the opening of eyes
first image of the morning 
slightly blurred

Abbey Matthews

squinting at the chalkboard
it might be time
to give in

Asa Pilger

wind blown complexion
she squints her eyes
against the snow

Amanda Spotts

from the darkness
eyes peer through the night
glowing softly

Colin Arrick

the opening of eyes
first image of the morning 
slightly blurred

wind blown complexion
she squints her eyes
against the snow

wind blown complexion
she squints her eyes
against the snow

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

bottom quarter champion

we lock eyes
trying not to laugh
connected

a whirlwind of emotion—
in the center
I see her eyes

we lock eyes
trying not to laugh
connected

look into your eyes
stillness 
i feel at home

Bella Griffiths

a whirlwind of emotion—
in the center
I see her eyes

Nicole Wells

we lock eyes
trying not to laugh
connected

Ridge Batchelor

blue and hazel
lock eyes
meant to be 

Bella Griffiths

TOP half champion

a whirlwind of emotion—
in the center
I see her eyes

CHAMPION
 

laughing with friends
her eyes
tell a different story

laughing with friends
her eyes
tell a different story

BOTTOM half champion

unblinking  
unflinching 
I witness a masterpiece 

Nissi Bamgboye

eyes fill with water
just a blink
waterworks

Addison Weed

eye contact
we both
look away

Asa Pilger

avoiding my gaze 
a crow 
flies over 

Jordana Samnick

eyes fill with water
just a blink
waterworks

eye contact
we both
look away

eye contact
we both
look away

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

laughing with friends
her eyes
tell a different story

bottom quarter champion

laughing with friends
her eyes
tell a different story

laughing with friends
her eyes
tell a different story

climbing up the couch
she cuddles up
eyes slowly closing

blind eyes  
they were the color  
of the ocean

Sam Ramirez

laughing with friends
her eyes
tell a different story

Emily Edwards

she catches my eye
every time . . .
catching my heart

Grace Felz

climbing up the couch
she cuddles up
eyes slowly closing

Chelsea Hammons

the opening of eyes
first image of the morning 
slightly blurred

Abbey Matthews

squinting at the chalkboard
it might be time
to give in

Asa Pilger

wind blown complexion
she squints her eyes
against the snow

Amanda Spotts

from the darkness
eyes peer through the night
glowing softly

Colin Arrick

I think that this pair goes together well because the eyes are not completely open in this match. When you first wake up, everything is blurry because your eyes have been closed for so long and you are fighting to keep your eyes open to get up. In the second case, you are not used to the bright light, so you have to wait for your eyes to adjust to the sun glaring off of the snow. I can relate to both of those cases, and the pair went together very well in my opinion.  They are sort of opposites in completely different scenarios, but still the same. Very interesting pair. Abbey Matthews, Fall 2025

I like this haiku pair because they both have eyes kinda giving out, either falling asleep or waking up. One instance is you not really wanting to get up out of bed in the morning, which is very relatable, and the second one to me is when studying hard up late and you just can’t keep going any longer, even if you want to. Grace Pelz, Fall 2025

I liked both of these haiku quite a bit. The first one reminds me of my little sister, coming inside after playing in the snow all day, and her face is red from the cold wind. This was a fun memory to remember, and that’s why I liked it. I liked the second one because it reminds me of my dog. Sometimes, she will stare at someone, especially if she doesn’t know them. I find it very funny, and this haiku made me laugh. Ridge Batchelor, Fall 2025

I enjoyed this pair because they have a positive energy to them. They can both be seen as slightly playful, the first one I can imagine walking through the snow enjoying it. I always feel the urge to laugh when something unexpected happens so struggling to not get snow in my eyes would feel like a happy inconvenience. The second haiku is one about being happy, a part of the group. The first is alone and the second is with people, yet they both evoke a sense of joy and amusement. Sam Ramirez, Fall 2025

look into your eyes
stillness 
i feel at home

Bella Griffiths

a whirlwind of emotion—
in the center
I see her eyes

Nicole Wells

we lock eyes
trying not to laugh
connected

Ridge Batchelor

blue and hazel
lock eyes
meant to be 

Bella Griffiths

These two haiku contrast each other very well, and they both cover what effect simple eye contact can have on a person. It can make us calm, collected and at peace or nervous, panicked and stressed. These two haikus together remind us, though, that the eyes themselves are not what causes these emotions. Rather, the person that the eyes are attached to is who has such power over us. Our history with said person dictates how we feel about our interactions with them in the future. Asa Pilger, Fall 2025

I love this pair. These feel like alternative versions of each other in the best way possible. It’s easy to imagine the emotional comfort one might feel when they meet the eye of someone they love and trust. Definitely amongst the most fitting pairs out of the bunch! Nissi Bamgboye, Fall 2025

