Haiku Kukai 05 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2024
1 school spirit Dayton Lasack (3) I enjoyed this one because it was very clearly inspired by homecoming, and ducks to a pond is very accurate analogy to use for this. It adds a certain charm to it. Homecoming is one of my favorite times of year on campus. Every school, department, or organization showing up to host an event or perform or celebrate each other. And the alum who come back always have such a great time. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 I liked this one because of how oddly specific this applies to me, even though I know it wasn’t the writers original intent. I’m on the tennis team, and when we have home matches, we play over at Fairview Park which has a pond right next to the courts. Whenever we have a match there, it get’s pretty loud with cheering, and the ducks will hear us and run into the pond anytime that happens. I just think it’s cool how a haiku that was wrote with no knowledge of this could be so specific to me. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 I can just imagine the energy on campus during the first week of school. Everyone is so excited to be back, like ducks around a pond. Everyone walks around in packs because you have to adjust to living on your own again. For many, this is a hard concept to learn because you don’t want to look like that duck that is walking on their own, but that duck knows more about life than the others. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 I read this haiku as a description of students returning to campus for the start of the school year. Homecoming is meant to celebrate the return of alumni to the campus that they once attended, so I imagine all of the past students returning to their school with the season. It’s the fall semester, which is arguably the more nostalgic time of the school year. All of the current students are filled with hope for the progressing year, and that energy is in the air for all to feel. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 |
2 assignments due Dayton Lasack It can be safe to say that I like many others have an addiction to their phone. In my case, I also must fight myself over procrastination. With a combination of the two sometimes it's hard to get work done. On the other hand, I know myself well that I know the I will put effort into whatever I'm doing, although a little late. Especially in the case where I don't want to do the homework for a class, I will keep putting in off until it is necessary that I work on it. I may be bored with whatever I'm doing on my phone, scrolling endlessly, yet I still don't want to work on my assignment just yet. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 This is just relatable, as I procrastinate heavily, and sometimes I will be mid-assignment, and my friends will send me something funny and the next thing I know an hour has flown by and I haven’t gotten anything done. It is such a bad habit that many people have picked up and it’s hard to break and to actually set your phone down to get things done can be challenging, especially for those who grew up in the era where there was never a time they didn’t have a phone. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 |
3 a tiny seed |
4 the dust settles Rachel Nott (5) |
5 the red and blue |
6 homecoming |
7 fall break Melis Barutcu (3) |
8 loveseat |
9 driving home Melis Barutcu (4) This haiku reminds me of driving home to lovely southern Illinois. My town's capitol building (courthouse) is not very tall, but it is very historic and I love driving past it when on my way home. I also drive by St. Louis on my way, so seeing the tall buildings poke above the flat terrain neighboring the city in Illinois always reminds me I am almost home. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 |
10 wood creaks Ava Zukowski (5) This haiku reminds me of the creaky floors in my own home. I’ve become so familiar with them over the years that I know which wooden panels to avoid when I want to be sneaky and go downstairs for a midnight snack. I’m also able to recognize who is approaching just from the sound of their footsteps. It’s something that seems small, but it’s another little thing that makes my house feel like home. I know it well, and I know that I am truly home when I hear the familiar creaking sound. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 |
11 colon parentheses Dan Mungons (12) I usually read through the haiku on the kukai sheet fairly quickly since there are so many to get through. Sometimes I won’t fully understand what the haiku is getting at until we discuss, and this is one of those haiku. I didn’t realize that the first two lines were spelling out characters that are used to form a smiley face and a heart. I think that the way the author wrote this haiku is so clever, and it’s also very sweet. I like to imagine that the person is sending a smiley and a heart, leaving out the “I love you” so as to not come on too strong. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 This was a very sweet haiku, and I loved the creativity of it. It came from a lot of imagination and that shows in the haiku. The author could’ve easily just put “:)” and “<3”, but it wouldn’t have given the same meaning. The first two lines show that the person loves you, without saying it. I imagine a couple sending cute texts to each other and using their own little language. Charley Condill, Fall 2024 I thought this one was pretty creative and whittles down how people show their emotions over text to the bare minimum. It’s always hard to actually show what you’re thinking, so using things like :) and <3 can help, and I thought writing the actual symbols we use was a creative way of showing us that it wasn’t necessarily a design of keyboards, but something people found out of necessity. I might be reading into it to much, but I still think it’s cool to think about it this way. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
