Haiku Kukai 1 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2018
winter haiku
jackets, scarves, mittens |
heavy sweaters Allyson Isenhower (3) |
dripping coat |
my first snow Rachel Humphrey When I read this haiku I instantly think of a child going out in the snow for the first time. I picture a small child all bundled up like a puff ball. He has a little red nose and cheeks but a big smile on his face. The "crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch” part makes me think he is running but barely getting anywhere with his little steps drowning in the snow. Lexi |
cold fingers |
iced over windshield Deion Corley (6) I imagine someone who is running late for work and who is in a hurry. I see someone with an outfit that looks like it just got thrown together and is wrinkly and the person is out of breath from rushing. I really enjoy this poem because I think that all college kids could relate that this has happened to all of us at least once. We may have an ice scraper, but we don’t know where it’s at. So we use out debit card, and end up bending it and maybe even breaking it. Kaitlyn |
his red blanket Elizabeth Pillow (4) |
covered with a blanket Kaitlyn Foster This haiku reminds me so much of my childhood. I use to come inside after playing in the snow for hours, and go straight to the furnace vent by the couch. After using all of my energy playing, and practically freezing me toes off, the furnace was my favorite place to sit. I can feel the warmth on my toes as they begin to regain full feeling. Katie |
bitter cold |
maybe I’ll be alright . . . Travis Voorhees (3) |
an empty house Allyson Isenhower Over this past summer I worked with my friend in his moving business. And we helped out those whom were moving around this area. We were out by Shelbyville one day helping a family move out of a house, leaving their farm. They had a dog who was old. The wife was very sad about the whole moving ordeal and to make matters worse the dog passed away while we were moving stuff out of the house. So when reading this I feel a rush of sadness over me. Josh |
pile of firewood Rory Arnold When I read this haiku, I get the immediate feeling of spring being right around the corner. Getting the giddy feeling knowing that bonfires and long nights are right around the corner. Making smores, or just hanging out with your close friends. The sense of hope and bright memories. Hopes that Punxsutawney Phil will miss his shadow. Josh I imagine the pile of wood that sits on the side of my grandparents' house. It is covered on the top with a thin layer of snow still, but because of the temperature rising, the wood is beginning to get soggy. Morgan |
drip, drop . . . |
thawing ice Nicole Wells (6) I imagine an old house made of stone sitting in the middle of a prairie with grey skies. Inside, a couple is fighting. They are both frustrated because they thought they were working through their problems, but another problem has just arose between the two of them. Morgan |
chilled house Ryan McDonald This haiku made me think of the period between the holidays ending and school starting back again. My family doesn’t leave the Christmas tree up for very long after New Years. However, we also do not take the whole tree down at once. It kind of happens piece by piece. I can imagine myself as a child waking up in the middle of the night. It is impossible to walk downstairs without seeing the Christmas tree. As I’m walking down to get a glass of water, there are no sounds other than my footsteps. The house is cold, and I get a chill up my spine once I step onto the tile. I glance over at the tree, and there is only one ornament left on the tree, and it is my mom’s favorite one. Ally |
your cold cheek Rachel Humphrey (3) |
tennis courts Rory Arnold (4) |
playgrounds begin to empty |
first week back Joshua Mysliwjec (5) |
crystal clear, sunny sky Elizabeth Pillow (3) |
making my way downtown |
tracks in the snow |
fresh prints |
feet kiss the cold floor Kaitlyn Foster (4) I currently have a collection of fuzzy socks that I wear almost daily. The bottom half of my home is all hardwood floors, and it is absolutely freezing on your feet in the morning. The moment I step on it without socks or slippers on, is the moment of regret. I purposely have a pair of slippers by the stairs just Incase I forget to wear socks that morning. Katie |
from the empty rooftop Rory Arnold (4) |
