heated argument
scrubbing the kitchen floor
on hands and knees

Anna Johnson (11)

broken-hearted
diamond sparkles
on the untrodden snow

Anna Johnson (3)

A broken relationship, devastated by the breakup a young woman stares out of the window on a cold winter night. Looking at the diamond ring, reflecting in the light like the snow outside sparkling in the night light. Contemplating if her decision to not venture down a committed path but to be like the untrodden snow and remain untouched. Anna Johnson

windows rattle
cars ride
down the street

ready to pounce
the dog waits
for her prey

late at night
scent of baby soap
memories of the past

Anna Johnson (7)

I see a mother gently rocking the infant sleeping on her shoulder, as she sways from side to side. It's late, everything is quiet. Light from the bathroom streams into the darkened room. The smell of Johnson's Baby soap, unmistakable, wafts fro the warm, sleeping infant. The baby is finally asleep. A breeze comes in through the patio door slightly ajar, moving the drape slowly. It's a clear, starlit, summer night. Marie Radtke

family album
holding my daughter
in the curve of my arm

Anna Johnson (3)

Great Grandmother’s eyes
watch me closely
through the glass

Julie Rambo (3)

memories flooding back
of a time gone . . .
my mother’s clothes

sunshine through curtains
Victorian house
wooden attic floors

sunscreen
towel laid out on sand
fast asleep

Jill Doyle (6)

A warm summer day. The towel is the only thing between skin and scorching sand. The warmth of the sand soothing as you lie back on the towel after slathering on the sunscreen. The sand underneath the towel seems to start to envelope you as you wriggle out the lumps to find just the right position of comfort. In no time at all, you're asleep. Your own snoring wakes you sometime later. Sunscreen or not, you're burnt. Marie Radtke

standing crowd
finish line in sight
hearts pound

dimmed lights
blue eyes
looking at me

back porch
grandmother's love
talk of day

Julie Edmonson (5)

in first
final lap
make no mistakes

Jill Doyle (2)

This reminds me of when Allen, my finance, and I go to the NASCAR race every year. We have so much fun. People ask me, “What is so fun about NASCAR?” I tell them, you just have to go to one race and you will appreciate it for life. The energy that fills speedway is unbelievable. There is so much adrenaline in each of those drivers not to make a mistake. Everyone is on the edge of their seats. Julie E.

I imagine a very important swim meet, or Olympic trials perhaps, where the swimmer is exhausted and his heart is pounding. He thinks he can win it if he just continues to swim flawlessly. This race and this lap is what his years of training comes down to. If he wins he advances to the Olympics, but if he loses, it’s all over. I think he wins, everyone cheers, and his dream comes true. Gidget Kellenberger

the bride…
the groom…
butterflies in stomach

Jill Doyle (3)

I really like this haiku. When I think about the butterflies, I not only think of the bride and groom, but the whole crowd. Every time I go to a weeding, it seems like everyone is on pins and needles waiting for the bride to enter. Kendra Lee

This haiku brings to me feelings I once experienced many years ago. The nervous stomach, the uncertainty of what might lye ahead is a lot to digest and can cause these feelings. This is the big day that up till now has been only a dream. Reality sets in when the bride and groom sees the guests arrive, dressed in their best clothes. The sight of mom and dad with smiles on their faces and a tear in their eyes cause mixed emotions. Are they happy or sad? Emotions and thoughts can make us happy or sad or both. Rusty Vinson

sister’s reading
how boring
let’s play

Karen Fleener

farmhouse
dog chasing
little girl

daughter’s fingers
wrap tightly around mine
winter comfort

Dianne Olson (2)

This reminds me of my young three year old daughter. We love to cuddle with each other. Sometimes we cuddle and watch movies on a cold winter night. She is so sweet and loves hold my hand. I treasure every moment I have with her. Julie E.

school days
as we walk
a son’s curious mind

snow rushes to my
feet—
a weak spot

daughter stomps
door slams
loud music

Dianne Olson (11)

Teenage girl and mother in heated discussion that escalates into an explosive argument. Yelling by the daughter, unmoving by the mother. Fights over grades, phone calls at all hours of the night, and failure to do the chores. Teenage daughter infuriated by the mother, stomps away to her room, slamming the door as if making a statement turning up the music that she knows that her mother dislikes, as if to drown out her mother's voice in her head. Anna Johnson