12 ASCII smile |
13 I should stop scrolling Dan Mungons (7) I liked this haiku for a few reasons. First, it is just really relatable. I find myself getting stuck in this loop far too often than I would like to admit and it is comforting to know that I'm not the only one. I also just like how when the word "refresh" appears in the middle of the haiku that the haiku quite literally refreshes and repeats the text from the first line. I just thought that was really clever. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 I liked this haiku because I thought it was very relatable. I do this all the time – like right now – where I know I should be working on something important but instead I am distracted by my phone. I always tell myself, “just one more video”, but I know that I don’t mean it and I will probably be stuck looking at my phone for another 20 minutes before I actually do my work. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 This one is way more relatable than it should be. I do this every single day, all the time. It really gets me when I am trying to go to sleep. I get ready for bed at a decent time and I say Im going to scroll for like 5 minutes and 3 hours later I am not tired at all and I am still on my phone. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 I love the repetition in this haiku and the way it demonstrates a very relatable moment. I think everyone in the class can relate to it. I often will be on my phone, thinking to myself about how I should get off my phone and be more productive. Then the same thought will cross my mind 2 minutes later because I’m still on my phone. I also just love the phrasing of this haiku, with the symmetry in the lines and the middle line simply being one word. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
14 nose in cell phones |
15 barbecue restaurant Ava Zukowski This haiku plays into the senses, as I can smell the smoke from a barbecue restaurant when I read this. It is also kind of humorous, as I think the person is probably so hungry, that the smell of them driving by the restaurant is driving them crazy, as barbecue smoke is very strong and savory, and often induces hunger early. It’s a great example of how some haiku just play into the senses of the human body. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 |
16 a homecoming proposal |
17 emojis Charlie Armstrong (6) This haiku was relatable and funny because a lot of the time when people text and say “lol” or send a laughing face, they aren’t laughing behind the screen. Sometimes when someone doesn’t know what to say they just send a laughing face because the conversation has become awkward. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 |
18 game on the line Charlie Armstrong (4) |
19 weekend came |
20 home for the weekend Abby Wilken (6) Each time I visit home, there are more of my sister's unwanted things in my room, and my sister has claimed more items from my closet. Our rooms are right next to each other, so it makes sense that when I left she decided to extend her living space into my room, with no regard for my opinion on this. I feel like this is a classic younger sibling move, but I was still a little surprised when I came home for the first time and my room looked completely different. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 |
21 a million pictures |
22 on the way to Nana’s house |
23 holding dad’s pinky Bella Palermo I liked this haiku because I am really close with my dad and I do not know what I would do without him. I feel like as I grow older, the less sure I am about things and the more I run to my parents for help. Before coming to college, I really wanted to be independent. But now, I wish my parents were right here living with me. The older I get, the more I want my parents to stay close to me. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 |
24 grandpa visits Abby Wilken This haiku is so sweet. We didn’t talk about it in class, but I love how sincere and genuine the haiku is. I imagine someone’s grandma who passed away, but their grandpa is still alive and still loves her so much. He is still treating her with so much love that he lays flowers on her grave every day. It is a beautifully written haiku. Charley Condill, Fall 2024 |
25 5 years ago |
26 hate dresses |
27 phone buzz Izzy Jones (7) I liked this haiku because I thought it was relatable. It made me think of those times when you’re waiting on a text from someone and you are very eager for them to respond. Every time your phone buzzes you check it immediately. And once you notice the notification was from something else that’s not important, you kind of feel let down and disappointed. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 This was a very light-hearted and funny haiku. It is so relatable because I am subscribed to so many restaurants, so I am always getting emails and notifications for new coupons or gifts. Domino’s specifically is relatable because it is right next to the Woods and we can use our Flex money on it, so it is basically free. I love it when they have new deals on pizza. I am eating Domino’s right now while writing this actually! Charley Condill, Fall 2024 I'm sure everyone I know has had this experience before. I just like how funny and real it is. When you get a notification, you expect it to be something important or related to social media, yet it's just Domino's and their frequent deals. Even though they are annoying to get, I never seem to make the move to unsubscribe from them. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 |
