walking the mall
lap after lap
the aged couple chats

Katherine Goethals (5)

This haiku reminds me of hickory point mall. Not all malls because you don’t always think about the elderly people walking around the mall. Every time however I go into hickory point mall, there is older people walking in the mall and usually that’s the majority of people in there. Almost like it stays open so that the older people can walk rain, sleet, or snow and catch up with everyone. I almost feel like when I go in there I’m not welcome because of my age. Also they always are talking about so much different stuff and having fun in my opinion. Travis

When I read this haiku I imagine a sweet old couple in the mall. The kind of old couple people admire as they pass by them and then turn around just to get one last glimpse of them. They are the kind of old couple that look like they are still very much young and in love. Still cracking jokes between one another and being the epitome of “growing old with the one you love”. They still wipe each others chins if there's some food there. They still hold hands and randomly hug and kiss one another; they are that old couple. Alyssa

everyone
in the Halloween spirit
even their dogs

the white sheets of his bed
bunch up and
create mountains

Andrew Cliatt (9)

WhenI read this haiku I imagine one of two things. I imagine someone standing over their lovers bed, just looking at him. This person is just staring at him laying in bed, mesmerizing him as he sleeps peacefully. This person then notices his white bed sheets andthe way they lay on him; they are bunched up in a way that resembles mountains. I also imagine someone standing over an empty bed. They fell asleep with someone, yet woke up to no one. So there they stand beside the bed, reminiscing over last night. They look at the empty bed and the way the sheets bunch up and look like mountains. Alyssa

I like the imagery that this haiku gives. I perceive it as a lover looking to her partner, imagining the places they’ll go once he finally gets out of bed. But for now, she sits and watches—patiently admiring his quietness under bunches of sheets. Rory

running routes
among the chalk-drawn grass field
the football spirals

Rory Arnold (4)

homework to do
I find myself
cleaning the house

Allyson Isenhower (7)

I relate to this haiku so much. I feel like college is a never ending to do list, so sometimes I find other ways to occupy myself. Instead of finishing my homework, I find clothes that need to be put up or dishes that can be done. Its like even though you know there's so much to do, you don't want to do it because after that's done there is more to do. Katie

Felt Response: I really relate to this Haiku because i've got a little one that I have to take care of, so I can't have the average college students carelessly trashed environment. So many times I find myself saying "okay only 15 more minutes of cleaning" then i'll start studying. Sometimes you've got to just let the house go, especially around test time. It's stressful but you've got to find balance to be successful. Kaitlyn

This haiku took me back to every-time I sit down to do homework because I always find myself incapable of doing my homework and will come up with any excuse to not do it. Andrew

working on homework
the crackle
of the heater turning on

March Madness
dad snoring but won't give up
the remote

Lexi Doss (5)

tension
of past love
lab partners

Allyson Isenhower (10)

This haiku makes me smile because my roommate and neighbor are lab partners and he recently confessed that he had a crush on her. Since then, things have been extremely awkward between the two of them, especially in lab where they have to be around each other for a long period of time. Morgan

I liked this poem because of the word tension. You can see the tension in these peoples bodies as they stand next to one another hunched over their project. You can also feel the tension in the air, so palpable you could cut through it with a knife! Elizabeth

the smell of grandma's food
so good
even the neighbors come over

Alyssa Rodriguez (5)

I love this haiku because no one can beat the smell of grandmother's and mother's home cooked food. I don't know about others, but I love my grandma's home cooked dish. In fact, sometimes when she makes a really tempting dish, the people who live above us can smell the food from their balcony. Jesal

sliding down
the slippery slide
she plays with no one

Alyssa Rodriguez (7)

I imagine a little girl who has a disability playing in the park of a small town with her parents keeping a close eye on her from the park bench. There are other children around. They do not make any attempt to include the little girl in their games and activities because she looks different and talks different. Ally

clutching
the shaggy carpet
waiting for air

Rachel Humphrey (2)

I imagine someone who recently suffered a tremendous loss. Unable and unwilling to share feelings with others, they are overcome with sadness and breakdown. The person sucks in air in between heaving sobs and clutches the carpet, grasping for anything to keep them grounded. The grasp is similar to a child’s grasp on a security blanket or stuffed animal. Ally

family gathered
on the balcony
blinding sunlight

Allyson Isenhower (4)

With this haiku, I picture a family gathering on the balcony of their hotel or condo at the beach for a family picture. They can barely see the camera because of the sunlight. This haiku reminds me of my trip to Hawaii this past winter break and also just of summer in general. It captures the feeling of happiness of being together with family and the warmth of the weather, but also slight annoyance at the brightness of the sunlight. Rachel

Grandparents
gather us into the boat
lifejacket on

hands off
I am for show
not for sale

Jesal Sheth (7)

