a puppy
new life
in a cold house

Savanna Prasun

sunny day
little paw prints
up my windshield

Courtney Klein

white rat
wheezing and sneezing
I shall call you sniffles

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

training wheels
the ant bed
isn’t spared

Alyson Robbins

sunny day
little paw prints
up my windshield

training wheels
the ant bed
isn’t spared

sunny day
little paw prints
up my windshield

top quarter champion

TOP half Champion

bottoms up
Dixieland Delight
ROLL TIDE!

bottom quarter champion

bottoms up
Dixieland Delight
ROLL TIDE!

Poptropica—
laughter as we
forget how to play

bottoms up
Dixieland Delight
ROLL TIDE!

Poptropica—
laughter as we
forget how to play

Courtney Klein

smoke circles
talking in circles
small giggles

Colin McGonagle

peach wine
stovetop s’mores
a night with friends

Courtney Klein

bottoms up
Dixieland Delight
ROLL TIDE!

Sarah Barter

TOP half champion

bottoms up
Dixieland Delight
ROLL TIDE!

CHAMPION

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance
 

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

BOTTOM half champion

lilypads
a ballerino
leaps . . . splash!

Kionah Flowers

a drop in
the ocean
flip the coin

Alyson Robbins

are you in or
out
garlic bread

Carly Clo

heads or
tails?
Betty White

Alyson Robbins

a drop in
the ocean
flip the coin

are you in or
out
garlic bread

are you in or
out
garlic bread

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

bottom quarter champion

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

phone dings
i throw it
out the window

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

phone dings
i throw it
out the window

Colin McGonagle

bright window
I haven’t
made my bed

Kaitlin Hathaway

fairy lights
they look better
in the evening

Kaitlin Hathaway

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

Colin McGonagle

no love
no one
can ever hurt you

Savanna Prasun

permanent guard
I let in
No one

Jordan Hildebrand

the warmth
of his love . . .
won’t last forever

Chloe Herbert

fools . . .
get out
while you can

Camryn Skundberg

no love
no one
can ever hurt you

fools . . .
get out
while you can

no love
no one
can ever hurt you

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

i will plant a garden
in the plot that was
meant for you

bottom quarter champion

i will plant a garden
in the plot that was
meant for you

blank TV screen
my reflection
stares back

i will plant a garden
in the plot that was
meant for you

glimmer of hope
lost . . .
in the child’s eyes

Katelynn Watkins

blank TV screen
my reflection
stares back

Brooke Oitker

Snow White
frozen in time
rigor mortis

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

i will plant a garden
in the plot that was
meant for you

Colin McGonagle

TOP half champion

i will plant a garden
in the plot that was
meant for you

CHAMPION

i will plant a garden
in the plot that was
meant for you

house divided
no tools on his belt
can repair the damage

BOTTOM half champion

house divided
no tools on his belt
can repair the damage

Jeana Pierson

depression spell—
floors littered with
laundry and old dishes

Courtney Klein

shaking
how did I not notice?
I'm an addict.

Piper Charlton

when did I
become my father?
the bottle thuds

Piper Charlton

house divided
no tools on his belt
can repair the damage

when did I
become my father?
the bottle thuds

house divided
no tools on his belt
can repair the damage

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

house divided
no tools on his belt
can repair the damage

bottom quarter champion

a tisket,
a tasket,
missed the bus

a tisket,
a tasket,
missed the bus

Buddy’s last day
we drop him off
at the vet

graduation day
I’ll never see
these people again

Chloe Herbert

a tisket,
a tasket,
missed the bus

Alyson Robbins

Buddy’s last day
we drop him off
at the vet

Kaitlin Hathaway

on a blade of grass
early morning dew
slides down

Kionah Flowers

rumbling
the upstairs neighbors
two large dogs

Katelynn Watkins

raindrops
drip drop down
the fogged window

Camryn Skundberg

yellow rainboots
streetlights
highlighting rain

Carly Clo

laying in the grass
sound of steps
on a college campus

Savanna Prasun

raindrops
drip drop down
the fogged window

yellow rainboots
streetlights
highlighting rain

yellow rainboots
streetlights
highlighting rain

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

yellow rainboots
streetlights
highlighting rain

bottom quarter champion

candle flickers
doors open wide
spring cleaning

silence is peaceful
candles lit
homework time

candle flickers
doors open wide
spring cleaning

homework grind
no one talks
ACHOO!

