Haiku Kukai 5 Spring Break Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2019
losing streak |
seventh inning stretch |
warm fresh air Mason Bruce (8) |
seventy degrees |
letting you in Mikaela Vuglar (13) The simplicity of this one is SOOOOOOOOO good. I love how it invites the reader in with beautiful and simplistic imagery. It literally makes me giggle with excitement with how effective this haiku is with little text. I think that is very important to recognize because it proves that you do not need to make a haiku super lengthy because short haikus can be as powerful as long ones. Grace Ruddell, Spring 2019 |
60 foot six inches |
the sun Evan Chastain (9) |
saw dust floats away |
embracing— Whitley Sapp (8) |
fresh fish fry Mikaela Vuglar (5) This haiku was my absolute favorite from kukai 5. the very first line pulled me in to the smell of fish frying, just like it did when my grandpa was alive and would hold an annual summer fish fry as a way to get all of the family together. he would fish all year long and save the cleaned fish in the freezer until there was enough to fry up for our large family. the second line did take me out of my memory of my summers spent with my grandparents, but the final line took me to my favorite happy place, which is the beach. i love eating dinner with my husband on the beach while we watch the waves come in, and occasionally spot boats in the distant sunset. Amanda Bivens, Spring 2019 This one really captures the spring break mood. I picture a group of friends enjoying dinner by the beach, probably intoxicated which leads to the drinks spilling, but it doesn’t matter because it’s break. A small detail I really liked was how she specifies “fresh” fish fry. For some reason “fish fry” on its own always makes me think of the elderly eating at a family restaurant. Benjamin Woodcock, Spring 2019 |
hair in curlers |
an old oak tree |
old friends reunited . . . Rene Sanchez (5) |
children’s hospital |
a glimmer of hope |
coffee coffee coffee Breana Bagley (7) I really enjoyed this haiku because of its use of repetition and numbers. The three coffees in the first line allude to the rush of work. Perhaps this person had to drink three cups in order to achieve all their work? Moving onto the second line, we learn that they did indeed but they accomplished five times the success with fifteen documents completed. I also really like that you do not know where the haiku is going after the second line. This haiku has potential to be anything after the second line and I really enjoy that. Grace Ruddell, Spring 2019 |
high school sweethearts Connor Mendenhall This was one of my favorite haiku from the spring break edition. It brought me back to the time when I was dating my high school sweetheart. He was in college at Millikin while I was finishing my senior year of high school. During our spring breaks, we would spend as much time as possible together before having to go back to our daily, hectic lives. I also enjoyed the words; sweethearts, love, and hate. It painted picture of their relationship. First soft and very lovey, young with pastel colors. Then I get the picture of their goodbyes, filled with tears and dark colors. Breana Bagley, Spring 2019 |
hotel Breana Bagley (4) |
warm weather Evan Chastain (7) |
the wind— Jakob Cihak (7) |
spring break . . . |
thunderstorm Daryann Birt (8) |
date night . . . |
money moves Connor Mendenhall (8) |
margaritas Connor Mendenhall (6) |
looking back |
puke and rally Rene Sanchez (6) |
pink and orange sky . . . |
baseball is coming Emily Reeves (5) I like this haiku because it reminds me of a day when my friends and I were all in my friends garage. Tommy my friend has a television in his garage and he likes baseball a lot. We ended up watching spring training, even though I am not a big baseball fan. Rene Sanchez, Spring 2019 |
painting the kitchen |
spring break |
falling asleep Jakob Cihak (11) |
clothing Daryann Birt (6) |
bright yellow rays emerge Jakob Cihak (7) This haiku closes with the image of the sunrise. There is a light feeling of this poem as if a new day is about to be full of possibilities. The imagery of this haiku is what made it stand out to me.The sunrise could symbolize a beginning in this haiku as in the beginning of a new day and comes off as very optimistic. This haiku produces a feeling of warmth as well. Mikaela Vuglar, Spring 2019 |
sinking into the leather couch |
bullet holes pierced Jakob Cihak (11) This haiku puts me in an unfamiliar place to me in real life but familiar in the sense that I have seen it in movies. It takes me into a scene where I am driving a beaten down car, driving ten miles under the speed limit to take in every sight that surrounds me. I am in the city, surrounded by trash that leaks and smells, people who look right through you, and an air that is polluted. I come to a stop at the stop sign only to see bullet holes in it. My first thought is, “How horrible it is to live in a place where this is normal.” My second thought is, “Hm, it looks like swiss cheese.” Then I continue my drive. Connor Mendenhall, Spring 2019 Coming from a rural town in Illinois that is mostly occupied by cornfields and spacied out houses, this isn't an uncommon thing to see. I can just picture a stop sign that is barely legible due to the number of holes it has in it. I can see the shiny silver around the holes that the bullet took off. I also the comparison to swiss cheese, giving you an idea of how many holes are in the sign. It is a familiar sight to see for me and that's why I thought it was a well written haiku. Evan Chastain, Spring 2019 This haiku takes me to the front porch of my home. As a kid, my brother and I used to take turns shooting pellet guns at the street signs in front of or house. The pellets never caused any significant damage; however, someone put a few holes in the railroad crossing sign using what appeared to be a shotgun. I vaguely remember my parents talking about someone doing it as they drove by, which is concerning to me now. Whitley Sapp, Spring 2019 |
