Haiku Kukai 9 Favorites

Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2018

the woman sighs
roast in the oven
sipping wine

apple pie on
the stovetop
she puts her feet up

Sydney Rudny (7)

slow dance
the gazes of the teachers
at hand placements

work truck
the boy and his pup
peek over the dusty dashboard

Logan Bader (9)

I think everyone can agree that this haiku was so heartwarming. The image of a little curious boy and his cute puppy mimicking his actions is so adorable. The imagery in this haiku describes a perfect moment between and a boy and his dog. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

bad news
daughter buries her face
into dad’s shoulder

Logan Bader (5)

she fixes her hair
the way
he likes it

frozen dusk
the little line leader
reaches for my hand

under the blanket
searching
for a footsie partner

Alissa Kanturek (6)

winter chill
wishing I had someone
to share my warmth with

baby talk
I think she said,
“dad”

Zachary McReynolds (7)

This haiku is so cute. This reminds me of my baby cousin, who is just starting to talk. He’s been saying “dada” for a while, but his parents hadn’t really heard him attempt “mama” until last weekend. I babysat him last weekend and before his parents left, his mom was trying to get him to say “mama,” and when she did, he got this big grin on his face, but wouldn’t say anything. When she turned away from him, he started going “mamamamama” and it was so cute. Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018

breeze on a cool day
our hands interlock
as we stroll through the field

wednesday To Do’s
a smile
for each box checked

Alissa Kanturek (8)

This haiku was very relatable. Anytime I can check something off in my assignment book I feel so much better. Sometimes if I don't have the thing I just finished written down, I write it down just so I can go and get the satisfaction of crossing it off of my list. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

mama’s dinner
Kraft mac and cheese
with hot dogs on the side

Sophie Kibiger (6)

my fingers glide
into the gaps between his
naturally

Isabella Spiritoso (7)

This poem made my heart warm. There is such a nice tactile experience conveyed with the words “glide” and “gaps”. I find it interesting that the haiku circles around the direct idea of holding hands and utilizes the language to create imagery that shows it, rather than frankly saying it. I also like how naturally is its own line because it wraps up just how perfectly their hands fit. Rachel Pevehouse, Fall 2018

I really liked this haiku because it made me think of all the times you were holding someone's hand and it just felt wrong. Either their hand was too big or too small, too rough or too smooth, too sweaty or too dry. But with this person, your hand glides in perfectly, like their hand was meant to hold yours. Naomi Klingbeil, Fall 2018

her laugh
cuts through the crowd
mom never misses opening night

Isabella Spiritoso (10)

I really liked this haiku. Although I am not a theatre person so I have never done a performance or production I imagine this with a soccer game. My mom is always one of the loudest fans and I can always hear her calling out my name in the games. I usually never hear anyone else cheering besides her. Sydney Rudny, Fall 2018

lights out
we exchange stories
on the worn leather couch

Isabella Spiritoso (6)

small town gas station
buying a donut
so I can use the bathroom

Sophie Kibiger (9)

I loved this haiku because it was very relatable for me. Coming from an area where there are a lot of small towns that are close together, this was often something I experienced back home. This haiku brought the image of a Casey’s into my mind because I regularly stopped at that gas station to get donuts. It had a nostalgic affect on me. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

This haiku was very relatable. Being from a small town, our gas station always had fresh donuts being made in the mornings. My dad and I would stop to use the restroom after working cattle, and he would always buy a dozen for us and the staff at his vet clinic after. The owner knew exactly when we would come in each time, and she would make sure that they were a fresh batch each time we came in to get them. One thing that I found interesting about this haiku is that the obligation to buy something to use the restroom seems to only be present at local, small town gas stations versus a larger chain gas station. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

This haiku is so relatable. As I am writing this, I have just left a gas station somewhere in Illinois (I am headed out of town for the weekend). I went in just to use the bathroom, and I came back out to re-read this haiku in the car! I love the humorous, light-hearted tone. Everyone at some point can relate. Who hasn’t used a gas station bathroom, especially during a road trip? I remember that when I was a young girl, our family vacations always required pit stops at gas station bathrooms. I was only interested in the ice cream freezers at the gas station. I think my parents were letting me have a “reward” for being so good in the car. Now that I am older, I find the bathroom after a long car ride my reward! Emily Sullins, Fall 2018