Piper Charlton

silence is peaceful
candles lit
homework time

Danni Beard

candle flickers
doors open wide
spring cleaning

Paige Hockman

forgotten
dirty brushes in
murky water

Courtney Klein

TOP half champion

yellow rainboots
streetlights
highlighting rain

CHAMPION

glare on his glasses
he sits across from me
and grins

glare on his glasses
he sits across from me
and grins

BOTTOM half champion

her fate is woven
in a basketweave
she cannot control

Kionah Flowers

cross ring
changing colors
still a perfect fit

Sarah Barter

a pillow
each
I have one more

Alyson Robbins

stitches
shaping and forming
the squishmellow

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

her fate is woven
in a basketweave
she cannot control

stitches
shaping and forming
the squishmellow

her fate is woven
in a basketweave
she cannot control

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

glare on his glasses
he sits across from me
and grins

bottom quarter champion

glare on his glasses
he sits across from me
and grins

high school accomplishments
framed and glistening
above his bed

glare on his glasses
he sits across from me
and grins

remember freshman year?
O yeah, gross
I finally peaked!

Danni Beard

high school accomplishments
framed and glistening
above his bed

Sarah Barter

glare on his glasses
he sits across from me
and grins

Sarah Barter

a striking couple
we glide across the ballroom
violin music swells

Jeana Pierson

a puppy
new life
in a cold house

Savanna Prasun

sunny day
little paw prints
up my windshield

Courtney Klein

white rat
wheezing and sneezing
I shall call you sniffles

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

training wheels
the ant bed
isn’t spared

Alyson Robbins

I like this pairing because I love anything to do with puppies. The first one makes me feel the warmth a puppy can bring into a hone with its energy. The second one makes me see the chaos a puppy can bring into the car by just roaming all over and wanting to stick its head out the window. Both of them provide so much joy and energy which is what puppies do and I love that. Jamie Gamonez, Spring 2021

Poptropica—
laughter as we
forget how to play

Courtney Klein

smoke circles
talking in circles
small giggles

Colin McGonagle

peach wine
stovetop s’mores
a night with friends

Courtney Klein

bottoms up
Dixieland Delight
ROLL TIDE!

Sarah Barter

I chose to match these two haiku because they both describe a night spent drinking with friends, but depict vastly different scenes. In the first haiku, the language utilized by the author leads readers to believe that this is a relaxing night where friends are simply enjoying time spent together. Whereas in the second haiku, the author begins with the phrase “bottoms up”, indicating a more lively and celebratory atmosphere. This is further emphasized in the final line, where the author utilizes both capital letters and an exclamation point. Each of these haiku are structurally similar and provide the reader with adequate amounts of imagery. All in all, these haiku match nicely, as they describe a variety of activities completed with friends. Chloe Herbert, Spring 2021

I liked this pair a lot because they reminded me of being young and in college. There are many nights I would spend with my friends drinking wine, watching a movie, and just enjoying each other’s company. I sometimes prefer smaller gatherings like that opposed to bigger parties, so I liked the feeling this pair gave me. Kaitlin Hathaway, Spring 2021

I love both of these haiku and I think they are a great match-up for each other. These haiku were written to spark unique memories or nostalgia from every reader that comes across them. They both remind me that a night with friends is never a night wasted, and every good night doesn’t have to be some fancy night out, it can be a small, chill get-together with your closest friends. However, when your friends and you do decide to go out, you don’t waste the opportunity and make the most of your night. I think they are different in their tones that they convey. The first haiku’s tone is lighter where I could see friends all together in a circle enjoying one another’s company. Then, all of a sudden, one friend remembers the stale marshmallows she bought four months ago in her pantry. The second haiku’s tone is louder and seems to be more of a party-type atmosphere. I can picture lots of dancing and a night to remember with your friends. Camryn Skundberg, Spring 2021

lilypads
a ballerino
leaps . . . splash!

