03 Matching Contest - Love -

January 2021 • Millikin University

climbing the lilac tree
i cut the branches
to put in your hair

Mira Burens

behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza

Jenny Tullis

eyes locked
still
heart racing

Jakob Henderson

the glance of
her eyes—
gentle as a river's sound

Nick Sablan

arrow down

behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza

arrow down

the glance of
her eyes—
gentle as a river's sound

 

arrow down

behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza

top quarter champion

 

First Third Chamption

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

 

bottom quarter champion

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

arrow up

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

arrow up

her lips push against
my puffed up cheek
life isn’t all bad

arrow up

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

Sarah Obert

swirling party
you grabbed my hand
I only saw you

Jenny Tullis

her lips push against
my puffed up cheek
life isn’t all bad

Harrison Atkins

hot and heavy night 
bright morning 
she puts on my shirt 

Eli Hartsfield

 

TOP half champion

arrow down

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

 

CHAMPION

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant
 

the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night

arrow up

BOTTOM half champion

he gently places
a bright red rose
in her hair

Allie Bonk

the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night

Nick Sablan

a glitter of gold in your eyes
the color
I dyed my hair when you left

Sarah Obert

a deep exhale
finally clears enough
to drink life in

Harrison Atkins

arrow down

the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night

arrow down

a glitter of gold in your eyes
the color
I dyed my hair when you left

 

arrow down

the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night

top quarter champion

 

Middle Third champion

the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night

 

bottom quarter champion

last night here with you
same old songs
just once more

arrow up

window shopping
a wedding dress
turns our cheeks red-hot

arrow up

last night here with you
same old songs
just once more

arrow up

window shopping
a wedding dress
turns our cheeks red-hot

Sarah Obert

wedding bells
everyone waits
     cold feet

Ashley Galloway

renamed playlist
should have seen
this one coming

Jenny Tullis

last night here with you
same old songs
just once more

Sam Thornburg

• • •

 

TOP half champion

arrow down

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

 

GRAND CHAMPION

the indents—
in my bed
you left
 

the indents—
in my bed
you left

arrow up

BOTTOM half champion

• • •

the song you wrote
a whisper
to my heart

Sarah Obert

her diary
a crimped corner
                        !

Sam Thornburg

the indents—
in my bed
you left

Nick Sablan

an empty house
knees bent in my bed
alone again

Harrison Atkins

arrow down

her diary
a crimped corner
                        !

arrow down

the indents—
in my bed
you left

 

arrow down

the indents—
in my bed
you left

top quarter champion

 

Bottom Third Chamption

the indents—
in my bed
you left

 

bottom quarter champion

the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet

arrow up

the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet

arrow up

tears in my eyes
stomach coiled
oh how you make me laugh

arrow up

the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet

Sam Thornburg

smell of her perfume
these empty rooms
    the door slams

Ashley Galloway

tears in my eyes
stomach coiled
oh how you make me laugh

Harrison Atkins

time apart
a stranger’s face
oh-those lips

Ashley Galloway

© 2021, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.

Reader Responses:

climbing the lilac tree
i cut the branches
to put in your hair

Mira Burens

behind the bleachers
first kiss
the taste of cafeteria pizza

Jenny Tullis

eyes locked
still
heart racing

Jakob Henderson

the glance of
her eyes—
gentle as a river's sound

Nick Sablan

 

I remember my first kiss after reading this haiku. We were both extremely nervous as we snuck outside at lunch, but we had made a promise to meet that we both kept. She stood there looking at me waiting to make the first move while I was unsure if I should kiss her or wait for her to tell me it was okay. When the moment finally came it was more than what I expected. I enjoyed the kiss, and I can remember what we had that day because the taste has become a pleasant memory. Ron Bond, January 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

