Haiku Kukai 4 Favorites

Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2019

haiku
born with love
or not at all

Charlize Pate (8)

I just really love this one. I love that it just states the simple truth. Either our haiku are born or they aren't. What I also really like is that even though the word love is used here, I don't think it's being used in a way to show sadness. I think its usage is just to show that when our haiku are born, they are born with others' love. I think it's a very personal thing that we endeavor to do. We lay our soul on the page in the hopes that just a couple will be good enough to be well received. What I think this haiku is getting at is that no matter what, you have to love your haiku. Otherwise they will never be born. sure, not every one will be an amazing kukai winner, but as long as you love your haiku, they are born. John DeAngelo, Fall 2019

seconds pass on the clock
I will spend
0:00 here soon

the trees remind me of you
proud and tall
swaying in the breeze

Cassandra Reed

I imagine my uncle, the man that has been the strong cornerstone for my family since I was a child. I imagine trying to put into words the love and admiration I have for him and continuing to come up short. In the end, I would settle for a comparison to nature's strongest force, trees. What bigger compliment than drawing a comparison between this important person nature herself? Madeline Wilson, Fall 2019

bitch
a compliment
I never thought I would hear

Jonathan Kuebler (16)

I love this haiku because it sums up an emotional hurdle I faced last year. First semester, a student called me a bitch. It was shocking, frustrating, and hurtful. I did not know what to do, and I began to wonder if everyone saw me as a bitch. However, over time, I realized that what this man saw as "bitchy" were the same qualities that helped me be a strong, successful woman. I am proud that I am independent, loud, and outspoken. This haiku brings me feelings of pride and renewal. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019

on tiptoes
through the prairie grass
still too heavy

Morgan Bode (4)

grandfather
if I try really hard
I can remember your voice

Madeline Wilson (12)

three cats
eleven legs
lots and lots of energy

John DeAngelo (6)

the dress of my dreams
stays on the rack
he didn’t like it

Jessi Kreder (16)

I lost you young
but enjoyed
your other half

Michael Hoelting (12)

one foot
in the door
a faint meow

as I step
to the pitch . . .
I realize my
                  mistake

Michael Hoelting (4)

I enjoy this haiku because the shape tells a story. I plan to apply Michael's use of shape to my own haiku. Not only can a haiku inspire imagery, it can provide a literal image to stimulate the reader's emotions and five senses. The word mistake has dropped lower than the rest of the haiku, showing that perhaps the player's heart has dropped at his sudden realization. I also infer that there was a hesitation, defining the perfect "OH NO" moment. This haiku has me at the edge of my seat. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019

alone on the water
a single ripple
here comes the kraken

my palm on your cheek
why would I want to hold
anything else?

Elizabeth Napier (10)

I liked this haiku for many reasons. I think some aspects of this haiku remain unique such as the length of lines. I think a lot of the haiku we see have very short lines, and often lines with just one word. While I do like this style, I think the longer lines works well in this haiku. I also like that the second line leaves a sense of anticipation of what the person wants to “hold.” In addition to these physical aspects I really like the overall message and vibe of this haiku. The sense of love that the person feels for holding the other person is peaceful and very sweet. Tori Stuart, Fall 2019

couch conversation
“we’ll be friends forever”
broken promises

Joel Ochoa (8)

jaunting upstream
sound of the waterfall
closer with every step

Joel Ochoa (4)

walking on water
a spider creeps
into the canoe

Charlize Pate

I really liked the imagery of this haiku. It was very peaceful and pretty. I imagined being at the lake and just enjoying nature. The phrase walking on water is very easy to say and just flows out of my mouth so I thought it was a great way to start. Then, I saw the spider walking alone water like I have seen so many times. But then everything changed because the spider came towards me and the peacefulness of this haiku was ruined. I saw myself tipping the canoe over to end this one. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2019

the prettiest light
in the universe
her smile

Gillian Genardo (7)

