Haiku Kukai 6 Favorites
Global Haiku • Millikin University • Spring 2019
anxiously waiting |
all night Benjamin Woodcock (5) I really like this haiku. For me, it transitions from indoors--being the listener--to outdoors being the dribbler. I can recall many nights spent playing and practicing basketball at my home. Much of my childhood revolved around basketball. To the dribbler, the late nights are the edge on the competition; unfortunately, to the neighbor, the same late nights can be quite annoying. Whitley Sapp, Spring 2019 |
stretching out on Whitley Sapp (6) |
morning church Benjamin Woodcock (9) |
I put my headphones in Emily Reeves (13) This was a perfect memory for me when I traveled for football in both high school and college. I would wear headphones to listen to music and sometimes help me sleep on long rides. It really makes you feel unconnected to the world and in your own world for the time they are on. I just remember putting them on and either falling asleep on the noisy buses or just looking out the window and enjoying a quick playlist I had constructed. It was fun times to be apart of, especially high school. It just dropped me back on the bus with all my friends and that experience, which was very enjoyable to say the least. Evan Chastain, Spring 2019 |
an open field |
blowing up balloons |
orange cheese fingers Whitley Sapp (6) |
tracking in |
the old bus stop Grace Ruddell (12) |
a night of news |
a cape whooshes Grace Ruddell (11) |
black bear Whitley Sapp (5) |
the full moon Amanda Bivens (9) This was one of my favorite haiku from the 6th Kukai, I even thought I wrote it for a moment! My mother always told that when there is a full moon, there is bound to be a lot of crime, so I usually had to stay in for the evening on those nights. It seems as though my mom wasn't the only one to tell me this. Just the other Saturday night my roommate and I were staying in and getting homework done when we saw it was a full moon and heard the loud college students migrate to the next party. My roommate said, “yep, it's a full moon tonight.” I also like the mystery in this haiku. The first twos line don't lead onto any type of disarray but with the third line, the full story comes into view. The reader is also able to get a cause and effect; the full moon caused the crazies! Breana Bagley, Spring 2019 |
stepping off the porch Amanda Bivens (10) |
lying out in a field |
Sunday morning rain |
denim on denim Mikaela Vuglar (9) When I read this I immediately thought of my dad. He wears jeans and a deim jacket sometimes and this fit him perfectly. He will brag that they have fake peral snaps, which just add to how funny it is. The denim is very faded, due to the years of wearing it. Both the jeans and jacket have the with strings dangling on the most worn areas as well. This just took me to his house with him working outside in the cool weather. Evan Chastain, Spring 2019 |
a new day begins |
the rainbow Emily Reeves (8) |
warm summer night Emily Reeves (4) |
21 roses Daryann Birt (11) What is so nice about this haiku is that it is phrased in a way to make it seem like the grandfather wrote a haiku for their grandchild. The story itself of delivering 21 roses on the grandchild's 21st birthday is special enough, but because of the formatting seeming like it was written as a letter makes it extra special. The use of numbers instead of letters to write out “21” and putting, “. . . love grandpa” all signals to me that this is a letter. Connor Mendenhall, Spring 2019 This haiku reminds me that there is love in the world still. This made me imagine an older couple still showing they love and care for each other even after 21 years. This makes me think of my grandpa and grandma, who went out every year for their anniversary. I like how the saved love grandpa at the end. Rene Sanchez, Spring 2019 |
steamy shower Rene Sanchez (9) I really like this haiku because I can relate to it so much. I am someone who stresses a lot. I get stressed about a lot of things. I take really hot showers to try to relax because I know that stress is so harmful to my body. Sometimes I get physically sick because I am so stressed out. I like this haiku because it reminds me to let go of things. I like the picture of the stress getting washed away. The warmth of the water seems to help release the stress. There is a sense of relief and relaxation after the stress has left your body. I really like this haiku because of the sense of relief and comfort that come from it. Emily Reeves, Spring 2019 |
invading stars |
