Haiku Kukai 04
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2024
1 airplane mode Melis Barutcu (5) I like this haiku because I love being on airplanes. My phone doesn’t work, and I can not complain because it forces me to be off of it for hours at a time, besides to listen to music. I am forced to interact with only my surroundings, and not take in so much media. This is a very peaceful experience. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 This one I like because sometimes you just need a break from your phone. Whether it is to do homework or just to disconnect for a minute I feel like sometimes it is just a relief. It is like taking a big deep breath whenever you can just not be on your phone for an hour or however long. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 |
2 always there Dayton Lasack (3) I thought this haiku was clever, and I also really like the way it flows. The first two lines made me assume the author was talking about a loved one, but then the third line reveals that the subject is thinking about comfort food rather than a physical person to comfort them. I related to this haiku because oftentimes I will get myself a pick-me-up or some sort of treat in the middle of or at the end of a long week to either keep me going or reward myself for making it through. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 |
3 social media binge Dayton Lasack I love the comparison of social media to fake apples. Nowadays, everything that you see on social media isn’t real life. Since social media influencers only choose one part of their life to show, they will make it a highlight reel, leaving the dark side of their life off. I find this haiku very related because the more time I spend on social media in one sitting, the more I find myself comparing aspects of my life to others. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 |
4 muscles sore Melis Barutcu (5) |
5 best friend’s rooftop Melis Barutcu I really enjoyed this one, because I love the imagery of going up on a roof and stargazing at night with friends and having fun together. I’ve never personally done this, but I think it’s a cute concept, and it’s a reminder that you don’t need to actively be doing anything together to have a good time with your friends, you can just talk and laugh. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 This haiku stuck out to me after coming back and rereading all of the haiku from kukai. I didn’t notice the simplicity of it before. It so easily captures the purity of the moment. We all have moments like this, even if they didn’t happen on a rooftop. They could have been on a patio, at a restaurant, or around a kitchen table; but it brings forth a memory of feeling seen and just being with people. I think this haiku not only captures that feeling, but it is able to showcase that thing that we all want as humans, which is to be connected with other humans. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 |
6 graffitied walls Dayton Lasack (7) I love this one. the comparison of the graffiti on the walls to the phrase “the art of…” and to use peer pressure, a very teen-angst experience associated with graffiti. i really like the simplicity of this one, and that it efficiently tells a clear message. Rachel Nott, Fall 202 Being in college helps you realize all the ways peer pressuring around you takes place. It’s not the stereotypical peer pressure that D.A.R.E warns us about, as usually everyone here is respectful of people’s choices. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a bunch of pressure constantly being thrown on students with posters for every club and organization everywhere. Particularly, this makes me think of all the flyers at the bottom of shilling. Any time I see the huge list of clubs, I feel overwhelmed and like I’m underachieving. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 I thought this haiku was really creative. I especially like how the middle line connects the first and third line and could easily stand alone with either line. When I initially read “the art” right after the first line, I thought about the graffiti that I have seen that is artistically really impressive. As I continued reading and connecting “the art” to the last line, it finished the picture by giving the possible motivation behind the art. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 |
7 only take Maliyah Battle (5) There are multiple possible readings in the last line: the saltshaker could be an example of something “nonessential” that will nonetheless be missed when taking only what you need, or it could be something already missed. Or it can be an illustration of the previous two lines: the saltshaker’s purpose is to regulate how much salt is used. All of these ideas are just the right balance of similar and different to give a very harmonious impression. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 |
8 quiet brother's |
9 mind clears Gracie Shaffer (3) I feel the same way the author does when it comes to sports. I’ll feel the nerves and the anticipation of the match in my gut, but when I toe the line and shake my opponent’s hand, those feelings immediately leave and my mind goes back to doing what I know how to do, like a co-pilot. Whether it’ll be an easy match, or I know I have someone tough, it goes this way every single time. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 This one is relatable. I get super nervous before games. Right before I go on the field I always close my eyes and take one really deep breath. It kind of calms me down and gets me locked in and then it is go time. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 |
10 worn leather seats Maliyah Battle (3) |
11 wee hours of the night |
12 my hands lighten |
13 old scrapbook Natalie Mase (5) We talked about this in class, and i initially interpreted it the same way others did: that it was a sister who passed before the author knew her or a young picture of an older sister who you didn’t know at that age. But after looking at it again, i took a very unique perspective and thought about it from a sorority perspective. for homecoming open house, we will set up old scrapbooks and look through them, and suddenly this haiku clicked a lot more. then, i found out Natalie wrote it and I knew that was the intention. I checked with her, and I was correct, but i like this haiku a lot more after understanding the deeper meaning, because suddenly i could relate to it. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 I like how this haiku entertains the thought of how weird time can be. For example, seeing a picture of your sister from before you were born, is like a stranger in a sense. My sister was 9 when I was born, and so seeing the pictures of her before me blow my mind, as she must’ve had no idea another two brothers would be coming after her. I think it’s a very lighthearted and heartwarming haiku in that sense. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 |