I was thinking of stars when I first read this haiku but then the last mind made me think of my girlfriend. I can’t help but smile when I see her smiling. It is very infectious. So, I was definitely smiling after I read this haiku which is why I liked it so much. Basically any haiku that makes me think of her I take a fondness of. I also liked how simple this haiku was. It almost read as a sentence which was neat. Not many haiku I have read so far can grammatically be a sentence. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2019

ten minute search
for the glasses
on top of my head

Gillian Genardo (7)

clouds dot the sky
old friends
become new again

Benjamin Kuxmann (5)

a piece of turf sticks to me
one in a million
I see her in the stands

Jonathan Kuebler (12)

the wall lights glimmer
i can smell
the roses in her cheeks

John DeAngelo (6)

art museum parking lot—
the beetle clings
to a single crabapple

gray day
across from the gas station
a field of geese

Elizabeth Napier

Growing up in Iowa, this haiku brought me back to so many different times throughout my life. Geese run rampant in Iowa, so I saw them all the time at the most random locations. But one location I always saw geese at was whenever my family would fill up at this specific gas station on the outskirts of town. Every single time, even sometimes when it was cold out, there were always geese in the field across the street from the gas station. One time on a gloomier day, like the one this poem describes, I crossed the road to try and chase the geese. As I approached one, it literally hissed at me and I don’t think I’ve ever run faster in my life because I was so scared it was going to kill me or something. I just liked the memory this haiku brought up and I think the imagery is very strong in the haiku. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019

we argue
over the radio station
fifty more miles to go

your hand in mine
little kisses
from the waterfall

Joel Ochoa (5)

scrolling thumbs
sending this meme
a love language

Joel Ochoa (7)

little red wheel barrow
my father turns over
the dirt

Madeline Curtin (5)

rose scented ink
with blood red letters
you said goodbye

letters tucked away
in my shirt drawer
her lipstick print

thousands of miles away
your words stay with me,
folded in my backpack

Alexander Bergland (18)

I just really loved this poem so much because even though someone that you love is so far away, they are still right next to you. In a long-distance relationship those simple gestures of love are always so nice to receive and makes you feel so warm inside. Having something to remind you of your loved one always makes it easier to be apart from them because you have a little piece of them with you. Being able to love somebody that puts that little effort into your relationship is just one of the strongest relationships ever and its great. Michael Hoelting, Fall 2019

This haiku makes me warm! I am from Minnesota which is about 550 miles away from Decatur. I am also in a long-distance relationship, and with 400 miles of distance between us, sometimes it can get challenging. My boyfriend and I write letters to each other and it is honestly the best part of our relationship. We both take time out of our busy lives to sit down and write a page of words for each other. And I keep his letters at my desk so I can read them over and over when I need to. A letter from someone from home is always the best part of my day. Meghan Hayes, Fall 2019

mulberry stains
my skin only knows
the summer

Madeline Curtin (6)

she lost
her favorite lipstick
on my cheek

Jonathan Kuebler (13)

early morning
my eyes open
she’s still here

apple cider
you say my name
it grows cold

Meghan Hayes (6)

We’re sitting in my boyfriend’s room after visiting the observatory to look at the stars. It’s finally cold outside, and he’s wonderful, taking interest in what I love, goofing off with me, and holding my hand. We make hot apple cider and watch episodes of the office, and I am my most content. But, then he says my name and that’s all it takes to completely pull my attention away from anything else. My cider grows cold from talking to him about our days and our favorite parts and what we were most proud of. I don’t mind that the cider grows cold. Maddie Curtin, Fall 2019

skipping cd
would I feel better
if you said you hated me?

Madeline Wilson

This one immediately struck me as one that definitely had a deeper meaning to it. I can distinctly imagine the sound of a CD skipping, but on a deeper level, I feel like the mind is a skipping CD. Sometimes we are trying so hard to focus on the present but there are little things that make us stop and think, like when a CD skips. We do not think about the CD until it suddenly stops, just like we do not sometimes think about things until it pops back into our mind. The last line hit me really hard because I think everyone has felt this in some way or another. I know personally, my mind is sometimes bogged down with what other people think of me and sometimes I think I would feel better if I just knew exactly why or how they felt a certain way. This poem is just a lot deeper than first glance and it made me think a lot about the thoughts that stop me in my tracks some days. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019