LOVE THIS HAIKU! It’s definitely got a lot of sassiness to it. It could be looked at different ways. The first way I look at it, is like someone is trying to buy this person almost like prostitution and they are saying “I’m not for sale buddy!” Also I look at it like this person could be teasing someone and acting like they will be there’s but they will not there not on the market to be any bodies. They are however just showing off their stuff. The sass starts from the beginning though with hands off! Travis

first day of winter
in the garage
looking for my sled

swing for the stars 
strike
out 

Joshua Mysliwjec (4)

This haiku was great just because you can see the action of someone swinging from the stars. I don’t feel the “strike” “out” is an upset feeling. I see someone who is just shooting for the stars because they have nothing to lose, or a drunk guy or girl who is going for someone way out of their league. Deion

shihtzu puppies
the only reason
I am friends with her

Jesal Sheth (5)

hammock strung up
wind rocking
me to sleep

Joshua Mysliwjec (3)

This haiku reminds me of spring break. Some girls on the golf team brought a hammock and tied it up between two palm trees at the pool. They all relaxed in that hammock during the day instead of jumping into the freezing pool. Morgan

This haiku has a relaxing power that engages my sentimental desires. All I want to do is lie in the hammock’s netting, shut my eyes, and find soothing answers in my sleep. Though I don’t know what questions I really have, I know that within my reveries I will gain, even at the very least, the sweet composure of rest. Rory

music encompassing
the halls of the building
another teenager dances by

three of us on the sled
quarrelling with each other
whoops!

Jesal Sheth (3)

running to my car
forgetting shoes
the squish of mud

Katherine Goethals (8)

Using the word “squish” paints a great image in my mind when I read this haiku. For me, it captures a day where everything is going wrong; I’m running late, it’s raining outside, and I’m so panicked that I forget my shoes and I don’t even care. I can feel the mud between my toes while reading this haiku, and the feeling of sinking into the ground while running. Rachel

Felt Response: I also relate to this one, because I always take my shoes off in the car then have to go get them the next morning. When I go to get my shoes the next morning, I usually go bare foot. I like the word squish in the Haiku because you not only hear it, but you feel it too. (that is if you've ever experienced it). Kaitlyn

my skin still tingles
from the touch of your hand
gone

Katherine Goethals (6)

I imagine a couple that has been together for a long time and have been through a lot together. Recently something happened, either a break up or a tragedy, leaving one missing the other. Even after years of being together, their feelings for each other did not fade and they still got butterflies and tingly feelings when they were around each other. With one gone, the other can still feel the touch of the lost one and remember the feelings involved. Ally

littered with remnants
of our material lives
the kitchen table

Elizabeth Pillow (4)

washer buzzes
sunk into the couch
I don't want to get up

Kaitlyn Foster (3)

This haiku is a very funny one because a lazy person like me would only love this haiku. There are times when finally, I am free from all the chores and as soon as I sit down on the couch, someone calls me, the washer buzzes or something else comes up. It's really frustrating at times when such things don't even let you have some peace. Jesal

dancing in a field
flower in her hair
American honey

Kaitlyn Foster

This haiku just makes me happy. I wish that’s all I needed to say about it because it’s hard to describe the image it gives me. It reminds me of my child hood and being outside playing with my little buddies and then girls too. The little girls would always try to play with flowers and put flowers in their hair. I remember when I was a little kid when little girls would do certain things, that would make you think they were cute. As you get older it doesn’t change much it just usually isn’t a girl dancing in the field with flowers in her hair. Travis

This haiku just seems sweet to me. It makes me think the girl has no worries or sorrows at the moment and is just enjoying life in the now. It makes me think of warm, summer nights. Morgan

I think this haiku brings some sweet memories back up. In my childhood, I would always dance around. Everywhere I went, I would either dance or sing. I used to also make little flower bracelets and hair bands out of the weeds in the background. My grandparents had a fairly large backyard. I have so many memories of my friends and I playing around with all of the flowers. This haiku just brings me happiness. Katie

new love
taking all his time
Fortnite

Allyson Isenhower (3)

Felt Response: This one is comical to me, just because it relates to my generation. Thankfully it doesn't relate to my life, because I don't enjoy dating someone who plays video games all the time. A lot of people have been posting on social media about how Fortnite stole their boyfriend, so I think this is where that stems from. Kaitlyn

I liked this haiku because it is a twist haiku that has an ending that I like. Everyone is playing fortnite these days and it really is everyone’s love. It has a good beginning and even a better ending. Ryan

dirty blonde hair
up a pontail
she furrows her brow

swaying in the wind
the shadow
of the empty porch swing

his shiny sweat
matches the shine
of the saxophone

Lexi Doss (5)

