Haiku Kukai 7 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2018
rainy car ride Alyssa Rodriguez (6) This haiku reflects on the hope in the distance, despite the presently horrible weather. There is a parallel between opposing forces, and this haiku interacts with the idea that with the bad there will be the good. I, personally, imagine this scene occurring among endless miles of cornfields. The individuals in the car have been trudging through horrid weather during a long car ride and finally see a promise far ahead. Rory |
sunflowers Rory Arnold (5) |
a single blue flower Andrew Cliatt This haiku is great because of the visual that it gives the reader. I see the room a little bit darker, a lonely space but the blue flower is the center piece. Giving hope to anyone in the room, (if there are any). Deion |
birds resting on high wires |
first summer dawn |
one sock Rachel Humphrey (9) This haiku stood out to me because of how funny it was. It is also kind of sad when you imagine that this sock had feelings. I would feel horrible if my date stood me up and I just picture this sad little sock all by it self, without its match and it makes me so sad. Andrew |
dirty napkin Allyson Isenhower (6) |
shades of pink Jesal Sheth (3) |
sitting in a circle |
dark place Allyson Isenhower (3) |
her long legs Travis Voorhees (11) This haiku made me think of a couple being reunited after a long time apart. I imagine a man who has been in the military and has been stationed overseas for several months. When he gets off the airplane, he heads to baggage claim where he is greeted by his girlfriend or wife and parents. She runs into his open arms crying happy tears. Ally I loved his haiku because one thing that had popped into my mind when reading this was the surprise homecomings but soldiers. I can just see wives whom haven’t seen their husbands in months just breaking down and screaming and running to latch onto their husband knowing he is safe now. Ryan |
the sound of the shower |
footsteps before me Deion Corley (6) |
autumn wind Rory Arnold (5) |
the soothing sound |
the filthy child Travis Voorhees (11) |
dirty window Allyson Isenhower (4) |
refraining from coming Alyssa Rodriguez (2) |
wedding day church |
broken branches |
bunny ears |
stained glass window |
rollercoaster hill Rachel Humphrey (7) |
bringing his girlfriend in Morgan Bettner (6) I understand this feeling. My girlfriends mom is a great lady, so I had a lot of shoes to fill when meeting her. It was thanksgiving and we went to Cracker Barrel. No one was exactly relaxed in this situation. It was a palm sweating experience though. This haiku is interesting because it is an “awkward moment” haiku. Haikus usually have a story they are telling in 3 lines and this one is telling an awkward situation or a first time we all have to usually experience. We all have to meet the family at one point. Before I explain the three emotions this haiku give I have to talk about other things. This haiku automatically makes me think about memories myself and that you in whatever mood you’re experiencing with your partner at that time. However, this haiku give me three different emotions line for line for line. This haiku for me goes like curious-nervous-and more nervous. It also leaves me with no outcome, so I get to make up what happens when he meets them. Travis |
dreary day |
early morning sun |
Christ looks down at me Rory Arnold (3) I imagine a person sitting in a pew at church. The service has already ended, but they stayed after to think. They think about all their sins and how everything feels so insignificant now in comparison to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. Morgan |
standing at the edge of the crack in the world |
coughing into his hand |
lying next to her Rory Arnold (12) Felt Response: I really like this Haiku because it relates to the Millennial generation. I always wonder what couples did before phones were around. During awkward silences, we pick up our phones. What did they do? Just a thought of mine. |
porcelain dolls Jesal Sheth (3) |
a crow squawks |
busy office day |
floating Allyson Isenhower (3) |
spring shower Allyson Isenhower (4) I picture the lonesome grave of a man who lived an isolated life, and now is lonely in death. The only company that visits is the ever-changing weather patterns. Sometimes it’s snow, other times it’s sunlight, but today it is the rain. And even if the weather isn’t warm and embracing, it cares for this man, keeping up his appearance by watering the grasses that lie upon his grave. Rory |