I really love this poem because it makes me think of that closure that some people need. I am definitely one of those people. I need that closure and I need to just know how people feel about me. I would feel better if the person hated me for sure rather than not knowing if they felt okay about me. Sometimes in life we don't get that closure and sometimes in life we don't want to give that closure. I think that sometimes it is also a bit of closure for the other person to not tell the other how they feel. To know that the other person is wishing and longing to know but they will never know. Cassie Reed, Fall 2019

rings of mushrooms
throughout the woods
she calls them faerie circles

Morgan Bode

To be completely honest, I am not sure why I gravitated to this haiku so much. But I did. I really loved this haiku for multiple reasons. The first reason I loved this haiku was because of the imagery that is in it. When I read this haiku, I pictured a father and young daughter walking through the woods. They pass under the thick, old trees—the foliage casting odd shadows around them. The little girl spots the rings of mushrooms frequently on their walk. Full of curiosity, she asks her dad why the mushrooms grow like that. He responds that the faeries use their magic to make the mushrooms grow that way. Now, whenever the little girl sees a ring of mushrooms on her walk with her dad, she points to them and calls them "faerie circles." When I read this haiku, I just felt very light and I got this sense of child-like naivete. A second reason I liked this haiku is because it reminded me of my littlest sister. When she was little, she had a fascination with Faerie Gardens. Every year she would beg my mom to buy little houses, plants, and flowers and they would tend to a Faerie Garden all summer. She absolutely loved it and I just though of her when I read this. A third and final reason that I liked this haiku was because of the use of the word "faerie" as opposed to "fairy." For some reason, spelling it the first way just made the haiku more magical. Gillian Genardo, Fall 2019

STOP THE MUSIC
*orchestra halts*
power of LuPone

fall breeze
he reaches
for my hand

 

wherediditgo
WHERE IS MY PHO- oh
thank god

Rebecca Jaffe (7)

trampled grass
my feet know well
mom calls dinner

Madeline Curtin

When reading this haiku, I just had a very strong feeling of summer. When I was a kid all the kids on my street would come out and play or walk to near by field, and around 6 we always had to make sure to listen for our moms calling us for dinner. We would always un home eat as fast as we could so we could ask to go back out and play for just a few more minutes. I think the word trampled grass gives a very excited fast feeling to the haiku that relates to many of my childhood memories. Jessi Kreder, Fall 2019

jean jacket
stolen from my mom
who stole it from dad

Elizabeth Napier (14)

dusty guitar
still missing G
incomplete melody

endless distractions
with so much to do,
I just stay home.

backpaddling
our oars
out of sync

Charlize Pate (5)

I love the imagery of this and the symbolism created in these six words. The first time I read through this I saw the literal words, two inexperienced people in a canoe trying to backpaddle away from a bank or away from a rapid. I read through again and I saw two people arguing, and they both said things that they did not mean and are trying to back their way out of hurting each other, and both are trying to backpaddle after the words come out of their mouths. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019

the lake
we can no longer swim in
beer cans

Morgan Bode (4)

empty tennis courts
driving by
my old school

she dances and laughs
but all she really wants
is to be by herself

Jessi Kreder

This haiku brings me back to the times I was at a party, trying to have a good time. I danced to the blasting music, took pictures with my ladies, and got caught in the middle of the sweaty crowds of people. Still, I could not get myself to live in the moment. I was longing for the comforts of my sorority's cushy couch, an early 2000's movie, and a cup of hot cocoa. Though parties can be entertaining, there is nothing like the feeling of relief when I enter the doors of my house once again. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019

my. own. shower.
what a thought
in my dreams

without a care
the wind brushes
golden blonde hair

Alexander Bergland (3)

handwritten
I can feel
your energy

Alexander Bergland (13)

I really liked the way this haiku was written. It is so true that when you handwrite something it means more to people. It is also easier to add in things like style and emphasis. Perhaps we should hand in some handwritten haiku so we can feel the haiku’s energy more. Overall, I just really liked this haiku and the point the author was trying to make. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2019

evening light questions
if she thinks about me
corn maze

Alexander Bergland (6)

75 miles per hour
I stick my hand out the window
and harvest the clouds

Elizabeth Napier (15)

