Haiku Kukai 06 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2024
1 prom pictures Lily Moore (4) I liked this haiku because it showed the irony of how important it is in high school to have a date to the prom to take pictures with, but in reality, years later you don’t speak to the boy anymore and it seems so unimportant now. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 |
2 second first date Lily Moore (7) |
3 paper note Rachel Nott (11) I enjoy the lightheartedness of this haiku, depicting the childlike way that children spell and draw using their favorite writing utensils in the forms of crayons. It reminded me of my four-year-old niece, and she is doing the exact same thing, drawing comically large plants, miniature stick figures, and spelling things wrong in ways you could never think of. Yet they are still hung up on the fridge at home and it brings me back to watching her create those pieces of “art”. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 I like how the first two lines pull you in with fairly serious wording, while the second hits you with the silliness. To me it expresses very well the self-seriousness of children that looks comical to adults. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 I thought this haiku was really clever and really well written. I love the attention to detail with the third line. When I first read it, I didn’t really pay attention to the fact that running was misspelled and that away was split into “a” and “way.” Once someone pointed out that the typos are probably intentional, I liked the haiku even more. I think it really sells the image of a little kid writing the note. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 This one both frustrates me and makes me laugh at the same time. It is a pretty general experience that I feel like a lot of people have gone through, because when you’re younger you don’t have a lot of ways to express if you feel something is unjust and screaming doesn’t really get the point across. I can remember a while back when I did this, my Dad had eaten a giant scoop out of a cherry pie my Mom bought for me and didn’t do anything about it. I was annoyed, but got over it, until dinner came and I had already eaten enough to feel full but wanted a cookie after I ate. I had some food left and had eaten essentially as much as I could, but saved just enough for the cookie. My parents wouldn’t let me have it, which I couldn’t really wrap my head around since I ate as much as I could, and I was already mad because they ruined my pie. They couldn’t even see my point so I just ended up taking off. It honestly still annoys me to think about because everytime they bring up the story they don’t get why I actually was mad, and think it’s because I just wanted a cookie. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 This haiku made me laugh. I feel like it captures the frantic scribbling of a child very well. When you’re little, what seems very serious to you is often actually much more immature and silly than you realize. I love the word “haphazard” here because it suggests not only that the note was written quickly, but that the penmanship is messy and childish. To the child, they have written a very serious message, maybe even in their favorite color. But to an adult (and the reader), we see a silly attempt at a running away note with spelling errors and a very unserious writing utensil. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 |
4 your shoulder weight Rachel Nott (3) I love the imagery of this haiku. There’s something about it that feels private yet very public at the same time. I imagine sitting on the couch in one of the common spaces of my sorority house with another person. I can feel the gentle weight of them leaning against me as a movie plays on the TV. We may be alone at this moment, but there are almost 30 other people that live in the house and can walk in at any moment. There are also composites of old members lining the walls, adding to the feeling of being watched. I feel the slight anxiety over whether someone will walk in and judge us, but I am mostly at peace. It’s a nice moment. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 |
5 cloudwatching |
6 for once Natalie Mase (3) |
7 all the gifts |
8 lonely tricycle Natalie Mase (3) |
9 late night gossip Natalie Mase (7) |
10 I look at him |
11 first Thanksgiving together Melis Barutcu (8) I thought this haiku was very sweet. I imagined a young couple sitting next to each other at the family dinner table. To the author, the scene is very familiar. The table is full of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes her family cooks and her family itself. Only this time, there is someone new. I imagine they both feel a little nervous, but the word “grabs” makes me think that the boyfriend feels much more anxious. I imagine him reaching under the table and maybe even giving her hand a squeeze. No one else notices but her, and they share a private moment of connection and reassurance that they are there for each other and he is meant to be there too. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 |
12 flash flood Melis Barutcu I really liked this haiku because it took me back to memories of my childhood. Whenever there was a big rainstorm, my sisters and I would always go outside to play in the rain. The streets would be flooding, so there would be barely any cars so we would always race up and down them. We would go “frog hunting” where we would try and find some frogs. We really never were successful at it, but it was still really fun. To this day, I love when there is heavy rainstorm weather. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 |
