Haiku Attempts 4 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2017
he pulls her close Yunek Moore (5) |
his hand |
we stand |
faded bruises |
soft pointe shoes Andrea Burns |
twirling dress Chase Smith (6) |
jeté |
back in his arms |
budding peony |
sorry I did this to you |
her eyes widen |
it was too |
concrete slab Kala Keller (4) |
a fin peaks Jordan Oelze (3) I really like the image I get when reading this haiku. I picture watching fish in a pond and watching them just barely touch the surface of the water to gather food. I use the low cello as a more feeling you have when you watch them in the water. Nicholas K |
morning coffee Jordan Oelze Similarly to the previous haiku, this haiku takes a drastic turn, but happens to immediately. The setting of the haiku is very common and generic, as the person is just enjoying his or her morning coffee. But, the setting drastically changes to a scary one when a scream is heard. I can't imagine that feeling or being in complete silence in one's own home and then hearing a terrifying scream from inside the house. The drastic change opens up many doors, and the reader can imagine many different scenarios. Brittany |
the groundskeeper |
midday drive Kala Keller (5) This haiku is extremely eerie and spooky. At first, the reader may think that the haiku is innocent and the author is taking a simple drive to see his or her friends. But, the third line takes the haiku in a completely different direction and drastically alters the tone of the haiku. I appreciate this haiku because the change is so drastic and gives a completely new meaning to the entire creation. I imagine the speaker visiting the cemetery and visiting his or her friends by sitting by their gravestones. Or, this haiku could mean that the friends are actually ghosts who the narrator has become friends with. With either interpretation, it's a really creative haiku and I love everything about it. Brittany |
8th grade dance |
bell in the coffin Randy Brooks (8) After reading this haiku I just felt locked up inside my own body. It's as if I was stuck and I couldn't get out myself. I felt the anxiety of being buried alive and the fear that one day that could happen to me or any of my loved ones. The feeling of this haiku hit the creepy horror scene. It gave me a detailed image and a burst of undesirable feelings. The feelings that associate with it normally people don't like to have and that makes this haiku unique. It hits the feelings that no one wants to feel or think about. It's not about losing a lover or a break up it's about a situation that leads to death. It doesn't fit any many of the trends I see that many people write about. Kate |
old theater Caitlyn Latshaw (6) This one stood out to me because it was very spooky. I like that the seat is probably old and could fall down by itself because the springs are old or broken OR the seat could be going down because a ghost is sitting there! being active in theatre, I often hear spooky stories about haunted theaters or auditoriums, and this poem was very reminiscent of those. Jake |
children laughing and playing Yunek Moore (6) |
under Emily Chudzik (6) I really like this one because of the nod to Edgar Allan Poe. I would say he was my favorite author I learned about in school. Obviously a heart can't just beat under the floor, which implies the craziness of the individual who committed the crime. It shows how it haunts him and how he feels guilty. I really enjoy that reference. Nick R. |
i ask her Caitlyn Latshaw This haiku is both frightening and interesting to me. It reminds me of a horror movie scene where someone is at a grave, and a scary ghost or dead person is screaming and haunting whoever is there. There's this story at the Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur of a bride who runs around screaming and crying during the night. It very much reminded me of her. I also imagined someone visiting a dead loved one at their grave, and them just having loads of emotions and memories come flooding back. So maybe the person isn't actually screaming but that the images are all coming into their brain and it's all too much. Jordan |
bright sunny day |
cloudy day |
wisps of blue Randy Brooks (5) |