 

school bus
cracking the window
to hear church bells

Sophie Kibiger (5)

buying a new dress
trying to think of
an occasion to wear it

Haley Vemmer

I feel this haiku on a spiritual level. I love shopping, especially for clothes. Because I am a bigger girl, it is hard to find cute dresses that fit right in my size, so when I find one, I just have to buy it. But I don't get invited to a lot of things, or go very many places, so trying to find an occasion to wear the dress is more of a struggle than finding the dress. Idk...I just liked this haiku. Jenesi Moore, Fall 2018

senior prom
only member of the group
without a date

ordering dinner—
getting my order
mansplained to me

Haley Vemmer (4)

snow in the forecast
YAAAAAY
amid a chorus of boos

church bells
snowflakes fall
on the cobblestones

Emily Sullins

I got quite excited the first time it snowed this year, even though it didn't stick. Anytime I see snow in the forecast, I get giddy thinking about Christmas. Snow just makes the world seem magical and clean. This haiku made me excited because the image of the church reminded me of Christmas Eve, and how, especially for the 11pm service, everything is particularly still. As the service ends at midnight, we can often hear the bells of the other churches around town ringing. Not only that, but it's often also snowing. It's just such a peaceful, reflective mood. This haiku transported me home, to one of my favorite times of the year. Daria Koon, Fall 2018

I walk faster
               the argument
               pounding in my ears

Emily Sullins

corner bakery
red daisies
in the window-box

Emily Sullins (8)

swallowing words
i push back my
nail beds

Daria Koon (9)

snapchat from my dad
i drop everything
to respond

Daria Koon

Response: I love my dad so so much and when he uses snapchat it’s a big deal. I still remember the first time we did a snapchat group chat with my entire family and my dad wouldn’t stop using all the crazy filters. Now, being so far away from him and he snapchats me I really do drop everything to watch the video or see the picture he’s sending me. We text all the time and I talk on the phone with him at least once a week, but snapchats are a lot more sparse when coming from my father and if I don’t initiate the snapchat it’s probably going to be something really funny or super cute of my dog or snake and I just love hearing from my dad especially because I am a daddy’s girl. I also like the format of this haiku because with each line, there’s less words, which I’m always a fan of because it brings a focus to the last line and the word “respond”. And I think the key words in this haiku are dad and respond and they’re the last words of the first and last line. Hannah Haedike, Fall 2018

The DAR
oh wait
we are immigrants

Mary Callaghan (3)

ringpop
playground proposal
forever and ever

Jenesi Moore (12)

This haiku is wholesome and pure, and I love the flashback it gives me from my playground days. While I never was proposed to, I did have a huge crush on a boy in kindergarten. I knew for a fact that he liked me back, so I always had butterflies around him. With this haiku, I picture this boy asking my kindergarten self if I will be his girlfriend by handing me a ringpop. Neither of us have any clue what dating is, but we have seen our older siblings have “boyfriends” and “girlfriends.” He has no clue that a proposal usually symbolizes marriage, but he thinks he saw it on television that a proposal is when a girl and boy like each other. I love the innocence that I get from this haiku. Emily Sullins, Fall 2018

my sister’s step
quickens
sundown

DNA
Kendrick Lamar
my black anthem

motherly advice
never leave without
pepper spray

police siren
possible death sentence
16 year old boy

Jenesi Moore

a B Cup
telling me
im not a woman

Hannah Haedike (12)

she grabs my face
where’s        my
        pepper      spray

ignorant girl
grandpa speaks over me
my words          silenced

Hannah Haedike (6)

I feel for the author of this haiku. As a woman, I know the feeling to be written off as some ignorant little girl when I want to speak my mind; I am sure that most women can relate. Especially when it is older men speaking, specifically those in my family, I am expected to sit quietly and respectfully, no matter how disrespectful and rude the words coming out of their mouths are. This poem captures the isolating and degrading feeling that women get in these types of situations. Isabella Spiritoso, Fall 2018

nighttime whisper
his daughter asks
for one more story

tea time conversation
it stopped steaming
long ago

Daria Koon

I like this haiku because it reminds me of catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a while. During breaks, I like to go get coffee/tea with my friends from high school. Often, we get so into the conversations we are having, that we forget about our drinks and they go cold. Sometimes, it’s really nice to just get lost in conversation and forget about everything going on in the world around you. Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018