This haiku makes me think of driving down to a ski resort where I worked for a few years. The highway was often empty so I could get away with speeding, and the highway bordered the Missouri River, so the river bluffs were on my side and flat fields with big open skies were to my right. I would roll my window down even in the winter because I always worse lots of layers so I was warm in the car, and with my hand out the window I would harvest clouds. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019

candles and trinkets and
the list of intentions
the altar; the moon

wreckage all around
the land’s a swamp
happy to be home

young summer . . .
we walk in circles
and share our dreams

Elizabeth Napier

tinselly speaker
blasts
ocean waves

Rebecca Jaffe (3)

life in slow motion
I can breathe
again

Cassandra Reed (6)

early morning fog
I wrap my old hoodie
closer around me

Gillian Genardo (8)

the pulse of
my heart
reminds me      I am alive

Jessi Kreder (9)

hot bath
with the tip of a finger
she traces ribbons in the foam

Elizabeth Napier

Ribbons and foam stand out to me as the two keywords in this haiku. They are the perfect choice to make a distinct image in my mind of this person, absentminded yet playful. I really like the feeling I get from this of peace and relaxation but also a little silliness. Although I immediately assumed the subject to be an adult, I think the words chosen create a whimsical feeling almost like a child playing in the bath. Morgan Bode, Fall 2019

The thing I liked most about this haiku was the imagery that it provokes. The words used here are so clear and concise that it is impossible not to picture this haiku in the mind. I really like the word “ribbons” because it implies that she is just moving her finger casually through the foam without trying to make specific pictures. I just feel relaxed when I read this haiku and my body literally feels the hot bath around me when I imagine this poem which is why I enjoy it so much. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019

the silent crossing
I think about
what could have been

         mountains
     out of mole hills
the squirrel winks at me

Alexander Bergland (5)

the mirror that shows
all insecurities
want to take a look?

Jessi Kreder (9)

a simple statement
from your lips
stars shine brighter

Meghan Hayes (6)

the pluck of a harp
her fingers delicately
caress my chin

John DeAngelo (10)

crumpled up paper
counting down down down
to paradise

wood shavings
pepper my hair
soft lathe hum

Alexander Bergland (5)

can't move
my limbs
not my own

lights out
the crowded classroom
becomes a buddihst temple

the deer stares
right at me
a hurricane of leaves

her heart      mint condition

Gillian Genardo (8)

 

the watch’s hand ticks
stomach turning over
it ticks

young summer . . .
we walk in circles
and share our dreams

Elizabeth Napier

dressed in white
he lets her
go . . .

Jessi Kreder

The reason I choose these two poems was because of the two breaks that the poems have, however, one is at the beginning and the other the end. The first poem that has the pause almost gives illusion to a dream or memory while the second seems to draw out the last line a little. The author in the first seemed to want to set the reader up to almost think about what to say next with the pause that they have. The second poem seems to me that the author wants you to think about the rest of the poem and think about the why this happened or tell your story ending. The word choice for both also gives the illusion of the tone of the poem like the first is happy and uplifting while the second leads me to be sad and wanting to cry. Michael Hoelting, Fall 2019

my palm on your cheek
why would I want to hold
anything else?

Elizabeth Napier

campus walk
i stop. to watch
the monarch float

Elizabeth Napier

I love punctuation in Haiku, I think it makes such a statement about whatever the author is writing about. It emphasizes the point the author is trying to make, and sometimes specifies the most important subject of the haiku. In the first haiku, the author uses a question mark to emphasize the question being asked. To me it feels like they’re so passionate by adding that question mark. You could just leave off any punctuation, but then it seems like just a thought that popped into the author’s head. With the question mark, they’re promising the person they’re holding that they love them. With the second haiku, they put a period and a break after the word stop. it exaggerates that this person stopped, making it seem like this is truly an important moment of piece in a chaotic day of a very busy person. Maddie Curtin, Fall 2019

clouds dot the sky
old friends
become new again

Benjamin Kuxmann (5)

waning sun
cardinals and robins announce
the storm has passed

Amanda Young, Spring 2001

These two haiku can be compared in multiple ways regarding writing technique. First, both authors use an aspect regarding nature in the first line. The first two lines are actually very similar, both regarding something in the sky, above us on earth. The second line in both haiku then brings in the subject of the poem. The first haiku is slightly different, as it only has the subject where the second haiku has a subject and verb. However, the haiku mirror each other again with the last line, as both lines seem to bring some sort of new beginning. The first haiku talks about friends starting over, where the second haiku talks about a storm ending, and thus something new beginning. Overall, each line in these two haiku are similar in length as well as content in each line. Tori Stuart, Fall 2019

gray day
across from the gas station
a field of geese

Elizabeth Napier

screened-in front porch
a moth escapes
into the moonlight

Laura Podeschi, Spring 2005 (11)