14 friendship necklace Natalie Mase Although I don’t have a “friendship” necklace to honor someone who has passed on, as this is how I interpret the haiku, I do have a tattoo to commemorate my best friend who died two years ago. We grew up together, so I felt the best way to honor him was to permanently etch something that meant something to only us, and put it over my heart, and I think this haiku does a great job of emphasizing the way people honor those loved ones that have passed on. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 This is a very sweet haiku. I can picture many different things with this poem. I can see someone wearing a necklace of either their mom or grandma who has passed away. But I can also see a college-age girl who lost her best friend and they had friendship necklaces when they were younger. The friend still wants to have a part of her past friend with her. Charley Condill, Fall 2024
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15 for the first time Matt Kordesh (9) I never played basketball, but I have played softball all my life. I remember when I was really little I would always look up at my dad in awe about how good he was, and how hard he could throw the ball. I never thought that I would be as good as him. Now that I’m more grown, my talent basically equals his own. It’s weird, but there is a silent recognition that I have upped my game and that I could beat my dad if I tried to. I like how this haiku tells a story about the progression of talent over time. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 |
16 flour explosion Natalie Mase (5) This haiku has a very strong, abrupt start. Combined with the much slower, more relaxed tone ace of the following lines, it pulls you very effectively into the moment it describes: first you notice the flour everywhere, then have to put together how that happened. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 I really liked this haiku because the picture being painted is so bright and vivid. It starts off with a bang (literally) and the use of the word "wayward" is fun. I see someone working in a kitchen at a small pizza place. A new worker whose experiencing their first busy day and is struggling to get the orders finished. The explosion of flour is also comedically giant in my mind. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 I liked this one because i have become known for constantly spilling things. It’s actually incredibly frustrating, but everyone else finds it funny and usually I do to, but I also feel bad and slightly self conscious about my lack of self awareness and depth control. It’s gotten to the point that I spill things so much that it almost looks like I’m doing it on purpose. Either way, I think I liked this haiku because of it’s relatability. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
17 gliding through hands Matt Kordesh I love the imagery and very strong appeal to the senses in this haiku. It was like I could really feel the water in my own hands as I read. The word “gliding” in the first line has a gentle feel, like the light current is slowly passing through my fingers. I imagine my hand is still, but the water moves around it. The second line tells me it’s cold, but I imagine it feels refreshing under the hot sun. I feel a sense of peace, like the rest of the world has gone still except for the flow of the river caressing my hands. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 I loved the visual with this haiku. It reminded me of when I went kayaking for the first time and I stuck my hand in the water and just let myself drift. It was really relaxing feeling yourself bob through the water and listening to the water run. I enjoyed the experience so much that I would want to do it again at some point. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024
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18 pulled hammy Matt Kordesh (5) I thought this haiku was funny and lighthearted. As a child, you can just run around and play games without having to do any stretching. Now, we have extensive routines for stretching anytime we do anything because even though we aren’t “old” we can’t just run around like we are 6 years old anymore. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 |
19 taking a walk |
20 pendant necklace Katelyn Wendt (7) Many people have necklaces or other jewelry with lots of meaning. Sometimes it’s a family heirloom, a locket with a loved one’s photo, or something else with a personal story. Even though it is usually very personal, it is worn out and about with the knowledge that someone may comment on it. When I read this haiku, I pictured the author being willing and excited to share. I also love the idea of a stranger being truly invested in the story, and it being a sweet moment between two people who don’t know each other. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 I enjoyed this haiku because it speaks volume on the significance of the pendant necklace. A necklace is specific to the person that is wearing it. They have a story behind how they got it, and why they continue to wear it. A necklace is something that you can’t really see unless you look down, but people who look at you are immediately able to see it. It invites a conversation about the origin of the necklace and people often ask about what it is or where you got it. I liked that the pendant is close to the heart as is the reason that someone wears a necklace. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 |