Napoleon Mond

Winter storm
ice on the power line
candles flicker

Rusty Vinson (15)

I picked this one as my favorite because it brought memories of this past Wednesday Thanksgiving eve driving to Ohio. I passed dozens of cars in the ditches and can remember seeing several of those people going into the ditches and seeing faint images of their car lights in the snowy weather. Knowing the weather was bad we pulled over and got a hotel room for the night. It was a good thing, because in the morning watching the news it was reported that 4 people had died as a result of the wintry mix. This haiku is a great portrait of this past first wintry mix. David Workman

I live in the country and sometimes the power goes out in winter due to ice on the power lines. This haiku makes me think of sitting in the dark, freezing rain beating on the window trying to keep warm by the fireplace. Candles are lit to light the room. They have been burning for quite some time and the wax is starting to build up and cause the candles to flicker. Karen Bender

I like this haiku because you can imagine yourself in your home at night with no power and you are lighting all the candles you can. It is a perfect time to sit with your family and talk because there are no distractions. The house is perfectly quiet, something most of us do not hear very often. Jill Doyle

This haiku is an example of a content link. It indicates a progression of action and tells a story. The winter storm causes ice to accumulate on the power line, which causes the power to fail. Candles are lit to dispel the darkness and the flames flicker as they burn. Karen Bender

medical unit
patients with smiles
laughter lingers

small white church
clothes on the line
dress for service

tea fragrance
from an empty cup
the thin winter moon

Tina Mond (4)

cranberries and popped corn
the tree stands naked
in the living room

Gidget Kellenberger (5)

desks in a row
no place for the
left-handed third grader

David Barr (8)

The feeling I get when I read this is one of sadness. The author uses a school setting to convey the message that they feel different from others. Perhaps they feel they just don't fit in. I think many of us felt this way when we were children and some of us probably do as adults. Rusty Vinson

Grandpa’s farm
brothers and sister
playing hide and seek

turning the faucet off
with a paper towel
must be a nurse

Karen Bender (7)

curious retriever
the sky fills
with squawking seagulls

summer night
the smell of honeysuckle
in the air

Karen Bender

an apple in the evening
doctors words
crispy and juicy

Jennifer West (2)

evening shift
smelly hospital
pain

red sunset
red bandage
red face

she leaves
I roll over
taking her pillow

David Workman (18)

I wrote this one and I hate to be partial, but it is my favorite. I feel truly close to my wife right now because she is 19 weeks pregnant and we are just overjoyed. I will just do anything for her. During the night and in the morning when she leaves the bed I still want to be near her so I take her pillow to feel the warmth of her being there. I wrote the haiku from the heart and that is why it is truly my favorite. David Workman

My husband works the night shift, so he is always coming home to bed about the time I leave for work. Every night when I get home, I find the covers all bundled up and my pillow in the middle of the bed. I know what he has been doing because every night that he is not there I hug his pillow while I sleep. Karen Bender

I think many people can relate to this. My husband does this to me 98% of the time when I get out of bed. I could be getting up to use the restroom or checking on one of the kids, it doesn’t matter, he immediately rolls over and finds comfort on my pillow and on my side of the bed. It makes me crazy! Gidget Kellenberger

I have two thoughts on this haiku. The first thing I think of is a man who completely hogs the bed. His wife or girlfriend gets out the bed and he immediately consumes the whole bed, even taking her pillow.
I also think of a man who is madly in love with his significant other. When she leaves, he grabs onto her pillow as a reminder of her touch, her scent, and her presence. kendra lee

I like this haiku because like so many others in class it reminds me of my husband. Every time I leave the bed and sometimes even while I am still there he takes my pillow. It was funny how so many people were able to relate to this haiku. Jill Doyle

an eagle stares down
i look up
silence

David Workman (2)

mushroom hunting
remembering
peace and quiet

Barbara Connelley (5)

velvet night— quiet
her mind
hears the screaming

snow hissing across the road
treacherous ice
the road to your grave

Jeanne Luckenbill (4)

Crow caws over head
answering my prayers
it loves me

family mutt
protector of domain
treats