This haiku has quite a few interpretations in my eyes. The first one I thought of was that the middle line meant that these two people had been talking for so long with each other that the tea itself became cool, which is a very sweet reading of it. I also thought the middle line could mean that the life had kind of left the conversation, making it a bitter situation. The last way I considered it is that the conversation had started very heated and tense at first (the people themselves were steaming), and once they sat down to talk things through, all of the anger was gone and they could enjoy each other’s company again. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

 

winter break from college
my mom asks where
I'm going out

Daria Koon (4)

blanket of snow
somewhere beneath
my brother’s tonka truck

first Christmas
his tie
slightly crooked

Sophie Kibiger (4)

"i just don't want
to dance . . ."
with him

ancient oven
half the batch burnt
the way Dad likes it

forehead wrinkle
I found a new place
to give a kiss

Alissa Kanturek

This haiku really finds the positive in things. Most people dislike wrinkles, as they are seen as a mark of age, deterioration and ugliness in our society. Whoever the wrinkle belongs to is probably not thrilled about the wrinkle. However, the author noticed the change, and loves it anyway. They see it as a new opportunity for love and growth. Melanie Wilson, Fall 2018

morning appointment
on the
toilet seat

Alissa Kanturek (6)

Alissa's haiku is incredibly relatable to almost everyone. When you wake up and use the washroom first thing in the morning the cold from the toilet seat is so horrible but you quickly get used to it as you start to go. Then when you flush the seat it is so loud and horrible it really does wake you ip. This wakes you up for the rest of your morning rituals such as brushing your teeth and getting dressed etc. Mary Callaghan, Fall 2018

7th birthday
mom sends out
the Hello Kitty invites

grandma's necklace
I feel like
she's here, with me

he rubs my head
I close my eyes
and fall asl . . .

Sydney Rudny (10)

this haiku is so innocent. Nothing is as comforting as someone who cares about you rubbing your head or back. It is the feeling that someone is there and caring for you, making you fall asleep peacefully. Sydney captured this feeling in her haiku, especially by cutting off the word asleep. It makes the reader feel right in the moment. Its realisticness of her not even getting through the thought because she is so comforted is both humorous and realistic.

midnight
my room bathed in
the moon’s silvery glow

old bookshelf
favorites easy to pick
from the collection

Haley Vemmer

This haiku reminded me of the bookshelves around my home. My parents and I are all bookworms, so we have quite a few. Particularly in what we call our “library,” there are quite a few books with cracked/torn bindings, pages dog-eared, and/or missing covers. It is easy to tell at first glance that these are the books we have and will read over and over again. Reading this haiku reminded me of walking into the room, picking a book up and, as I started to read it, have the scent of old pages wash over me as I dive into another world. It made me think about going home for break and snuggling into a blanket in our living room, with a mug of tea or hot chocolate, and a good book. Daria Koon, Fall 2018

dancing in the kitchen
he twirls me
to Christmas music

Emily Sullins (7)

Response: Once again, this haiku reminds me of my dad. But, it also reminds me of my grandpa and my brother. Those three men: my dad, grandpa, and brother – are my everything and I love them with my entire being and whole heart. Dancing to Christmas music is something my family and I have done since as long as I can remember. We’re just a happy family especially around the holiday season because we’re all together and the love we have for life just resonates because we get to share that love together through music and dancing right now. Looking back at this haiku and reading it more and more it makes me think of my grandpa specifically because he’s my dancing buddy. When I was little I would choose to dance with him than anyone else because no one makes me feel as special as he does. No one makes me feel so loved and I love that so so much. Hannah Haedike, Fall 2018

This haiku instantly makes me think of two parents who are celebrating their first Christmas with their toddler. The child understands Christmas a little more and can't wait for santa to come on Christmas Eve night. After the child goes to bed and parents finish all the last minute wrapping and placing of gifts under the tree, they dance in the kitchen to Christmas music. Pure joy fills the air and the Christmas spirit is very much alive. Naomi Klingbeil, Fall 2018

grandma pours
two cups of coffee
grandpa sits reading the news

my childhood
in a box
VHS tapes

Emily Sullins (4)

