PACE Global Haiku • Spring 2008 Dr. Randy Brooks

Alyssa Kaye Thompson RanDomNess Kasen Renga

Haiku Jumbalaya! by Alyssa Kaye Thompson As I groggily stepped into my shower at 8 a.m. to wash my hair before class, I was struck with a burst of creativity. A haiku had just forced its way into my thoughts and I had to purge it from my mind onto a sheet of paper before my moment of genius left as quickly as it came. I ran out of the shower, sans towel, with my body dripping and the shampoo lathered into my hair, and scribbled down 3 simple lines onto a Post-it note. My roommate chose that exact moment to burst into the room. Gasping at the sight of my naked body, she immediately shielded her eyes, as I awkwardly grabbed for something--anything--that would cover me up. I sighed and mumbled, "Sorry ... I had a really good haiku idea. This was all I needed to say, and she laughed and shook her head, completely understanding the importance of this event, despite its awkwardness. She shook her head and said, "Maybe you should make a haiku about THIS, as she gestured toward my dripping self, covered by my Betty Boop blanket, pen poised in my hand. "Perfect! I exclaimed, jotting down another three inspired lines before returning to my shower.

You may be asking yourself why my roommate was so nonchalant about such a strange encounter. There is a simple answer to this question. This type of occurrence has become a common event in my life ever since I began taking this global haiku course my sophomore year of college. I did not know anything about haiku coming in to the class, other than the stereotypical 5-7-5 format my teachers had briefly touched on in high school. I quickly developed an immense respect and affection toward this simple, yet amazingly poignant form of poetry. I became the "haiku master to all of my friends and relatives. Haiku would find me, even when I was not looking for it, in all the strangest and most unexpected places--in the simple, inspiring, or comical moments of my life. I could not escape it--a haiku would pop into my head and I would immediately send it out on a mass text message to my "haiku phone tree for the amusement of all my friends. As news of my haiku talent spread, I would get special haiku requests from people I did not even know! I love the joy my haiku brings to others and I love helping others develop appreciation for this often over-looked art form. Haiku encourages me to seek the simplicity of life, and to find beauty in things that previously I would have never given a second thought. After making these discoveries, and getting bombarded with requests for more haiku, I decided to compile a few of my favorites in this collection, so I could finally throw away some of the Post-its and scraps of paper cluttering my desk. I decided that this collection is similar to a good jambalaya--it is full of a random assortment of whatever happened to be around to throw into the pot. There is not really any unifying theme, except for the fact that it isn't unified! So, here it is . . . the good, the bad, the funny, the inspirational, and the just-plain weird. Enjoy! Bio: Alyssa is a sophomore B.A. Theatre and Spanish double-major at Millikin University in Decatur, IL. She grew up in South Bend, IN, which is where she continues to reside when she is not away at school, busy writing haiku. She lives with her father, a banker, and her mother, a speech therapist, as well as her two younger sisters and her six-pound dog, Buddy.

Solitary Woman walking home alone heels sinking into the mud with each step she pauses and sighs . . . at the front door faint music plays— the rhythm has not left her feet empty house— her mind full of questions anotherdayanotherday is there hope for tomorrow? i ask him a question he continues to read bronze man

two hearts beat as one... summer heat

grass-stained knees he picks a dandelion for her bouquet

Mom asks do I have any laundry? my smile widens

zit-faced boy singing a love song alone in his bedroom

tongue sticking out arms outstretched first snow

she will always remain a fixture in my mind empty barstool

on my desk a single rose flushed cheeks

Chinese buffet the squid's tentacle jiggles on my plate

the new born's bo dy sh akes . . . hic cups

bonds broken between mother and child . . . I touch my bellybutton

© 2008, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.