Kionah Flowers

a drop in
the ocean
flip the coin

Alyson Robbins

are you in or
out
garlic bread

Carly Clo

heads or
tails?
Betty White

Alyson Robbins

I like this match. The garlic bread one is mine, and I know that the others is Alyson’s. I think it is funny that we had haiku that were written so similarly. I also think her haiku is so funny and goes so well with mine. I think it really showcases both of our personalities well in a way that I think only her, and I would understand. I also like how out of the blue both of our third lines are, and how that is what adds the comical effect that I mentioned previously. Carly Clo, Spring 2021

peach wine
stovetop s’mores
a night with friends

Courtney Klein

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

Colin McGonagle

lilypads
a ballerino
leaps . . . splash!

Kionah Flowers

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

Colin McGonagle

peach wine
stovetop s’mores
a night with friends

I feel a bit of adventure and warmth from this haiku. There’s the warmness of being around friends and just feeling that connection. Then there’s also the warmth of the fire. This whole scenario feels whole if that makes sense. I’d imagine sitting there with my friends and feeling a sense of peacefulness. I also feel a sense of loneliness in this haiku simply because these times won’t last forever. It feels like the speaker in the haiku is accepting of this fact.

I’m not necessarily a drinker, but I do know what peaches taste like. So, the combination of peach and s’mores is so interesting to me. This haiku explores the same sensory element through different flavors. I initially wouldn’t think that peach and s’mores go together, however, this haiku made me change my mind. Both of these flavors bring an overall sense of comfort to this haiku, in addition to the warmth of the fire. Kionah Flowers, Spring 2021

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

This feels like a Sunday in Miami. I feel like that is the best way to describe this haiku. Although I’m not from Miami (I am originally from Melbourne, Florida), but I imagine that a person would do this under the sun. This sounds like the start of brunch with an ocean view.

I like the idea of sunbeams making the bubbles dance. There have been moments in my life where I noticed the little details, such as this. I became really engrossed (at the time) in these small details. This haiku makes me think of the simple things in life. There are simple pleasures that we can find and I think that this is one of them. Kionah Flowers, Spring 2021

I really enjoy these 2 Mido haiku. I feel that they both match up well and have a bright sense of playfulness within them. I just perfectly picture the sun passing through a bottle of rose and it highlights the bubbles perfectly as if they are dance. The ballerino haiku is playful to me because of the word choices and the imagery it produces. They are both lively haikus and the both display Mido’s philosophy. Sarah Barter, Spring 2021

phone dings
i throw it
out the window

Colin McGonagle

bright window
I haven’t
made my bed

Kaitlin Hathaway

fairy lights
they look better
in the evening

Kaitlin Hathaway

rosé in hand
sunbeams making
the bubbles dance

Colin McGonagle

I think these two were in comparison with one another because I felt that they both reflected the use of language with a window and both used it in two different contexts. The first haiku reminded me of a time when my phone went off in my apartment and I didn’t want to receive a message, so I decided to chuck it out the window and it wasn’t broken but had scratches on it. Then the second one made me remind when I wake up and my window is open because my ac isn’t working and its blinding me from my sleep and I don’t have any sheets on my bed made because I did my laundry. Danni Beard, Spring 2021

Ok so I might be biased, because one of these is my haiku, but I really enjoyed the way these two haiku paired together. The first one, which is my haiku, just feels like one of those mornings where you cannot be bothered to acknowledge your responsibilities. The second one is a continuation on that lazy morning feeling, we've all had those mornings where we see the sun inviting us to get those 5 extra minutes, and I really loved the way these two worked out. The two of these worked out so well because they, like the Kuro haiku, create an image for the reader. These two give me such an image of a warm, sunny spring morning that just makes me so happy because it is so relatable. Colin McGonagle, Spring 2021

This pair was one of my favorites from last week’s matching contest. Both haiku had the sense of something unfinished or the idea that some things just need to be put off for more important things. The first haiku was relatable and made me laugh at first. I feel like there is always a time where my phone will go off with nonstop notifications that are not important at all, but I still feel the need to check them just in case it’s something pressing that I need to respond to or look at. This haiku also made me realize that there are so many times that I want to spend the day or even a few hours without my phone, but I’ll end up telling myself that I can’t just in case I get a text, call, or email from someone that I need to respond to right away. However, I have realized in the last year that sometimes there are moments that are so important to be present for that any message can for sure wait and that the world isn’t going to crumble/no one is going to be mad at me if I don’t respond to them right away. When I read this haiku again, I could picture someone getting a message but throwing the phone aside without a second thought so that they could be present at whatever they were doing and not have any distractions. The second haiku also tied into that idea that “it can wait.” When I read this one, I pictured the sun shining through the window on a beautiful spring day- one of the first in a long time. I could picture a person getting ready for the day and heading straight outside to enjoy the sunshine without thinking twice about making their bed or tidying up their room. I know that people say making your bed is one of the most important things to do in the morning to get a good start to your day, but sometimes, it just has to wait. I am usually a very organized and tidy person, but there are times when I will put something off such as making the bed or cleaning up to go do something else that seems far more important in the morning. Linnea Nordstrom, Spring 2021