Christmas Eve
mama cleaning up
after us

Emily Sullins

palm itching
for someone
to hold it

Hannah Ottenfeld

I love this haiku because it’s fairly simple and minimalist, and yet it still brings out a strong and relatable emotion, while also using sensory details to enhance this feeling. The itching palm creates such a vivid sensory feeling for me. I can imagine myself with my hand out, open palmed, ready for it to be held, and feeling the emptiness of having nothing there. Also, the use of the word someone shows that this person is a bit desperate. There is not necessarily one person they would prefer it to be, just someone. Many people that I know (including myself) have experienced this feeling of being lonely and just wanting anyone to show them affection. It is a strong emotion, and very relatable. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

pick up
the phone
no notifications

Hannah Ottenfield

I related to this one a little too much. Like most people, I often crave human interaction, but when I crave it most is when is seems like no one cares to talk to me. On the flip side, I could have a bunch of texts and not bother to answer them, so I’m not entirely innocent. However, when I experience the moment this haiku captures, I often feel very down about myself. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

coffee shop
the furnace groans to life
as the first snow falls

driving fast
going nowhere
as the snow falls

crossing the street
the children line up
like little ducklings

HOMERUN!
dad lifts the boy
to catch the ball

Haley Vemmer

soft footsteps
brown pigtails
peek into the room

               as
puddle spl    hing
I'm a kid
again

Daria Koon (6)

I loved this haiku simply because of the placement of ‘as’ in ‘splashing.’ I think it created a beautiful effect when reading the haiku and brought out the image being described by the author. I also enjoyed the playfulness of the haiku. It captures the spirit of a child with the moment it recreates. Zachary McReynolds, Fall 2018

I like this haiku because this is definitely something I do. When it rains, I like to stomp in the puddles and make them splash. I really like the structure of this haiku. I find it very interesting how the author made the word “splashing” look as though it were a puddle being splashed. This element adds to the playfulness of the poem. Haley Vemmer, Fall 2018


arms link
          a barrier
                   you cannot
                        cross

she looks down
at her finger and smiles
newly engaged

Sydney Rudny

I matched this haiku to mine about the ring being too small. I thought it was cool that we had two haikus that had the same subject but had two very different outcomes. In this haiku, the girl is happy, excited that she’s going to be a bride. Everything is perfect, and she has so much to look forward to. In the other haiku, the girl is nervous because her ring doesn’t fit. It’s a bad sign, and she knows it. She has nothing good to look forward to. I loved how these two haikus paired up! Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

summer lunch
eating on the patio
with dad

clenched fists
counting the steps
until I’m safe

Emily Sullins (5)

after the Kavanaugh hearing
I tell my therapist
about the rape

Sophie Kibiger (9)

even when we kiss
empty space
between us

train horn
I groan and roll
to the other side

wearing it
when I met you
my lucky ring

falling soft asleep
dreaming of
Will you Marry me

abandoned bicycle
a dragonfly rests
on handlebars

Haley Vemmer

I just really loved the image that this haiku painted. I love dragonflies, I’ve never really been afraid of them like I was with other bugs when I was young. They came in so many colors, and they just looked so unique and peaceful. I especially love kayaking and having some land on my oar or my arms, and just being so close to them to admire their beauty. I really loved that this dragonfly in the haiku really brings the scene to life, especially with the abandoned bike, and it just seems so peaceful. Alissa Kanturek, Fall 2018

showing mom
my hummingbird ribbon
there are no words

needle and thread—
daddy sews up
her teddy bear

Haley Vemmer (5)

let’s put on
a movie
we won’t watch

Alissa Kanturek (7)

I think this haiku is about a couple, and they are spending their date night inside. They finish eating their dinner of pizza and salad, and they curl up on the couch. They browse through Netflix for a movie and turn it on. A few minutes in, the girlfriend starts chatting about one of the actors. The guy mutes the tv to name a few movies the actor was in. The conversation then switches to books, then to hobbies, then to dream places to visit. Eventually, they start talking about their hopes and dreams. The movie is still playing in the background, but they don’t care. They are getting to know more about each other, and, with every word, they fall a little more in love with the other person. Emily Sullins, Fall 2018

airplane lights
twinkling
in her eyes

texting
her crush
across the room

coffee table
turned into
her stage

not even remembering
the reason I said
I hate you

marijuana gummies
. . . will these
           do the trick?

my perfect body performing
tasks she’ll never do again

cherry popsicles
grandma and grandpa
compare red tongues

Isabella Loutfi (15)