21 to do list Katelyn Wendt (7) This haiku feels very accurate to me. I feel like I have so many things to do in a day, and my to do list pen definitely runs out of ink. This haiku can also be read as the person who is speaking it is burning out, or becoming increasingly tired of their daily tasks. I can understand this feeling, especially during volleyball season. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 When we talked about this haiku in class I remember that the way I envisioned this poem to be different from the ones said, which made it more special to me. I also make to-do lists, and it’s one of the best feelings to run out of ink in a pen. To me, it means that I’ve written down so much and done so much that I have something to be proud of. Even if I don’t remember the things that I did, it’s okay because all I know is that I have learned something or I have studied hard, and that is definitely something to be proud of. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 This haiku is super relatable. I feel like I always have a long list of things to do, but I always use the same pen to write them. It is not a good feeling to run out of ink in your favorite pen, but it is so satisfying to check off things and finish those long to-do lists. Charley Condill, Fall 2024 I like this haiku because I relate to it. It relates to everything I do at school and makes me think of me filling out my planner and it seems like no matter how much I write down for each class, it seems like the homework keeps coming. The pen running out of ink makes it seem like they keep writing things to do and it never ends. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 |
22 downpour Katelyn Wendt (11) This haiku became one of my favorites after our discussion of it during kukai. When I first read it, I imagined the rain pouring down all night, and despite the dreariness of it all, the sun comes up at the same time anyway. I felt that its message was that when things are going wrong, life keeps going and the good will always come back. In class, however, we talked about how there are multiple ways to read it because of how the middle line functions. I thought that was a really cool effect that this haiku had. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 This is one of my favorite haiku of all the haiku we have read so far in class. I like how it compares a single moment/event to something that is always constant. The downpour in this haiku has a negative feeling, but that feeling is fleeting and is not permanent. It will only rain for a little while before the weather passes. The sun however, is constant. Regardless of the rain and all types of weather, it will continue to rise and set. I like how this can be connected to the human experience in saying that there will be tough moments, but life goes on and it will get better. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 I love this haiku because it shows how constant the sunrise is, no matter what the rest of the weather is doing. Every single morning the sunrise is there to rely on, even if it’s not the brightest or prettiest colors, it is still there. This can be related to daily life because when you have a bad day, the sun will still come up the next day and it’s an opportunity to restart. Charley Condill, Fall 2024 |
23 quick coffee run Caroline Arnold (4) I related to this haiku a lot. I tend to get coffee before a lot of things, like classes or events. It makes me feel more put together. It also motivated me to get up and finish whatever tasks I need to get done. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 I liked this haiku because the first time you read it, it had a rhyming effect that made it flow well. I also like how I can relate to this haiku because I like to get coffee because it makes me feel more productive and makes me feel ready to start my day even though it does not correlate to how productive I am. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 |
24 apple picking |
25 out by daybreak
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26 moss-covered rocks Ava Zukowski When I read this haiku, I see someone going on a hike in the woods. Maybe they have something on their mind and are trying to walk in their thoughts. Then, when crossing a stream, they slip. I like how this haiku leaves me to wonder what happened next. Is the person okay? Did they break something? Did they die? We will never know, and I think that makes it more fun. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 I felt very drawn into the imagery of this haiku. I immediately saw the soft green moss covering the hard gray rocks. At first, I imagined them to be along a path in the forest. I imagined myself hopping from rock to rock like I used to do with the big rocks in my backyard when I was younger. I imagine that my hopping was going very well until one slightly miscalculated jump. My foot slips, and I fall right on my butt. In my first reading, I imagine that I land in the dirt on some soft pine needles. The second time I read it, though, I imagined I slipped because the rocks were actually in a river and were therefore slick from the water. In both readings, I inevitably feel the rise and fall of the fateful jump, but it reminds me of being a little kid and taking risks just for the fun of it. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 |
27 a cocoon Ava Zukowski (4) I can relate to this haiku, I definitely love to get comfy in my bed like a cocoon. This haiku also reminds me of getting rolled up in a blanket like a burrito, which was my favorite as a kid. When I read this haiku, my brain immediately went to these memories. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 I liked how relatable this haiku is. I can say even now as I'm writing this, I found a comfortable spot in my bed, and I don't want to move. Especially recently, my room has been running on the cooler side (I'm already a cold person) and once I find the right spot in bed I don't want to be disturbed. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 This one makes me feel warm and cozy. I picture myself in my bed wrapped in piles of blankets. It is an awesome feeling. My bed is my favorite place in the whole world. And if I am comfy, I am not moving for anything or anyone. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024
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28 empty stadium |
29 stars shining Rachel Nott No fancy reason behind this, I just like it. Something about likening nature sounds to a musical group appeals to me; I think it’s a great way to describe deliberately taking time to listen to nature. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 |
30 my favorite game |
31 not quite full |
32 magic world |
33 stretching Bella Palermo (5) |
34 searching my closet Abby Wilken (4) |
35 my love stays Bella Palermo (5) |
