spring sun
inviting the sprouts
out to play

Nathan Bettenhausen

playing on the swingset
first day of springtime
college students

Nathan Bettenhausen

first class outside
snowmen and penguins
on my socks

Aubrie Cox

I return home
to my room empty…
spring cleaning

Grant Dartman

playing on the swingset
first day of springtime
college students

first class outside
snowmen and penguins
on my socks

top quarter champion

playing on the swingset
first day of springtime
college students

top half champion

playing on the swingset
first day of springtime
college students

bottom quarter champion

hot grass
my sun soaked face sings
with freckles

hot grass
my sun soaked face sings
with freckles

gray morning
walking out of class
to sunshine

hot grass
my sun soaked face sings
with freckles

Susie Wirthlin

i walk
with my head down
sun in my eyes

Becky Smith

gray morning
walking out of class
to sunshine

Susie Wirthlin

walk from evening class
shadows from setting sun
surround me

Jade Anderson

top half champion

playing on the swingset
first day of springtime
college students

champion

playing on the swingset
first day of springtime
college students

bottom half champion

class on the quad
my eyes drift
to the afternoon moon

atop the sculpture
I can see the sun
and all of campus

Kari Thornton

Bronze Man
sparkles even more
in the sunlight

Becky Smith

class on the quad
my eyes drift
to the afternoon moon

Aubrie Cox

campus quad
even the calico grass sings
of spring

Susie Wirthlin

Bronze Man
sparkles even more
in the sunlight

class on the quad
my eyes drift
to the afternoon moon

top quarter champion

class on the quad
my eyes drift
to the afternoon moon

bottom half champion

class on the quad
my eyes drift
to the afternoon moon

bottom quarter champion

fishing at the lake
feeding crumbs
to the ducks

fishing at the lake
feeding crumbs
to the ducks

picnic lunch
on the quad
blowing dandelions

Fairview duck pond
the water sparkles
with bread crumbs

Tyler Lamensky

fishing at the lake
feeding crumbs
to the ducks

Olivia Birkey

sun shining
the quad is filled
ultimate Frisbee

Kari Thornton

picnic lunch
on the quad
blowing dandelions

Olivia Birkey

spring sun
inviting the sprouts
out to play

playing on the swingset
first day of springtime
college students

first class outside
snowmen and penguins
on my socks

I return home
to my room empty…
spring cleaning

I love this pair. The first haiku is just so playful with the personification of the spring sun inviting the little baby plants (sprouts) out to play. Whenever the sun is shining, I feel obligated to go outside and play around. I also think this haiku matches well with the second one, because the “sprouts” in the first haiku remind me of the college students in the second haiku. The college students are the ones outside playing on the swingset, the spring sun reminding them of their youth and letting them let loose. Just as the college students play, the spouts are invited outside by the sun. We are sprouts; people still growing, and the sun and springtime remind us that summer is near, and we are rejuvenated. Susie

I loved this pair. They each just brought so much to the table. First, they both scream spring. The first one, obviously describes new life blooming, which is the signature event of spring. The sun comes out and the plants and flowers begin to sprout and bloom. The second one really encompasses the general mood of spring. Everyone has been all cooped up all winter so the first day of spring calls them out to the playground, even the college students who should be studying. Second, I like how even though they don’t say a whole lot, you immediately can picture it all in your head. They are so vivid. Third, and perhaps my favorite, is the mood that they evoke together. I can’t help but smile and close my eyes and smell spring when I read these. They both truly speak SPRING! Olivia

hot grass
my sun soaked face sings
with freckles

i walk
with my head down
sun in my eyes

gray morning
walking out of class
to sunshine

walk from evening class
shadows from setting sun
surround me

Response: I chose this pair as my favorite one because of the way both interpreted the sun so differently. I love how in the first Haiku the person is absorbing the sun and loving every second of it, while in the second one the person is ducking their head because the sun is getting in their eyes. Another thing I love is how both never mention the idea of the sun being warm, but we as an audience automatically assume that is how the sun naturally feels. Grant

I really enjoyed both of these haiku. I like how the assignment was to write about sunshine, but both of these haiku encorporated darkness or shadows. The first one makes me happy because I love to walk out of class only to find a sunny day. I am always so bumed when I have to go into a building and it is dark and gloomy it. It just automatically puts you in a bad mood. However, sunshine after class changes it all. The second one is written beautifully because I like how the shadows “surround” them. I also like the contrast to most college students because I don’t know of a lot of students who take evening classes. It is kind of beyond the norm. Becky

I find this match to be very interesting for a couple of reasons. Both involve leaving class, both have a specific time of day, and both talk about the subject being enveloped by something that is almost tangible. Both personify the air and the atmosphere. However, despite their many similarities, they are also almost opposites. The morning vs. the evening which therefore leads to a difference between the sunshine and the shadows. They also have a very clear sense of sunshine and shadows established. One starts out as a gray morning and turns into a sunny day. The other seems to have a sun outside, therefore causing the shadows. Another interesting thing would be to imagine both of them as part of the same day. Nathan

This pair was my favorite because I can relate to both situations. I am always sad when it is a dreary morning and I have to go to school. But with the release of class and walking out to sunshine, I am suddenly extremely blissful. The second haiku is very calming, the end of a long day of class and the soothing warmth of the setting sun. This pair was perfectly matched, two different experiences of the end of a school day. Jade

atop the sculpture
I can see the sun
and all of campus

Bronze Man
sparkles even more
in the sunlight

class on the quad
my eyes drift
to the afternoon moon

campus quad
even the calico grass sings
of spring

Fairview duck pond
the water sparkles
with bread crumbs

fishing at the lake
feeding crumbs
to the ducks

sun shining
the quad is filled
ultimate Frisbee

picnic lunch
on the quad
blowing dandelions

I enjoyed this matched pairing for several reasons. From a childhood deeply connected to the outdoors and living on the lake, I am partial to relating to such scenes. I like how the same action of feeding ducks with bread crumb can be seen in multiple settings. The park instills a sense of being in the city, where the lake tends to project a more rural idea. Both involving water and the crumbs bring the pair to be in nearly complete unison. Tyler

I like these two matched together because it creates a vivid imagery and a common scene is being set. The quad is filled with picnic lunchers, sun shine, blowing dandelions, and ultimate Frisbee. Though they may be separate groups of friends (separate haikus) they clash when a Frisbee smacks the luncher blowing the dandelions. It brings joy to my face just imagining everyone being out side on campus again and the hustle and bustle on the quad. It’s something I will see now almost every sunny day. Kari