I love the playfulness in this haiku. I also love that it's grandparents who are the main characters of the haiku because it's simple. It's the simple things in the old age that means the most. Furthermore I picture the grandchild observing their grandparents in their playful nature. It's sweet and loving and pure. Naomi Klingbeil, Fall 2018

This haiku is absolutely adorable. I love it when older couples are still playful and madly in love in their relationship. Too often do I see older couples who don't even look at each other during dinner or talk before bed. This haiku just reminded me that in some relationships, love never dies. Jenesi Moore, Fall 2018

This poem is extremely cute. The first line immediately gives a sense of sweetness by mentioning a treat like “cherry popsicles”. Then, the next line mentions “grandma and grandpa,” which gives me a feeling of warmth, as I am close with my family. Finally, it is revealed that the grandma and grandpa are comparing their red tongues from the cherry popsicle. This action is playful and youthful, which makes it twice as heartwarming to know that the grandparents still act young and silly together after all these years. Isabella Spiritoso, Fall 2018

for good luck
mom’s pearl bracelet
on my wrist

ladies first
he lets me cut in the lunch line
to feel like a gentleman

Isabella Spiritoso (4)

quiet sorority house
no one is awake

but me

stage 4
assisted breathing
dying last wish
portillos

Mary Callaghan (8)

  her apple
shines by the
  late   night
      lamp

half-eaten bagel
the trashcan a treasure box
to the homeless man

keys in fingers
hair in bun
the walk home

Isabella Loutfi

It’s sad how relatable this haiku is. Girls are taught to keep keys between their fingers like brass knuckles so they can fight a predator, and to keep their hair in a bun so an attacker has no hair to grab. But boys don’t have to think about that. They can just walk home without a worry. For girls, walking home is a very serious matter, and I think that this haiku really showed that. Even though there weren’t many words, it still got a sad message across. Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

mother's earrings
bring out her eyes
in mine

Isabella Loutfi (4)

A lot of people tell me that I am a good mix of my parents in terms of looks, but that I have my mom's eye shape (our eye colors are different, but they look the same). Also, I tend to borrow her earrings so, when I wear them we look even more similar. I love being told that I look like my mom, and this haiku brought out the feeling that recognizes that. Daria Koon, Fall 2018

I kiss his cheek
to see if he is awake . . .
                           a grin

Isabella Spiritoso (14)

This is one of those super sweet love haiku that I can’t get enough of. I picture a couple waking up to the sun and birds outside their window. There is a breeze blowing in so that the curtains billow a bit. The gal is awake already and has turned over to see if her partner is also up. His back is to her so she leans over his shoulder and gives him a light peck on the cheek. As soon as she kisses him, a smile creeps over his face and they both giggle. I tend to think of haikus as creating snapshots in time and this haiku creates the sweetest, most peaceful snapshot I can imagine. Isabella Loutfi, Fall 2018

you’re gonna need a bat
to keep away the boys
once you lose weight

Isabella Spiritoso (9)

dad laughs
at Trump’s locker room talk
my heart sinks

Isabella Spiritoso (9)

insomnia
i hum
like mom used to

Isabella Loutfi (5)

I like this poem a lot for the contrast it provides. The first line “insomnia” gives me a feeling of dread and uneasiness. However, the author goes on to narrate that they are humming, which is a generally pleasant thing. In the third line, they mention that this is something their mom used to do for them, probably when they couldn’t sleep when they were younger. The thought of this person finding comfort within themselves by doing something for themselves that their mom used to do is very sweet to me. Isabella Spiritoso, Fall 2018

rainy day—
i soak biscuits
in green tea

my counselor
tells me
"you look really tired"

berated six year old
the police need to see your hands
always

Heart of the Ocean
he buys her silence
token by token

Jenesi Moore (4)

young women
told
good thing you’re pretty

Mary Callaghan (8)

conceal and carry permit
means nothing
40 year old black death

Jenesi Moore

7th grade
male friends
not so nice anymore

Mary Callaghan (5)

customer service rep
told
you should smile more

winter journaling
too many pages about
loneliness

Logan Bader (6)

the rusty pump action
takes down another pheasant
. . . it has aged well

after the proposal
the engagement ring
too small

Sophie Kibiger

I noticed this haiku after class, and when I saw it, I said, “Oh…” The lines build up to an unexpected ending that takes the reader off-guard. Each line individually could mean anything, but together they create a sense of sadness and regret. I think the ring being too small means that their relationship is restraining her, like a ring that doesn’t fit. I love that subtle metaphor because it still creates a strong emotional implication. Rachel Pevehouse, Fall 2018

after the rape
she whispers "I love you".
          I don't say it back.

