Haiku Kukai 03 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2022
1 tarot cards on the coffee table Sydney Sinks I love giving people tarot card readings! It is so fun to see their faces light up as you are explaining what the cards mean. They make connections to their own lives and try to come up with ways to deal with the impending changes. I picture the quick glance as the person getting their cards read, anxiously or excitedly awaiting their fate. People are always so eager to hear what the cards say about them. I think humans are very interesting in that way. We love to hear how others (even non-human others, like tarot cards) perceive us. There is something very refreshing about having situations in your life validated by outside forces or receiving advice from the cards. This haiku reminded me of the rush of adrenaline I get from reading the cards and having my cards read. Kelsey Crotz, Spring 2022 |
2 stomach in knots Gwen Klinkey |
3 school bag |
4 skipping Friday classes |
5 a peach so ripe Sydney Sinks Reading this haiku my mind just travels to all those summers when you sit down in a porch enjoying the hot weather and wearing light dresses. A period of the year when the peaches are delicious and fresh, their texture and taste is the moth is soft and delicious, the act of eating them when they are so ripe and full your mouth with their delicious flavor is almost unreal. Marta Viudez Garcia, Spring 2022 |
6 slay, little sister Sydney Sinks |
7 the smell of sweet Nicholas Canton |
8 fire embers dance in the wind Nicholas Canton |
9 chocolate eyes Mandy Thrasher I liked this haiku because this person looks into the eyes of someone they love and their favorite color changes. The color changes because they've probably seen lots of brown eyes but never those brown eyes and now they will probably never see brown eyes the same way again. I liked it because it was a cute way of talking about someone's pretty brown eyes. Madyson Fritch, Spring 2022 Growing up I had always wished I had blue eyes rather than brown. Over the years I have seen so much appreciation shown for brown eyes, so I have come to love mine. My brown eyes come from my mom's side of the family, which is another reason why I love them so much. I think eyes are a beautiful part of our anatomy and I have always loved when they are emphasized. Isabel Vincent, Spring 2022 I really love the idea that one instant and one special association can change your opinion for the better or ruin something forever. I for sure subscribe to that idea, and a lot of the time it is influenced by my feelings towards someone in particular and how they are related to the objects or action in question. I really like the simplicity of this haiku too because it really embodies the sort of reasonless change that these likes and dislikes come by. Gwen Klinkey, Spring 2022 Brown as an eye color is so underrated, and so is the color. When you love someone, you start to love little things about them that you’d never thought you would love before. Green and blue eyes get so much praise because their more uncommon but that doesn’t mean that brown eyes are beautiful. Emma Antonelli, Spring 2022 This haiku just made me smile. It just makes me feel all warm and gooey inside that this person’s partner loves the color of their eyes so much that it becomes their new favorite color. Especially since brown is not a very popular color to have as someone’s favorite, in my opinion it makes it even more special. I like how this haiku sets up the person in the first line, then continues to tell a short story, but it still manages to convey a lot of emotion. Audrey Button, Spring 2022 |
10 my best friend |
11 moved out Mandy Thrasher I loved this haiku because of how much it connects with the college experience and rising into adulthood. I just have familiar memories and can resonate with the message of this haiku. I love how there is this almost confident attitude aspect to it too. It's just fun and simple. Christian Andrews-Stewart, Spring 2022 |
12 last day of senior year Nicholas Canton This haiku feels very unsettling. There's already something unnatural about the last day of high school; it's the end of an era and exciting in some ways, but also bittersweet and somewhat unreal. With this energy already in the air, the knowledge that a secret that you've guarded so fiercely for so long is no longer yours alone--that's a daunting feeling. It's unclear whether it's a positive thing that the speaker's mom knows, but I don't think it even matters whether it's a good experience or not. The haiku still manages to convey that weird uncomfortable vulnerability in just a few lines. Sydney Sinks, Spring 2022 |
13 walking on the treadmill Madyson Fritch |
14 come a little closer |
15 waiting and waiting |
16 dreaming about |
17 fogged up glasses |
18 curling my unruly hair |
19 he finds in Julia Marta Viudez Garcua I liked this haiku because it talks about them both not being perfect apart but being perfect together. Its almost as if they were made for each other specifically. It gives me the vibe that they're ordinary apart but extraordinary together and i like it. It breeds hope. Madyson Fritch, Spring 2022 |
