beach waves
sand in my toes
sitting alone

Charly Warlow

it was one of those
days . . .
we reminisced on the summer breeze

Larissa Olympe Senga

white orchids
each petal flip—
another memory of you

Larissa Olympe Senga

drinks & laughs
i will replay tonight
a thousand times over

Isabel Vincent

beach waves
sand in my toes
sitting alone

drinks & laughs
i will replay tonight
a thousand times over

drinks & laughs
i will replay tonight
a thousand times over

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

drinks & laughs
i will replay tonight
a thousand times over

bottom quarter champion

coffee brewing
phone turned off
morning care

eyes closed
my breathing’s calm
yoga mat spread out

coffee brewing
phone turned off
morning care

sitting on the mat
finally
alone at last

Charly Warlow

eyes closed
my breathing’s calm
yoga mat spread out

Lauren Adcock

I close my eyes
and lay back to sleep
welcome silence

Brad Spradlin

coffee brewing
phone turned off
morning care

Lauren Adcock

TOP half champion

drinks & laughs
i will replay tonight
a thousand times over

CHAMPION

running low
battery
needs to be charged

running low
battery
needs to be charged

BOTTOM half champion

dryer clunking
the buzz of the refrigerator
almost complete silence

Conor Reynolds

the furnace
buzzing
cutting through the silence

Madison Foreman

putting my phone down
no need for technology
connecting within

Lanie Bacon

running low
battery
needs to be charged

Trevor Voss

the furnace
buzzing
cutting through the silence

running low
battery
needs to be charged

running low
battery
needs to be charged

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

running low
battery
needs to be charged

bottom quarter champion

*deep inhale*
did i turn in my hw?
*exhale*

criss cross applesauce
close my eyes
10 minutes of me time

*deep inhale*
did i turn in my hw?
*exhale*

criss cross applesauce
close my eyes
10 minutes of me time

Salat Al-Nurridin

legs crossed and eyes closed
allowing worries to drift
no noise but my breath

Lanie Bacon

deep breath in
deep breath out
mental reset

Addi Sargent

*deep inhale*
did i turn in my hw?
*exhale*

Salat Al-Nurridin

stretching for the set
bracing muscle for battle
hydration please

Lanie Bacon

dropping the weight
she takes a deep breath
and begins to cry

Brad Spradlin

out of breath
feeling like I have nothing left
I find a second wind

Conor Reynolds

dripping sweat
gasping
keep pushing

Trevor Voss

stretching for the set
bracing muscle for battle
hydration please

dripping sweat
gasping
keep pushing

dripping sweat
gasping
keep pushing

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

dripping sweat
gasping
keep pushing

bottom quarter champion

The Gym:
where i act
like i know what i’m doing

The Gym:
where i act
like i know what i’m doing

grocery store
avoid the cupcakes
grab avocados

The Gym:
where i act
like i know what i’m doing

Isabel Vincent

at the gym
I throw the weight
around

Charly Warlow

first workout
this calls for celebration
cookie dough

Isabel Vincent

grocery store
avoid the cupcakes
grab avocados

Lauren Adcock

TOP half champion

dripping sweat
gasping
keep pushing

CHAMPION

dripping sweat
gasping
keep pushing

haiku olympics
i bench press—
my pen

BOTTOM half champion

a quiet old man
wearing jeans in the gym
turning back time

Brad Spradlin

a man sits
with his eyes closed
dreaming he’s a boy

Brad Spradlin

pitch black
running in fear
fear from the dark

Trevor Voss

moonlit yard
flood light flashes
just the dog

Salat Al-Nurridin

a quiet old man
wearing jeans in the gym
turning back time

pitch black
running in fear
fear from the dark

'

