empty bedroom
my cats still nap
on my bed

Hannah Swan

visiting family
the new cat
makes me itchy

Emily Edwards

blending into the night 
feline eyes  
silently watching

Sam Ramirez

her tail wags
back and forth
poised to strike

Ridge Batchelor

empty bedroom
my cats still nap
on my bed

blending into the night 
feline eyes  
silently watching

blending into the night 
feline eyes  
silently watching

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

blending into the night 
feline eyes  
silently watching

bottom quarter champion

a yawn and a stretch
basking in the sunlight
King of the castle

warm and curled up
like a cinnamon roll
but with fur

a yawn and a stretch
basking in the sunlight
King of the castle

warm and curled up
like a cinnamon roll
but with fur

Addison Weed

purrs vibrating
cat curled up
I better not move

Grace Felz

a yawn and a stretch
basking in the sunlight
King of the castle

Colin Arrick

old cat
wandering around the house
where is he going

Hope Self

TOP half champion

blending into the night 
feline eyes  
silently watching

CHAMPION
 

blending into the night 
feline eyes  
silently watching

the rustle of leaves
a groomed cat emerges
a collar around its neck

BOTTOM half champion

brushing against me  
in the middle of the night 
her soft vibrations 

Jordana Samnick

doing homework
alone at my desk 
a purr from the rug 

Abbey Matthews

runt of the 7
eyes barely open 
immediate connection

Natalie Brodsky

poop in a box
scratching, hissing
count me out

Bella Griffiths

doing homework
alone at my desk 
a purr from the rug 

runt of the 7
eyes barely open 
immediate connection

runt of the 7
eyes barely open 
immediate connection

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

the rustle of leaves
a groomed cat emerges
a collar around its neck

bottom quarter champion

the rustle of leaves
a groomed cat emerges
a collar around its neck

the rustle of leaves
a groomed cat emerges
a collar around its neck

college students
befriend the feral cats
just off campus

the rustle of leaves
a groomed cat emerges
a collar around its neck

Nicole Wells

unnamed feline
under grandpa’s porch
always hungry

Asa Pilger

cats run campus late at night
the cries from
a dying bunny

Chelsea Hammons

college students
befriend the feral cats
just off campus

Randy Brooks

empty bedroom
my cats still nap
on my bed

Hannah Swan

visiting family
the new cat
makes me itchy

Emily Edwards

blending into the night 
feline eyes  
silently watching

Sam Ramirez

her tail wags
back and forth
poised to strike

Ridge Batchelor

As someone with a cat, I can relate to both of the haikus. Especially because I have a cat that is exceptionally devious and has bright green eyes. When I’m in bed he loves to crawl up next to me while he’s purring and try to stick his paw in my mouth, so when I wake up I see nothing but big green eyes staring back at me. He also really likes to pretend to hunt my other cats, so if he sees one of them walking around, he will hide behind a piece of furniture, hunch back, wiggle his butt, and then run at the other cat. He never actually pounces on them, but he sure does love to mess with them. Hannah Swan, Fall 2025

warm and curled up
like a cinnamon roll
but with fur

Addison Weed

purrs vibrating
cat curled up
I better not move

Grace Felz

a yawn and a stretch
basking in the sunlight
King of the castle

Colin Arrick

old cat
wandering around the house
where is he going

Hope Self

These two haiku pair beautifully, each capturing the comfort and stillness of sharing space with a cat. The first one leans into playful imagery, comparing the cat’s cozy shape to a cinnamon roll—a lighthearted metaphor that makes the scene instantly familiar. The second shifts into a more intimate moment, where the cat’s purring becomes a kind of gentle trap: the speaker doesn’t want to disturb the peace. Together, they highlight how animals bring warmth and stillness into our lives, encouraging us to pause and stay present. Chelsea Hammons, Fall 2025