20 no way Christian Andrews-Stewart This has to be my absolute favorite out of all of Kukai 3. I love shopping for full outfits and putting it all together in the dressing room and realizing how good it all looks together. Even when I buy like... a skirt to match a top I have at home--I am always pleasantly surprised and SHOOK by how well the outfit comes together and how good I look in it. Jas Humphrey, Spring 2022 Another haiku from Kukai favorites reminded me of cool I feel when an outfit I have chosen, really works out for me. Clothes are such a huge way of expression for people. Growing up, I have always been taught to dress well and always expecting someone to judge my appearance. I have been able to style my own clothes now and decide to get what makes me feel good and other people around compliment it. Nothing feels better to me though then looking in the mirror after getting all ready to go out and taking that first look. It always makes me feel good in my choices and I am proud at the progress I have made when it comes to clothing and my body in them. Andrew Tufano, Spring 2022 |
21 remote control Christian Andrews-Stewart |
22 love handles |
23 all eyes on me |
24 high heels on ice Jas Humphrey |
25 my dream wife Andrew Tufano For many of the love haiku that were present in the kukai this time around I don’t have a good reason why I like them in particular. The emotions and sentiments that we associate with things described in the poem I think really govern our individual attractions to specific poems. For this one I think that the oscillation between the two dream lovers is really relatable and a struggle that many people can identify with. I also like the bookend nature of the first and last lines. Gwen Klinkey, Spring 2022 |
26 I realize now Amanda Handegan I liked this haiku because it talks about fantasies not being real. It mentions that there were always cracks and that not everything you see is perfect. Eventually the bad or the ugly comes out and that you don't need to pretend to be perfect all the time. Madyson Fritch, Spring 2022 |
27 these are Jas Humphrey |
28 screams |
29 porcelain angel Kelsey Crotz |
30 slay Kelsey Crotz |
31 flailing unafraid Amanda Handegan |
32 her voice fills my body Amanda Handegan I think there is something so beautiful about imagining someone’s body being filled with warmth and light, and that this light can come from the love and connection of another person. I can see the person just sitting and listening to their partner as they talk, just being filled with love while they sit still. It could also be that she is singing, and her partner is sitting and watching them. While reading this, I saw yellows and whites and I also felt warm. Reading it brought a smile to my face. Audrey Button, Spring 2022 |
33 adulting Amanda Handegan The sensations of this haiku really stood out to me. I can imagine the steam of the shower curling around the speaker while they hold a cold bottle and take slow sips. The first line gives me the impression that the speaker has had a very long day, and this moment is when they've finally allowed themself to relax for the night. The drink and shower serve as comfort to the speaker before a good night's sleep. I think the structure of this haiku, coupled with the physical sensations, help it create really interesting emotions. Sydney Sinks, Spring 2022 |
34 just keep drinking Alex Saviano |
35 shoulders back |
36 walking in the snow |
37 elementary school Madyson Fritch |
38 black and pink shoes |
39 forehead red |
40 goes to school |
41 if I had a tail |
42 Christmas drag queen Mandy Thrasher |
43 snowy street |
44 caramels, nut clusters Camryn Wagner |
45 staring into the mirror Camryn Wagner I liked #45 because speaking from the perspective of a college student, it sort of always feels like just crawling through every day/week to get to the end of the semester. Just pushing and fighting to turn in those assignments by 11:59 and calling it good enough. But I really also liked one of the readings that someone gave in class that the “finish line” could literally be death and that you’re just slowly making your way to your final days on Earth. It’s just a very interesting read. |
46 new recipe Camryn Wagner As someone who learned how to cook over quarantine, this is relatable. Usually, it takes time to perfect making something, not everything you make is going to turn out the way you want it. Just because it was a flop once doesn’t mean it can’t be win the next time. Emma Antonelli, Spring 2022 |
47 gazing into Audrey Button I love how short and simple this one is. Very few words described this situation perfectly. I have definitely experienced this a few times as well, on both ends. It is usually very funny to be talking to someone and realize they aren't fully with you. I tend to break out in giggles because of the dopey look on their face. However, it can also be really frustrating. You could be trying to connect with them, but they aren't hearing a word you say. On the other side of the coin, it is sometimes a great reminder to check into the present moment. You could be worlds away, and a calming presence brings you back to reality. However, that interruption could also be totally unwelcome. I also loved the specificity of gazing into the brown eyes. It paints a really nice visual picture, and I feel like I am really there. Kelsey Crotz, Spring 2022 |
