Haiku Kukai 04

Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2022

 

1

blueberry wine in a mug
you finally tell me about 
her

2

glossy art gallery 
heels clack on waxed floors 
she beelines for Picasso

3

months of preparation
it's finally over
I can breathe again

4

sweet summertime
in the garden
thinking of you

5

a deck of cards
what i need most
they will tell me

6

saltwater gulps
I break surface
to be yanked back under

7

lavender field
mother and daughter
reach common ground

8

a single brush stroke
the way he moves
is a work of art

9

anonymous love letter
embroidered heart stamp
forever stamped, on me

10

hand printed mailbox
old couple dances
into the light

11

leg extends
a bit more
ouch

12

strawberries
you're still
the sweetest

13

a fierce and wild lion
a studio full
of gazelles

14

while she's reading my tarot
I wonder
does she realize her part?

15

strawberry stains
she licks her lips
personal love letter

16

piles of fire wood
that are wet
we can't have this conversation right now

17

feet
brushing the water
time stops

18

donkey stamp
on a letter
from a complete ass

19

multi-colored strokes
blending and bleeding
through other colors

20

deeply rooted to the earth
I take a deep inhale;
I spot

21

messy color vomit
spread on the wheel
what color should I make?

22

rabbit hole
i fall away
from reason

23

shimmering lights
the naked stage is
not for everyone

24

self-defense course bruises
I'm tired of helpless
written on my bones

25

all these years
i open the folder
no paper

26

his fingerprintsĀ 
on my wrist
phantom bruises

27

my ribs poke into
the mattress   maple leaves
as big as my palm

28

counting to thirteen
praying for another
ace

 

 

 

29

2003 Honda Civic
he drives me
to the stars

30

clock ticking
golden sun
beckons

31

tin can
if I stare long enough
maybe I'll see my future

32

cinnamon rolls
the perfect
Christmas morning

33

rose's imperfection
only a florist
would notice

34

seven
the days in a week's
life repeat

35

high priestess
I look for her
within me

36

dandelions for my teacher
I miss
how easy it was

37

paper towels
not enough
to clean up your mess

38

      in the corner
tiny hearts
sent with love

39

little yellow dandelions
sprouting
     “its our time to shine!”

40

the simple things
a trip to Target
a walk with her dog

41

her husband gone missing
she enjoys the musical
finally

42

blue and pink confetti
announcement made
another role defined

43

my body aches
and yet
i leap

44

three years later
his t-shirt still worn
no regrets

45

snow capped waves
they are but
ants on a boat

46

asking for my picture
in the new york
streets

47

mawmaw's garden
homegrown
love

48

poker chips stacked
one spin of the wheel
another life lost

49

my body aches
and yet
i leap

50

a stem of lavender
hiding in a bouquet
of straight roses

51

dirty plushie pet
she refuses to wash
the memories out

52

bebe rubia la cerveza
para acordarse
de su pelo

53

he drinks the blonde beer
to remember
her hair

54

family heirloom
holding values 
that I do not

55

we go on 3, ok?
1 . . . 2 . . .
            wait i take it back

56

emotions turned
to paintings
colorful feelings

57

spring comes early
we crawl out the tiny window
                    to the roof!

58

the car shakes
the metal vibrates
Illinois potholes

59

mommy's drawing
he discovers
the passion to create

60

yellow and orange sunset
         the wavy lines
in shades of blue

61

all eyes on me
the bright lights
the only thing i can see

 

 

 

 

 

62

weeping willow
thank you for teaching me to float
wherever you are

63

drinking wine
listening to R&B:
the perfect combination

64

the vultures
feed on starlight
I am invisible

65

four minutes
five judges
my time to shine

66

she resorts to her usual doodles
afraid
of her own mind

67

seven pentacles . . .
waiting for the perfect
wave

68

whale bone
she always relishes
a mermaid tale

69

starry night cornfield
a dog's bark
relief

70

spring of my youth
the perfect swing
for my mood

71

cards reveal
the future . . .
i'm trusting you

72

smooth my thumb over
    your address
please welcome this piece of me
    home

73

painting landscapes
once visited
in a dream

74

Christmas card
photos spill out of an envelope;
another year on the faces

75

letter from the past
strawberries
her forever stamp

76

elegant dress
stage makeup
I feel like a million bucks

77

melting snow
the pelicans
return to the pond

78

mouth closed tight
holding the wriggling eels
in my throat

79

lukewarm sun rays
muddy soccer
in her Easter dress

80

waving
he still pretends
I don’t exist

81

long day
returning home
to no one

82

lying flat on my back
I try to remember
the feeling of your lips

83

starry sky
you seem as blue
as i

84

bubbly
and a bubble bath
sigh

85

Spider-Man t-shirt
your quiet voice tells me
about your day

86

a golden tulip
even Icarus wanted
to feel the suns warmth

87

fighting an uphill battle—
the waves
pull her down

88

reading Byron
the psychiatrist's
waiting room

89

opening the suitcase
and putting in all
their happy memories

90

blue blankets
and blue sheets
another boy

91

chilly room
noisy fan
can’t sleep without it

 

 

 

 

 

 

92

coffee at your table 
on Christmas morning
reverence

93

primary colors
not enough
to paint you

94

wherever I go
there’s a calculator too
take that, mr. norris.

95

star in the flower
seven
it's time for a break

96

red dust
i brush away
the past

97

rhododendrons
my love
for you

98

beating sun
the trail
is persistent

99

quietly
black and white keys
bring out who i am

101

turning seasons
grief
checks in

102

slow dancing
in peace
my focus is on you . . . only you

103

from the top
(inhale)
a 5! 6! 7! 8!

104

the waves of the streaks
brushing through fields
I create a masterpiece

105

the card pops out
sometimes things
are as they seem

106

your name
honey
on my tongue

107

your love
overwhelming me
the crashing waves

108

boulder tossed
down the mountain
I finally said it

109

straightening hair
positive affirmations
my morning ritual

110

sealing the envelope
I bought the stamp
just for her

111

windows down
short sleeves
I am happy again

112

used books
the shop owner has read
all the science fiction


© 2022, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.