we stand at the water's edge |
grandma removes her scarf before bed Ariya Hawkins (10) |
Sunday rainfall Benjamin Woodcock (7) I love this haiku because while it is humorous, each line allows the story to unfold. First, we begin seeing Sunday rainfall, which I personally imagine to be a peaceful sight. Immediately after that image in line 2, we hear gunshots and can see the raindrops coming down like bullets, which is a highly contrasting image. Then by the third line when we see the word "hungover", all of the previous information is linked together in a new way, and it all begins to make a lot more sense. By the second read, the word "Sunday" is highlighted, because you know that the subject of this haiku likely had a pretty crazy Saturday. I thought that this was an overall quite cleverly constructed haiku! Ariya Hawkins, Spring 2019 |
Benjamin Woodcock (10) I really enjoyed this one liner!! I immediately picked up on the fact that the author wrote this as a one liner because of the "flat-earth documentary". This gave the one-liner a purpose and a funny one at that. I also was excited to see a one liner in our Kukai, as my eyes were automatically drawn to it. This haiku sets a scene very well. I pictured the two being together in the same room but not paying attention to the documentary while the roommate is fully invested in this documentary. Mikaela Vuglar, Spring 2019
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the orange line Rene Sanchez (8) |
old black ford |
the tampon machine |
reverberant walls Grace Ruddell (6) |
I hear the bass boom Grace Ruddell (4) |
snow on Friday |
footprints in the dewy grass Grace Ruddell (9) |
burnt toast— Whitley Sapp (9) |
untuned banjo Whitley Sapp (7) |
walking away Benjamin Woodcock (10) |
fields of green Daryann Birt (5) We talked a bit about this particular haiku in class and I love the atmosphere around the message. A summer in the Midwest is different than many others in various regions around the continental united states. When I read this, I picture the cornfields around my house that I drove Atvs and dirtbikes through as a kid. Driving through the Midwest during any other season than summer you can look left and right for as far as the eye can see. However when I think of the summer during the growing season the cornfields fly up as fast as a ten year old during a growth spurt. Another piece to this haiku that I found interesting is how the second and third lines flow so seamlessly together. If you are from this area you can understand how this haiku incorporates sensory responses such as visuals and olfactory memories. Mason Bruce, Spring 2019 |
cold spring's night Connor Mendenhall (8) It's getting to be bonfire weather again. Since we haven't had warm weather in a while, all of these spring haiku make me think of warm days ahead which always kind of cheers me up. I really like the spacing of this haiku, I think it flows nicely. For some reason I just really like how the first line is worded, rather than just saying “spring night,” somehow giving the spring possession of the night gives it a cool new element. Benjamin Woodcock, Spring 2019 With this haiku, I picture last year when my friends had a bonfire almost every night once it got nicer outside, but still cool at night. We had our closest friends around and it was a nice warm feeling. Julia Peterson, Spring 2019 |
laundry pile Connor Mendenhall (7) |
dead playwright Connor Mendenhall (9) |
silver car: Whitley Sapp (6) |
musty gym . . . Whitley Sapp (4) |
early morning tradition Breana Bagley (6) |
sunny spring day |
halt Breana Bagley (7) |
grandma's garden Whitley Sapp (10) I don't have a personal memory of picking food from a garden with my grandma, but I do have a personal memory of picking flowers! My grandma and I have always been close from my beginning. I vividly remember going into her backyard on nice Spring days, picking the pick roses which lined her backyard fence. I actually to this day, still have a rose I'd dried, kept in a little jar. I really liked the words grandma and sun-warmed in this poem. It seems as though grandmas always make us warm and fuzzy on the inside which I believe the sun-warmed tomato is a symbol of. For my grandma and I, she is just the sweetest elderly lady so I believe that dried pink rose is a symbol of the sweet friendship we still have – even after her rose bushes are all dried up. Breana Bagley, Spring 2019 This haiku is one of the only ones from class that I had an urge to double vote for. My grandmother had a very positive effect on