Sarah Obert

swirling party
you grabbed my hand
I only saw you

Jenny Tullis

her lips push against
my puffed up cheek
life isn’t all bad

Harrison Atkins

hot and heavy night 
bright morning 
she puts on my shirt 

Eli Hartsfield

I absolutely love the way that this pair both give a feeling of vibrant intimacy. The first lines insinuate joy, vivaciousness, and perhaps multitudes of people. In the following lines, the poems turn from a larger scene, to something of intimacy between what I imagine are only two people. It’s such a wonderful feeling to share something with only one person. Sarah Obert, January 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

he gently places
a bright red rose
in her hair

Allie Bonk

the touch of her skin
when I turn over
at night

Nick Sablan

a glitter of gold in your eyes
the color
I dyed my hair when you left

Sarah Obert

a deep exhale
finally clears enough
to drink life in

Harrison Atkins

 

My wife and I have always slept close together since we were married over 30 years ago. The need for intimacy supersedes temperature and anger. There are times when we separate but no matter what we wake up in the spoon position every morning. We both agree it is our need for closeness that keeps or relationship strong through adversity. Ron Bond, January 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

window shopping
a wedding dress
turns our cheeks red-hot

Sarah Obert

wedding bells
everyone waits
     cold feet

Ashley Galloway

renamed playlist
should have seen
this one coming

Jenny Tullis

last night here with you
same old songs
just once more

Sam Thornburg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• • •

the song you wrote
a whisper
to my heart

Sarah Obert

her diary
a crimped corner
                        !

Sam Thornburg

the indents—
in my bed
you left

Nick Sablan

an empty house
knees bent in my bed
alone again

Harrison Atkins

 

the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet

Sam Thornburg

 

her diary
a crimped corner
                        !

Sam Thornburg

This was my favorite pair of the love haiku because of the perfect way these two are paired and, because of their vivid scenes. The first haiku was picked as the champion in the class and I completely agree, as it was also my favorite. Each poem uses a sense of empty space, or absence, to exaggerate their sadness. They are also both very personal, not only with their emotions but the bedroom area is normally a more remote/personal part of the living space. Caitlin Marshall, January 2021

I enjoyed the pairing of these two haiku because of the sense of innocent love they have when paired together. I know many people who in middle school, would’ve kept a straw they shared with their crush. An amulet to new love hidden out of pure embarrassment. The second haiku made me imagine someone young keeping a diary, writing about whatever current crush she was obsessed with, doodling hearts around their name on page after page of lined paper. Maybe on that day her crush asked her to the school dance, or they shared a drink, using the same straw. She marked that page in her diary so she could go back and pour over the words, still in disbelief about what happened on that day. Mira Burens, January 2021

This haiku ended up being crowned the champion and I think it is well deserved. I really liked the first line that uses an indent after pointing out the indent. This also helps paused the reader to visualize the imprint a person can make on a bed. The last line is also powerful for its double meaning. You left seems to refer to the imprints someone made on the bed, and the act of that person leaving more generally. We are left to wonder if they are gone for good, if they found someone else etc. It certainly left a sting saving that line for last. Harrison Atkins, January 2021

 

the straw we shared
hidden away
in my closet

Sam Thornburg

smell of her perfume
these empty rooms
    the door slams

Ashley Galloway

tears in my eyes
stomach coiled
oh how you make me laugh

Harrison Atkins

time apart
a stranger’s face
oh-those lips

Ashley Galloway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an empty house
knees bent in my bed
alone again

Harrison Atkins

laughter into midnight
the space between us
unimportant

Sarah Obert

 

 

These two haiku showcase an “after and before” situation together, which I think is really great. The last haiku describes a long conversation between friends, relatives, or a significant other on the phone, while the first one describes what happens after they hang up. Perhaps it also describes visiting family/friends/SO and what happens after they leave. They fulfill each other and complement one another, having a sudden, short ending and a descriptive first two lines. It truly is strange how two independent haiku by two different writers can end up piecing together such a vivid, relatable scene. Sam Thornburg, January 2021

 

 

© 2021, Randy Brooks • Millikin University. All rights returned to authors upon publication.