28 home Lily Moore (12) This haiku made me feel very warm inside. Since living in Decatur for about two and a half years now during the school year, I’ve finally started learning the roads around campus. But it’s not the same as being home. In my hometown in Michigan, everything is so much more familiar that it really does feel like I can drive with my eyes closed. It takes me about six and a half hours to make the drive from Decatur to Royal Oak, but once I hit the last hour or so, I start to really recognize the area and finally feel at home. It’s comforting to know that even after all the time I spend away at college, my heart still knows how to navigate my home like I never left. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 This one instantly sent me to a very specific image of one road near my house. Most of the roads in my hometown I could probably drive with my eyes closed (I wouldn’t, obviously) but there’s one specific road that I get nostalgic instantly on it when I visit home. It’s such a familiar place, and especially when they are roads you drive every single day on routine, like to work or school. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 This one makes me feel sentimental about home. When I drive through my town sometimes I feel like I zone out and I get where I'm going and am like “woah how did I get here.” Driving there is like second nature. Then when I got here driving made me kind of nervous. Some of the roads are weird one ways and I do not know the speed limits. It is just different and I miss driving at home. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 I grew up in a farm community, and the road I live on is very windy. When people who do not drive this road so much drive to my house, it takes them much longer, and they go very slow. I did this at first when I was learning to drive, but now I am convinced that like it says in this haiku, I could drive them with my eyes closed. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 This haiku shows the comfort of familiarity in things such as your hometown. You know where everything is, you know how long it takes to get from point A to point B, you never need a GPS, etc. If I tried to picture it in my mind, I could make a mental map of everything that is in my hometown. The place that you have grown up in has become so normal for you that you don’t even hesitate when pulling onto the road. I like how this haiku shows an extreme level of comfort and confidence when navigating throughout your hometown. This is not found in many places in the world, but is only found in a place that is so specific to your own life. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 |
29 awkward situation Lily Moore (8) I liked this haiku because it was relatable. At social gatherings, when no one is talking to you directly or has anything to say, people automatically look at their phones and pretend to do something on them even if there isn’t anything. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 I really liked this haiku because it is so honest. Pretending to look down at your phone in an uncomfortable situation is something that I think almost everyone is guilty of. I do this sometimes when I’m walking towards someone on the sidewalk and I don’t want to awkwardly stare at them as we are walking towards one another, so I usually just pretend to be looking at something on my phone or I end up calling someone. Or, when I am sitting in an uncomfortable silence I scroll through random apps on my phone to make it seem like I am doing something instead of just sitting and staring at nothing as the silence gets louder. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 |
30 drained battery Katelyn Wendt (6) I can not remember who gave this particular reading in class, but I really enjoyed the idea that the person is charging their social battery by getting into their bed as they are plugging their phone in. I did not initially read the haiku in this way, but it seemed like a clever reading. Personally, my social battery runs out pretty quick sometimes, so I really resonated with this reading. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 I read this haiku as you have had a long day, and your phone needs a charge and your social battery. That is why you opted for a charger by your bed instead of the couch in a social area. After every long day, I just crave to be alone to recharge and regain my barring’s. Comparing the phone battery to one of your own is an interesting connection that I hadn’t thought about until reading this haiku. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 |
31 different friend groups |
32 the world’s knowledge Ava Zukowski I can see myself through this haiku, in the sense that I am always on some Wikipedia page reading about the most useless information or sometimes information that should be known and I just don’t happen to recall. When I think about it, it blows my mind that we can have the answer to any thing within seconds, and people many years ago either had to actually go and find the answer themselves, or live life without knowing and our society today would completely crumble if we had to go back to that. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 |
