Haiku Kukai 03 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • January 2025
1 all alone . . . Kendra Marnul |
2 summer carnival Emma Cox |
3 the kiss ends— Emma Cox In the aftermath of a kiss, this haiku encapsulates a moment of intense emotional intensity. The speaker's inner emotional condition and their view of the cosmos are deeply connected, as suggested by the juxtaposition of intimate experience ("the kiss ends") with the outside world ("and now the moon / won't look at me"). Here, the moon — typically a representation of beauty, mystery, and constancy—is personified, and its failure to "look" suggests a change in the speaker's sense of balance or value. With the abrupt change from the intimacy of the kiss to the speaker's sense of cosmic rejection, the poem's briefness intensifies its emotional impact. A feeling of loneliness or disillusionment replaces the kiss, which could have been a time of love or connection. Brittney Spalding, January 2025 |
4 just home |
5 on the ground |
6 grandpa’s basement Nathaniel Straughter |
7 iron in my hands, |
8 UnEvEn BaRs Kendra Marnul |
9 his name lingers Emma Cox This poem definitely makes me feel like the author has some nasty feelings towards their EX. and I think pretty much everybody has been there, the relationship doesn't work out and people's feelings get hurt. I know I've definitely had my fair share of bad ex partners. So I know that feeling when their name gets brought up in conversation, and you can just feel the pit in your stomach and you feel just nasty. and I think this author did a very good job of portraying that. Andalyn Hodge, January 2025 |
10 candy canes |
11 wind burned skin Gracie Cleeton |
12 Kings provide for all Nathaniel Straughter |
13 smoke emerges Aaron Amaya |
14 under the bar’s warm glow |
15 when it becomes Ashleigh Johnson-Jones |
16 blue comforter Ashleigh Johnson-Jones This haiku reminds me of coming home from being at college. When I am at school, I feel like I am stressed a lot and do not always get as much sleep as I should be getting. I always look forward to going home and count down the days. I love seeing my family, dog, and getting home cooked meals. One of my favorite things that I get to do while I am at home is sleep in my own bed. This haiku makes me picture getting in bed at night after going home, pulling my comforter over me, and just relaxing until I fall asleep. This is one of the best feelings in my opinion. Abby Heberling, January 2025 |
17 winds roaring Aaron Amaya |
18 wrapped around Aaron Amaya |
19 moonlit stream— |
20 breath of dawn— Brittney Spalding |
21 breathe in Brandon Johnson This is a strong haiku to me. I imagine deep sorrow and pain. My mind takes me to heartache or depression, where every breath seems painful and you wonder why you must carry on with this pain, which you circulate with every breath. I can also see this being a physical hurt like pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, or another respiratory ailment. My paternal grandfather passed away from lung cancer. I’m sure in his case, the pain was mostly physical. Though, the weight of living with a terminal disease may cause mental damage as well. Lance Frederick, January 2025 |
22 old jeans Brandon Johnson This haiku makes me think of myself a few years ago when i was on my weight loss journey. I had a favorite pair of jeans that i would wear at least three times a week, and once I became too big to fit them i knew it was time to start a diet and get in the gym. Brandon Johnson, January 2025 |
23 in the dark Brandon Johnson |
24 footfalls align, |
25 lifting weight |
26 take your time Tionne Spates The speaker of this haiku realizes too late how wise their mother's counsel was, reflecting a moment of reflection and remorse. "Take your time," the first sentence, establishes a tone of reflection and pause, implying that the speaker is considering a decision or action taken in a hurry. The imperative's usage also suggests the advise itself, possibly calling for patience or careful thought, which the speaker disregarded. "I should’ve listened," the second sentence, expresses regret and personal responsibility. The brevity of the statement mirrors the weight of realization, showing how clarity often arrives after the fact. The final line, "to what mom said," carries emotional resonance, invoking the authority, care, and foresight traditionally associated with maternal guidance. Brittney Spalding, January 2025 |
27 sweating through Tionne Spates |
28 long day at work |
29 alarm set for 9:30 Lance Frederick I wake up at 6;30 AM during the week and a 9:30 AM wake up time is considered sleeping in to me. Being able to take my time and meander into wakefulness is one of the greatest joys of the weekend. I can snuggle up with my cats and my partner and enjoy slowly starting my day. These moments really make me appreciate my life and all that I have. There is something incredibly cozy about setting an alarm knowing you are not beholden to the time you set. Lucas Wallen, January 2025 |
30 backyard playground |
31 winter wind Lance Frederick |
32 nothing in my head Abby Heberling I have been so incredibly busy lately that I can deeply relate to the feeling of absolute peace that sets in when you are cozy and have nothing to do. I have many blankets on my bed as I tend to hoard them just in case. Recently I have taken to layering up a few blankets to get extra warm as I zone out petting my cats or playing pokemon on my old 3ds. The point is I have taken to enjoying the slow moments when I am free of tasks as they are few and far between. Lucas Wallen, January 2025 |
33 running with a dog |
34 bay leaves Lucas Wallen |
35 go ahead |
36 rock, paper, scissors Eli Bland I related when reading this haiku because I grew up with a lot of siblings and before we had personal electronics how kids do now, we just shared the tv and so I was reminded of the different ways we would settle who gets the rights to the tv and the others would either have to watch and deal with it or find something else to do. Tionne Spates, January 2025 |