feather white clouds Emily Chudzik (4) I really like this haiku. I think that feather is such a good word choice. I also love the choice of the word drift, because our thoughts drift, but so do feathers. Feathers are so delicate and wispy, just like our thoughts. They can be altered and affected so easily. They head in different directions and merely weigh nothing. I also just love the image of sitting and looking at the clouds, watching the day pass. Letting your thoughts drift, and of course they drift to that one person. At least that's what it's always like for me. Jordan I like this one because it had a good sense of expression. The first line was more playful and immature then the next two lines hit the deep spot. The second brought the meaning of endless thoughts drifting back to someone who you would think about all the time. Personally, I think about my dog a lot because I miss him too much, and just wanting his ever longing love makes me think of him. But I do actually miss a human on a day to day basis, and that is my best friend. We never see each other during the day and we only see each other at night and I always miss her everyday. This poem made me think of my best friend because in class I'm always thinking of her and wondering how she did on her nursing test or how much fun she had at clinical. This haiku brought more meaning to me than it looks. Olivia |
the letter she wrote |
echoes of stars Randy Brooks (4) |
in our first home Olivia Gonzalez I love this poem because of the awesome image that I can picture in my head. I see a huge living room with dark wooden floors. The floor is empty because no furniture has been put in the room yet. The room is so big when it is empty and the couple is so excited about their new house that they do not care what is in the house or living room. They are just glad to be together and to have a new house that they can call their own. I, personally, cannot wait for that day that I can move into a house with my husband. Caitlyn I liked the sweetness and intimacy of this haiku. There is a lot of newness and joy in it. I can picture a newlywed couple excited about their first night in their first home. They don't have many possessions and haven't fully moved in yet, but the place is theirs. They're a playful couple, so they decide to christen the new home by dancing around in the nearly empty living room. Emily I liked this haiku because it broadcasted a feeling of openness and playfulness. The image of "our first home" speaks measures. In defining the "our," one could cover all options!—lovers, families, roommates, even sorority sisters. The image of dancing brings movement and life into the poem, and the added "bare floors" detail solidifies it. I can truly image romping around barefoot on hardwood floors, in an empty room, with no things surrounding me. Possibly the homeowners have not unpacked yet, or they do not have enough things to fill the room. The floor is bare, but the people dance on. I really appreciated the cast of hope and excitement throughout, and could immediately create the picture in my head. Kala
|
retention pond |
new tree house |
apocalypse Randy Brooks I loved this haiku. I'm hoping that I interpreted it correctly, but I felt immediate 70s vibes from it. Apocalypse?! The first line describes the literal end of the world, and a new era of sorts, which incites danger and excitement. The first line, coupled with "of cauliflower heads," really put the image into my brain. . . I imagined the millennial youth of 70s, bonded together in a rough huddle, crowned heads in flowers and clad bodies in genuine hope. But the last line was the true kicker—"her jean hips." I really liked that the adjective for her hips was something that does not typically describe hips (like wide, soft, smooth, etc). I felt sunshine and love in the air, but it is still a little off-white, you know? Kala |
hot, bright day |
warm February |
2017 protest— |
every morning spent Jacob Melssen (4) |
chilly stroll home Andrea Burns (3) |
the scent of coffee Amanda Donohoe (4) I liked this poem because I could put myself in that situation. With the scent of coffee, I could smell the strong sent of coffee that I like to start every morning with. I like how this poem ended with him. For me relating the scent of coffee in the morning to "him" is something that resonates well with me. Coffee is something that I am excited to start everyday with, something that make the morning run more smoothly and makes me want to get out and going for the day. Relating that coffee to "him" I like, because I fell all those same things about waking up and smelling coffee as I do waking up next to "him." Caitlyn |
book bag is packed Yunek Moore
|
cold beers and broken windows |
flippy cup tournament Andrea Burns (11) |
check the mirror |
winds in her hair Yunek Moore The twist in this haiku is what makes it really interesting. This could have been a normal pleasant haiku about someone taking a drive but the third line adds another layer to it. There's a thrill associated with doing something you know you're not supposed to, and while I'm not condoning grand theft auto I am admitting that sometimes it feels good to break the rules. This haiku embodies that notion. Sam |
immersed underwater |
going on forever |
the mail arrives |
church bells ring Kate Gebultowicz (3) |
