Haiku Kukai 02 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Winter 2024
1 mother and daughter Danielle Piper I liked #1 because I felt a connection with my mom and I through it. We share each other’s gossip with each other all the time, so this brought me back to a fun car ride with my mom. She had spilt all her work drama as I told her about all my friend drama and what to do about it. Hailie Schafman, May 2024 I chose this haiku as one of my favorites because it has such a happy tone to it. It highlights the mother daughter bond that is such a special thing. It makes me think of me and my mother and the special bond we share.Kylie Villarreal, May 2024 |
2 night walk with friends Terrion White I enjoyed this haiku immensely because walking at night on darker paths or in darker areas is something my friends and I do often in the summer. While we don’t often focus on little things like fireflies, we do see little lights and say “oh let’s walk to there” or something along those lines and during those times it feels like the night goes on forever because of how the time past when you are with your best friends. Jacob Bullock, May 2024 |
3 bright lights flicker Terrion White This haiku captures the lively energy of a city at night. "Bright lights flicker" brings to mind neon signs and streetlights. "Streets hum" makes me think of the sounds of traffic and people. Calling it "the city’s heartbeat" is a great way to describe how alive and full of energy the city feels. This haiku really makes you feel the pulse and excitement of urban life. Alex Wozniak, May 2024 |
4 only three legs Danielle Piper This haiku put me in the state of mind that not everyone or thing is perfect to the outside world but if it is perfect to you then that is all that matters. For example, it is easy for a person to walk or drive by someone with their dog and wonder why they would like that dog at all, but the dog owner may see it as the perfect dog and the best they ever will have. I think this also applies to things other than dogs but that was the first example that came to my mind. Jacob Bullock, May 2024 |
5 spring petals |
6 empty water bottle |
7 white long van |
8 slobbery tongue Thomas Hills |
9 music playing on the boat Kylie Villarreal |
10 a boy gifts flowers |
11 4 scars on her wrist Tara Becker |
12 everywhere I look |
13 dancing in the rain Reed Pierson |
14 whistle blows Jacob Bullock I really liked this poem because recess was my favorite time as a kid. Whether we were playing basketball, soccer, or hopscotch. It was always an escape from school and so enjoyable. This haiku brought very nostalgic emotions. I can hear the whistle blow and the wave of dread over me as I walked in my single file line back inside the school. Danielle Piper, May 2024 I really enjoy this haiku, because it is very relatable. As a kid, my favorite part of elementary school was recess. I absolutely loved it. My grade in particular was extremely competitive. We would always play games like kickball, basketball, soccer, or ultimate football. We were so competitive in fact, that we would get sports taken away at recess. It was truly the best part of the day. And there was nothing worse than when the teacher blew the whistle signaling that it was time to go back inside. I really liked this haiku. It brought me back to my childhood and those moments in which you just get lost in your own worlds playing with your friends. The idea that something so small like a whistle blowing really puts the image into perspective and I really admire that wording. Tara Becker, May 2024 |
15 hook and line |
16 that sound . . . Reed Pierson When I read this I immediately imagined those loud obnoxious trains that are in Decatur while staying at school.That train always comes at the worst times and every time it's so loud. It was especially bad our freshman year while living in Dolson where the tracks ran right past our window so it could be the middle of the night and that's all I'd hear for hours. And don't let the window be open. It feels like the train is running right through the middle of your room. I can just picture the sound of the train blaring in my mind right now as I'm talking about it. Thomas Hills, May 2024 |
17 she brushes my hair Lauren Killian Reading this makes me think so much of my mom.When I was little she would always brush my hair for me and get me ready for bed.This just brings me back to the old days when life was simpler . When I was young, I didn't have to worry about much. Except what game I was going to play at recess the next day or what would be for lunch.It also gets me thinking about how much my mom really did to care and look over me and how she still does to this day. No matter how old I am, I will always be her little boy. Thomas Hills, May 2024 |
18 pigtails and braids Lauren Killian This is such a potent image so any girl. As someone who remembers bawling her eyes out and being threatened with a shaved head for not brushing her hair, I can understand the metaphor of a bunch a weeds. This a great comparison and good to know I was not alone in that experience. Tara Becker, May 2024 |
19 letters spread across my bed Hailie Schafman This haiku made me imagine myself when i was little looking at all of the letters from prison my dad wrote me. He wrote letters of what he imagined we would do when he was released but the truth is he actually never knew anything about me. He was never a good listener. He would talk to me like I was a baby when I was 8 years old. I was already light-years ahead of what he ever accomplished. Even to this day, we don't talk much but when we do it's him doing all the talking. He forgets how old I am. This haiku just made me think of those times. Now and then I clean my room and find those letters and sit on my bed and read them. Lauren Killian, May 2024 |
20 sunburned face Abby Park |
21 warm breeze Hailie Schafman |
22 the river's gentle flow Alex Wozniak This poem makes me think about nature and how it is filled with motion and energy. In the first line I am given a calm and serene setting and I think about all of the beautiful noises that the sounds of nature would be making. Leaves being carried reminds me of the constant motion that happens in nature. The circle of life is never ending and at all times of the day there is something happening. At the end I am brought back to a peaceful tone and it just feels very relaxing to have that familiarity. Collin Applegate, May 2024 |
23 silent park bench Alex Wozniak |
24 cold bathroom tile Abby Park |
25 Murph workout Chance Cole |
26 the lone survivor |
27 rock roads Blake Wiebe |
28 spray tan statue |
