Haiku Kukai 4

Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2018

glossy black pavement
we dance
in soaking t-shirts

pine trees
please hold me
for a moment

Stadium Arcadium
plays faintly
while she works

mom's mirror
missing
the sight of her

finally had the courage
to call him
voicemail

fingertips caress
smooth
ivory keys

choosing a darker
lipstick—
she means business

first date
Italian for dinner
please, no Lady & the Tramp

forehead kiss
melting into you
like milk chocolate

test day
I repeat silly acronyms
over    and over    and over

the door creaks
i wake just long enough
to watch her go

         i walk as
i have             before—
         in circles

the forest sways
with the night’s breeze
sparks fly up

many words
left unsaid
the waiter brings the check

finding your name
on my notebook
it was easier back then

bananagrams 
biggy is not a word,
dad

six legs
crawl across skin
I am in the tree

winter break
Hallmark Channel romances
on repeat

heavy breathing
your lips press against
my neck

crisp cool night
my sweatpant bottoms
caked with dirt

summer stillness
hanging in the air
our bitter words

she leans in
for a kiss
he goes for the hug

alone
she waits
slowly snowed in

3 drunk texts
words flow and
and pierce my heart

tree climbing
with the alley boy
the scar worth it

stay out of the garage
daddy's busy with buddies
and beer cans

caramel topped ice cream
melts away
my worries

dirty dishes pile up
we fall asleep
on the couch

rain spatters the windows
inside
coffee brews

you take me under your wing
I follow you
duckling

February fifteenth—
she buys her own
box of chocolates

eyes meet
childhood scar
reopened

sleeping in his old t-shirt
still smells like
him

cool evening
mardi gras beads
in the trees

at this point—
I may as well just become
a crazy old cat lady

order his favorite
coffee—
wish you were here

first crush
chasing him
on the playground

jambalaya night
soft blues
on the front porch

listening to old
voicemails
just to hear your voice

looking into his eyes
imagining all the things
we could have been

third wheel
ruining
the mood

allergic reaction
leaves a scar
the shape of a band aid

homecoming
going solo
. . . once again

 

 

 

graduation day
i sent
a breakup text

un deux trois—
butterflies before
the kiss goodnight

          in the mirror
I see a body
                  that’s not me

4am
waking up
with a kiss

patience
a little bug
crossing the oakleaf

polaroid of
my mother
zipped into my backpack

in his lap
exchanging secrets
by starlight

home for
the weekend
everyone's busy

his jacket smell
my shampoo
dances in the fall breeze

black overalls
your black bandana
wraps around my heart

church benches
soft light streams
through the stained glass

a twisted pigtail
snoring like a grizzly
my duckling rests

busy butterfly
finally closes her wings
and rests

cocoa butter
chapped lips
from endless kisses

night terror
first date gone wrong
on loop

mid-sentence Romeo
words graced by his lips
i wonder how they taste

he steps on my dress
with every stomp    clumsiness
gets cuter

class schedules
one free hour
coffee date

long curvy highway
I wonder if I will ever
find the one for me

sun shining brighter—
i find myself
singing again

summer breeze
she kicks out of her
red platforms

black paisley matched
with your Hawaiian shirt
weekend vibe

her hands rub across my back
and she suddenly halts
what is that new bump?

back home for the weekend
a tap on the shoulder
her heart races

washed sweatshirt
a new scent
masking the memory of you

snuggled up
in the cocoon
we once shared

in class notes
his mind wanders
how do you kiss a girl?

thoughts swirl endlessly
as I sink deeper into
the toilet seat

warmth steams
from coffee made
by a friend

a night in
alone
facemask, tea, and Netflix

POP
sparks fly up
watch where they land

fairytale ending
even Cinderella
didn’t have it this good

across the room
he gives her a wink
it's the little things

snapchat from you
i kiss the phone screen
for good measure

autumn bonfire
the front page
blackens and curls

sneaking into her closet
I press close to
smell her perfume

falling up the stairs
you catch me
and I'm safe

sparkling snow . . .
shatters in
my mittens

© 2018, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.