angels Morgan Bettner (6) There is ambiguity in that these angels could either be the children, or the imprints they leave behind. These little “angels” could be seen as such by their parents, until they grow into desensitized, grueling adults, showing that they never had a halo all along. This could also represent that the children may be sweet and kind, but they are still only mortal representations of seraphs. Rory This ones makes me think about the winter when I was younger. Everyone was always talking about playing in the snow so you always are anticipating going out and playing. When you finally get the opportunity to go in the snow, I personally always would lay in the snow and make a snow angle but with not halo. Also it makes me think of little cute kids playing in the snow. I feel like the halos takes me to many different options for what they are referring to. Travis |
walking through the hallway |
furry body Allyson Isenhower (8) This is one of my favorite haiku because I love the way it is about a dog or pup. I love puppies and dogs so much. Unfortunately, I don't have a dog of my own because mom doesn't like dogs, however my friend's dog comes for a stay over at my house and I am happy with that. Also, I have many friends who have dogs, so I am pretty much surrounded by dogs most of the time. When I vision this haiku, it just reminds me of Kai Kai (my best friend's dog). I would sleep next to him and even though my friend told me not to have him sleep on my bed at night, I would secretly let him sleep. He wouldn't sleep with me during the night, but when I wake up in the morning, he would be lying next to me. I just think this haiku is a sweet one. Jesal I liked this haiku because it reminded me of my old pit bull. Santos would curl up to me when I’d lay on the floor when all the seats were taken in the room. I swear I was the warmest person in that room. Also the comfiest. Ryan |
winter storm Jesal Sheth |
Christmas eve |
half-frozen stream Nicole Wells (5) |
fire crackling |
only a few more months Kaitlyn Foster (5) I picture a girl walking through a college campus at night in the bitter, dry cold. It is close to getting to go home for a break, and it is close to springtime. The girl hates the cold, but likes taking walks in it anyways as some peaceful alone time. She is ready for warm days, and look up at the starry sky as she dreams of the beach. Rachel |
bundled head to toe Alyssa Rodriguez (5) |
lugging my sled up the hill Lexi Doss (3) I liked this haiku because I’d walk miles into town to go sledding with my friends. I’d walk 4 miles to town in at least 5 inches of snow just for that bit of fun. At that age it was easy. It was all for the thrill. Ryan |
blonde curls fall to the floor Rachel Humphrey (8) I liked this haiku because it was very relatable. I think the imagery is very powerful. Last time I went through a bad breakup, I decided to cut incredibly long hair. I wanted to change my hair, simply because I wanted something new. For me, that something new symbolized a new beginning and a new chance. It freed me from my past in a way that is hard to explain. The “chop chop” at the end seems to me like it’s time to get moving on the fresh start. Ally I hated my freshman year of college, I didn't make any friends, I was very lonely, I was dealing some personal health issues, I didn't like my classes and ended up changing my major which left me confused and scared. When summer came I had no idea what to do, I didn't want to come back to Millikin. About halfway through summer I decided that I was going to give it one my try. I decided to change my attitude and be less antisocial even if it killed me. I was going to find classes that I loved and make friends that I loved even more. I was going to be a different person. To signify this, I cut 10 inches of my hair off. It made this change in me into something that I could see and feel. I was done with that old me who was scared of everything, I wanted to live a different life, I didn't even want to look like that girl anymore. She wasn't me anymore. It was time to change and move on. Chop chop. Nicole When reading this Haiku it makes me think of a break up that a girl has gone through. I see her changing her hair, because that is what girls do once they have truly made the decision to leave (at least in the millennial generation). I enjoy how this author added in the “chop chop” because it adds imagery to the poem. When I close my eyes I can actually hear the scissors cutting the hair and can envision the long locks of hair hitting the floor. I also imagined it as possibly being a girl who had long hair because of her religion, like a girl I went to school with in high school. When she turned 18 she had the choice to stay with her family and that religion or to leave. She left and chopped off all of her hair, so this made me think of that as well. Kaitlyn |
Some More Haiku
all over again Kaitlyn Foster (7) |
