Kukai 10 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2024
1 gift card Melis Barutcu (6) I liked this haiku, even though I really like gift cards, something about a gift just is a little more surprising and heartfelt and so I liked how in this haiku it felt like it was a birthday or something and the gift card felt like a last minute gift instead of something very well thought out. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 I like this haiku because of how universal it is, but also the real feelings that come with it. It’s easy to gift someone a gift card, and it’s ensuring that what you give them will be liked and used, but it’s incredibly impersonal, especially for big gift-giving holidays, like birthdays and Christmas. I know I’ve been disappointed on Christmas day when a distant relative gets me a gift card. And not because I’m unappreciative, but because it’s so anticlimactic. I also am a big gift-giver, that’s my love language, so I always want gifts to be personal and meaningful. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 I really like this haiku, especially for the Christmas season. Without a doubt, each year I witness someone receive a gift they do not really like and have an awkward reaction to it. This haiku really reminds me of that feeling, the fake smile and fake thank you while the person is trying to display gratitude. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 I think this is a really good, creative way to show disappointment. This hits deep because gifts are a way to show that you really care about someone. Gift cards are the simplest gift. They ultimately take no thought. This person sounds disappointed because they expected a thought out, meaningful gift. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 |
2 they walk by Melis Barutcu (4) |
3 York peppermint patties Natalie Mase This haiku was really nostalgic for me. It reminds me of when a grandparent knows you really like something, so they always make sure to have some ready for you when you visit. You always have them when you’re there, so you begin to associate that treat with them and their house. I personally don’t love York peppermint patties, but I still related to this haiku because there are many treats that I associate with my grandparents. Even now, whenever I have one of those treats, it reminds me of many sweet memories I share with my grandparents. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 |
4 sun through the blinds |
5 headphones on |
6 childhood swing set Natalie Mase (3) |
7 curling her hair Katelyn Wendt (7) I thought this haiku was very sweet. It made me think of my mom and the way things change when you grow up. When I was little, I used to need my mom’s help to do my hair, especially for dance competitions or other special events. (Sometimes I still do). I would sit on the little stool in her bathroom, and we would listen to music and sing along as she curled my hair. Now, I am old enough to help with her hair and sometimes she will sit on the stool. It feels kind of like a strange role reversal, but it’s nice to be able to help my mom do her hair the way she used to help me do mine when I was little. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 I think this is a really cute haiku that represents growing up. I am not sure if this is what it meant to be interpreted like this, but it makes me think of me and my mom. She would do my hair every morning before school. She would braid it or curl it or help me with my ponytails. It was a good bonding time for us. Now, I am the family hairdresser, so if we are doing something important, I get to style my moms hair and I love it. Izzy Jones, Fall 2024 |
8 roommate playing video games |
9 old cartoon |
10 homeless man Charlie Armstrong (6) There’s a lot of great things going on in this Haiku, and does a really good job at making the reader be reflective. We see a lot of homeless people week-in and week-out, and although giving money to one homeless person may not break the bank for us, it would get tough if we did that over and over again. However, when we say no, I think a lot of us will feel bad for a second and just move on. This haiku does a good job expressing the shame that comes with having to ask people for money all the time. I think it emphasizes how we need to have empathy for those people. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
11 buried underneath |
12 for sale sign |
13 a vase of roses |
14 slow train Abby Wilken (5) I just liked this one because it reminds me of being in decatur. Whether it’s the train blaring its horn super late at night, or hearing the rhythmic screeching get louder as the train approaches, or whatever other sound it makes, this Haiku makes me think of it. It’s funny to me because originally I was annoyed with the train, but over time it became weirdly comforting. I can’t really explain why though. Matt Kordesh, Fall 2024 |
15 playing the old Wii Katelyn Wendt (7) I have so many memories of playing the Wii with my brothers growing up, especially Mario Kart and Super Mario Bros. We would spent hours at a time trying to unlock new characters and cars. I love how the author of this haiku specified rainbow road, a specific race. It made the haiku much more vivid, and rainbow road is notoriously difficult, so it brought in some humor. This haiku makes me want to play Mario Kart with my brothers over Thanksgiving or winter break! Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