a quiet old man
wearing jeans in the gym
turning back time

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

haiku olympics
i bench press—
my pen

bottom quarter champion

haiku olympics
i bench press—
my pen

sweat in my eyes
10 seconds
shoot the ball

haiku olympics
i bench press—
my pen

sweat in my eyes
10 seconds
shoot the ball

Madison Foreman

7, 8, 9 . . . 10
as sweat drips
from my nose

Salat Al-Nurridin

chin ups . . .
dips . . .
then we take a lap

Salat Al-Nurridin

haiku olympics
i bench press—
my pen

Larissa Olympe Senga

beach waves
sand in my toes
sitting alone

Charly Warlow

it was one of those
days . . .
we reminisced on the summer breeze

Larissa Olympe Senga

white orchids
each petal flip—
another memory of you

Larissa Olympe Senga

drinks & laughs
i will replay tonight
a thousand times over

Isabel Vincent

I really enjoyed the pairing of beach waves, and the summer breeze. I think they complement each other quite nicely, and give me very similar vibes. Only one is about sitting alone, and one is about enjoying the company of another person. The second pairing I chose was the one about the dryer clunking and the furnace buzzing. I primarily like the use of sound in them, and how these specific home appliances cut through the silence. What made me choose these two pairings is that I feel like they could be put right after one another and make sense, and I get the same vibe from them. Coleman Klimek, January 2023

This is one of my favorite matches from the matching contest since it shows both sides of the story. Isabel’s is the good memories of a relationship, romantic or familial, and remembering those times. While Larissa shows the sadness of reminiscing on memories when a loved one leaves or passes. White orchids represent innocence and also are used to nonverbally say “I miss you” in a relationship. The petals flipping can be seen as a symbol of losing innocence after losing a loved one. Madison Foreman, January 2023

My favorite one was drinks and laughs, I will replay tonight, a thousand times. I like this one because I find myself reminiscing nights out with my friends quite often and looking back at good old times. Trevor Voss, January 2023

sitting on the mat
finally
alone at last

Charly Warlow

eyes closed
my breathing’s calm
yoga mat spread out

Lauren Adcock

I close my eyes
and lay back to sleep
welcome silence

Brad Spradlin

coffee brewing
phone turned off
morning care

Lauren Adcock

Both of these haiku make me think of peace and calmness. I can relate more to the first one because of how I feel when I go to the gym. It is a feeling of relief when I walk upstairs and sit down to stretch. Going to the gym is my time away from everyone and gives me a break from my crazy life. The second haiku in this match allows me to easily picture what is going on and imagine it myself. Isabel Vincent, January 2023

This haiku gives me a tired and relaxed feeling. I see myself on a rainy day waking up on the weekend and slowly drifting back to sleep. For some reason I feel like I am wearing a hoodie and am very cold. My room is comfortable and dark which makes it easy for me to fall asleep. Lanie Bacon, January 2023

dryer clunking
the buzz of the refrigerator
almost complete silence

Conor Reynolds

the furnace
buzzing
cutting through the silence

Madison Foreman

putting my phone down
no need for technology
connecting within

Lanie Bacon

running low
battery
needs to be charged

Trevor Voss

I enjoyed these two haiku, as I felt that they greatly complimented each other. They both emphasize the importance of reconnecting with oneself. When we compare and contrast both their first lines, “putting my phone down” and “running low,” those two lines complement each other, as they both emphasize having low energy and taking a break from social devices. The transition from the second to the third line of both haikus re-emphasizes and suggests disconnecting with technological gadgets and re-connecting with oneself. I enjoyed the word play in the second haiku: “running low on battery” can also be someone running out of energy and not necessarily a phone about to die. These two haiku are a representation of how two differently worded haiku can be used to still mean the same things. Larissa Olympe Senga, January 2023