I liked these haiku because they reminded me of my cat. I could see how someone could see their cat as looking like a furry cinnamon roll when laying down. I have an orange cat, so I related to this a lot. My cat is not very cuddly so when he does lay on me, near me, etc. I always feel guilty moving because he is comfortable with me. The purrs really bring to life the senses that you have during these moments. I thought these matched well because they both relate to cats being comfortable and relaxed and it gives the audience this feeling as well. Abbey Matthews, Fall 2025

I loved the pairing of these two haiku because I immediately see my cat, Ariel. She loves to curl up so tight with her little feet up right next to her head. I think these 2 together bring a really nice visual and flow together. In the first haiku, it's like you are noticing the cat and admiring their beauty. The second one is when you realize they are purring (which means they are relaxed and happy) so you become stiff like a statue in hopes to not awaken them. Natalie Brodsky, Fall 2025

I liked this pairing because they both included a cat that felt very independent. They both bring highlight the perspective that cats do what they please. In a way they feel like a story, first beginning when the cat is young it is in a way the king of the home, then in the other poem it shows the cat is now old yet it continues to have its independent spirit. Sam Ramirez, Fall 2025

brushing against me  
in the middle of the night 
her soft vibrations 

Jordana Samnick

doing homework
alone at my desk 
a purr from the rug 

Abbey Matthews

runt of the 7
eyes barely open 
immediate connection

Natalie Brodsky

poop in a box
scratching, hissing
count me out

Bella Griffiths

I like this pair because it seems like in both of the haiku, the cat is almost a side moment to something else that the character is focused on. The cat is part of the background and gets a moment to shine in each. I also like how neither of them explicitly says that there’s a cat, but it can just be known by the detail. Grace Pelz

This was our prompt about cats, and I love the comfort that both of these haiku bring. I always think it is so cute when animals want to be in proximity to their humans. My dog will follow my mom all around the house and even stay in the workout room when she is on the treadmill. The connection that people and animals can make is something I enjoy seeing, and I got that same feeling when I was reading these haiku. Cats are known for not being as friendly, but if these people’s cats are willingly in their humans’ vicinity, then I would think they are treating the cat right. I also like the way these appeal to the senses to create that sense of comfort. The first one uses touch while the second one uses hearing. I was able to create a picture in my mind, and in both, the cats are really cute and distracting. Nicole Wells, Fall 2025

I love this pair because of the overall feeling and aspect of pets that they describe I have a pet shi-tzu at home. We call her a cat-dog because she has all the sweetness of a puppy with the sleepy habits of a cat. She curls up at out feet while we do homework until someone comes home from school or work. Then she wants to go visit them. But in those quiet moments when i’m snuggling with my puppy or barely hearing her pant while I work, I feel a sense of calm and love. That still love is captured in these haikus. We don’t have to DO anything to feel love for people or pets. We just love them always. Amanda Spotts, Fall 2025

I liked this pair because they give us a good visual of what it can look like in relation to the cats. One of the things that cats are most known for is their purring sounds, so it gives us a good idea that these sounds come from a cat. I like that we can make this connection without having to use the word “cat.” Addison Weed, Fall 2025

In both of these Haiku, there is no actual mention of the cat, but you get enough information to realize what the author is talking about. It also seems like the cat is interrupting a quiet moment. You are alone with your thoughts. In the first one, I can feel myself jump as I feel the brush of fur. I do not realize what it is at first. I shoot up from bed scared, but relax when I realize it is just the cat. I lie back down, and she snuggles up against me. Her gentle breathing lulls me back to sleep. In the second one, you are focused on your school work. You think you are alone. The room is quiet. The purring makes you jump, breaking your focus. The cat is curled up on the rug, waiting for you to come play with her. I like how both of these Haiku show how you are never alone when you have pets. Even though they might startle you sometimes, they will be your best friends forever. Emily Edwards, Fall 2025