16 the table is set Charley Condill I liked this haiku because it made me think of the upcoming holiday season. I imagine a holiday party, where the host is bringing out all the best dishes and silverware to impress her guests at the party. The dishes aren’t practical and they only come out on special days. I can imagine the host getting excited to finally be able to put the dishes to use. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 |
17 everydayisjustanotherday Charley Condill This haiku feels so relatable during this time in the school year. It's almost Thanksgiving but not quite time to start packing to go home, and some people are already thinking about Christmas. I feel like each day of my classes is very similar, and each week I am in the same routine. Every day is just another day at this time, like the haiku says. Caroline Arnold, Fall 2024 |
18 rekindled friendship |
19 stomach rumbles |
20 fan blowing |
21 going to church Lily Moore (8) I love this haiku because it is so philosophical. I can definitely relate to this because there have been times that I have questions about God and religion. It is such a smart way to convey that message. It’s interesting how this person first tried to Google and then resorted to church. For me, after going to church I often think of questions. The wording is very precise and to the point, but also has some interpretation because we don’t know what questions are trying to be answered. Charley Condill, Fall 2024 I enjoyed this haiku because it does a good job of illustrating the power of going to church. The feelings that church stirs up in people is something that I have personally never been able or seen able to be replicated in any other facet of life. It is not something that one can merely look up on the internet, rather, it is something that the individual has to experience for oneself to understand. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 I thought this was a very profound haiku. I’m not at all religious, but I think everyone can understand the feeling of wondering about things that there’s no concrete answer to. The author in this haiku is seeking some kind of advice or help that they can’t get from anywhere else. I like that they use the words “trying to” in second line instead of just writing “finding an answer”. It changes the meaning by implying that they’re not sure they will get an answer. It may be their first time, or it may be somewhere they go often. This is a really nice haiku. Melis Barutcu, Fall 2024 |
22 season ends |
23 final whistle Izzy Jones (5) |
24 empty terrarium |
25 thinking back Izzy Jones The things we experience everyday change us. We are constantly learning and evolving, and I think this haiku embodies that idea very simply and innocently. It may not be something a person thinks about often, but there can just be that one thing, like mac n cheese, that reminds a person of who they used to be when they liked mac n cheese or when they only had mac n cheese to eat. I also like how there are multiple interpretations of the mac n cheese. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 |
26 time for lunch Maliyah Battle (6) I love how this writer used lining up in ABC order as a memory. For me, my last name is closer to the end of the list, so it was always so sad having to be in the back of the line, and I always wanted the job of ‘line leader.’ I don’t think many kids when they are younger think about this concept, but as we get old, we tend to realize more meaning behind past memories. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 |
27 soft hum of a bus |
28 grainy home video Matt Kordesh (6) I really liked this haiku because it made me think of my own sisters and how I have seen them grow up. Whenever an out-of-state family comes over for the holidays, we always look at old photograph slides. We used to have to use a projector to see them. This made me think of the line “grainy home video.” Whenever I look back at old photos or videos of my sisters, they look like completely different people. Sometimes I can’t even believe that we have aged this much when I look back at the videos of our younger selves. Ava Zukowski, Fall 2024 I loved this haiku. It reminded me of when I watch old family videos with my family. I always love reliving old memories with them and seeing how much we have changed during the years. I like the word choice of “old versions” because I think that is a great way of explaining how much we change as we age. I also like that the first line specifies that the videos are grainy. It makes it feel even more nostalgic because it shows how old the videos are. Katelyn Wendt, Fall 2024 |
29 field day Matt Kordesh (12) This haiku instantly brought me back to elementary school. I can visualize the floor of my elementary gym clearer than ever when reading this, and I feel like a kid again. It was always such an exciting day. I can see the parachute incredibly clearly and hear the “1, 2, 3” from the teachers. And I couldn’t even tell you their names but I can hear their voices. I like this haiku because in only seven words they brought you back into another world of memories and nostalgia. Rachel Nott, Fall 2024 |
30 so much noise |
31 driveway bump’s Matt Kordesh (12) I really liked this haiku because I still fall asleep in the car on road trips and such, but every time when we turn onto my street, I find myself waking up for some reason because my brain knows the order of turns it just took and the haiku really embodied that feeling. Abby Wilken, Fall 2024 |