Sophie Kibiger (5)

new york subway
a hand on my ass
that doesn’t belong

Sophie Kibiger

I like how the first line and last two connect – the image of a New York subway implies lots of people, which is where the random hand on her ass comes from. I appreciate how the language is simple and not flowery because it doesn’t distract from the reality of the situation. It captures a specific moment that many women can relate to, even if it’s not this situation exactly, and the simplicity allows various women to insert their own unique experiences with harassment. Rachel Pevehouse, Fall 2018

dairy farm
the morning sunrise
warms the farmer’s back

Logan Bader (2)

rusty flatbed
poking out of the window
a wet nose

Logan Bader (5)

Thanksgiving morning—
hands interlocked
Grandfather’s blessing

Logan Bader

Response: Another family haiku. As you can see I really miss my family and the love I feel when I’m with them. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, simply because I get to tell everyone I love how much I appreciate them. This haiku made me think specifically to right before we eat because we all hold hands and say what we’re thankful for and then we pray and usually it’s my grandpa or father who lead the prayer and this haiku just made me smile and feel really content because I got to think about that thankful moment. I really liked this author’s use of the word interlocked because it’s not just holding a hand, but rather a connection with another human being which is beautiful. Hannah Haedike, Fall 2018

crystal locket
cherished by the child
who never met her mom

crying in the shower
this way
i won’t feel my tears

Naomi Klingbeil

grandpa's eyeglasses
too big
too cute

holding his hand . . .
she takes a breath,
and lets go

daddy’s shoulders
he says i’m the tallest girl
in the world

wet hair
she stands tall
in the pouring rain

Melanie Wilson

bending backwards
she whispers
in her lover's ear

crowded bus stop
she counts
gray hairs

autumn breeze
all the words left
unsaid

shot after shot after shot
the room starts spinning
someone please save me

Naomi Klingbeil (4)

I found two different interpretations of this haiku. One reading of “shots” is like a shot of alcohol. I imagine that the author is at a party, has had too much to drink, and it starting to lose their bearings. Another interpretation, and my initial reaction was that the shots are gunshots. This haiku then becomes very sad. I pictured a mass shooting, and that this was the narration of someone who is caught in the middle of it. Melanie Wilson, Fall 2018

teaching my daughter
how to “kick him where it counts”
only 8-years-old

Naomi Klingbeil

I loved this haiku because I related hardcore. I remember my dad taking me outside when I was about 8 and teaching my self-defense in our front yard. He taught me what to do if I was kidnapped, and the three most painful places to hit a man were (headbutt the jaw, stomp the foot, and knee the groin, in case you were wondering). I remember thinking it was silly, but now that I look back on it, I see how serious it was and how messed up it is that fathers have to teach their daughters self-defense. Sophie Kibiger, Fall 2018

she’s gone
for good
next song on my playlist

Naomi Klingbeil

new job
changing her dress out
for pants

Melanie Wilson (4)

daisies bloom
on the side of
the dirt road

harry potter and the goblet of fire
binding held together
by tape

Rachel Pevehouse (8)

Rachel's haiku reminded me of my sister and i growing up. Lots of the books I read were hand me downs from her, so they went through a lot of wear and tear. Harry Potter is our favorite series and we have each gone through multiple copies of the books and movies. This wear and tear shows the love for the books and how much we appreciate them. These books shaped a lot of our character and values so this excessive reading is reflected in the use of the book. Mary Callaghan, Fall 2018