my life; Going over to grandma's house always meant that there was something she would try to feed me. Out in the back yard we worked together in her garden to grow some delicious produce that provided much more value than a sugary snack. The same value that I found in this haiku. The first line in this haiku opens my mind up to amazing memories leading into the second line that gives me vivid imagery making my mouth water just thinking about it. As far as the final line I'm not sure if I would have gone the same route with the breakdown of the haiku but the message still gets the point across. Finally, the language of sun-warmed puts you in a the location and provides that imagery that haikus are supposed to incorporate. Mason Bruce, Spring 2019 |
you have to choose |
summer break— |
the baby cries |
open road ahead Mason Bruce (10) I really like this haiku because it is so relatable. I don't have to commute as much as I used to, but on the rare occasions that I make a trip to Springfield, I always listen to music and kind of zone out while contemplating the person that I am or want to become. When I read this haiku, I imagine a sunny day where the warmth of the sun is heating up my van. I hear the noises of the road and whatever music I may be listening to. I watch on the road ahead, but still focus on the passing lines and the passing trees in my peripheral vision. I feel the rhythm of the road beneath me. I focus on moving forward, which could also be a metaphor for moving forward with my hopes and dreams. Amanda Bivens, Spring 2019 I like this haiku because it brings me a vivid image in my head of this setting. I can picture someone in a car driving through the country wondering who they want to be in this world. When you have a lot of time on the road you wonder who you are. Rene Sanchez, Spring 2019 |
the smell |
date night earrings Amanda Bivens (12) |
face blush red |
sunbathing and Amanda Bivens (9) This one reminded me of my grandmother's old cat and how grumpy he was. I could just picture his orange fur in the sunlight and he laid on the kitchen tiles. If someone came up to him and tried to get his attention, we properly wouldn't notice. Just minding his own business and living his best life. I really like the structure of this haiku. The space in the first line gives “sunbathing” as its own thought. It allows the reader to really stand still on the line, just like the cat, for a bit. I also love that it isn't until the third line that it is revealed it's a cat. Grace Ruddell, Spring 2019 |
waking up early Mason Bruce (4) |
the black dog panting |
haiku Jakob Cihak (4) |
monday morning Jakob Cihak (7) I really liked this haiku because it reminded me of the Monday morning that I just had. I was the only one home that morning, and my cat wanted fed. As soon as my alarm clock went off, my cat came running into my room and jumped onto my bed. She immediately started meowing at me to get up and feed her. I ignored her so she started tapping me with her paws. I continued to ignore her, so she laid across my face. I finally got up and fed her. I liked this haiku because it reminded me of that moment even though it wasn't a soft nudge. I like the feeling of waking up and your cat being next to you. The sense of dependency and love are really felt through this haiku. The cat is probably there because it needs something from you, but you would like to think that they are there because they love you. I liked this haiku because it makes me think of my cats. Emily Reeves, Spring 2019 |
yellow raincoat Jakob Cihak (11) When I read this I see so many colors with the yellow of the raincoat and the rain coming down. I picture this as the beginning of a movie. I see the girl running through the rain to get to the coffee shop as a way of escaping the rain and then a movie starting when she then enters the room. Daryann Birt, Spring 2019 |
driving for hours Mason Bruce (5) |
the coffee maker’s final hiss Mikaela Vuglar (6) |
Barbie fishing pole Mikaela Vuglar (4) |
sandhill crane Mikaela Vuglar (3) |
thrilled for them Mason Bruce (10) This one hit home for me. Reminds me of any break up I've ever gone through and it makes me think of how people are sometimes lonely even when exciting things are happening all around them. Julia Peterson, Spring 2019 |
two weeks of laundry Jakob Cihak (3) |
dirty clothes piling up |
Elvis strings Rene Sanchez (3) |
