Haiku Kukai 03

Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2021

1

back of my eyelids
I wonder . . .
what do I think

2

closed coffee shop
a disinfectant bottle
sits on the counter

3

rare silence
in a sorority house . . .
giggles erupt from down the hall

4

eyes closed
fluorescent beams
through my eyelids

5

crumpled blouse
a memory
I had forgotten

Jeana Pierson

6

aching back
and swollen feet
carry the nurse

Sarah Barter

7

glistening in the sun
on the tallest tree
. . . Walmart bag

8

resilience
monarch butterfly
lands on her shoulder

9

she shares her secrets
you are not
alone

10

walk on the beach
feet sinking
into the sand

11

I kiss him
in the passenger seat
truth or dare

Colin McGonagle

12

note in the locker
a secret
not meant for me

13

the corset closes
i can feel
the bones

14

day care
he spells his name
upside down

Bryce Bayer

15

sunset . . .
the ocean meets
her lover

Bryce Bayer

16

sweaty shirt
the treadmill
speeds beneath me

17

cracked riverbed
the water
gone

Brooke Oitker

18

art gallery
child pretends
to be alone

Elliot Mahon

19

a walk in the park
his first spring
without her

20

falling rain
taps the glass
an invitation

Elliot Mahon

21

thunder rumbles
I stay curled up
reading peacefully

22

string of my headphones bounce
running continuously
house after house

23

an owl stands
tall in the night
watching

24

an apple they said
one apple
my ass

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

25

impromptu movie night
Mamma Mia
we jam along

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

26

glitter
the herpes
of arts and crafts

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

27

candle lit dinner
a single plate
a single shadow

Paige Hockman

28

one street light
illuminates the country road
firefly

29

nails
tapping on hardwood
time ticks by

30

sadness
mom says I should move
endorphins

Savanna Prasun

31

hot and sweaty
on a purple mat
stretched position

32

morning fog
a crow caws in a tree
omen

Kionah Flowers

33

children race home
they beat
the street lights

34

my mother 
54 years young 
certified yoga instructor

35

early morning
I stand in the corner
COVID test

36

worn journal
the pages fall
to the floor

37

my mom gets involved
with Facebook
a little too much

Camryn Skundberg

38

trauma stores in the hips
I recall as I
sink into child's pose

39

planned parenthood
2 hours
for pills

40

learning to unlearn
you
in my everyday routine

Camryn Skundberg

41

my dog took me
for a walk
in the park

Camryn Skundberg

42

wrist band remotes
move the couch
DANCE 3

Alyson Robbins

43

summer walks
around the church
and back

44

foot tapping
the sound of the clock
ticking

45

couch talks
don't tell
my secrets

46

the person  
in the mirror 
growing and wider

Piper Charlton

47

laughing
through the phone
I miss my family

Piper Charlton

48

kitchen floor
my cat
shines in the sun

Katelynn Watkins

49

photo booth picture
me and you
high school sweethearts

Sarah Barter

50

itchy sweater
damp hair
my Sunday best

Sarah Barter

51

shoe box
dried rose petals
from prom

Sarah Barter

52

staying motivated
the treadmill
my best friend

53

the sun is shining
warmer days
ahead

Chloe Herbert

54

collecting my forms
wondering
how much I will owe

55

headphones in
on the elliptical
a podcast

Chloe Herbert

56

someone new
can't remove
skeletons from the closet

Kaitlin Hathaway

57

making salad
secretly wanting
chocolate

58

frosted glass
fresh berries and spinach
through a metal straw

59

lavender shampoo
long black hair
clogs the shower drain

Courtney Klein

60

crashing waves
the walk alone
turns to sprints

61

look around
no one is watching
flex in the mirror

Danni Beard

62

what is love . . .
stranger danger
palms come together

63

one-minute plank
fingers trembling
repeat

64

secrets
words unsaid
on the way to forgetting

65

the scent of his clothes
the sound his shoes make
he's still here

66

fairy lights . . .
keep me company
after a long day

Jamie Gamonez

67

dilated pupils
feeling soft rain
under the full moon

68

inhale, exhale
     the first cool morning
     of spring

69

another Spotify ballad
my lungs inflate . . .
. . . and deflate again

70

holding her dress
in the mirror
the seams still pucker

Colin McGonagle

71

the smell of acrylic paint
my anxiety etched out
on another canvas

72

the pillbox hat
she owned one
in every color

Colin McGonagle

73

mother-daugther time
Rick Springfield jams
in the kitchen

74

her blouse
jerked off by the wind
she loses herself

75

hydrangea bloom
the pollinator
back for more

76

my dad's t-shirt
I crop
and put it on

Jeana Pierson

77

rib cage expanding
letting go
of what cannot change

Linnea Nordstrom

78

zoom class
oops I left
my microphone on

Jeana Pierson

79

eyes flutter shut
suddenly
everything is clear

80

football game
I jump up to watch
the marching band

Jeana Pierson


81

I turn the page
     and another . . .
          and another

82

rust on the barbell
hands covered
in orange blisters

83

empty park
just me and
Jack Daniels

84

7am alarm
rolling over to
put on my sneakers

85

candlelight
passed around the circle
a secret is shared

86

corpse pose
the smell of pine cones
drifting by

Linnea Nordstrom

87

under the willow
she plucks
blades of grass

Kionah Flowers

88

reading my tarot cards
what does the universe
tell me today?

Piper Charlton

89

eighteenth card
moonlight shining . . .
on the little lobster

Courtney Klein

90

essential oils
legs cramping
in this pose

Carly Clo

91

winter's end
we meet
under the new sun

92

dry riverbed
a trail
for a band of heroes

Savanna Prasun

93

sitting on the carpet
Scooby-Doo
in the background

94

sisters circle around
the living room
candle in each hand

95

I'm on my path
this was a wrong turn
forgiven

96

downward facing dog
body tremble
wishing to move on

97

sitting around a campfire
secrets are shared
in a circle

Danni Beard


98

Abercrombie fitting room
suddenly aware
of the space he takes

Colin McGonagle

 

99

i cry
unprompted
child's pose

Colin McGonagle

101

the metal bar
across my upper-back
I am HERcules

102

basket overflowing
she despises
doing laundry

103

a walk to the park,
the man whistles,
I go back to my car

Katelynn Watkins

 


© 2021, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.