Instrumental Music Kukai 09 Favorites

Global Haiku • Millikin University • Fall 2025

1

instruments mix
to tell a story
words never could

Asa Pilger (4)

I like this haiku because I love music. I love listening to all the different instruments and how they are perfectly arranged to create a beautiful sound. I love the last line of this haiku because I can relate to this. Sometimes I can't even put the music into words because of how good it sounds. Ridge Batchelor, Fall 2025

2

end of the movie . . .
the music plays 
as everyone stretches 

3

curiosity of the child
through the garden
out of site

Addison Weed (5) 

4

dancing with laughter
we spin
until the walls blur

Amanda Spotts (9)

This is such a wholesome scene. I can easily imagine a pair of young siblings spinning and spinning to their favorite song. In fact, the song itself probably has a vocalist excitedly instructing the listeners to spin and dance. To them, it likely didn’t matter what the occasion was; it could be anything from a weekend at home to a celebration for two. This haiku feels nostalgic and joyful. issi Bamgboye, Fall 2025

I see a group of girls having a slumber party. There is music playing and all the girls are dancing. The girl’s mom comes in, turns off the music, and tells them to go to sleep. The girls all sit on their sleeping bags and start telling stories. A few minutes later, they are up again. They play ring-around-the-Rosie. They keep spinning and singing. The mom pops her head in again and tells them to go to sleep. The second she closes the door, they start laughing and singing. Eventually, they all fall down laughing, and within a few minutes, they are all sleeping soundly on the floor. Emily Edwards, Fall 2025

5

sunshine
bounces off
the sidewalk

6

my converse
knock off yesterday’s dust
in the downtown sun

Amanda Spotts (5)

7

softly
she makes her way
up the garden steps

Amanda Spotts (3)

This haiku was so whimsical to me. The imagery is so strong and I feel like you can apply it to so many different situations. I first thought of a princess going to her secret hideaway to read her favorite book, away from all distractions. My second thought was an "Alice in Wonderland" situation, where a curious little girl just so happens to stumble across this beautiful hidden garden. I am places in an environment with so many butterflies, garden mammal friends, and an abundance of fresh flowers. This haiku really made me want to go to this garden! Natalie Brodsky, Fall 2025

8

Paris streets
I stop 
to hear the violin

9

afternoon tea
the women talk
about nothing

Nicole Wells (7)

I enjoyed this haiku because it makes me think about the way that people form social groups and we form opinions about them. It makes me think about The Importance of Being Earnest and the way that people hide their true feelings, desires, and intentions. I may just be taking the haiku with a harsh view on people, but I can also see the haiku being more positive and showing how people can enjoy the presence of others without having to have deep philosophical conversations. Sometimes being in the presence of others talking about mundane topics is enough to make us feel connected to those around us. Sam Ramirez, Fall 2025

10

coastal freeway
convertible top down
for ocean breeze

Randy Brooks

I like this haiku because it feels very free and peaceful. I can picture this visually and I can also feel happiness and joy in this type of setting. I also feel like this can be related to a happy ending of a movie where the song plays and it is the feeling of freedom. It is an uplifting song and makes the audience feel happy. This is what I picture the most when thinking about this haiku and I think I really enjoy the feeling this haiku brings me. Addison Weed, Fall 2025

11

in a blooming field
we chase one another
as the rain pours

Sam Ramirez (8)

I think an interesting part about this haiku is the word choice. Instead of saying “each other,” the author said, “one another.” I am not really sure exactly what makes it sound better the way the author chose it, but I like the words they used. I was able to imagine friends or maybe siblings who do not have a care in the world. They do not mind the rain, and maybe it is spring because of the description of a blooming field. I feel like, especially with the prompt, this was easy to imagine as an instrumental in a movie scene. I enjoyed the simplicity but also the dynamics that were shown in this haiku. Nicole Wells, Fall 2025

12

spring morning 
the butterflies 
keep me company

Sam Ramirez

I liked this haiku because it shows serenity in being alone with nature. Personally, since I was a kid, I've always enjoyed my own company and being able to quietly admire beautiful things. I feel like nature shows its beauty in many ways, and this haiku highlights one. I picture a warm day with a nice breeze. The bright sun is shining down on me as the few big puffy white clouds slowly move in the sky. I’m sitting alone, reading a book as a few monarch butterflies fly past and land on the table and the book. They keep me company in my solitude. Chelsea Hammons, Fall 2025

13

new shoes, new streets
tripping over 
my shoelaces 

Sam Ramirez (4)

This haiku makes me think of Pete the Cat from the childrens book since he wears these big bright red shoes. I loved to read this book as a kid and this haiku brings back these memories for me. It feels nostalgic almost reading this. Grace Pelz, Fall 2025

14

dinner music
ketchup drips
from my burger

Bella Griffiths 

I liked this one because I can relate to this. When we go to restaurants, I like to get burgers. When the burger is so big, it takes me forever to eat it. When I hold the burger, the ketchup drips all over my plate. I like to put my fries under the burger when I eat it so the ketchup falls on the fries. I just found this haiku sort of relatable because of that. Abbey Matthews, Fall 2025

15

flowers and birds
a beaten path
shows the way

Ridge Batchelor (6)

There's something intrinsically charming about this haiku. Flowers and birds is a really pretty opening line. I like how simple it is yet it conveys a sense of whimsy and spring. I also love the phrase beaten path. It shows that many creatures have traveled this way. There's a sense of security and community there. The path has been walked many times before and there are signs of life everywhere hence the flowers and the birds. It’s a friendly path. The phrase shows the way personifies the path in a really lovely, welcoming way as well. Amanda Spotts, Fall 2025

16

tones swell
the vibrant strings
take me away

Natalie Brodsky

Yessss, I love this haiku because strings take me away too. There’s something so transportive about an orchestra. The layered music of an ensemble is like a bath for the auditory system, a refresh if you will. The word swell stands out to me. Music literally swells and my heart usually does too. Music is a personal experience because it tugs at raw feeling without having to explain it through lyrics. That's why I think the last line “takes me away” is so fitting. Music really takes me out of my body and into the experience. Vibrant is also a great word. I can’t see anything literally, but in my mind I often attribute color and texture to music. Amanda Spotts, Fall 2025

17

transported 
to sock hops
and swirled straw milkshakes

18

warm summer day
playing freeze tag
with the neighborhood kids 

Natalie Brodsky

I enjoyed this haiku because it creates a vivid picture of people being united. It gives the feeling of childhood innocence when people do not care as much about the way they are perceived. When it was easier to make connections with others and all it took was a simple hello for someone to become your friend. Sam Ramirez, Fall 2025

19

changing leaves
glistening
with morning dew

Emily Edwards

This haiku paints a vivid scene. I can easily imagine a character taking an early morning walk down a forest path, the morning dew slowly evaporating from the fallen leaves. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this haiku was paired with a landscape painting depicting just that, with or without a person present within it. issi Bamgboye, Fall 2025

20

barren branches
rabbit tracks
in fresh fallen snow

Emily Edwards (8)

21

in full bloom
a butterfly inspects
each flower

Emily Edwards (12)

I liked this haiku because it shows the diversity of creatures in nature. We are all so different and play so many different roles in the world. I just like how we see butterflies "inspecting" flowers, but they are serving their purpose in the environment just as we are. Abbey Matthews, Fall 2025

I liked this haiku because I like butterflies. They are a really chill and calm animal. No one is scared of butterflies and they are super cool to look at. I love all the different vibrant colors they have. Ridge Batchelor, Fall 2025

 


© 2025, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.