new to us Whitley Sapp (7) |
hometown bar |
face masks Emily Reeves (6) |
four to a room Mason Bruce (6) |
wasting time |
mom pays Ariya Hawkins (7) |
deep fly to center Mason Bruce (8) |
dancing queen Whitley Sapp (7) |
neon lights fuel the night Mikaela Vuglar (5) |
light rain |
empty Polar Pop Ariya Hawkins (7) |
always complaining Mikaela Vuglar (5) |
17 hour work day Ariya Hawkins (5) When reading this I can relate to it because I have previously worked a 24 hours shift and your feet really do take a toll after that shift and it can be hard on your shoes and they can wear down. I can feel the tingling of the arches in my feet from being on them for so long. Daryann Birt, Spring 2019 |
still pines Whitley Sapp (3) |
highway stars Whitley Sapp I love the imagery from the first line of this haiku. It's easy to recreate a memory of driving along a road at night, half-paying attention to the road and half focused on finding the big dipper and little dipper in the night sky. I used to frequently pull over to get a better look and hope to see a falling star. I miss the care-free days of driving along country roads at night with my husband… especially in his car where there was a bench seat. we would sit right next to each other and hold hands and see if we could get lost or not, and there was always most definitely a kiss or two involved. Amanda Bivens, Spring 2019 |
your hand |
a new dishwasher |
awake at dawn Amanda Bivens (4) |
fuzzy socks |
late night Rene Sanchez (9) |
finally home Whitley Sapp (3) |
Bulls game Rene Sanchez (5) |
catching up Benjamin Woodcock This one was my favorite. I thought it had been called, but that may have been a different basketball haiku. This one just really hit home for me. During the summer, a group of my friends all worked 9 to 5 every day, and since we’d all get off of work at the same time, we would meet up at town hall and play on their hoops. This became an everyday routine, and it always gave me something to look forward to after work. Over the break a couple of us went to the local YMCA and played since it was a bit cold outside and caught up with each other while doing what we loved most. Benjamin Woodcock, Spring 2019 |
worn bench seat |
my guardian angel Amanda Bivens (11) |
a cold empty field |
sunny shadows Rene Sanchez (6) |
gazing Benjamin Woodcock (8) This haiku brings with it a sense of optimism. The person in the haiku could have been previously feeling hopeless and or lonesome and has recently found purpose or someone making the him feel less empty than before. When the person was lonely, they could have looked at the stars for hope or comfort. The stars could have once been the only ones there for him consistently. Now that the sky is “less empty than before” the author could be feeling more secure or no longer alone. Mikaela Vuglar, Spring 2019 |
morning practice Whitley Sapp (3) |
random questions Benjamin Woodcock I like this haiku because I am not sure how to feel about it. One part of me likes it because it shows a new relationship. When you meet someone and go through that “crush” phase, you want to talk to them all of the time. You want to know everything about them, talk with them all the time, and even want to be with them all of the time. Because you have been talking with them for so long, you seem to be running out of questions to ask. You want to keep talking to them because you cannot bare the thought of not talking to them so you are trying to find just any random question to ask so that the conversation can continue. Another part of me feels sad because it feels like a relationship is dying. I see a relationship that has been through some tough times recently and the couple doesn't talk to one another that much. They are drifting apart. They ask each other random questions to start conversations, but the conversations are short and die. They are asking anything and everything to start a conversation, but there is nothing there; no spark. I like this haiku because I have different emotions that I feel with it and it can go in many directions. Emily Reeves, Spring 2019 |
squeaky sneakers |
gingerbread cookies Connor Mendenhall (8) |
old red car Whitley Sapp (6) |
little red dots Connor Mendenhall (4) |
a rare Lily |
the perfect place Connor Mendenhall (6) Well, I never imagined an actual murder taking place but it did remind me of the thoughts a serial killer might have during Netflix documentaries. I like how each line takes a turn. For instance, if one line was different it would take a totally different meaning. I imagined the serial killer walking along a train, spotting the window seat in the back as the perfect place to stuff a body under. In a less literal sense, I also thought of the killer having just committed murder and riding on the train to the hardware store to get his supplies, thinking of the perfect place to dispose. I image a dark train in the dark of night. Breana Bagley, Spring 2019 I find this haiku very relatable, but not in a serial killer way. As I am driving or riding passenger on a road trip, I notice a lot of run down houses and barns in the middle of nowhere. The movie, Room, has forced me to think of every shady building as possibly having someone locked away inside. People going throughout their day could seem normal, but be hiding something. Whitley Sapp, Spring 2019 |