two years Breana Bagley (13) I know haiku is not necessarily meant to be read in metaphor . . . but I did on this one. I replaced, “string of lights” with, “a couple” and this added a much richer deepness to the haiku than when I originally read it. For a lot of younger couples, they seem to always be plagued with being told that it is just puppy dog love or that it won't last out of high school or college. But, this haiku is saying, “What if it did last that long? Then we would be proving everyone wrong.” I like that story to be attached with this haiku. Even after two years being a young couple, we are proving you wrong and nothing is burning out. Connor Mendenhall, Spring 2019 When reading this I can see the Christmas lights that are still hanging on the roofs in the neighborhood of my small town. I can see them lit up late at night when I go back home from school. I can see them hanging even if they aren't lit up but staying up because there hasn't been time to take them down or put them back up every year. Daryann Birt, Spring 2019 |
sitting in the field Grace Ruddell (10) I think this one is beautifully written, from the wording to the spacing, this one gave me the chills. I love how vivid a picture I get from it, and how we don't know what the tears are from. Since the tears are glistening in the stars, I figured maybe she was looking up in admiration. Or maybe she is crying because the person she was in the field with left her. Either way, I really liked this one. Benjamin Woodcock, Spring 2019 |
clicking and clacking |
waiting by the window |
on the couch Benjamin Woodcock I somehow missed this haiku during our Kukai. This is relatable because I have a habit of procrastinating while doing my homework. I'm not a big TV watcher, but if the TV is on, I have a habit of straying from what I am supposed to be doing. Tonight, my children were watching Full House, so I ended up watching that right along with them. Amanda Bivens, Spring 2019 |
Dunkin’ a day Breana Bagley (9) This one takes me back to sophomore year at Millikin. My friends and I would always go to Dunkin Donuts after classes (during happy hour) because they would have $1 coffees AND you would get reward points. We would hang out there all the time. I would even schedule my classes there because the wifi was so good. I have a lot of great memories there. Also, I am one of those people that needs coffee in the morning to be in a good mood. Sometimes I wake up too late to make coffee before class, so I'll have a really bad day and wonder why. Then I'd get a coffee from Dunkin and feel SOOO much happier. It's a place with everything that makes me happy and makes me very nostalgic. Grace Ruddell, Spring 2019 |
teaching my baby sister Daryann Birt (9) I really relate to this haiku. My little sister has been eyeballing my car since I recienced it as a high school graduation gift. When I was practicing with her in my car, she always said things like "I can't wait to own your baby car" and stuff like that. She's a crazy driver and when she finally does get my hand-me-down car I will be praying for my car (and her). Mikaela Vuglar, Spring 2019 |
Dreamlake |
Mamma Mia! Benjamin Woodcock (4) |
smooth black liquid |
grandma's whispered confession: Ariya Hawkins (8) |
the wind gusts |
baseball weather |
Grandma's soft wrinkles |
momma "promises" Ariya Hawkins (6) |
a mother blue jay Evan Chastain (4) This is a very well written haiku, in my opinion. It reminds me of a time when we had a bad storm and the tornado sirens just up the road from my house were blaring. I was young and had the flu at the time, so the situation was quite unsettling to my helpless self. My mother comforted my sister and I, as we all hid out in a nook under our basement stairs. Whitley Sapp, Spring 2019 |
North American Birds . . . Mikaela Vuglar (4) This haiku brings so many colors to mind in so few words, and I'm not even entirely sure that it was the poet's intention. The first image of North American Birds gives me an image of some fairly generic, small, birds, but when we see that this is a book that belongs to the subject's father, I instantly see colorful blue jays and cardinals, and combinations of black, red, and blue all on the front cover of this book. The fact that it's the father's book somehow manages to make it more personal and specific than if it were simply the subject's book or “the book”. The placement of the book on the coffee table brings in the setting, and it gives the reader a sense that this is all familiar (if not commonplace) to the subject. Ariya Hawkins, Spring 2019 |
the sun comes up |
noisy box fan— Whitley Sapp (9) |
© 2019, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.