I like this pair because they both give me ethereal, fairy vibes. Together, these haiku make me picture an outdoor garden party. Everyone is drinking rosé as the sun sets and once the sun sets, they turn the fairy lights on to keep the party going. I picture summertime and lots of friends gathered and having a good time. I think the colors of these haiku match nicely together as well. I believe the fairy lights haiku was Kaitlin Hathaway’s and she mentioned how her fairy lights have a copper or rose gold wire. The color of the fairy light wire matches perfectly with the rose gold color of the bubbling rosé in the glasses. I really enjoyed these haiku and they paired very well together. Jeana Pierson, Spring 2021

These haikus perfectly capture the summer I'm trying to have. Hanging out in a friend or family member backyard, twinkle lights illuminating everyone's faces as we sip on our wine. I also think these haikus show that you can be very specific and descriptive but can also just be very blunt. Both give you a clear setting and vibe, but in different unique ways. Piper Charlton, Spring 2021

I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to do this to my phone. I get so many emails in a day, or texts from group messages that I get tired of them. I am stressed as it is and having that go off every fifteen minutes is a thorn in my side. I have this family group chat at the moment that has all of my aunts and uncles on my mom’s side of the family. It also has my parents and my mom’s parents. My aunt Susan never stops texting about the most random things. Then, my grandparents, who never answer their phones on time, won’t text back until about eight or nine at night. A few hours after that original text. Stuff like that drives me insane. Savanna Prasun, Spring 2021

no love
no one
can ever hurt you

Savanna Prasun

permanent guard
I let in
No one

Jordan Hildebrand

the warmth
of his love . . .
won’t last forever

Chloe Herbert

fools . . .
get out
while you can

Camryn Skundberg

I think these two because they each give vary descriptive words that made the haiku important to me in my opinion. I like that the first haiku talk about just surviving and being the greatest person out there no matter the circumstances. Not only can no one love or hurt you, but you have the patience and mindset to keep that within you. I love how the second one talks about having a personal guard with you at all times and they aren’t able to access you without permission. They both involve love but, in a way, different that makes the point become proven. Danni Beard, Spring 2021

These two haikus remind me of how I used to be. I was scared to love because where there is love there is also pain. However, it's important to acknowledge that it's okay to love. If you don't, you'll miss out on the beauty in the world. But I appreciate these two haikus because they acknowledge pain and pain is important in life because there has to be a balance. Similar to yin yang. Jamie Gamonez, Spring 2021

I really liked the two of these individually because each of these really capture that essence of Kuro haiku. The first one really spoke to me because I have a deep fear of opening myself up to someone new. There is something about sharing yourself with someone else that is very scary. The second haiku is interesting to read because it takes the perspective inward about cutting yourself off. The pair of these work because they both riff on the idea of isolation and cutting yourself off from connection, whether in a romantic sense like the first one or platonic way like the second one. Kuro really is an effective means of writing haiku, and I am really happy we got to explore it. Colin McGonagle, Spring 2021

The messages of these haiku are very relatable. They make me feel painful feeling that I have felt in the past. They match up so well because they both convey that feeling of loneliness and independence in a way. I also like how the first one can be interpreted in different ways, because if it is different than it completely changes the meaning and the way that these two haikus connect. Carly Clo, Spring 2021

I really enjoyed this Kuro match. Both very pessimistic aspects of looking at love, but shared in very different ways. The first is a longing for the experience of love. You can see it when reading the first two lines, then it quickly changes to knowing this would not last forever. The second haiku is pessimistic right from the get-go. Calling couples fools and to quickly get out of your situation before it is too late. Really interesting pairing. Marissa Garcia, Spring 2021