These two haiku illustrate polar opposite viewpoints very well. Sometimes, we have a magical moment when we see an animal and we know that we’ll be close companions for the rest of our lives. I remember having this very same connection with my current dog so many years ago, and I love him just as much now as I did then, if not more. Some people, though, simply view animals as a hassle and can’t get past the negatives to consider adopting one. It comes down to an age-old question that has divided people for centuries: are you an animal person? Asa Pilger, Fall 2025

the rustle of leaves
a groomed cat emerges
a collar around its neck

Nicole Wells

unnamed feline
under grandpa’s porch
always hungry

Asa Pilger

cats run campus late at night
the cries from
a dying bunny

Chelsea Hammons

college students
befriend the feral cats
just off campus

Randy Brooks

These two were talked about in class but I liked that it was pointed out how these cats live in different social classes. The first poem shows a cat that is out exploring yet it is from a likely well-off family. The other poem shows a cat that likely does not have an owner as it is hungry and going into other people's porches. The second cat does not even have a name, the first one on the other hand has a name, it is claimed. It seemed that the first cats struggle is that it has an owner, it lives in a home with comfort, yet it is outside roaming because that is where it wishes to be. The other cat on the other hand does not have a comfortable home to go back to, the freedom it has may not be what it wants, it instead wants to feel the comfort of connection. They are both struggling but in their own way. Sam Ramirez, Fall 2025

This pair is interesting because they are almost opposite. They both have a cat that's outside; however, one of them is well taken care of, and the other one is a stray. Each of the haiku brings a very different emotion out. The 1st one kind of piques your interest, and you want to pet the cat, and the 2nd one makes you feel bad for the cat and want to care for it. Grace Pelz

I love these pair because they are opposite sides of the coin. It reminds me of the story “The Princess and the Pauper.” Two characters from different walks of life who are searching for something from the other character’s life. The groomed cat is searching for adventure and wildness, while the unnamed cat is searching for security and food. This pair provides a beautiful cross-characterization that tickles me as a theater major particularly. Amanda Spotts, Fall 2025

These two haiku stuck out to me as they both regard a lost cat. Although cats are not my favorite, it makes me sad seeing lost and hungry animals. They match so well in terms of making you visualize the words, as these are frequent occurrences. Bella Griffiths, Fall 2025

I liked this pair because I have seen a cat on campus before and I tried to pet it. It ran away from me but I pursued it for a while till I lost it. I think both of these haiku’s bring a bit of fun into perspective, because even though I’m in college and I have to be locked in on homework and practice, I can still have fun and be silly sometimes. Ridge Batchelor, Fall 2025