13 my favorite shoes |
14 he looks at me |
15 in the attic |
16 chicken skin Maliyah Battle (4) |
17 senior year Maliyah Battle (2) |
18 heavy rain Melis Barutcu (4) |
19 new years Matt Kordesh (7) I like the inclusivity of the haiku. This aunt doesn’t want this underage person to be left out and knows that one small glass of champagne won’t do anything. Maybe this aunt wants to win their niece or nephew over by showing them love to become the cool aunt. This aunt could also know that this person has drunk before, but maybe he did it behind his parent’s back, so the aunt could've poured it into another glass to hide it better. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 This haiku paints a very clear picture for me. I can see the black and yellow decorations at a New Years Party, and the familiar comfort of a cool aunt who sneaks you a glass of champagne. Even though champagne isn’t that good, it’s nice to feel included at an event where drinking plays such a big part. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 |
20 pumpkin chiffon pie |
21 failing love Charlie Armstrong (6) This haiku was my favorite because of how creative the comparison is between failing love and defective fireworks. It seems like it’s going to be beautiful and perfect, but then something goes wrong, and the firework doesn’t go off, just like in a relationship. The couple might have once had those fireworks, so they expected them to continue, but one wrong move and the firework is gone and so is the relationship. Charley Condill, Fall 2024 I liked this haiku a lot. I really enjoy seeing alliteration in haiku. The author of this haiku did a good job of sneaking the alliteration in by placing one word beginning with the letter "f" in each line. I also just like the comparison of a firework with no fuse to a failing relationship. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 |
22 you and I |
23 a wallet |
24 made a sandwich Matt Kordesh (9) I have recently started to cook more for myself, as I’ve realized it’s a life skill I am going to need throughout the years of learning to live on my own and even when I am on my own. Sometimes, I’ll surprise myself and end up making a dinner that looks great (at least to me!) and I will snap a picture and send it to my mom, and of course, she says it looks good but I think she just doesn’t want to lie! Overall, this is also another lighthearted haiku that I think all college kids can relate to. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 I liked this haiku because sending pictures of random things to my parents is a way for me to not feel homesick. Luckily, I am close to home so if there is ever a day I need to go home, it's only a two-hour drive. On the other hand, this year I took on the responsibility of being a room assistant, so going home is now something I can't do regularly. Sometimes I find calls to be excessive and uncomfortable if they drag on, so I am more likely to send a picture along with a description of what I'm doing. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 |
25 shoe box Katelyn Wendt (5) This haiku is so sweet. It reminds me of a personal experience I had during COVID-19. My boyfriend and I have been together since 8th grade, so we were together during the pandemic. But we obviously couldn’t see each other. He would write me letters every week, even though we would text and call each other. It was such an unexpected thing, and it was so meaningful. I still have all those letters in a box at home. Charley Condill, Fall 2024
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26 Father’s Day, 11:59 p.m. Gracie Shaffer (4) This haiku took a few seconds to fully register in my head what was really happening. The first line of this haiku makes it feel wholesome. I then read the second and third lines and didn't get it. But a few seconds later it clicked that this haiku is about a surprise pregnancy. My mouth actually dropped. Any haiku that makes me physically gasp is a great haiku. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 |
27 Mother’s Day brunch Gracie Shaffer (3) |
28 Cinco de Mayo Gracie Shaffer (7) I love love love queso. I feel like this is also a relatable haiku because whenever i am mad or in a bad mood if you take me to eat mexican or really anything I am automatically happy again. It is like a cheat code. I feel like I genuinely could not stay mad at someone who buys me queso so I imagine this haiku as a way to buy back someone's love. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 This one brings back a couple of memories for me. In a more general sense, it reminds me of when I’m at a family gathering, maybe Thanksgiving or Christmas, and politics start coming up and inevitably people get upset. Even though it’s moderately annoying, it also reminds me of how me and my two sisters can just look at each other when someone says something out of pocket and we can just both agree silently that it was weird. It also reminds me of a separate incident when my cousin was eating chips with queso, but the queso didn’t make it into his mouth and it fell into the bowl and I got mad. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
29 prom send off Katelyn Wendt (4) |