48 everyday Mandy Thrasher One haiku from the Kukai favorites really reminded me of how I feel currently as a senior. I am so drained, and I feel as if my energy is dying. I hate how much work it has been, and my days are packed with other activities. I have been knocked down a few times as well this semester. I have had some trouble getting back up. I have been wishing away some of the days and I have been dying to get to the finish line. I love being in college, but I am ready for my next phase of life. Andrew Tufano, Spring 2022 |
49 gap in the center of the closet |
50 we’re using a Macbook Chase Nelson I think it is so funny how human beings love to look at themselves in every reflective surface. Personally, I look at myself in any mirror or window that I can. I’m walking past a row of cars? I am looking at myself in the reflection of the window. I’m walking past the UC? I am looking at my reflection in the windows! I have to make sure I always look good at all times. Even in class, with my dark Macbook screen...I have to make sure I look good while sitting. Jas Humphrey, Spring 2022 |
51 don’t be Chase Nelson |
52 face glistening Chase Nelson |
53 too good for drugs Gwen Klinkey |
54 push-up bra and lipstick |
55 delete delete del Amanda Handegan This haiku was very relatable, especially for overthinkers like myself. I think the message of this haiku is simple, yet so eye-opening in a way. I find myself questioning things I say or do before I do it, so reading this was a helpful nudge in the right direction. I also LOVE the usage of delete in the first line. Christian Andrews-Stewart, Spring 2022 |
56 muffs? on. Amanda Handegan |
57 quiet nursery |
58 brown puppy eyes |
59 fresh cut grass |
60 rainbow flags— Emma Antonelli I enjoyed #60 though because it feels like it is directly talking about the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community without saying it. The community is always waving their rainbow flags with pride, trying to make it known that they are equals, but all it takes is the words (or verse) of some politician to take away all the things that the community has been fighting towards. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it just makes my struggles feel real and heard. |
61 kissing the apple, Marta Viudez Garcia Something about this haiku just makes me smile. There's an innocence here, both in the speaker and the girl who is kissing the apple. The last line really drives that home for me. Usually, this question ends with “yet,” but that word isn't here. It's a simple exclusion, but it makes the idea of a first kiss feel less hurried and less like a milestone you're just trying to tick off as soon as possible. Instead, this kiss is allowed to be slow or to not happen right away; there's no rush. It's something worth waiting for. Sydney Sinks, Spring 2022 |
62 the light of the sunset Marta Viudez Garcua |
63 bright lights |
64 cupcake Isabel Vincent |
65 dinner with grandma Isabel Vincent I like this one because everyone with a grandma knows they have recipes, but they eat the same things practically. My grandma's thing were mini hot dogs in a can, I don't enjoy them that much anymore. But the personalness of this haiku, whether it be ice cream or canned mini hot dogs, most people have a memory of this. Nick Canton, Spring 2022 |
66 you smell like flowers? |
67 you smell like flowers? Marta Viudez Garcia |
68 eyes across the room Christian Andrews-Stewart “eyes across the room” and all the meaning behind that glance, the connection, the lust between two people that like and desire each other, the mutual attraction. No words, no touch, just the power of staring at each other united in this moment of connection and uniqueness between two souls that love each other. Marta Viudez Garcia, Spring 2022 |
69 begging you Jas Humphrey |
70 a small chapel |
71 on the Marley |
72 the whistle blows |
73 sunny morning Andrew Tufano |
74 ears Mandy Thrasher |
75 Kindergarten Nicholas Canton As a bisexual this is the struggle. You don’t normally process who you are when you’re in kindergarten but the feelings are there, you just don’t know that not everyone thinks like you. It’s innocent, and a very sweet way to show these feelings. Emma Antonelli, Spring 2022 The last haiku from Kukai favorites reminded me of my journey with sexuality. This one was just written in a way where the reader can understand how confusing it is to not know which gender you preferred. I grew up going to catholic school and if I had these thoughts of liking men, I would always feel guilty and grossed out with myself. It was not until I got out of that environment, when I was able to find myself. I really enjoyed this haiku. Andrew Tufano, Spring 2022 |
