalie Smith (3) |
disgusting turkey rolls Alexis Dockins (5) This haiku made me sadly nostalgic in a way that didn't make a lot of sense to me because my parents are both still alive and together. This haiku is supposed to be about a family that's been separated either by death or by divorce, and in that context it's still a very touching moment about a father trying his best to run a household when he is struggling himself. That being said, it took me a day to figure out why it got to me. When I was younger, my father's job was freelance. Sometimes he would work 9-5 hours, sometimes he would be home for two days, and sometimes we wouldn't see him for half the week. When he was gone for a long time my mother struggled emotionally (to this day, I don't know why), and the house always felt off balance. Shout out to this author because I haven't thought about those times for years. Natalie |
just mom and me Whitney Gray (6) |
corn fields Whitney Gray (9) The reason why I enjoyed this haiku was because of how simple it was. Being in the state of Illinois there is nothing but corn and soy bean fields especially near Decatur. I feel like I wasn't the only one that could relate to this haiku because we all are surrounded by these fields and there is no denying it. There is not much more to say about this haiku other than it speaks the truth of our location. Emilio |
© 2016, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.