I loved this haiku "we lock eyes". It reminds me so much of my best friend and I. We are the same major and share a handful of classes together. We often will witness something happen in class and look over at each other at the same time with the same face, thinking the same thoughts. We will have to stifle a laugh while trying not to disrupt the class. I also enjoy that this haiku is pretty much a universal experience. I remember experiencing this in Elementary, Middle School, High School, and of course College.  You are never too old to hold in a laugh with a friend, while no one around you has any idea of what is so funny. Natalie Brodsky, Fall 2025

This was my favorite pair. The one on the right is mine, and I think it is one of the better haiku I have written. I liked what the class had to say about it, about how it felt personal, and hearing the different interpretations people took. The one on the left won my vote almost every time. This haiku reminded me of when you need to be serious, but when you make eye contact with your best friend, all you can do is laugh and smile, hoping not to get in trouble. Overall, I love these haiku! Bella Griffiths, Fall 2025

The first Haiku reminds me of a conference I went to last semester. The keynote speaker said “reed,” but almost everyone thought he said “weed.” Everyone in the audience started looking at each other like “did you hear that too?” We were all trying not to laugh because it was rude. The second makes me think of love at first sight. Two people bump into each other. They both say excuse me, but then, for a split second, they lock eyes. Time seems to freeze, and they exchange information. They both feel like they have found the one. I like how both of these Haiku use the line “lock eyes.” It can have so many connotations. The first one is more of a funny connotation, and the second is more of an awkward one. I also like how they both show the connectedness of humans and how our eyes can show so many different emotions. Emily Edwards, Fall 2025

I like this pair because of the idea of “locking” eyes. In the first one, it seems to be in first person, where you are locking eyes with maybe a friend in a moment where you should be serious, but can’t help but laugh. In the second one, it could be in first-person POV or also someone watching two people lock eyes. Either way, the term locking eyes implies intimacy and shows how close the relationship is. Hope Self, Fall 2025

look into your eyes
stillness 
i feel at home

Bella Griffiths

blue and hazel
lock eyes
meant to be 

Bella Griffiths

the opening of eyes
first image of the morning 
slightly blurred

Abbey Matthews

wind blown complexion
she squints her eyes
against the snow

Amanda Spotts

And I like these pairs because they both give sense of calmness and love. This seems like it relates to a person and not a place and this specific person is special to someone. Eyes can feel like home to some, and the word stillness and lock seem important parts of the haikus. It gives us a visual of how we feel in this context. Addison Weed, Fall 2025

I really liked the haiku on the right and I think the haiku to the left matches it nicely. For the right haiku I picture a metaphorical hurricane or tornado. The eye is always the point where everything crazy seems to subside and go calm. As the person experiences their crazy mix of emotions they catch the girl's eyes and immediately everything seems to be calmed by her. The other haiku also speaks of a calmness derived from looking at another person and looking into their eyes. A sense of security and relaxation is felt. I overall was gravitated towards this central idea that “your person” can instantly be the break to the craziness. Chelsea Hammons, Fall 2025

I really find this matched pair interesting because even though it wasn’t one of the original matches, it still made for a really good one. I like the imagery of fighting to keep your eyes open whether that be trying to wake up or squinting because the wind is really strong. In addition to that the blurry imagery comes through in both. The first one is more obvious in the sense that maybe the person isn’t wearing their glasses or they’re still waiting for their eyes to adjust. The second scene comes across as blurry to me because when it is snowing really hard, it’s difficult to make out any sharp, definitive objects. They also both bring imagery of a red face to me. Sometimes when I wake up, I have red marks on my face from sleeping on my arm or a textured pillow. Similarly, when I come in from the cold, my cheeks, ears, and nose get red. Hannah Swan, Fall 2025
 

unblinking  
unflinching 
I witness a masterpiece 

Nissi Bamgboye

eyes fill with water
just a blink
waterworks

Addison Weed

eye contact
we both
look away

Asa Pilger

avoiding my gaze 
a crow 
flies over 

Jordana Samnick

blind eyes  
they were the color  
of the ocean

Sam Ramirez

laughing with friends
her eyes
tell a different story

Emily Edwards

she catches my eye
every time . . .
catching my heart

Grace Felz

climbing up the couch
she cuddles up
eyes slowly closing

Chelsea Hammons

I love this pair because I love each haiku so much individually. Sam’s is so unique, blind eyes…I never would have thought to interpret eyes as unseeing. I liked the idea of eyes feeling (wind or snow). In the past tense, it’s even more effortless and beautiful. This author has a love for these blind eyes. Perhaps because they cannot see their own beauty. Emily’s haiku is similar to Sam’s in the sense that the eyes mean something different than we initially think. I would say that Sam’s haiku is more about the writer’s feelings than the blind person’s, Emily’s haiku is about the internal struggle of her character. The girl is covering her deep sadness with a laugh. The eyes are the window to the soul. They reveal too much. Both haikus are related because the eyes are not seeing or are misleading. Amanda Spotts, Fall 2025