I liked this pair because it represented my idea of love. I like to be a pessimist when it comes to love. I love the idea of a fairy tale ending, but I do try to be realistic in knowing that it doesn’t always happen that way. I think these two are funny because both are judging people who are in love, and I tend to do that often. Kaitlin Hathaway, Spring 2021

I like the first haiku because it shows the good and the bad of a relationship. I picture this as if the specific relationship is in the honeymoon stage. The stage where everything is good and dandy. I also like how this haiku seems to be a message. Like someone who has been through heartbreak is warning someone who is in the honeymoon stage of their relationship. I like the second haiku because it is also a message to the people in a relationship but almost like it is a public services announcement. Like the author is announcing it to everyone that is in a relationship at the moment. I think these haiku match really well. I think they are both talking about love not being a god thing. I think that both of these writers were hurt by a significant other at some point in their lives. Both of them portray the message of getting out of a relationship or avoiding letting yourself love someone. Jordan Hildebrand, Spring 2021

I love the two of these together, they exemplify the lack of permanence that comes with young connection. I love the thoughts both of these haiku bring to the table as they really don't hold your hand. It feels that they are both trying to warn me, even if the language may be a little harsh. It's funny. Without the first one, I never would have seen the romantic angle of the second one without the knowledge given by the first one. Fools get out while you can just sounds like something a monster would say in the entrance of an open house. It is good, but it's vague. The thing that makes it work and stand out is the set up provided by the very first entry in this match. This makes both of them not only stranger, but clearer and concise thematically and I really appreciate that. The one that really speaks to me is the warmth of his love won't last forever. Whether it is friendship or something more intimate, some things come to an end. I don't inherently think this haiku necessarily implies that it is a bad thing. It is just a necessary part of life. Also if I'm being honest this haiku starts verbatim with the same words as my favorite sad song. Whenever I would be feeling terrible or worthless I would listen to this one song and it would feel like it was slowly stitching up the gaps in my heart. Anyway I just have a lot of positive memories with this one, so there is no way that it can ever sound as negative to me as it might on the first read. Elliot Mahon, Spring 2021

I love the way these are matched. They both represent the impending doom that first love brings. Or even the types of love where there is an hourglass silently present. It seems to be the whole, “right person, wrong timing” thing. I like the sad honesty these haiku capture. Alyson Robbins, Spring 2021

glimmer of hope
lost . . .
in the child’s eyes

Katelynn Watkins

blank TV screen
my reflection
stares back

Brooke Oitker

Snow White
frozen in time
rigor mortis

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

i will plant a garden
in the plot that was
meant for you

Colin McGonagle

I look at these two haiku paired together and I just...see myself, my childhood. I didn’t have the greatest childhood and developed depression at a very young age. By 7, I no longer had the “sparkly” eyes of a kid that age and instead had dull, flat brown eyes that stared into the abyss constantly. I read the haikus and just feel the depression emanating from them. They’re a wonderful match, they work well together, it’s just a shame that they’re so...sad. Brooke Oitker, Spring 2021

These two mix in a way that I didn't really see for the first time I read through them. To me, they almost seem like polar opposites in a way. One is frozen to death, the other is full of plants and life. The biggest through line I can attribute to my friend helping me find is that of romance and death. Snow white is dead without love, frozen in time waiting for love to find her, while for the other they will continue to exist even though that love is gone. The more I look at this, the more I see it as my favorite match that I've seen throughout this whole class. They mix in all of the wrong ways yet right each other out the more you look at them. The one that is my favorite though is very easily the second one. As I said before, the other has this entirely bleak way of seeing love and the world around it. It portrays snow white's life correctly as over, with nothing but love being able to save it. The second one asserts a philosophy much more positive and in my opinion much more likely. In the absence of love, there is more room to love ourself. To find room to let more parts of you bloom. This haiku uses the inferred sadness as fertilizer to make something just as if not more beautiful than the original organism. I love the way that it has this positive energy to it while not completely trying or showing it in the text. I just imagine someone seeing a part of their life falling apart and rolling up their sleeves with a smile. I imagine someone excited to do the work. Elliot Mahon, Spring 2021

house divided
no tools on his belt
can repair the damage

Jeana Pierson

depression spell—
floors littered with
laundry and old dishes

Courtney Klein

shaking
how did I not notice?
I'm an addict.