I think these haiku go well together because they both capture a moment which is a little strange, the moth in perhaps a more ethereal way, and the geese in a more alternate universe, science fiction grey landscape. They actually have a structure which is the same but in reverse. The first begins with the entire day, then narrows to a location and a subject. The second, from a location, to the subject, to the entire world of moonlight. I like that each haiku has a slow story-building process, but they don’t necessarily always have to go from small too big or big too small. Both these haiku strike me as a little strange or even impossible, but thats what makes the worlds they exist in so appealing to read about and live in for a moment. The expansion or zoom in techniques used in the writing enhance this feeling perfectly. I also feel the words gray and moonlight work in the same fashion in the haikus, both words which are slightly overused, but serve to juxtapose the odd elements of the haikus well. Morgan Bode, Fall 2019

morning rain. . .
warmth,
found in your arms

Mikaela Vuglar, Homecoming Haiku

fall breeze
he reaches
for my hand

Victoria Stuart

I found these haiku to be pretty similar in their content, and in the way they were written. Both set the scene with cool places in which warmth is to be desired. Then, both turn to people to provide the warmth they are seeking for. An interesting difference is that in the first one the search for warmth is stated outright, but in the second haiku it is implied that the author is seeking warmth and is happy with the outstretched hand. I found it interesting that both authors used hands/arms to convey the warmth instead of a chest or shoulder. My hands get cold quickly and holding hands sometimes isn’t enough to keep them warm. I also noted that both poems were short and simple. It didn’t take many words to get the emotions they wanted from their readers. Perhaps using vague descriptions of people that allows the reader to imagine who they desire to keep them warm was what allowed both of these haiku to be so eye-catching. In the end, both poems leave the reader feeling warmth from the person they desire it from, which is a very pleasing way to end a haiku. Jon Kuebler, Fall 2019

gray day
across from the gas station
a field of geese

Elizabeth Napier

a smile
in the corner of my eye
her favorite song

Whitley Sapp, Spring 2019

I think that theses are very similar in structure and the content of each line. They structure of the haikus are similar in that they have a two-word first line, then a longer middle line and then end it with an intermediate length to balance the appearance. They both start out with an observation on the first line, then the second line is a location, across from the gas station and the corner of my eye, and then the last line ties the haiku together. The last line of the haikus sets up the importance of the observation and the location.  Its that ending line that really sets the tone and scene of the haiku, without it the haiku would feel incomplete or almost make the reader feel like why did I read this? What am I supposed to feel from this poem? Jessi Kreder, Fall 2019

the dress of my dreams
stays on the rack
he didn’t like it

Jessi Kreder (16)

the uninvited hand
on the small of my back
I revolt

Amanda Bivens, Spring 2019 (18)

Both of these haiku are written from the female perspective and highlight areas of toxic masculinity and the negative impact that it has on women in our society. Though the authors respond to this in different ways, their style of haiku that captures these moments is very similar. First, let us talk about a few differences. The tone is the primary difference between these two, the first is a voice of surrender, and the second is an empowered and defiant tone, a voice that wants to fight back. Using words like “dreams” implies an unrealistic goal, which given what the dream is should be more than realistic, “stays” which makes the author sound like she is complacent, and finally, “he”. The “he” is very important because in the first line she said “my” and ended with “he”, symbolizes he has the final say. She goes along regrettably with his decision. In the second haiku, this tone is created by using words such as “uninvited” “my back” showing possession of herself, and “revolt”. These are strong words that