I feel passion coming through the lungs of the saxophonist, blaring his spirit into the instrument with every ounce of energy he has. The jazz ensemble sits around him, a community of beauty, filling the air with the swirling of intermixing sounds. His reflection can be seen on his instrument, the galloping of his fingers quickening with the ever-speeding triumph of musical celebration. Rory

grim-faced
the teacher passes back
the failed exam

Morgan Bettner

A scene I know far too well unfortunately. A fairly peculiar interaction of disappointment and disbelief. Josh

the little boy sits
on his father's shoulders
throughout the parade

face to face
with an old friend
only beers between us

Ryan McDonald (5)

When I read this I imagine two old friends meeting up at a bar in their hometown, familiar smells and faces surround them. Josh

Loved this one, a very simple haiku which is how I want to shape my next batch of haikus. But this is a very relaxing haiku, good friends just sitting and drinking a beer. Not only enjoying the beer, but the moment with the old friend. I have one friend who is like this, and we could sit with beers for hours. Deion

I liked this haiku because I could easily see myself in this situation. Sitting down at a table in a bar. Talking. Drinking. It just seems so simple and easy in this haiku. To me, this haiku ends positively, me and my friend are overjoyed to see each other. Conversation flows naturally and the only thing on the table is literally cans of beer. Andrew

cold Milk
no drink for days
the milk is rotten

shoebox
under inches of dirt
cemetery garden

Rory Arnold (5)

train’s horn fades
as it leaves the station
soldier’s wife alone

microwave dinner
still cold
two bites in

Rachel Humphrey (8)

This haiku is also a funny and frustrating one. Microwave food are the worst food because they are just hot when you touch it, but as soon as you take a bite, it is still cold. So, I get really angry at time when microwaves aren't doing their job. Jesal

This poem has just so much defeat and acceptance in it. We have all gotten to that point where there is nothing left to give to something and sometimes that manifests itself in small defeats such as this one. The thing to think about though is, hey, at least you have anything to eat at all! Elizabeth

This was one of my favorite haiku. I can clearly see that this person did everything right with this microwave dinner. They poked the holes in the top of the little plastic film and put it in for the right amount of time but when they took it out to eat it something just went wrong on the inside. As They cut into it and put the first bite in their mouth they realize that the middle is cold. but they are so hungry that they dont care and just keep eating. Andrew

if only
if only I can get through
Spring break

Travis Voorhees (3)

she picks a daisy
just in case
spring cleaning

Rachel Humphrey (6)

I personally love this one because there's almost a sense of cleanliness and refreshments. You can smell the crisp air as it goes through the house. The first day of having the windows open and there's still a little bit of cold lingering around. There's a single daisy in a case by the window, just incase it gets too cold for the daisies outside to live this next week. Katie

This poem to me has so much hope. I love the fact that it is the idea of this girl picking a daisy almost as a new moment in her life, a fresh flower to signify her coming into a new time, just in case someone is to come around. Elizabeth

quiet rustling
piling up wood chips
the hamster's bed for tonight

chipped bricks
once
the foundation

Rachel Humphrey (8)

pink pastel chalk
drags against the concrete
powdering tiny hands

Rachel Humphrey (7)

This is one of my favorite haiku because it brings a great image into my head. “Pink pastel” is a great way to describe the color of the chalk because I can picture exactly what it looks like. “Drags” is also a good word choice because that is exactly how a kid uses chalk, they don’t hold it neatly. “Powdering tiny hands” is also awesome because I picture the pink pastel powder on tiny children’s hands. Overall, this is a great haiku with great word choice. It brings me back to my wonderful childhood. Lexi

This was a great Easter haiku as we were gearing up for the holidays. I got to see my 2 year old nephew and 7 year old niece over Easter and they each got chalk in their Easter baskets. It snowed so they didn’t get to use it, but it was still a nice way to relate to this haiku! Deion

flip flopping
my pillow
sticky summer night

Rachel Humphrey

This is one of my favorite haiku because it is so relatable. During the summer my parents like to turn off the air conditioning and open the windows so it gets so hot and sticky. Those are the worst sleeping conditions so I keep flipping my pillow to the cold side and laying against the wall trying to find something cold. Lexi

When I read this haiku I imagine a very hot and sticky summer night. There is no air conditioner to cool this night down, all there is are fans and even those aren't helping. It's so humid it's suffocating. All you can do is toss and turn in bed. You're irritable at this point. You're desperate to feel some kind of cool air just to be able to get some sleep. The only thing that seems to be helping is flipping your pillow over every now and then to feel the coolness of it. Alyssa

dirt-stained sweatshirts
my jammed finger
snaps the ball

Rory Arnold

Ahh the smell of fresh cut grass, slight sweat forming on your brow. You and a bunch of buddies playing a pickup game of football. Josh

I liked this haiku because it reminds me of a turkey bowl that me and my family plays every year. I like the idea of a sweatshirt in this case because in central Illinois it snows in April. I like the idea of the jammed finger because you’re playing competitive, but your body is still not trained for the sport. Also I am a center so I like the idea of snapping the football. Ryan