36 basement laundromat Abby Wilken I had two different readings of this haiku. At first, I read it as if the laundromat itself was the author’s first friend. I imagine maybe they felt lonely but found comfort in the gentle hum of the washing and drying machines. I always find laundry day to be very peaceful and remember sometimes just sitting in the little chair in the laundry room of Dolson Hall my freshman year. It was also a great way to coincidentally meet new people. This thought inspired my second reading of this haiku where I imagined the author recounting the time they met their first friend in college. They happened to be in the same place at the same time by mere chance but became fast friends anyway. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 |
37 pen clicks Charley Condill (3) I can just picture myself right before an exam, thinking that I'm not ready for this exam, but my pencil knows more than I do. My pencil knows all the studying that I have done with it, and I’m ready to take on the challenge. It just needs me to get on board with the challenge and accept what is going to happen. Being able to trust other factors is something that I have been working on throughout this year, so this haiku relates to me a lot. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024
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38 two waiting for a dryer Dan Mungons (5) This haiku highlights that very real, awkward moment between two people. You’re simply just trying to do your laundry and there is someone else that you don’t know also doing their laundry. Neither of you acknowledge that each other are there, but you no there is someone else is this exact same moment as you. It’s awkward because you don’t know what to say and you just want to deal with your laundry and go back to your room. Lily Moore, Fall 2024
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39 happiness Charley Condill First of all, polar pops aren’t 76¢ anymore, which of course hurts me deeply. Seeing that makes me picture something a bit before. For me, I feel like I always saw a polar pop when I was at my sister’s softball games. I was always super jealous of all the people who had a polar pop, and would sometimes convince my parents to stop on the way home and get me one as well. I think I liked this haiku because it reminded me of something entirely unrelated to it in almost any circumstance, which makes it feel semi unique to me. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
40 text from mom Charlie Armstrong (6) I liked this haiku because it displays the awkward shift that happens when growing up. Once you get old enough, there becomes a point when your parents see you as an equal adult, not just a child. This haiku feels like the shock experienced the very first time a parent genuinely asks their child for advice. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 I really liked this haiku because I am very close with my mom. I have always gone to her for advice, and she has always been someone who is supportive of me. As I got older, we started getting closer and soon we were both sharing our mutual experiences, and we were both giving each other advice. It made me realize that while my mom is helping me grow up, she is growing up herself. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 I love the way this haiku shows a reversal of roles between the mom and child. I picture the son or daughter as an adult now, and they are mature enough that the mom feels she can come to them for advice and support. It reminds me of my parents starting to share stories and news with me that they wouldn’t have when I was younger. At some point, it starts to feel that you are getting on the same level. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
41 monument of my childhood |
42 laundry room |
43 silent house |
44 left a little brother Maliyah Battle (3) This haiku made me think about my younger sister because I think it sums up perfectly how strange it can be to watch a younger sibling grow up. In my mind, I sometimes still think of my younger sister as an eight-year-old, but she is actually almost sixteen years old now. She is also a lot taller than me now, so a lot of times people are surprised when they find out she is several years younger than me. This made me relate to the haiku even more. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 |
45 deep breath |
46 two friends watch |
47 driving on the main road Lily Moore (8) I never realized how often I call my dad about car troubles, but I do when anything insignificant happens. There was this one time, where when I was driving home my car was making Chewbaka sounds. I was an hour and a half away from home, yet I called him to see if he knew what was wrong. I spent ten minutes trying to imitate the sound and to no avail. He made a guess about what the issue was and was surprisingly correct. I just think how funny it must be for him to have me call about something that is nothing to worry about, but how happy he must be that he's the first person I think to call. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 I really felt connected to this haiku when it was talked about in class. I ask my dad tons of questions about my car, even if I already know the answer but I just want to reassure myself that I know the answer. At this point, calling my dad to ask him a question whenever anything goes wrong is automatic for me. If I feel nervous about a test, call dad. If I feel sad that I didn’t get as good of a grade as I hoped, call dad. I am the type of person who needs to talk about their problems or else I will spiral, so I’ll always call my parents when I don’t feel my best because I know that they’ll listen and reassure me. I know this comes a long way off from car problems, but it’s really not because thinking to call my parents in a time of need is automatic for me just like in this haiku. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 This haiku is just ironic to me because, just this past week, I remembered that I had a break light out, and I quickly realized that I had no clue where to start. So, the first thing I did was call my dad and ask what and where I needed to go to get the parts to fix it so that way when I’m home next weekend, we can fix it together. While my dad has raised me to learn and work through problems on my own to be independent, I know he lives to help me, and this is just one of those situations in which I know he would love to give me a helping hand. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 |
48 flipping rocks Dayton Lasack |
© 2024, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.