mat unrolled
in child's pose
I fall asleep

Bella Griffiths

pigeon pose
my hips release
the day’s stress

Hannah Swan

a warm embrace
clothes
fresh from the dryer

Emily Edwards

nothing more comforting 
after a long day
clean sheets

Bella Griffiths

mat unrolled
in child's pose
I fall asleep

a warm embrace
clothes
fresh from the dryer

a warm embrace
clothes
fresh from the dryer

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

a warm embrace
clothes
fresh from the dryer

bottom quarter champion

little dipper.
forever,
the little sister

the stars
play hide and seek—
light pollution

little dipper.
forever,
the little sister

the stars
play hide and seek—
light pollution

Nissi Bamgboye

earth is massive
mankind is small
our choices are not

Asa Pilger

little dipper.
forever,
the little sister

Amanda Spotts

morning light shines in
her face glows
our fingers intertwined

Grace Felz

TOP half champion

a warm embrace
clothes
fresh from the dryer

CHAMPION
 

a warm embrace
clothes
fresh from the dryer

no cell tower around 
just a hammock 
and two trees

BOTTOM half champion

friendly smiles, waves, 
and ‘whats ups’
as i study alone

Chelsea Hammons

in the caf
i sit alone
commuter loser

Bella Griffiths

in class
a message from dad
cat photos

Hannah Swan

Sunday matinee
on my laptop
the cat paws button

Randy Brooks

in the caf
i sit alone
commuter loser

in class
a message from dad
cat photos

in class
a message from dad
cat photos

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

no cell tower around 
just a hammock 
and two trees

bottom quarter champion

no cell tower around 
just a hammock 
and two trees

no cell tower around 
just a hammock 
and two trees

hospital pillows
each new monitor beep
a flashback to her past

no cell tower around 
just a hammock 
and two trees

Jordana Samnick

waiting in the parking lot
the gym doors
stare back at me

Hannah Swan

hospital pillows
each new monitor beep
a flashback to her past

Nicole Wells

carried  
out of the car  
for the last time

Sam Ramirez

mat unrolled
in child's pose
I fall asleep

Bella Griffiths

pigeon pose
my hips release
the day’s stress

Hannah Swan

a warm embrace
clothes
fresh from the dryer

Emily Edwards

nothing more comforting 
after a long day
clean sheets

Bella Griffiths

This was one of my favorite pairs from the contest because it reminded me of a good memory. I ran cross country and track in high school, and we would have summer training and once a week we would have to do yoga. I am very bad at yoga because I am not flexible at all. Even though I wasn’t good at it, this was one of my favorite times all week because I got to mess around with my friends. Ridge Batchelor, Fall 2025

I like the combination of these two because they both speak to the healing aspect of yoga. Child’s pose can be very relaxing, and you can find yourself in that meditative space where you are almost drifting off. The other haiku is similar in that manner, pigeon pose is known for targeting the hips, and the hips are known for being a place where you store trauma in your body, so this pose is a very emotionally releasing pose ex: “release the day’s stress”. Jordana Samnick, Fall 2025

While I always dread having to do laundry, there is absolutely nothing that beats putting on freshly cleaned clothes or getting into a clean bed. The warmth and the fresh smell is some of the most comforting things in the world because it smells like home to me. We’ve been using the same detergent and dryer sheets for years now and so my clothes always have a very distinct smell to me. It’s also just comforting to know that even though I’ve had a bad or long day, I can be grateful to have clothes on my back and a comfy bed to lay in. Hannah Swan, Fall 2025

I really liked these haiku because they give a relaxing vibe to the audience. Things that everyone has experienced and enjoys but does not take the time to do every day. Just give an additional feeling of accomplishment to your stressful day. I really like the one about warm clothes from the dryer. I love washing my blankets and covering up with warm blankets in the winter time and this reminded me of this. Abbey Matthews, Fall 2025

These two haiku are similar in the fact that things being clean is desirable to the human mind, and we get rewarded based on how well we can clean. The satisfactory feeling of holding warm clothes close to you on a cold day or settling in under newly-made, tightly-tucked sheets exist in a very similar spot in the mind. We know we put in the work to achieve that feeling, and now, it is finally time to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Asa Pilger, Fall 2025

Much like the last haiku pair, I feel like these flow together perfectly and they provide a perfect visual. I can smell the detergent wafting off the clothes and the bedsheets. The sheets are crisp and un-wrinkled and smell like sleep. The clothes are so warm you cant help but just lay in them. These two haiku also give me a strong feeling of home. Like everyone else, of course I am washing my clothes and sheets at school. I use the same detergent and softener as I do when I am home. But for some reason, doing laundry at home gives me much more comfort and feels like a stronger connection to this haiku. I think that's interesting. Natalie Brodsky, Fall 2025

the stars
play hide and seek—
light pollution

Nissi Bamgboye

earth is massive
mankind is small
our choices are not

Asa Pilger

little dipper.
forever,
the little sister

Amanda Spotts

morning light shines in
her face glows
our fingers intertwined

Grace Felz

I talked about this one in class but because I am an art major I kind of notice how these both talk about scale in different ways. The first one talks about the scale of space, the scale of the stars, and the scale of light pollution and how it affects the visibility of the stars. The second one talks more so about the scale of mankind’s actions and how that affects the earth, and how big the scale of actions are in reference to the earth. Jordana Samnick, Fall 2025