This haiku brought back many great memories for me. The Harry Potter series is probably my favorite of all time. I began reading them when I was around 10 years old and I think that I have read the series through about 5 times. I love the writing of J.K. Rowling, she is an absolute genius of an author. I especially liked how the haiku used the phrase of the book being held together by tape, as my sets of paperbacks were in about the same condition after so many reads. This haiku gave me a very nice image. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

black dress
just short enough
for mom to worry

Melanie Wilson (7)

sidewalk chalk art
washed away
summer thunderstorm

Naomi Klingbeil

This haiku makes me really nostalgic. While I have lived most of my life in Minnesota, I was born in and spent my first six years in Arizona. Because I was so young when I left AZ, my memories of my time there is generally scattered. One pretty vivid memory I do have there is of my brother, sister, and I drawing our favorite Harry Potter characters on the cement porch behind our house in the yard. My brother, with his dark black hair and circular glasses, was always Harry, my sister chose Hermoine, and I shifted between Ginny and Hedwig. I don’t remember exactly, but we were probably drinking lemonade. I think I was constantly drinking lemonade in Arizona. The air around us got cooler and heavier. We could smell the rain. The first few drops land on our artwork! My mom calls us and the dog inside and, after much protesting, we file into the house. Isabella Loutfi, Fall 2018

Eve’s curse
will i really suffer
forever?

Naomi Klingbeil (8)

merry-go-round
i spin and spin and spin
giggles with daddy

Naomi Klingbeil (4)

that song from years ago
when you and i
were still friends

Rachel Pevehouse (4)

Mom, I’m sorry
for yelling at you
when I was thirteen

lazy sunday
going to the park
with the kids

Instagram feed
my middle school best friend
pregnant

cleaning out closet
the memory of that skirt
from eighth grade

first real bra
hoping no one will notice
all the boys stare

Rachel Pevehouse

seconds pass
her diagnosis
stops time

2 years later
still wearing your
heart shaped locket

hair loss
but wigs don’t cover
weight loss

Hannah Haedike (5)

mammogram
I always cross
my fingers

first snow
grandma refuses
chemo treatment

Rachel Pevehouse

lonesome country road
crossing the pavement
a coyote

Sophie Kibiger

This haiku made me think of the country road leading into my house. The road is surrounded by trees and pastures on each side, and there are always critters in the ditch or crossing the pavement. Reading this haiku made me think of a memory with my dog. When I was younger, my dog and I would always walk down the country road together, just to pass the time. My dog was sniffing around in the ditch and he would not come to me when he was called. I went into the field to see what he was chasing around and I could tell he was being protective of something. I came closer and noticed that he had found a nest of about four turkey eggs right next to the road. Later I noticed the eggs sitting in his bed in the garage, and he was as happy as he could be. Logan Bader, Fall 2018

harsh winter air
I chew on
my chapped lips

Rachel Pevehouse (5)

election day
she gets “feminist”
tattooed on her wrist

Sophie Kibiger

This is a very powerful haiku. A of all, there needs to be more feminists in the government, always. B of all, I like that this is a distinct choice that the character is making. I like how the author compares getting a tattoo to voting. Tattoos are permanent. Elected officials are temporary, but make permanent impact. I like the image that the woman's vote is “feminist”, this is how she is defining herself and her decisions. Melanie Wilson, Fall 2018

planned parenthood
I go for
a breast cancer screening

Sophie Kibiger

I hate it with a passion when people call Planned Parenthood an “abortion factory”. Especially when abortions account for 3% or less of the services they perform there. They also help women get birth control, so that they can reduce their own unwanted pregnancy risk, thus reducing the number of abortions. Planned Parenthood also provides adoption resources, breast cancer screenings, STD and STI testing, and even some mental health counseling. It is ridiculous to call a place this resourceful an “abortion factory.” Jenesi Moore, Fall 2018

with each cat call
her armor
thickens

Alissa Kanturek (11)

two years without you
I still dial your number
after a fight with mom

after the harvest
the old farmer watches the sunset
from his rocking chair

Haley Vemmer (4)

ring around the rosie
with my little cousin
this one’s for me

 

 

my head on your chest
glowing
you tell me I’m the one

Alissa Kanturek (8)

before sending the text—
I delete the
“sorry to bother you”

Haley Vemmer (14)

This haiku brings me joy because it has someone breaking his or her “I’m sorry” habit. I am quite guilty of this habit. I tend to apologize for everything no matter whose fault it actually it. I have been known to apologize to table legs and chairs for running into them, or strangers who run into me. I partially blame the Minnesotan in me, but I also take responsibility. I like this haiku probably because I relate to it so much. I am often told to stop apologizing, which in turn causes me to apologize more. I like that this haiku has the serial apologizer rescinding their apology on their own terms, and not because someone else told them to. Isabella Loutfi, Fall 2018

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