Piper Charlton

when did I
become my father?
the bottle thuds

Piper Charlton

After reading both of these haiku, I immediately noticed a connection between the two. In their own ways, both describe the chaos occurring in an individual’s life. The first haiku describes a family being torn apart, by who I would assume is the father. In the second haiku, the author describes the chaotic living quarters of an individual suffering from depression. These haiku both provide detailed imagery that allows readers to depict the feelings felt by the person being described. I think these haiku pair well together, as they both describe rather difficult situations in a person’s life. Chloe Herbert, Spring 2021

I liked these matched Kuro haiku. They both capture the feelings that come with negative self-realization of addiction. I don’t know what this feels like, but this haiku made me feel a certain way. The both made me feel sad and in a state of desperation. They both use a question within the haiku too. It almost as if the author is questioning himself or the author is putting us inside their own mind. Sarah Barter, Spring 2021

I picture the first haiku as someone who is in the early stages of withdrawal. They are starting to develop some of the side effects of withdrawal like shaking of the hands. In this haiku I see it as a light bulb going off. Like this is the first episode as to when they noticed that they were an addict. In the second haiku I also picture someone noticing they have a drinking addiction. In this one I read it as the father has a drinking addiction and the daughter or son is noticing signs of their father in themselves. I like how in this haiku it gives the sound of the bottles hitting each other. I think these two haiku go very well together. I think they both have a deeper meaning to them. I also think both of these haikus have a moment of realization. A moment as if everything just stops for a minute. That moment is what makes these haiku so good in my opinion. Jordan Hildebrand, Spring 2021

Both of these haiku ask a question and end with a realization. The author realizes they are an addict. I think it is very interesting how the two haiku are framed so similarly but are so different at the same time. They both contain an indicator of their addiction which leads them to their realization. In the first haiku, the indicator is the “shaking” in the first line. I can clearly see someone shaking as their mind spirals to the conclusion that they are an addict. What is interesting about the second one is that the indicator comes at the end. “The bottle thuds.” The auditory clue leads us, and the author, to realize that they are an alcoholic like their father. I thought these haiku paired together well, as they both ask a similar question and result in the same conclusion. Jeana Pierson, Spring 2021

I really love these haiku as individuals but also as a pair. These haiku capture addiction well in different instances. One haiku they remind themselves of their father while the other is realizing how bad their health is because of addiction. Its almost like these haiku could be two people realizing what is going on in their lives at the same time but in different places. It also makes you think about how addiction is realized in different ways and what could be the turning point for people to ask for help. These haiku are good examples of Kuro haiku to me as it shows the darker side of lives than in Mido where he shows more of the fun and lighter side. I feel that with Kuros haiku, you tend to stop and think about the meaning and the struggles that people go through in their lives as Kuro haiku is more on the realistic side of haiku and not only the happy side of life. Katelynn Watkins, Spring 2021

graduation day
I’ll never see
these people again

Chloe Herbert

a tisket,
a tasket,
missed the bus

Alyson Robbins

Buddy’s last day
we drop him off
at the vet

Kaitlin Hathaway

on a blade of grass
early morning dew
slides down

Kionah Flowers

rumbling
the upstairs neighbors
two large dogs

Katelynn Watkins

raindrops
drip drop down
the fogged window

Camryn Skundberg

yellow rainboots
streetlights
highlighting rain

Carly Clo

laying in the grass
sound of steps
on a college campus

Savanna Prasun

homework grind
no one talks
ACHOO!

Piper Charlton

silence is peaceful
candles lit
homework time

Danni Beard

candle flickers
doors open wide
spring cleaning

Paige Hockman

forgotten
dirty brushes in
murky water

Courtney Klein

This pairing gave me a lot of visual images that I really liked with one another. Both are about homework sessions, but two completely different ones. In the first haiku I see a group of students in a library doing homework together. It was silent and everyone was focused on their work. Until the silence was broken when someone sneezed. In my imagined mind everyone in the group said ‘bless you’ and the silence was no longer there. In the second haiku I saw a single person doing homework. I saw myself, because this is how I do homework. I am by myself in my bedroom with a candle lit and white noise in the background. It is calming and allows me to really focus on my work. Marissa Garcia, Spring 2021