30 pickleball date Katelyn Wendt (5) I love the wholesomeness of this haiku. The idea of going out on a date with maybe someone more athletic than you, but instead of him just making you sad by hitting the ball super hard, he lays off. He understands your fears of going on this date but helps to comfort you, showing you he cares. The last line of winning might also give you confidence to get more into pickleball, which could become your go-to date idea. Each time, the level of play increases. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 I think this haiku is super cute and paints a fun image of a first date. It adds a nice layer of playfulness saying “he let me win.” Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 |
31 Christmas eve |
32 love is blind Charley Condill (4) |
33 my college ID |
34 opening my lunchbox |
35 front seat of your car |
36 corn maze Charley Condill (5) |
37 three screaming girls Bella Palermo (13) I really liked this haiku because my roommate wrote it and it is entirely representative of the dynamic in our apartment. When a bug like a fly or a spider occasionally sneaks into our apartment, three of my roommates go absolutely crazy about it and run away from it. I usually am the calm one that either has to take it outside or kill it. I think it’s really funny that a creature so small and harmless can create so much chaos. You would think that a lion walked into our apartment the way that my roommates always scream when they see a bug. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 The lines are different lengths, but there’s still symmetry here with how the adjectives mirror each other—each subject has a quantity and a descriptor. The girls are greater in number, but have a “weaker” trait (“screaming”) than the fly’s (“big”) making it seem like an even match-up. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 I liked this haiku because I literally saw a gigantically large fly attacking three girls. I then stopped thinking about it so literally and it reminded me of my younger sister. My sister freaks out when there are bugs in the house. This would maybe be understandable if she was really young, but she's a junior in high school. This haiku makes you realize how silly it is for humans to be scared of something so small as a fly, because in reality, they aren't going to hurt you. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 I think this haiku is funny. The accuracy is comical because it really does take a team of girls to kill a bug. There is always a screamer or two. I think sometimes there is a hype woman who will get nowhere near the bug, and then the brave one who is actually doing the killing. I also like how we do not find out why the girls are screaming until the last line. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 I loved this haiku because it gives the reader a really clear image of what’s going on, even though it uses very simple words. I especially like the use of the word “versus” in the second line. Even though it doesn’t specifically say they are trying to kill the bug, it implies that they are in a face-off with the bug, trying to get rid of it or kill it. I also thought it was funny because I have been in similar situations where my sisters or friends and I have to work together and build up the courage to kill a bug. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 This haiku reminds me of trying to kill a bug with my friends, all of us strategizing how to approach it. Also, there have been lots of bees at the soccer field this year, and there are moments where we all scatter when one flies into the huddle. I also love how the second line is simply the word “versus”. It reads as if you have the three girls in one corner, and the fly in the other, and they’re facing off. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
38 fresh flowers |
39 first day of autumn Caroline Arnold (4) |
40 sweaty palms |
41 stealing french fries Bella Palermo (8) I can relate to this haiku as well. I think it is sweet that when we love a person we are willing to let things like this slide, and share our everything with them- even french fries. This haiku also gave me the idea that first, we steal french fries from our parents, then from our significant others, then our kids steal them from us. It is interesting that something so simple like sharing fries with someone can symbolize our love for that person. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 I find this haiku very sweet. I imagine eating out with my boyfriend and playfully taking a few of his fries off his plate. I almost always ask if I can have a bite or a sip of whatever he’s eating or drinking, and his response is always “you can have as much as you want!”. Of course, I don’t ever take too much, but it’s really sweet how he always lets me steal a little bit. Like we talked about in class, there is a sense of comfort and security in the relationship and in the action of stealing the other person’s food. I definitely wouldn’t have done that on our first few dates, but now it’s comfortable. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
42 stolen glance |
43 chicks leave the nest Dayton Lasack (4) This haiku reminded me of my mom. It made me think of when all the kids go away to college and their parents are home by themselves. They have no kids at home to care for and they finally have a chance to worry about and take care of themselves. The parents finally get to rest and relax. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 |
44 date night |