32 soccer bus ride home |
33 midterm week |
34 coffee shop |
35 bouncing foot |
36 study session Melis Barutcu (8) When Covid impacted the school system and ended what was left of my freshman year, we became completely online. During those days, my friend and I would FaceTime as we were completing homework for the classes we shared. It was hard to get anything done, we would always move off the topic at hand and talk about something completely different. Sometimes we would even go to each other's house to do the homework together, adding hours onto an assignment that could be completed relatively quickly. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 |
37 playing outside Ava Zukowski (7) |
38 masquerade ball |
39 freshly dried sheets |
40 playground song Rachel Nott (8) |
41 pile of shoes Maliyah Battle (4) I related very much to this haiku because although I love getting new shoes, there is just something about that old ruddy pair. They fit the best and feel the most comfortable. I also have a hard time getting rid of old shoes, so I would rather just keep wearing them until they rip. Gracie Shaffer, Fall 2024 |
42 November 1st |
43 fan humming Melis Barutcu (5) |
44 10:00pm |
45 Christmas eve |
46 it's finally over Abby Wilken (6) |
47 overhearing talk of election Charlie Armstrong (6) |
48 hat floats away Maliyah Battle It’s got a fun bait and switch; it starts off having you think the hat is bobbing along in some body of water, forgotten or lost. But it’s really just a humorous way of describing tall grass hiding most of a person. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 |
49 strangers driving by Charlie Armstrong (8) These are good moments. Not moments of connection, or even understanding, really: just perspective, as it occurs to you that not only has your entire life lead up to this random moment, everyone else around you has lived an entire life leading up to here. Dan Mungons, Fall 2024 I thought this haiku was cool. The first line just seems like a normal everyday event, but the rest of the poem describes a very unique experience. Sure, it’s normal to see people drive by, and I usually don’t think much of it. But sometimes, I do stop and wonder about the other person. What’s their story? Where did they come from? Where are they going now? Sometimes I wonder if anyone has ever wondered this about me. We may only see each other for a brief moment, but the thought sticks with you for a while. Natalie Mase, Fall 2024 I always think about how it is weird that other people have their own lives. Especially when I am in the car driving somewhere, I feel my destination is the only one that exists. They are strangers but they think the same about us. Once I started thinking about how everyone is living their own lives and driving to their own place, it was overwhelming. It is crazy to know that when you don’t see people, they are doing other things with other people. Charley Condill, Fall 2024 |
50 Sunday after Halloweekend |
51 full Charley Condill (9) I like this haiku because my planner definitely looks like this haiku. There are always a ton of things crossed out instead of checked off because I never have enough time in the day to get it all done. This haiku reminds me of the feeling of wanting to do so many things on top of school work, but one simply can’t do it all. Bella Palermo, Fall 2024 |
52 look at me Gracie Shaffer (5) |
53 silent house Dayton Lasack I find this funny and relatable, as in my apartment it is often pretty quiet since my roommates and I sit in our rooms and work on our homework, but then one of my roommates will turn on his speaker, and next thing you know, the entire apartment gets to hear what he is listening to and it’s something we’ve just come to get used to because it just what he likes to do. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 |
54 smell of pumpkin |
55 sun dog in the clouds Caroline Arnold (5) I really like this haiku because it does such a good job of putting an image in my head. Before reading this haiku I had no clue what a sun dog was. However, I still saw what I now know is a sun dog after reading it. This just shows how well the haiku is put together and the imagery associated with it. Dayton Lasack, Fall 2024 |
56 reigning recess MVP Dayton Lasack This reminds me of being in elementary school and the little rhymes we used to make up to sing whenever people were drinking from the water fountain so that we could all equally get a drink. I however, did not particularly like when it was sang when it was my turn, and I usually ran past my 3 second time limit and often got into arguments with my classmates. Charlie Armstrong, Fall 2024 |
57 going back . . . |
58 from the street below Caroline Arnold (8) Whenever I would go to spend the weekend at my grandma's, I would sleep upstairs in the room closest to the main road in front of her house. Every single time at night, I would be awakened by different cars and motorcycles revving up their engine on the main road. I never understood why they felt the need to show off their exhausts at one in the morning in a residential neighborhood filled with older individuals. I liked how the word showoff was on its own line creating a break at the end of the second line, implying annoyance with the loud noises. Maliyah Battle, Fall 2024 |
59 the same furniture in a different house |
60 omit watch and just do [dead battery] |
61 motion Dan Mungons (3) |
© 2024, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.