These haiku are a great pair. To me, they are similar in the idea they are conveying. The idea of these haiku are that it is homework time and they can’t put off this work any longer. The work they have to do is stressful and it must get done because possibly they avoided it and decided to spend their day going to Target and TJ Maxx like my friends and I do all the time. They are different because in the first haiku, it implies a group of friends or possibly roommates, are all out in the living room doing homework together. It seems like it would be around the time of finals because of the specifically used word “grind.” The second haiku is calm and “peaceful.” I picture someone alone in the sanctuary of their room, coming home after a long day and their alone time is finishing up a few assignments before bed. Also, the second haiku’s tone is not stressful and anxious like the first one seems. Camryn Skundberg, Spring 2021

I really like this image. I would love to do my homework like this, and I think I might in the future. The idea that you can do your work in a relaxed setting makes me feel a little bit better. I get really stressed about the work I do because I want to do well. To feel relaxed and not stressed about everything would be nice. I need to do this in my day-to-day life and not just apply it to homework. Self-care is very important and people need to take that time for themselves. Savanna Prasun, Spring 2021

her fate is woven
in a basketweave
she cannot control

Kionah Flowers

cross ring
changing colors
still a perfect fit

Sarah Barter

a pillow
each
I have one more

Alyson Robbins

stitches
shaping and forming
the squishmellow

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

I liked this pair a lot, and it stood out to me because of the haiku’s ties to faith and spirituality. I am pretty strong in my faith, so these haiku had a special meaning to them. The first haiku was one of my favorites, first, because of its imagery. I think it was a creative use of language and painted a beautiful picture while also telling a story. One of the things I thought of was the famous quote, “Let go and let God.” There are many times when I feel overwhelmed and worry about things that are far out of my control, but I know that God has a plan for my life and it is something that I need to trust in. The second haiku tied in with this one because of its mention of the cross. When I read it, I thought of the way that the metal of some jewelry changes color after a while when it is worn out or just because it is cheap. Over winter break, I remember finding a ring with a music note on it that I got in middle school and haven’t worn in forever that used to be silver and had turned a dark, kind of gross, copper color, but I put it on and it still fit, and it reminded me of memories from middle and high school when I wore it often. When thinking about the cross ring mentioned in the second haiku and tying it into the first haiku, I thought of someone who may have strayed away from their faith but found their ring with the cross on it and were reminded of a special memory that made them look forward to growing in faith again. Linnea Nordstrom, Spring 2021

It is because of the second haiku that I currently have four more squishmallow pillows in the mail, so thank you to whoever wrote that poem. I really liked this pair because of the cuteness of both. I see a couple fighting over who got the second pillow while cuddling squishmallow pillows together. I love it! Brooke Oitker, Spring 2021

remember freshman year?
O yeah, gross
I finally peaked!

Danni Beard

high school accomplishments
framed and glistening
above his bed

Sarah Barter

glare on his glasses
he sits across from me
and grins

Sarah Barter

a striking couple
we glide across the ballroom
violin music swells

Jeana Pierson

I relate to these haikus a lot because I'm graduating soon and I am definitely looking back on not only my time here, but simpler times before college. I was just looking back at myself during my freshman year and thinking about how much I've changed for the better both physically and mentally. To be completely honest, I was the star of my high school's theater program, so I like to look back on those accomplishments when I think about being a needle in a haystack in the real world. Piper Charlton, Spring 2021

These haiku remind me of alternate universes. I see an older style elegant couple in the second one. Whereas in the first haiku, I picture a more modern couple. Maybe these haiku mirror each other in a way. I enjoyed them nonetheless. Alyson Robbins, Spring 2021

I really like this pair of haiku together because it both has romantic themes. I like how it seems like the author of the first haiku shows that the man is completely entranced by his love. This transitions nicely with the second haiku in which both couple in focused on only each other so it seems like it could be the same couple who are in love with each other. I also feel like I have always liked these types of haikus, as I have always liked the cheesy romantic novels and shows, and I always feel excited when I see scenes like this. Though this haiku is under the stop, look and listen haiku, I feel that this does not belong in this area. I feel that this haiku could match more into the Mido haiku as it is more outside of the box and more on the cheerful side of things. I can understand how this could be a stop, look and listen haiku if the person writing these haikus have someone looking at them in that way as well as seeing a couple in a ballroom. I feel like stop, look and listen haikus should have more haikus about random sounds and feelings that person may have instead of what is in front of them. Katelynn Watkins, Spring 2021