The structure of these two haiku is mostly the same. Both authors put the breath in the same spot, after the second line. This puts all the emphasis and power into the last line of the poem. In the first, the last line really brings home the feeling of resignation, which makes the piece so powerful. The last line is longer in the first haiku, compared to the abruptness and fortitude of “I revolt” in the second. The shortness and finality of “I revolt” says more than 100 more words could. In addition to placement of breath, both haikus also use each line for the same purpose. The first describes the subject, either the dress or the hand, the next line puts the subject into reality by giving it location, on the rack or on the small of her back, and the last line is the author’s response to the previous two lines. Alex Bergland, Fall 2019

my chin on her forehead
creak of the rocking chair
marking time

Laura Podeschi, HK, 1

my palm on your cheek
why would I want to hold
anything else?

Lizzie Napier, Kukai 4, 1

I chose both Laura's and Lizzie's haikus to compare because I think they have certain similarities. I think that both of these haiku mirror each other stylistically. One of the things that I think make these haiku interesting is the way they present their ideas and tell their stories. The first lines of both of these haiku tell one general idea—"my chin on her forehead" and "my palm on your cheek." These first lines give a general idea of what the haiku is about. The last two lines of both of these haiku explain in more detail what is happening in the moment the haiku is taking place. "creak of the rocking chair . . . keeping time" and "why would I want to hold . . . anything else" explain either the time and place or the specific feeling happening in that moment. Both of these haiku start at a more general place and then continue with more details. Another similarity that I found between the two haiku was that they follow a very similar rhythmic pattern—a long middle line and a short end line. Finally, these haiku are very similar in tone. They both give this feeling of complete love and serenity. Gillian Genardo, Fall 2019

grandfather
if I try really hard
I can remember your voice

Madeline Wilson (12)

morning routine
sidestepping the spot
where the cat used to sleep

Laura Podeschi, Spring 2005 (21)

What these haiku have in common is the confidence that the reader can infer what is going on. Without mentioning the word “death” once, the authors are able to accurately portray the experience of grief. They both use powerful imagery to portray that bittersweet experience. The first author uses auditory imagery by writing about the grandfather's voice, while the second author uses visual imagery by writing about the cat's old sleeping spot. While these haiku take advantage of the power of inference, they also have differences in terms of language use. While the first haiku is first-person, the second haiku can be read from any point of view, due to the lack of pronouns. I enjoy both techniques. With first-person, I feel as if I'm peering into the life of my peer, which is fascinating. With no pronouns, I feel as if I am experiencing the haiku for myself. Another language difference is that the second haiku makes use of subtle alliteration, with the phrase, “sidestepping the spot,” while the first haiku does not use alliteration. Again, I find myself responding positively to both language choices. I fund an interesting element that both haiku have in common: shape. Both haiku are in a “staircase” shape. I believe that shape can be an important element of a quality haiku, for it can affect the reader's entire experience. Rebecca Jaffe, Fall 2019

crisp autumn chill
the ultrasound shows nothing 
I pack the booties away

Angie Short, MU Anthology, 24

fall breeze
he reaches 
for my hand

Victoria Stuart

Both of these haiku open with very similar lines describing the same thing, but the word choice affects the tone. In Angie Short's haiku, she uses the word "chill." This word indicates discomfort, which is only supported by the context of the next two lines. In the kukai haiku, the author uses the word "breeze." This word evokes feelings of lackadaisical peace, which compliments the romantic feelings in the next two lines. The potency of Angie's haiku would be weakened if she used the line that the kukai haiku opened with. Madeline Wilson, Fall 2019

the wall lights glimmer
i can smell
the roses in her cheeks

John DeAngelo (6)

warm glow
shines beyond your outline
Himalayan salt lamp

Mikaela Vuglar, Spring 2019

I chose these two haiku together because I feel like they have similar energies. They both describe a person in the glow of lamplight. They both have strong imagery, although I can imagine the second one more clearly than the first. Both haiku evoke a feeling of contentment. The author is in awe of the way the other person is glowing in the light. They both set the scene for the reader to know where they are but in different lines. The first haiku in the first line, the second haiku in the last line. The vocabulary used is similar, although the two don't share any words in common. Glimmer and glow give warm vibes to the reader. The first haiku is the only one out of the two that use more than one sense. It brings out the smell of her cheeks and how the lights are shining which makes the haiku more interesting. The rhythm of the two haiku are very different from each other. The first haiku is 4-3-6 and the second is 2-6-6. They also flow oppositely. The first haiku, I read as the first line on its own, then the last two lines. The second haiku I read as the first two lines together and the last line on its own. Meghan Hayes, Fall 2019

at the football game
my grandson cheers
for the moon

Randy Brooks (15)

a piece of turf sticks to me
one in a million
I see her in the stands

Jonathan Kuebler (12)