lingering on my lips Emily Chudzik (8) I think I was so drawn to this particular haiku because of the word “feeling” because this is about an experience almost. The experience of having that person nearby and speaking to them or about them. Such an intense experience, obviously, if the feeling of their name is so impactful. And it's also not about touch, it's about their name. I just appreciated how this experience was obviously so special. Andie |
ironing out the creases |
sharing the blanket |
removing the glasses Amanda Donohoe (5) |
hanging Emily Chudzik (4) I am such a sucker for any article of clothing that has meaning. I pictured this as someone keeping their old high school special friend's sweatshirt because they broke up, but the person just didn't give back this one item of clothing. Items of clothing carry so many memories that have so much value in our lives. Often the items we have “stolen” or kept are from significant others so when we wear them, we smell that person and think about that them whether that's a good thing or not. Andie |
my phone dings |
sitting on the roof |
under the sheets Caitlyn Latshaw (2) |
broken old dock Caitlyn Latshaw (5) I like the way it uses a broken dock. You picture a broken dock and normally you wouldn't find it calming at all, but then it continues and it is the only place they find peace. So you look at the haiku in a totally different way now. Nicholas K |
quiet morning Emily Chudzik (6) |
lonely wooden cabin Chase Smith (3) |
crushing waves |
orange fish, blue fish, new fish Yunek Moore (14) This haiku was my double vote for kukai 4. I like how funny this haiku is. It starts out with the Dr. Seuss then immediately changes to catfish something that is so relevant in today's generations. I also like the flow of the haiku. This makes the haiku fun to say. This also make me imagine the new show catfish on MTV. Chase I liked this one a lot because it's super relevant in today's day modern technological society. Everyone seems to have hundreds of social media platforms, but the way we act and behave online is often different than who we are in real life. It's so easy for someone to save a few pictures from anywhere on the internet and slap them onto a fake Facebook profile, and it can be dangerous too sometimes. Jake I thought this was hilarious and it was quite witty. I liked the first line was an expected Dr. Suess poem and I thought it was going to fall along those lines. I like how it flowed smoothly even though the first and second lines were totally different topics. Also I'm in Pi Beta Phi so our philanthropy promotes Literacy and we read Dr. Suess books at events we have during the year! The first page of the book is the first line from his haiku. It brought back those funny memories of people trying to read as fast as they can the Dr. Suess book of One Fish Two Fish... Olivia I thought this was a very funny haiku. It starts out by using a Dr. Seuss reference, which I really appreciate as literacy is my sororities philanthropy and I'm always on the lookout for different Dr. Seuss quotes. I think it's also funny because it brings in the idea of a relationship forming and the idea of fish in the sea. But it's quite comical because it ends up talking about The idea of catfish, a new term used for someone who thinks their identity on the internet. Paige |
driving the old truck |
sweat dripping from her face |
cute, cheap, high heels |
this team is good |
lying in the grass Caitlyn Latshaw (3) With this haiku I imagine a girl in a white cotton dress staring into the sky. She is in the park with her friends. She sneaks away for a few moments to watch the clouds go by. As the clouds go by, her friends come and lay around her. They giggle making up images in the clouds to pass the time. Amanda I really like this haiku because it gave me a very clear image in my mind. I felt like you could really see the colors of the green grass and looking up at the bright blue sky. I really feel nostalgic when reading about watching the clouds. I always used to do this as a child. I think this may be about a couple falling in love, especially with the last line being "daisies in her hair". I often see daisies used as a symbol of love. I like how it tells a story without really saying it. Paige |
coffee date Emily Chudzik (6) |
country music |
sip of whiskey |
