Global Haiku • Fall 2025
Dr. Randy Brooks

The Lightning of the Storm

by
Hope Self

This haiku collection is titled, “The Lightning of the Storm.” The inspiration behind the title is the idea that nothing I do is calm, which is the original saying. Also, sometimes I can be a loose cannon, you never know what you’re going to get. There can be some pretty straightforward haiku, and some chaotic haiku, but if you look hard enough, you can find beauty in it all. All of these haiku are included in The Lightning of the Storm because I think people can connect to them in different ways. I hope the reader is able to reflect on past memories through reading my haiku, whether it is a memory from last week, or twenty years ago.

This semester, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the world through haiku, as well as connecting with others through haiku. One of the greatest things I have learned in this class is that we are all so alike, but so different at the same time, and there is beauty in that. When reading haiku, I typically relate it back to a memory I had in the past. Those times bring me joy and sometimes sadness, but I can also hear other people's experiences through it. When others share their thoughts on haiku, I am also able to see things differently, maybe not how I looked at it before.

Another thing I love about haiku is the beauty in the unknown. A lot of haiku have open-ended thoughts, so you can take them anywhere you would like. I think there is so much beauty in that because it shows how you can make a lot of things out of one little thing. For example, when I write a haiku and one of my peers connects to it in a kukai, I can hear their perspective, where I may have taken an entirely different perspective.

Overall,  I have learned to appreciate other people’s perspectives more and understand that we all see the world differently. I love how different people can take different approaches to problems, and I will be able to use my experiences in this class to create a positive learning environment as a teacher in the future. Hope Self, Fall 2025

cold then warm
decide
mother nature

This haiku I like because it is not only relatable literally, but also can be related to thinking about people. Maybe if someone is in a relationship, and they are fighting with their significant other, they can relate, just wishing they wouldn’t be so cold, then warm all the time. Overall, I really like this haiku because it is straightforward, but if you think deeper, you can find more meaning in it.

warm coffee
full cup
everyone’s here

I love this one because I relate to it in so many ways, and it brings back memories of joy. I particularly like the line “full cup” because it reminds me not only that my coffee cup is full, but also that my heart is full being around my friends, family, and people I love. It also reminds me of a slow morning just hanging out and catching up with loved ones. 

fall air
hear from the birds
a song of grace

This haiku is one that stands out to me because I feel like it is one of those open-ended haiku. You are able to take this haiku and run with it in whatever way you would like. This can bring back any positive fall memories for the reader. I really like the line “a song of grace” because that feels like a reminder of the beauty in nature and the wholesomeness of the birds. 

you can’t control
what you can’t
control what you can

This is another haiku that is very open-ended, and that’s why I love it. I actually wrote this inspired by my current perspective on volleyball. I was always telling my teammates that they have to focus only only what they can control, because it can be frustrating when something isn’t going your way but you have no control over it. I think this is just great life advice, and the reader can apply it to whatever situation they are in.

around the table
laptops open
eyes are getting heavy

I love this haiku because I feel like it hits on multiple levels of emotion. The emotions of having assignments due, but also sitting with your friends and wanting to be in their presence and talk. As much as I don’t love studying and doing homework late at night, I think I take for granted those times just hanging out with my friends, and I know one day I’ll miss it. I like this haiku because it reminds me to cherish every moment while I can.

sunny and no wind
the perfect day
to be a pickleball court

soft flowers
a step
in the right direction

granny's house
sitting on the floor
playing games