These two haiku are both ones that take me back to highschool. What I really like about these two is that I feel that they tell a story. The one about the turf is the beginning of someone's adult life and the one about the grandson is nearing this persons later years. I believe that the two of these combined tell a nice story. Regardless, what I like technique wise about these two is that they both use the last line as an effective punch line. Without the inclusion of their respective line they would be significantly less impactful. I also like how both of them begin with the introduction of that football field aesthetic. They both evoke the feeling one gets while being in those stands. It really helps hit home the feelings that each of the respective haikus are going for. John DeAngelo, Fall 2019

the prettiest light
in the universe
her smile

Gillian Genardo (7)

a fire roars
all the kindling comes
from her love

John DeAngelo

I thought these poems were matched poems because of what they try to achieve in their lines. They both use the idea of something that gives off light in their first line which sets up brightness in the poem. They try to achieve that same light feeling in the reader of them which is indeed what they do. They are both romantic haikus and use the second line as the connector between the first and third lines. They break at a specific point in their sentence in the second line which makes for a deliberate pause before the last line, which makes them hit a little harder when read. They both use a warm tone in their haiku. They arrange them similarly and both use the second line to create a powerful image in the reader’s mind. They both emphasize the words on the third line because that is what brings their ideas home. They are similar because of all of the analytical writing strategies they use in their haikus. Joel Ochoa, Fall 2019

evening light questions
if she thinks about me
corn maze

Alexander Bergland (6)

wrinkly Led Zeppelin shirt
I see you
everywhere I go

Madeline Wilson (12)

I think that both of these poems are related. I like to think that they are one talking to another. I think that they both put this image in your head. The first one by saying evening light and corn maze you can see the light and the corn and for the second one you can really see the wrinkly shirt. I love the use of the words I, me, and you. It really emphasizes the people who are in this haiku. I feel like I can read these haiku as a response to each other. I can read the first one and fluidly read the second one. I love the writing styles in each of them talking about a lost love because I love lost love poems. I think that in the way I read it the rhythms are very similar and compliment each other very well. I love the emphasis that it puts on the words she, me, I, and you. I think that it is very important in these poems because it helps them feel a bit more intimate. The tone and attitude are both very similar talking about missing a loved one or thinking about someone you lost. Overall I just like to think that these poems are responding to each other which just makes m love them even more.Cassie Reed, Fall 2019

alone at the creek
I remember how grandpa
baited my line

Jill McNurlan, MU Anthology, 79

grandfather
if I try really hard
I can remember you voice

Madeline Wilson (12)

Both of these haikus center around the idea of remembering some aspect of one’s grandfather rather than the entirety of his person. They both also do this on a solitary basis with assistance from nobody. The first haiku sets up the scene in the beginning with an image of them being alone in a relatively peaceful place. Meanwhile, the second haiku treats readers to the idea of one’s grandfather right in the beginning, almost as if the poem is calling out to their late grandfather. This gives the second haiku a more intense feel, as if they want the reader to feel those emotions of loss and longing in a more pressing manner. Further establish with their usage of the word “really” in order to emphasize the effort level needed to remember the voice of their grandfather. On the other hand, the first poem flows more smoothly throughout the lines, much like a creek would, to establish a level of acceptance of reality. There seems to be no pause in the middle of the first haiku while the second almost forces you to take a second and appreciate the effort level needed to remember their grandfather after the second line. Overall, while both haikus express a reference to a late grandfather, the first haiku does so in a more flowing manner with less gut-wrenching emotions. The second does this through making the reader feel the same emotions as the poet by grabbing their heart through more expressive language and natural breaks in the speech. Ben Kuxmann, Fall 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2019, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.