winter Emily Chudzik (8) In class this was my double vote. I love this haiku, it reminds me of my past and my current relationship. I look at scars as stories and testimonies on what could have taken you out but didn't. Regardless if the scar is life threating or not, having a scar means you felt excruciating pain, but survived it and no matter what, you're always going to have that reminder that you're strong and what could have taken you, didn't. I love scars for this reason, I also look at them as intimate especially on someone I love. Some people find scars so unattractive I think it builds character. Over the winter of 2016, my boyfriend got stabbed in his chest and had to get stitches. He lost a lot of blood and it was right above his heart. During his healing process he was in a lot of pain and could not get comfortable, the only thing that would make him feel better was sleep and me. After the stitches were taken out there was still a weird feeling he could not describe but he now likes for me to rub and kiss his scar. I could have lost my boyfriend but I didn't. It was in the winter when I first kissed his scars. Dub |
cut in half Jordan Oelze (6) |
park bench |
sweaty handshakes |
I fake a smile Jacob Melssen (6) This haiku I can relate to so well. I recruited a lot of kids for football. That included lunch recruiting, tours, player panels, and overnights. Some of the stuff that was asked was very important and I totally get why they would want to know. Other stuff, I was like ‘really?' The funny thing is, the parents asked more stupid questions than the players. Nick R. |
Blue Spoon |
record spinning Jordan Oelze I'm not sure what it is about this haiku that I love so much. It's a pretty simple haiku compared to some others. The images are a little vague but at the same time it creates such an interesting scene. I see two people dancing together, closely, while a vintage record player spins in the background. It's a beautiful and small moment that can say a lot about two people. I think that's why I like it, it doesn't try to get so specific but it also doesn't try to address a broad subject. Sam |
my lips glide |
congressional jurisdiction |
our eyes connect |
steam spiraling |
empty fridge Kyle McMahon (10) An empty fridge leads to cravings because you're so hungry. With nothing in your fridge, you have no other option but to go somewhere. My thought process turns to where I should go to eat. Normally I think about going to Kroger if my fridge is empty but this haiku just threw a funny line at the audience. I thought it was funny and relatable because I have gone to Taco Bell when I was super hungry. I just thought this haiku was relatable and it just made me laugh. There aren't a lot of haiku that I have read that make me laugh so when I find one that makes me chuckle I find it to be my favorite. Kate |
3AM Kala Keller (9) She sips her coffee and looks at her watch; 11:30. Sighing, she takes out her planner and computer. She pulls up her work schedule, rehearsal schedule, sorority schedule, and school schedule. Opening up the planner, she marks each day carefully with a different colored pen. After a half hour of this she steps away from the planner and smiles, content with her now organized life. Amanda
|
I remember warm nights |
moonlit road |
I enter the bathroom |
my favorite pajamas Kyle Kite (4) |
midnight conversation Nicholas Kemp (12) This was my double vote. I think each line is so descriptive and helps to tell the overall story. I see two people lying in bed, talking to each other in the moments before sleep. They could be discussing anything, but these conversations can be pretty intimate and revealing. The nighttime and the darkness gives people confidence. The man is doing his best to listen to the woman, but it's getting hard, because sleep is beginning to overtake him. Emily I like it because it reminds me of innocent, childlike love. I also believe we really become ourselves at night, that's when the world is slow but our minds are fast, racing with the thoughts of our present, past and future. Having someone to be there and listen to is all people need, even if their half way sleep, not hanging up the phone is all I need. And sleep is a precious thing, especially at our age, if you are willing to stay up with me and lose your sleep, when clearly you are sleepy, I mean a lot to you, that's love. Dub |
|
for years she held this secret in Yunek Moore (5) |
my roommates |
honor student and volunteer Yunek Moore (5) |
tall mountains |
twisted branches Paige Dorsel |
walking down the hallway |
I miss the days |
running laps Nicholas Kemp (3) |
|
impatiently I wait Nick Retherford This haiku was also another one of my favorites from kukai 4. This haiku immediately brought me back to middle school when you sent a text to a girl saying you like her and it would feel like it is taking them forever to response. Even today people send risky text and are impatiently waiting for a response. This haiku also gives me anxiety about what the text could be about. Chase |
abandoned bumper cars |
seven new planets |
soda shop |
at the table |
newlyweds Yunek Moore (4) |
every morning the man I love |
time is ticking |
warm February Kyle McMahon (4) |
banana split |
first date |
sleepover night |
brain freeze |
© 2017, Randy Brooks Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.