footsteps crunch Nicole Wells (4) This haiku is very gripping for me because it is so centrally about the fall time. Fall is wonderful, leaves are falling, colors change, the spirits become free. We solemnly walk through these vibrantly-hued remnants of the trees among the forgotten gravestones of the past. I feel that Halloween is around the corner, and the sounds we hear in the wind just might be voices of those forgotten spirits. Rory |
red lights everywhere Jesal Sheth (3) |
the phone rings Kaitlyn Foster (6) I imagine a girl who knows a breakup is imminent. She is hoping the phone won’t ring, because she knows that it will be her boyfriend to break up. But the phone rings and it’s like the world stops. Her heart drops into her stomach because she knows what is about to happen. Rachel This one is very good to me because it leaves you waiting wondering what is going on. Did this person answer the phone. Sometimes someone calls me that I don’t want to talk to so I don’t. Sometimes though I just have to think about if I really want to take the time to talk to a person cause it’s going to be a stressful conversation. This is an average high schoolers life, wondering if someone they want to talk to is going to call them or if someone they don’t want to talk to is going to call them. Sometimes it makes your heart want to hang up. Fighting with your loved one in high school you would not talk for a little while and then you get that call...what do you do? Travis |
kettle on the stove |
lights dimmed Katherine Goethals (3) |
no more pool Lexi Doss (3) |
feet dangling Allyson Isenhower (4) This haiku made me think of my childhood a lot. When I read this, I picture myself and how I used to get whenever I would be waiting for the dentist. I could not for the life of me stand going to the dentist. It wasn't even just having them poking into my mouth and making me taste nasty stuff; I couldn't stand the smell of the office, how long the wait was to get in, and the after taste in my mouth. I hated everything about being there. However, my biggest fear of all while visiting the dentist would definitely have to be whenever they would poke my mouth with the utensils. It really never hurt that bad, but there was just something about having to sit still or I would make it worse for myself that really made me anxious in the chair. Alyssa |
what goes good with a walk |
barbecue meatballs Rory Arnold (3) When I read this haiku, I think of a house full of family and friends watching the Bears football game. I can smell the smell of barbecue meatballs and it makes me hungry for them. I picture everyone sighing when the Bears miss another tackle. Despite the missed tackle, everyone is still having a good time talking and chowing down on the meatballs. Lexi |
horn blaring Joshua Mysliwjec (3) This was my favorite haiku from the first kukai. Hockey is one of my great loves in life and this haiku takes me straight to the United Center. There's nothing quite like the atmosphere at a hockey game, there's excitement and palpable energy in the air, and this poem captures that perfectly. There is never a quite second during a hockey game. Also if Chelsea Dagger is playing right after puck drop then the game is off the best possible start with a Hawks goal. I also really like that this poem doesn't actually say outright that it's about hockey. Nicole |
states apart |
bronze crucifix |
the doorbell rings |
summer ends Morgan Bettner (4) |
the sting of old pictures Rachel Humphrey (4) the sting of old pictures This haiku made me think of reminiscing over a past relationship and a passing of a loved one. When I read this poem it made me think of when stumbling upon old pictures of someone you no longer have in your life anymore and kind of replaying that moment the picture was taken in your head. You think of how happy you were, |
if i could love Elizabeth Pillow (3) |
new year Ryan McDonald (9) I imagine this haiku as two best friends who had a 12-year friendship with each other and then suddenly the friendship turned upside down. The cause of their friendship was because of a new girl in town. Before New Year, both of these girls were best friends. They would hang out every day for hours, go to parties, study together and what not. But all of a sudden, one of the girl found a new friend and she started hanging out with her more. So, the other girl just got left out. And she never thought her New year would start like this. So, I see this haiku as a sad one. I feel this haiku, because I had gone through this stage back in High school. Jesal
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© 2018, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.