a windy Wednesday Mikaela Vuglar |
longing for a warmer |
elevator pitch |
facetime call |
the images of each other Grace Ruddell (6) I love this haiku because I love how happy and optimistic it makes me feel. While I am not currently in a relationship, I love the idea of being with someone and imagining a future together. That feeling of being so happy with that person that you want nothing less than to be with them the rest of your life. I love the connection that you feel with this haiku. You feel a really strong connection to the one you are imagining a future with. I love that the last line says I seem to believe it. I love this because it gives the sense that the imaginations could become reality. There is optimism that those thoughts becoming reality. I really like this haiku because it makes me happy and optimistic about finding that someone. Emily Reeves, Spring 2019 |
House Chambers |
showing my ID |
grandma’s funeral Mikaela Vuglar (6) |
a green lizard Grace Ruddell (12) As I initially read this, I was able to imagine the most adorable little lizard looking up at me from a sidewalk. The use of the word "stares" immediately draws attention closer toward's the lizard's eyes, which makes for an even clearer image for the audience to follow. The way that these lines are set up allow the reader to see the lizard in an interesting way. The first line allows you to take in the whole "green lizard" all at once, perhaps imagining features such as it's coloring, its scales, it's overall shape, etc. The second line allows you to almost zoom in, focusing your attention to the lizard's eyes. The final line of this haiku informs us that this lizard must appear to be cute and small enough to be not only separated from his mother, but seem vulnerable enough for that separation to be an issue. Ariya Hawkins, Spring 2019 |
the cry Evan Chastain (5) |
the wind blows Evan Chastain (6) This haiku transports me to a farm house with a large wrap-around porch. There on the porch is a swinging seat, that hangs from the ceiling of the porch, and two white and wooden rocking chairs. I can imagine that as a child, I visited this house often because it was my grandparent's house. Every morning, my grandparents would be sitting in the rocking chairs with a cup of coffee, watching the sun come up. Well, now looking back on those memories, I can only see the wind rocking the chairs where they once sat. Connor Mendenhall, Spring 2019 |
dog days of summer Evan Chastain (4) |
hurry Julia Peterson (5) |
baby squirrel Julia Peterson (5) |
24 foot pontoon |
different place Grace Ruddell (6) |
waiting on the uber |
mowing business |
two slabs of bread Mason Bruce (7) |
a crying morning |
memories of |
finally in bed after Amanda Bivens (7) |
summer night |
looking out of |
four on the floor Whitley Sapp (9) |
feeding tube |
smell of fresh cut grass Amanda Bivens (12) This haiku paints the image of a beautiful day, only to have it abruptly ruined by allergies. The first two lines cause me to imagine a warm, serene day in the backyard, and the flowers are likely in bloom since they're being pollinated. Then after reading the word "benadryl" I imagine hearing a sneeze, followed by some sniffles as the person walks to the medicine cabinet. The ellipses at the start of the third line represent that there is a slow realization that occurs in the subject before they decide that they need Benadryl. I can fully relate to this haiku because some days (especially in the Spring) my allergies get so intense that I need to stay home for a day because I can't stand the idea of being outdoors. Ariya Hawkins, Spring 2019 I liked this one because I have allergies and I can relate to this one. I just picture someone being miserable but wanting to enjoy the nice weather. I liked the use of smells in this one, because that fresh cut grass scent is very recognizable for everyone. When I pictured pollen in the air, I saw the pieces of a dandelion floating ove a very green front yard. It was a cool way to use both colors and scents to help create this image, and that is why I liked it from the Kukai. Evan Chastain, Spring 2019 |
walking along the trail Amanda Bivens (6) |
trying to move on Amanda Bivens (10) |
always Daryann Birt (5) |
no boys allowed Whitley Sapp (4) |
bucket splashes |
the hole my little secret Whitley Sapp (11) I like reading this one because it gives a feeling of nostalgia with wearing an old worn down shirt that has been through many different events and memories. I picture the shirt I took from my grandpa a few years ago as a sleep shirt and its worn down enough that it has these holes in the neck and armpits but it has a sense of comfort from knowing that it belonged to him. Daryann Birt, Spring 2019 This haiku can relate to me and I think a lot of people in a way. I have a favorite shirt that I wear around my house that I have had for a while. This shirt is my “lucky” shirt I have had since senior year. It is a wrestling shirt that I use to wear before warming up in senior year. Rene Sanchez, Spring 2019 |
a wrong turn |
flickering Mikaela Vuglar (7) |
slowly painting |
© 2019, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.