Would it be biased to say that part of what drew me towards this pair was that I found one of my haikus in it? I was genuinely caught off guard because it took me a few tries to find the best wording for it. I’m a little sad that my appointment was this Tuesday because I genuinely want to hear people’s thoughts on it now, but oh well! On a more relevant note; I love the continuity of this pair, I could definitely see this being put on a poster to bring more attention to climate change and such! Love it! Nissi Bamgboye, Fall 2025

friendly smiles, waves, 
and ‘whats ups’
as i study alone

Chelsea Hammons

in the caf
i sit alone
commuter loser

Bella Griffiths

in class
a message from dad
cat photos

Hannah Swan

Sunday matinee
on my laptop
the cat paws button

Randy Brooks

This pair of haiku really struck me because of how well they capture the gap between outward appearance and inward feeling. In the first haiku, there’s friendliness on the surface but the speaker is still alone, suggesting that connection can sometimes feel shallow or fleeting. The second haiku sharpens that sense of isolation with the blunt self-description “commuter loser.” Together, these poems show the tension between being noticed by others and actually feeling included. What I appreciate most is their honesty: they bring to light a common but often unspoken reality of student life, where belonging isn’t guaranteed, even in familiar spaces like the cafeteria. Chelsea Hammons, Fall 2025

This pair feels like a longer continuing poem, to be honest. I believe that while this student has friends, close ones even, they feel sad that they can’t connect to them by way of the campus living experience. Every day, they go home, either to their family, or their own apartment, so they don’t really see their friends outside of classes most days. While I’m not a commuter myself, this pair of haikus drew out feelings of empathy from me. Kudos to whoever made this pair! Nissi Bamgboye, Fall 2025

morning light shines in
her face glows
our fingers intertwined

Grace Felz

friendly smiles, waves, 
and ‘whats ups’
as i study alone

Chelsea Hammons

I like these two haiku paired together because they both bring almost “joy” to them. I feel like the bright sun that is glowing on her face connects well with the friendly smiles and waves while studying. The bright sun and glow can be the light you brought to someone’s face as you smiled and waved, and it can make someone feel like they are glowing. I made that connection more about how I would feel rather than what I look like. Addison Weed, Fall 2025

no cell tower around 
just a hammock 
and two trees

Jordana Samnick

waiting in the parking lot
the gym doors
stare back at me

Hannah Swan

hospital pillows
each new monitor beep
a flashback to her past

Nicole Wells

carried  
out of the car  
for the last time

Sam Ramirez

These 2 haiku are very well written, especially the second one. I really relate to the second one as well. I think these match because they explain a sense of stillness, a moment to stop and think. "Waiting in the parking lot" and "no cell tower around" these two quotes from each one that complement each other well in explaining that sense of stillness. Bella Griffiths, Fall 2025

I wrote the haiku about hospital pillows, so this gives me a bit more insight into the haiku than a person who is reading it for the first time, but I found this pair to work really well together due to the fact that there is a larger story that can be painted. When I read the second haiku, especially after reading about the hospital, I thought of someone going into the ER and not making it back out. After reading it a second time, I thought of the idea I previously mentioned: we never know when we will do something for the last time. In this particular instance, I do not remember the last time my parents carried me out of the car. That is where my mind went with this haiku. When I was writing the other one, I thought the flashbacks could be interpreted as good memories looking back at her life but also mistakes or bad decisions she made that resulted in her ending up in a hospital bed. I liked how both of these haiku could kind of portray positive and negative emotions depending on how someone reads them. Nicole Wells, Fall 2025

I like this pair because they could be two parts of the same story. The first Haiku makes me picture a child in the hospital. They have a chronic illness and are no strangers to hospitals. The child is not fully awake, but every beep sounds familiar. They can pick out each machine, and each one reminds her of a different hospital stay. The second Haiku feels like it fits both before and after the first. The child’s family has carried them into the hospital many times. Each one was scary, but this time was different. I see the parents leaving the hospital without the child. As they get to the car, they start to cry. Their child has died. They realize that they will never carry her from the car again. Her suffering is over, yet they still miss their child. Going back to the first Haiku, the story comes full circle. The parents were sitting with their child for her last breaths. Each beep meant one more second they had to spend with their child. They remember all the time they spent with them, the good and the bad. They know she will finally be at peace, but they just want a few more minutes. Emily Edwards, Fall 2025