I loved the match of these two haiku. I think taking time to disconnect and unplug from our phones is so important. Electronics have consumed our everyday world and sometimes we get so caught up in our phones that we forget to take a look at things happening around us. These haiku are a perfect example of taking a break and enjoying time alone to take a break and be present in the moment alone. Charly Warlow, January 2023

criss cross applesauce
close my eyes
10 minutes of me time

Salat Al-Nurridin

legs crossed and eyes closed
allowing worries to drift
no noise but my breath

Lanie Bacon

deep breath in
deep breath out
mental reset

Addi Sargent

*deep inhale*
did i turn in my hw?
*exhale*

Salat Al-Nurridin

After reading this haiku, I took the steps stated. In lines one and two it reads “deep breath in” and “deep breath out”. I often do this when I need a “mental reset” as mentioned in line three. This tactic reminds me of calming down when I have feelings of irritation, anxiety, or anger. Overall this haiku gave me feelings of relaxation and peace that everything will be okay. Lanie Bacon, January 2023

I think this was a good match in terms of them both relating to meditation. Taking slow, deep breaths helps calm me down when things become overwhelming. It is crazy how a few minutes of slow breathing can make such a difference. I also really enjoy the second haiku because of the humor in it. The punctuation and the line breaks are funny and I think many people can relate to it because we all have been in this type of situation and had this thought. Isabel Vincent, January 2023

stretching for the set
bracing muscle for battle
hydration please

Lanie Bacon

dropping the weight
she takes a deep breath
and begins to cry

Brad Spradlin

out of breath
feeling like I have nothing left
I find a second wind

Conor Reynolds

dripping sweat
gasping
keep pushing

Trevor Voss

This was another one of my favorite matches from the matching contest since I am just now getting back into the gym after a knee injury last Spring. I am pushing myself and this pairing of haiku represents my story right now perfectly. Trevor’s haiku shows how cardio days go, while Conor’s explains how lifting days in my split feel like. When doing weights, upper or lower body, I push myself and it is very tiring. Being able to get that second wind of energy to finish out a set makes you feel so good and helps you keep the mentality of “keep pushing” like in Trevor’s haiku. Madison Foreman, January 2023

The Gym:
where i act
like i know what i’m doing

Isabel Vincent

at the gym
I throw the weight
around

Charly Warlow

first workout
this calls for celebration
cookie dough

Isabel Vincent

grocery store
avoid the cupcakes
grab avocados

Lauren Adcock

I think that this pair of haiku was my favorite because I liked how similar they were. Both have to do with an individual knowing that the right decision is to do the healthier thing, but having that temptation to grab or do the non-healthy thing. This relates to me because I struggle with avoiding sweets and going for healthier options. I have a really big sweet tooth, so reading these lets me know there are other people in the same boat as me. Lauren Adcock, January 2023

I thought this match was funny but also such a reality and very fitting for the time of year. The new year brings new resolutions, and many people say they want to work out or eat healthy. The first haiku depicts the struggles of completing that first workout only to go home and each a handful of cookie dough. The second haiku make you think of someone shopping for the healthy food but wanting so badly to grab the cupcakes instead of the avocados. I really enjoy both of these haikus and think that they do a great job encapsulating most people’s new year’s resolutions. Charly Warlow, January 2023

Both haikus mention bad food choices that comes with healthier living. When working out and making better health choices it is very hard to stay away from those tempting foods. I personally laughed at the first haiku because it is something that my teammates do, we always have cookie dough in the fridge and enjoy some after a hard day at the field. Addi Sargent, January 2023

a quiet old man
wearing jeans in the gym
turning back time

Brad Spradlin

a man sits
with his eyes closed
dreaming he’s a boy

Brad Spradlin

pitch black
running in fear
fear from the dark

Trevor Voss

moonlit yard
flood light flashes
just the dog

Salat Al-Nurridin

The other one I liked is a quiet old man, wearing jeans in the gym, turning back time. The reason why I like this one because It makes me think about an older man trying to get back into shape and he is just trying to better his life. Trevor Voss, January 2023

sweat in my eyes
10 seconds
shoot the ball

Madison Foreman

7, 8, 9 . . . 10
as sweat drips
from my nose

Salat Al-Nurridin

chin ups . . .
dips . . .
then we take a lap

Salat Al-Nurridin

haiku olympics
i bench press—
my pen

Larissa Olympe Senga