45 red picnic basket Dayton Lasack (8) I think this haiku is really cute. I imagine a couple having a nice picnic under a shady tree at a park, and a sneaky raccoon peeking out of a nearby trash can. The raccoon is plotting to steal the picnic basket and all its contents, and the couple is completely unsuspecting of what is about to happen. We don’t really find out what happens from the haiku, but I want to assume that the raccoon is successful. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 I thought this haiku was really clever. The situation it describes is funny, and I also like the way that it is written. I really liked the third line, and I especially liked the words “great heist.” I feel like it exaggerates the situation in a comical way and also personifies the raccoon a little. I imagined that the raccoon is watching the people at the picnic and actually trying to think of the best strategy to pull off his plan and get the food he wants. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 |
46 little sister growing up Izzy Jones (6) This haiku was sweet and I understood it because I had watched my sister grow up from when she was small, and now that I am not at home all the time, I feel like I am missing a lot of her milestones and when I go back home for breaks and such, it’s like she’s a new born person. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 I can relate to this haiku. My younger sister is 3 years younger than me, and it is really sweet to see her start to “become her own person” and grow up in her own way. We are very similar but wildly different at the same time, so it is interesting to see the choices she makes compared to mine, and I love being able to be her “cool older sister”. The haiku really makes me visualize her coming out of a cocoon or some sort of shell, which is very accurate for this stage of her life but it is also kind of a funny image in my head. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 I don't have a little sister, but I do have a little brother. He's seven years younger than me and will get to high school when I graduate college. I always thought it was weird, especially when watching him grow into the person he is now. Sometimes I still can't believe he's a person with his own thoughts because he still seems so little to me. Other times, I feel a little pressure because I know he looks up to me, and I want to be a good role model for him. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 |
47 I would wait |
48 new options |
49 my very name |
50 yourhugwarmenoughtoheal
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51 closing a book Rachel Nott (4) I imagined two scenarios for this haiku. I imagine those moments when I call my Mom or someone I’m close to, and when they don’t respond my mind immediately jumps to the worst case scenario, even though I know they’re probably just busy. In order to not think about that worst case scenario, I’ll try to distract myself by doing something else, but I end up just getting distracted from that task because I keep checking my phone to see if they texted me. The other scenario, that I like a bit better, is the person is waiting for a call from someone they have romantic feelings for. It’s cuter to think about waiting for that person to call back because maybe you just went on a date and they said they’d call when they got home. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 |
52 skeletal age |
53 flowers in hand Gracie Shaffer (7) This haiku is really cute. It talks about how this guy is such a gentleman. He buys you flowers and always opens the door for you. He is a keeper, a good guy that you want to keep around. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 |
54 Christmas morning |
55 door cracked open Dayton Lasack (5) |
56 skipping over rocks |
57 pitter patter |
58 a lost sock Ava Zukowski (8) This haiku really stuck with me after kukai this week. I often feel like I’ll never find my other half person, and I know that this is a common feeling. I really like this haiku because it very simply explains that feeling of loneliness even when surrounded by people because you’re just missing something or someone. It also compares human relationships to socks so I thought it was funny. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 This haiku is simple, but I think it's what makes it work. It's a common experience to be missing a sock and only have its pair. I also think that the haiku could have multiple interpretations. Maybe there was a pair, and something happened that caused them to be separated, yet the one part does not stop until they have found the other. There could also be a meaning of a sock trying to find a new pair. I think it's typical that if you can't find a sock, you try and match it with one that is similar in nature and appearance. To try and find another partner that matches you in the same way, but never identical to the first one. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 |
59 a tan |
60 different jerseys Maliyah Battle (3) This haiku was almost funny because of how lighthearted it was. It made me think about how my family is split on NFL teams. I like the Chiefs, but my parents are big Saints people, so it’s like during the game, they “disown” me. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 |