big black dog Lexi Doss (9) This haiku is a very cute one. You expect that the big Labrador dog will attack you, instead he licks your face. It often happens with me, because whenever I see big dogs, I freak out and don't know what he/she will do. That's why I hate big dogs. You never know if they'll bite you or lick your face. So, I am better off with little dogs! Jesal This haiku brings me great happiness. At first, the idea of a big dog attacking me is kind of scary. The plot twist at the end is really what makes me happy. I'd love to be attack with pup kisses. The idea of walking into my house in a few years and being greeted by a large dog, is what I am working so hard for. Katie This haiku makes me think of my own dog. He is a hundred pound silver lab, but his fur normally looks pretty black. Whenever I get home, he always attacks me with kisses and also if I’m asleep instead of paying attention to him he will start to give me kisses. He is a very sweet, loving pup. Morgan |
Sunday without you Joshua Mysliwjec (7) |
same hiding place |
she brushes her hair Katherine Goethals (5) This is basically me every day, every hour or so. I just want to be so perfect when it comes to hair. I hate the fact that, my hair just doesn't stay perfect until I brush it thousand times. So yeah, I love this haiku because it's a totally relatable one. Jesal I imagine a girl getting ready to go on a first date with a guy she really likes. It’s been awhile since she has been on a date. Maybe a bad breakup or a recent passing has kept her out of the dating game. She is nervous and wants everything to be perfect. Before leaving the house, she gives herself one last look in the mirror and decides her hair isn’t how she likes it. She runs her hand through her hair to fix it just the way she wants and then walks out the door. Ally |
light saber Lexi Doss (5) When I read this haiku it made me think of a little boy waving around his little flashlight as if it were a lightsaber. I imagine a little boy in his matching pajama set just settled into bed, when all of a sudden he hears something go thump. Not too sure what it is or where it came from, he checks every inch of his room. He holds his favorite blanket in one hand and in the other his flashlight. In his imagination, his little flashlight is a lightsaber. He waves it around as he opens his closet door to try to scare the monsters away, but nothing was there. So next, he turns to check under his bed and just as he thought he found the monsters and slayed every single one of them. Alyssa |
looking at your picture Joshua Mysliwjec (5) |
just a year ago Joshua Mysliwjec (6) This is one of my favorite haiku because it puts things into perspective. Anyone at anytime could lose their ability to walk or talk or anything could happen. It reminds me of the tv series “Friday Night Lights”. The main actor was a star football player and an accident occurred which caused him to become paralyzed and wheelchair bound. This haiku just reminds me to be thankful for each day and not take anything for granted. Lexi I imagine that it’s Easter and the whole family is together. The cousins are all outside playing baseball—except one. He sits inside watching from a far in his wheelchair, wishing he could change the one moment that changed his own life. Morgan
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waking me in the night Katherine Goethals (4) |
silent novel Kaitlyn Foster (10) This haiku stood out to me because I constantly find my self wondering what people are really thinking. What people really mean with the silent looks that they give. I want to know for certain what people mean and what they think. Andrew I love this because of the play on words. A silent novel? How is the novel silent? Is it a novel on what people want to say but don't? Is it a novel wrote on a silent film? In my head, I think that it is a novel written on things that people are thinking but don't have the nerve to say. We live in a world where everyone is outspoken, but I think that there is still a lot that people are holding back. Katie This is one of my favorite haiku because I think this would be a very interesting novel to read. I picture this novel filled with awful thoughts on each page. I think it includes all the things that people say in their mind but don't say out loud because it would cause a problem. I think everyone can relate to this because there are a lot of things that we don't say and if they were to be put into a novel, we would all shutter. Lexi |