33 hear a buzz Caroline Arnold (5) I liked this one because I relate a lot. This happens to me all the time, and I could be wrong but I’ve heard before that it’s a sign of addiction to your phone, that your brain is tricking you into picking it up again. And I believe it. I sometimes am so convinced that it did actually buzz, like it feels so real. It’s just an interesting universal experience to write a haiku about. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 I like this one because it’s something that I go through every night, and I think it’s cool that it captures something I never really have stepped back to think about. I’m also honestly a little bit addicted to my phone, so there are times where I literally see or feel myself holding my phone when I’m trying to fall asleep and then putting it down somewhere, then being confused when it’s not where I put it down. It doesn’t just relate to that single moment, though, as I definitely have had times in class where I feel a notification on my phone and I try to sneak a glance at it to see what someone just said to me. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
34 the walk to class |
35 13th birthday |
36 back in the kitchen Melis Barutcu (13) I liked this haiku because when I read it, I see two hometown friends that are back from college. The two of them telling stories back and forth for hours. I have been in that kind of situation before and it always feels like the time flies by. It is therapeutic in a way. This is just such a wholesome haiku. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 This haiku made me think of my mom. We love to cook and bake together, and this reminded me of the many hours we’ve spent in the kitchen telling stories and keeping each other company. I really try my best to call my parents when I’m away at college, but with a slight time difference and both our busy schedules, sometimes it’s hard to stay fully up to date. I always make sure to fill my mom in on everything when I am home, though, and I imagine us mixing ingredients and laughing together as if I never grew up and left home. In the kitchen, I can still be a little kid and still be my mother’s daughter, and this haiku reminded me of that feeling and made me feel very nostalgic. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 Whenever I got home, I make rounds to visit with my family. In every house this is the experience. At home I will sit follow my mom as she completes tasks to tell her the things that have happened at school. In the end we always end up in the kitchen with me sitting on the kitchen counter as my mom cooks dinner and waters her window plants. It's the same experience with at my grandma's house, her cooking with my blabbing about something eating a snack. I just like the image of getting together and feeling like not much time has left, and showing how naturally and connected you are to your family. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 I really liked this haiku as it has a connection to my own personal life. I live about three hours from my house to go to this school, but every time I go home I am back in my own personal bubble where everything flows so smoothly. I talk with my family about everything that goes on at school, the local gossip, and the funny stories that have happened to all of us recently. I can talk to my family for hours on end. It feels so natural that it was like I never left and we were just having a daily debrief in the kitchen. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 |
37 buggies on the road Charley Condill (4) |
38 first valentine’s day |
39 new lip gloss Melis Barutcu (5) I really enjoyed this haiku because it very effectively describes one of the simplest feelings that we all experience. The feeling of giving yourself a reward or a gift is common whether it’s a coffee or a new book, we all understand the satisfaction. This haiku is also able to convey that underlying feeling of despair, where that fun purchase can abate those feelings for a short amount of time. I think it is very common to feel such despair when one is overwhelmed with tasks or problems to solve. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 |
40 fumbling my phone Natalie Mase (4) |
41 heavy wind Matt Kordesh (10) I liked this haiku; I thought it was funny because sometimes when you’re sitting on the sidelines and the tent starts to blow away and everyone chases after it is funny to me. This haiku was just very light-hearted and fun to think about, and it created an image in my head. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 This one is funny. It always makes me laugh when we have to pause a game for a run away tent. It is especially funny when we have to stop the game for a run away toddler. I think this haiku is creative and I really like it. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 This haiku is really funny to me. I liked this one because I have seen this kind of thing happen firsthand and it will always be funny. I also really like that Matt waits until the last line to reveal that the tent is in the field of play. I was not expecting that, but obviously the people who set up the tent weren't expecting that either. In all, this is just a really funny haiku. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 This haiku made me laugh to myself when I read it. I’ve seen it happen a few times at soccer games, and it’s always funny watching people scramble out of the way when the tent starts rolling onto the field. When I was younger at one of my older brother’s tournaments, my little brother was running over to the bench because my dad was the coach. The tent from over the bench started tumbling over and flew right over my little brother’s head. Everyone on the sidelines was freaking out that he was going to get hit, but since he was okay, it’s really funny to look back on. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
42 standing on the edge |
© 2024, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
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