37 you assured me Eli Bland I really like this haiku. I feel like it is very easy to look at celebrities or even other people we see every day and compare yourself to them. It can lead to unhealthy thoughts like wishing you were as skinny as them or that you wish you had their different “perfect” features. Sometimes these unhealthy thoughts can lead into unhealthy habits. Wanting to skip meals or working out too much could be some. I think this haiku is a good reminder that it is okay to want to eat the last slice of pizza and it can be even better when someone is encouraging it. Abby Heberling, January 2025 I laughed out loud to this haiku. The flow is simple, effective, and streamline. The last slice of pizza is sacred ground, and it could go wrong in a number of ways. Pizza does not fill me up effectively, so I always find myself eating a larger share at a gathering than others. I usually leave the last slice just to make up for my gluttony. I’m sure for some, it can become a heated debate. Some may feel betrayed. Other may be misled into feeling comfort that they are granted access to the holy last slice. Apparently in this case, it was false safe-passage. Lance Frederick, January 2025 |
38 my addiction Lucas Wallen I really enjoy the imagery and humor I get from this haiku. I think we all have that one or a few foods we can just never get enough of or are just our “old standard” when it comes to a snack or “safe” food to eat whenever. That’s mainly what I got from this and the second line really gets that point across with the nice and decadent description. It also keeps you guessing a bit before the third line which I like. Maybe they’re talking about their dog or another animal they like, or toasted marshmallows? Either way, a super fun haiku. Eli Bland, January 2025 |
39 I’m not depressed Lucas Wallen This haiku is funny to me because i can hear the condescending tone with the haiku. It leads you to believe that those who do not do yoga are stressed and the ones that do are stress free. Yoga does stimulate the mind and body, but it does not keep stress out of your life, just makes it easier to deal with it i believe. Brandon Johnson, January 2025 |
40 reading a book Jazmine Mileham |
41 hiking on the first date — |
42 slush on my face |
43 another date— Andalyn Hodge |
44 book ends. Jazmine Mileham I relate to this Haiku a lot, I cannot tell you how many times I have finished a book and had to wait for the next book in the series to come out and it takes forever. not to mention the name of the wind series which has not been updated in 15 years, we are never going to get that last book. I also really like how kind of bottom heavy this one is, I like the flow as you read it out loud. Andalyn Hodge, January 2025 I really like the formatting, spacing, and multiple meanings this haiku has. While the first line is pretty self-explanatory, especially with the period, saying how the protagonist just finished a book, it also makes me think of “bookends” or the saying of how after finishing this book it’s also bookended this moment in your life so to speak. Also the spacing between the second and third line seems very intentional, as it gives the protagonist a sense of release and comfort while waiting for the next book and not having to jump right into the next one, they can continue to think and mull over the last thing they read. Really intricate and interesting haiku. Eli Bland, January 2025 |
45 wind blowing |
46 abandoned playground Emma Cox Haunting and mysterious, you wonder why the playground is abandoned. The descriptive imagery of the last two lines together is masterfully written. I couldn’t resist choosing this haiku as a favorite just because of the force behind it. I simply appreciate and have been caught by its magnetism. Lance Frederick, January 2025 |
47 snowflakes fall gently |
48 morning run |
49 we sip Emma Cox This takes me to my second date with my girlfriend. I wanted to take her somewhere nice and so we ate at Red Lobster. The meal tasted great but I can't help myself so I order desert. They brought a brownie sundae with 1 spoon and I took this as an opportunity to just have a moment as I really liked her. So we took turns feeding each other the brownies and ice cream and it was a real warm hearted moment. Tionne Spates, January 2025 |
50 red. . . Gracie Cleeton I used to sneak out of my window at nights when my mother worked late and climb the tree in my backyard to sit on the rough of our crappy rental home. A twelve year old can get surprisingly insightful when staring at the stars from the rough at 2am, looking over a neighborhood they wanted nothing more than to escape. In these moments I was able to confess to myself, red-faced with shame at both my circumstance and my dreams I assumed would be unachievable. Lucas Wallen, January 2025 |
51 watch the waves |
52 evening walk Dalton Hoadley |
53 mindfulness— |
54 she hardly knows Jake Reed |
55 the sun returns |
56 butterflies— Kendra Marnul I interpret this Haiku as being about that moment when you know for sure that you're in love with somebody. but more than that I think this is about the moment you realize this is your forever person. Andalyn Hodge, January 2025 |
57 blind date Brandon Johnson This haiku made me giggle. I get a sense that this person was sent on a blind date and didn’t go very well. Personally, I don’t think I could ever do a blind date. I would definitely be this type of person to try an get out of this situation. I like that it went from the blind date starting to the blind date promptly ending. Kendra Marnul, January 2025 |
58 short-haired hound |
59 it’s ok to be alone Ashleigh Johnson-Jones |
60 splashing in the puddle |
61 downward dog |
62 dirty band aid |
63 she gets me Abby Heberling I just like this one. In today's age people never can believe a man and a woman can be in a platonic relationship. This haiku just gives me like a chill relax feeling like someone else gets it beside me! I there is not a rule on who can understand you and if you meet someone that does that’s awesome. I love the truth in this one! Kendra Marnul, January 2025 |
© 2025, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.