upside-down cake Rory Arnold (7) This haiku is really clever. Upside-down cake is a kind of cake, but this haiku is literally describing a cake being dropped on the kitchen floor and being upside-down. The clever double use of this and also the center piece is why I like this haiku. It places a sad, but silly image in your mind: a perfect cake dropped by a clumsy deliverer onto the kitchen floor. Everyone surrounds it, stunned and wondering what to do next. Rachel |
making cracks Rachel Humphrey (9) |
laughing silently |
a bloody knife |
her smell Elizabeth Pillow (4) |
champagne and orange juice Rory Arnold (8) |
racing after you |
a breath mint Rory Arnold (8) |
three billboards Travis Voorhees I like this haiku, it reminds me of coming home from a long trip in the car. You start to see billboards that are familiar and you are almost home and out of the car! Great haiku. Deion
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oh— Kaitlyn Foster (6) This haiku is funny. I think it is an interesting way of describing the feeling of love. I feel like sometimes people feel this way though. It makes me think of a young boy or girl that is falling in love for the first time. This kid may be thinking how scared they are that this is happening. They may think they don’t like the person or maybe didn’t want to like that person. No one can really help when, who or why they fall in love with someone sometimes. It’s something that we can’t always plan or pick. Maybe they were not ready for love but it hit them. Maybe that’s what love is to this specific person. You know someone or maybe you don’t know them, but you start to learn more and more about a person have ups and downs and if you make it through these experiences, then maybe you are in love. If so you may have the “of- crap- i’m in love” moment. This happens no different then what is being described in this poem. I feel like the three emotions I felt in this haiku were clueless, concerned, and undecided because is it a good thing that they are in love or a bad thing. Travis |
walking in the corn field Lexi Doss (7) |
waddling Rachel Humphrey (6) |
silence burning Katherine Goethals (6) When I read this haiku it made me think of a fall night in my backyard. I imagine, I had just thrown a little get together with my friends and the night was finally ending. It was quiet. Almost everyone was slowly falling asleep in their chairs. There are beer bottles, red solo cups and beer pong balls just about everywhere. Just a few people were actually still awake, or as we would like to say, the survivors. We are all sitting around the bonfire, no one is really saying anything. We are kind of just letting the night slowly die out with the fire. Alyssa |
news is out Bears trade |
spring cleaning Katherine Goethals Felt Response: This is very relatable to my life right now. I was finishing moving all of my stuff out of my house today and cleaning it up before returning the keys, then looked outside and their were inches of snow covering the ground! I thought to myself "I thought this was supposed to be Spring?!" Kaitlyn |
homework Rory Arnold (11) When I read this haiku it made me think of a really cute couple in love. They're working on their homework together. Not really interested in doing their homework; I imagine the two playing with one another. For instance, one is poking a pen in the other's ear, and then the other tickling the others feet. They both claim they are just trying to do their homework, but they're clearly more interested in teasing one another. Then finally one of them throws all of their homework to the floor and picks up the other up and throws them to the bed and they begin to playfully wrestle. Alyssa |
frail old woman |
black heels and a smoke |
silence |
he takes Morgan Bettner (7) |
wrestle with the girlfriend Travis Voorhees (5) |
shit-stained mattress Rory Arnold (6) The imagery in this haiku was what made it stand out to me. The clarity of “shit-stained” instead of just describing the mattress as dirty made the haiku very specific. I picture an old, shit-stained mattress, tossing and turning under the freeway as cars zoom pass. How long has that mattress been there? Who did it belong to? How did it get here? Rachel |
grief— |
waking from a dream Elizabeth Pillow (11) Felt Response: I also relate to this one, usually it happens when I dream about my Grandma. She passed away at 56 in 2007, and I've had the same dream about 4 times that I would describe as "vivid." I wake up kind of disappointed because the dream seemed so real. It's like i'm at peace for a little while, and then i'm reminded that she's gone. I'm not sure whether it's a good dream or a nightmare. Kaitlyn Recently my grandfather has passed. We were rather close so often recently I have been dealing with a lot of dreams that have seemed very real like he is shaking my hand or laughing next to me. It almost moves me to tears when I wake knowing it was all a dream. Ryan |