61 little brother turning 16 Melis Barutcu (7) I don’t have a little brother, but I have a little sister who is about to turn 16. She recently has started Driver’s Education classes, and the thought of her behind the wheel of a car is absolutely terrifying. To me, she is still just my baby sister but I guess she is kind of grown up now. It’s hard to picture her doing something like driving when it feels like she was just a baby yesterday. I think back to my memories of her and the bus stop where I would wait for her to get dropped off and make sure that she would walk home okay. But now, she is more independent to where she won’t even be needing a bus, and instead will be driving on her own. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 My brother is a senior in high school, so we’re living in our own separate worlds right now. For the entirety of our lives we have grown up side by side. No matter what we did we still saw each other every day, even when we were at the stages of going to different schools. When I miss my brother I think back to all those days we stood at the bus stop together because even though we fought more than we got along, he was still my best friend. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 When I read this haiku, I kind of picture myself as the little brother, with both of my siblings being older sisters. The oldest one is 7 years older than me, and the other one is 5. From my perspective, it’s weird to think about how old they seemed when they were going through all the stuff that I am right now. It’s especially weird when I think about how with how old they are, they don’t really know anything about the people that I’m friends with since I’m at an entirely new place, rather than at a school with all my friends. This poem makes me realize that it’s probably just as weird for them now that I have become a college student myself and am a lot more independent. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
62 Sunday morning Melis Barutcu (3) |
63 chilly night |
64 one eye missing Natalie Mase (4) I thought this was a lovely haiku because of how universal and nostalgic it is. Most people have a beloved stuffed animal from their childhood that has been worn and torn from love over the years. And often, people still hold on to these items because they hold such emotional value. Even if they’re missing eyes. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 |
65 cherry slushee Matt Kordesh (5) |
66 impromptu pajama party Randy Brooks It conjures a scene of people all independently getting up to see the same simple thing, and ending up enjoying each other’s company in a shared moment when they ordinarily would never interact. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 |
67 suit and tie Lily Moore (5) |
68 cookies and milk Katelyn Wendt (12) I am the youngest sibling in my family, so if this was about anyone, it would be about me. That said, I kind of figured at an early age that santa, the easter bunny, and the tooth fairy weren’t really, but I was somehow emotionally intelligent enough to keep playing along like I believed in them so that my parents would get to keep having fun with it. I knew for sure in 2nd grade when I found my elf on the shelf in the garage in a random month, but kept acting like I believed in santa because it just felt more fun for everyone. I also kept getting money from the tooth fairy, so that was a bonus. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024
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69 barbie dream house Katelyn Wendt (7) I can imagine a vivid picture of a mom parting ways with all her kid’s toys but having a hard time with the idea. This was probably one of her kid’s dream gifts as a little girl because I can remember wanting this dream house so badly. Parting with such a special gift can be tolling on a mother. I also love the comparison of selling a real house because the sign always says for sale by owner. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 This haiku reminded me of a garage sale and having to sell your old doll house. It’s kind of sad and bitter sweet moment. You probably played with this dollhouse a lot but now you are older and don’t play with it anymore, so you have to get rid of it. Lily Moore, Fall 2024 This was my initial favorite from kukai this Tuesday. I always had a hard time parting with my old toys or things that I grew out of. I’m a sentimental person when it comes to those things, so this haiku reminded me of that. I think this haiku is very clever, phrasing the experience of getting rid of the barbie dream house with the language of an actual house being put on the market. I picture the garage sales we used to have at my house and the struggle of picking which items I could put out. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
70 text message |
71 back in town Dan Mungons (5) I have a great relationship with my wrestling coaches, so whenever I go home for any breaks, I always consider stopping by the coffee shop that one of them owns. Whenever I do, I always get the warmest hugs from coach’s wife and a firm handshake from coach, I get served the best coffee I’ve ever had, and I end up staying for hours just catching up and talking wrestling. This haiku is one of those impulsive thoughts that I had mentioned before, as it’s something that just pops in your head without even thinking about it. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 This one is very relatable to me. I am kind of far from home and have not been back yet. I have been debating if I should see certain people when I go home since the moment I got here. I think it is hard because part of you wants to leave the past in the past and leave home at home but also you miss people a lot. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 |
72 old doll in the closet |
© 2024, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.