76 cracked china Kelsey Crotz I like the twist they added to this cliché idea of cracked chine. Usually things lead up to the crack, but it is already cracked. It makes you question why it is cracked and why is it still being juggled. It shows the fragility of maybe problematic situations that continue to keep going. Nick Canton, Spring 2022 |
77 stretchy smile |
78 lights up |
79 cast list |
80 entering the auditorium |
81 crouched in the corner |
82 cruising summer boat |
83 planner filling up Camryn Wagner |
84 old, dark wood Camryn Wagner I love how this haiku was written, and I had never thought to word it this way. This was a favorite because Millikin has a couple old buildings, so I feel like this was relatable for other students as well. I could not only imagine this at Millikin, but from my younger years in other older buildings. The word choice allows the reader to imagine the smell of the room and to picture a room that has been around for many years. Isabel Vincent, Spring 2022 |
85 talk radio in the distance Camryn Wagner This is one of those memory haikus. Instantly taken back to childhood, I did not have a grandpa present my grandma would always listen to the radio while cooking. I remember the hot house with fans circulating hot air while my grandma is cooking listening to her Spanish talk shows and music. Nick Canton, Spring 2022 |
86 can you keep Geo Tapia I am someone that somehow ends up knowing...everyone’s secrets. While I don’t go disclosing their secrets to everyone... My best friend and roommate Sofia knows everything that I know. I can’t just keep all of the information to myself – I just have to tell SOMEONE! She’s 100% trustworthy and I know she never tells another soul, it’s just comforting to have that one person you can always gossip with. Secrets are fun. Jas Humphrey, Spring 2022 This haiku was simple and fun to read. I don't want to say I can relate to it because I think I can keep a secret. However, the honesty and playfulness of this haiku is why I like it so much. I also love the idea of their being a tiny conversation in a haiku, so that was nice to read. Christian Andrews-Stewart, Spring 2022 This haiku is so relatable to me. If someone tells me a secret, unless it is something major or dangerous for anyone to know, I will tell my close friend. This also makes me think about the expectation that I have for friends when I tell them secrets and how I have no idea people who I did not intent to tell know my business. I like that this haiku is set up to be very mysterious, like you think you are going to find out something juicy, but then you are hit with a reality check and a little bit of shame for not being able to keep a secret. Audrey Button, Spring 2022 Finally, I liked #86 because it just feels silly. No deep meaning, nothing crazy to think about behind it, I just think it’s funny. I’ve spoken those exact words before, and it just makes me think happy thoughts. Alex Saviano, Spring 2022 |
87 the birds start screeching Mandy Thrasher |
88 i wipe away my tears Jas Humphrey |
89 walking to class |
90 wilted wild flowers Emma Antonelli I like how nostalgic this haiku is. Along with that feeling, I was able to create visuals with the word choice the author provided. When I was younger, the neighborhood children would always play together. There was a playhouse in one of my friends' backyard, and we were always hanging out there. This brought back many memories and I love the use of the word “wilted”. Isabel Vincent, Spring 2022 This haiku has a dual air of both melancholy and peacefulness. It’s sad that this playhouse has now been abandoned, but the positive memories associated with it still stand and it is being overtaken with something else beautiful and not just rotting away. Although the flowers are wilted, they are still being sustained by their environment and have previously flourished. It makes me think that the person who is returning to this spot is struggling in their life and trying to find solace in their childhood. I feel like the wildflowers are a reflection of the one viewing them. Gwen Klinkey, Spring 2022 |
91 my last semester |
92 many colored pens |
93 oh, to be a cat Jas Humphrey I have wished to be a cat an embarrassing number of times. I am so jealous that they just get to chill around the house all day, so calm and serene. Cats are also so sure of themselves; they bask in the sunlight with full confidence. It's almost as if they know how glorious they look. I also like to imagine that they picture themselves more like big cats. I am convinced that my cat, Koda, thinks he is a tiger. He thinks he is the scariest creature on earth, and it is so funny. I envy that self-assuredness and the complete lack of obligations. Cats truly have it made. Kelsey Crotz, Spring 2022 |
94 waterfall baptism |
95 an oasis Sydney Sinks The simplicity of this haiku is beautiful, the combination of words and who it reflects this state of tranquility reading books. The sense of coziness and welcoming in an apartment with books and the calmness from them. Marta Viudez Garcia, Spring 2022 |
96 I click submit |
© 2022, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.