she slithers around Joshua Mysliwjec (6) This haiku is fascinating in the fact that the author using slithering as a snake. While you read on you see the girl acts as a snake in the relationship. I love how I can make that connection without actually reading snake. Ryan |
small talk Morgan Bettner (3) |
I watch intently |
tiny hazel eyes Rachel Humphrey (8) |
joyful praises |
home for the first time Morgan Bettner I can somewhat imagine this particular haiku in my trips home. This is a college students life when they come home. Mom always want’s to act like you never left. She will have you doing chores right away. Home for the first time is like an “AT LAST” moment. This is a good way to mislead the reader into thinking it is going to be an upbeat and happy haiku. The second line does nothing but influence this idea and make it more believable. Then the last line is what makes me feel right at home reading this haiku. The haiku is an interesting way in my opinion of making you move your ideas around a lot quickly without knowing it. I went from excited…to more excited…to oh damn get me out of here. I felt much different reading the haiku as opposed to the last one. Even though I liked it, I felt much more negative reading it. Travis |
following |
my mind on her Rory Arnold (9) I like this one because it plays on the old saying, boys got to Jupiter to get more stupider. This proves the guys side is right because the girls mind is on Jupiter. It shows me that this girl is not thinking logically. Deion |
the stillness of the air Katherine Goethals (4) |
Mom and Dad Rory Arnold (8) I imagine two siblings egg hunter on Easter morning. After the fun of the hunt is over, the two kids have the same number of eggs. The parents look at each other, knowing they hid an odd number of eggs. Silently, they slip away as the children crack the eggs open to find their treats. The parents check the typical hiding places and jokingly blame each other. After a short time looking, they find the missing egg and have the kids go hunting for the last one. Ally This haiku stuck out to me because it reminded me of my own parents growing up. We would still have Easter egg hunts long after we knew about the Easter bunny. There would always be one egg that my mom could not remember where she had hidden, but she swore that it was somewhere. We would find it months later, when just going about our regular days. This haiku makes me nostalgic. It’s a reminder that as we grow older, so do our parents. Rachel I envision my childhood, when holidays were more than just breaks from life. The overwhelming joy I received when the thrill of candies, eggs, and toys awaited me on Easter morning made everything easier. Behind the happiest moments of these holidays were my parents, who attempted to live their memories through my siblings and I. Through their glimpses of joy, adolescence, and holiday gratification, they forgot entirely about the last egg in the Easter egg hunt. Rory |
she gazes at the couple |
water droplets |
all bundled up |
cold room |
bright summer dresses Rory Arnold (4) |
unwrapping the foil Rachel Humphrey (7) |
cheese fries Rachel Humphrey (5) This haiku is a good one, but the imagery sucks. It feels so disgusting when you order cheese fries or something that gets soggy after a while. Then you forget somehow you ordered it and then this is exactly what happens. Though, this haiku is worth it! Jesal |
dusk Rachel Humphrey (5) |
one down |
the smell of rain Elizabeth Pillow I personally love the rain. When i'm sad, happy, or tired, I think the rain still brings me happy feelings. Sometimes, dealing with depression can be hard. But, you need something touching your skin to give you the feeling that you're actually alive. In this haiku, I imagine someone sitting outside just soaking up the rain. Katie |
unpacking her things |
eraser marks Allyson Isenhower (9) This is one of my favorite haiku because it is deep but barely touches the surface of how this person feels. They finally get the courage to write down how they're feeling and then they erase it. It's depressing because you know they want to say it but you see the eraser marks instead. This probably gives the reader some anxiety too because they could see that the writer had something else written and they changed it. I think everyone can relate to this because we all type messages and then erase them before we send them and send something totally different which is frustrating. Lexi |
long days |
sun beating down |
© 2018, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.