29 desk chair squeaks Chance Cole The squeak of a chair, the familiar setting of a classroom floor, and the joy of a class ending are all parts of the larger educational journey. They remind us that learning is not just about the absorption of knowledge but also about the experiences and emotions that accompany it.It reflects on the small but significant moments that make up our daily lives, emphasizing the universal relief and satisfaction that comes with the conclusion of a task. Terrion White, May 2024 |
30 a red toy car whizzes |
31 she hears them |
32 the invitations Tara Becker |
33 old faces Danielle Piper This one makes me think about being home for the summer and seeing old people that I do not always want to see. It is nice being home for a bit but after a while I am ready to go back to school, because college people are different. Reed Pierson, May 2024 I really enjoy looking over this haiku. When I read this haiku I see faces of old friends or even people I have known from high school and my hometown. When it says the same town, I look back at my hometown and how it hasn’t changed. Looking at the last part about nothing has changed, I not only look at how my hometown hasn’t changed but also how many of the people I knew haven’t changed, and much of their attitudes haven’t either. Blake Wiebe, May 2024 |
34 early morning road trip Kendra Hentz |
35 your ashes spread Danielle Piper |
36 palm trees dance Kendra Hentz I enjoyed this haiku. When I read this haiku, I could only think about a trip I just took to Florida, enjoying the palm trees and hearing them sway in the wind. In the second part, I see the sunset over the ocean and how beautiful it was. Finally I see how sun burnt and red I got from the sun. Blake Wiebe, May 2024 |
37 nose to the ground Terrion White |
38 gazing at the scenic view Kylie Villarreal |
39 friends laugh together Kylie Villarreal I really like #39 because I have felt the feeling of laughing with friends while getting ready to go out to a party. But secretly I was heartbroken, and my friends had no idea. I feel like this is a perfect depiction of how to hide your emotions from your friends to not ruin the night. When secretly you could be ‘rotting’ inside. Hailie Schafman, May 2024 |
40 grandfather's old cane |
41 neighborhood Chance Cole In this haiku I experience feelings of nostalgia and hope for the future, but also sadness. In regards to the neighborhood I feel that the speaker has a strong connection to it, but has moved on to a new area and looks back on all of the good memories that took place in the past. In the second line I think about the memories that the speaker had when playing with other children in the neighborhood. I also think about the positive associations that the word laughter brings. “My true home” tells me that the speaker has a strong sense of belonging in this neighborhood and that they are not comfortable anywhere else. Collin Applegate, May 2024 |
42 scared and alone |
43 fish jumping |
44 fog on the lake Jacob Bullock This haiku paints a calm picture of an early morning by the lake. The fog makes everything feel quiet and still. "Time slows" perfectly describes how it feels to be in such a peaceful moment. It reminds me of those rare mornings where everything seems to pause, giving you a chance to just be and enjoy the quiet. Alex Wozniak, May 2024 |
45 letters from home |
46 promises unwound Hailie Schafman |
47 fields of stone Hailie Schafman |
48 star gazing Lauren Killian |
49 everyone off work— Thomas Hills This is one of the best haiku I have ever read. This is very powerful to me. I think it truly embodies everything Memorial day is about. As children, often times, we often forget the true meaning of soldiers’ sacrifice. We are just happy that we do not have to go to school or work. This is a reminder of why we Celebrate Memorial Day. I love the juxtaposition of the civilians back home celebrating because of the ultimate sacrifice all our armed force members make. I like this one because sometimes I feel like people forget why we are off work. Yes, you can have fun but you also need to remember that there are people who fought for us so that we can have fun. Reed Pierson, May 2024 |
50 see you soon Thomas Hills This haiku considers the complexities of grief and the ways in which we cope with the absence of loved ones. The phrase "see you soon" becomes a bittersweet reminder of the past and a hopeful gesture that now feels out of place. The haiku captures the essence of mourning—the yearning for connection, the confrontation with the reality of loss, and the enduring love that persists despite the separation. Terrion White, May 2024 |
51 the old couple walking by Reed Pierson This haiku made me smile. Anytime I see an older couple with a dog they seem so complete and at peace. Often dogs are there to bind a family or serve as emotional support. An older couple walking their dog is truly what I'd want in my future. Kendra Hentz, May 2024 |
52 flowers Collin Applegate This haiku is bittersweet thinking about past loved ones. Every memorial day my mother and I dress the headstones of family members who are no longer with us. Its a tradition we practice every year to embrace the love we have for those who are gone. Kendra Hentz, May 2024 |
53 it’s so damn hot out Cory Davis This haiku reminded me of how miserable summer can be. I enjoy staying cool and enjoying my air conditioner in my home. Kendra Hentz, May 2024 |
54 watermelon juice Collin Applegate |
55 sirens shriek Abby Park I chose this haiku because it reminds me of my major and my future career. Upon reading this haiku I immediately knew it was referring to performing CPR at 12:43 am. It makes me wonder what the outcome of performing the CPR was and what caused this to happen.Kylie Villarreal, May 2024 Wow I loved this haiku. I could really imagine it. It was clever of them to do the rhyming. I have only ever experienced a full code 3 times. It is extremely scary. Your adrenaline is through the roof, and it feels like time freezes but passes by so quickly at the same time. This haiku was relatable and it hit me at the heart. CPR is not a gentle maneuver by any means, the compressions are violently tough and they sink so deep into the patient. You get to a point during the event where you have to stop CPR and time is called. That's the saddest. It feels like a huge weight on your chest. All you can do is remind yourself you did your absolute best. Lauren Killian, May 2024 |
56 midnight snowfall |
57 ribs cracking Abby Park This haiku was very relatable because I am a nursing student. I've seen CPR done on shows and I have practiced on fake mannequins before. However, there is nothing like the first time seeing and doing it on a real person. I can hear and feel the ribs cracking of the lifeless body beneath my small hands. This is a very powerful poem for the people in healthcare. Danielle Piper, May 2024 |
© 2024, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.