he suggests
the art museum
my favorite place

Alyson Robbins

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

Savanna Prasun

i trace figure eights
on his chest
infinity

Colin McGonagle

landscape
mapping every detail
of her beauty

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

i trace figure eights
on his chest
infinity

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

bottom quarter champion

his hand
in mine
a perfect fit

his hand
in mine
a perfect fit

summer love
his hand on my thigh
stuck

food market
your hand
brushes mine

Elliot Mahon

his hand
in mine
a perfect fit

Sarah Barter

night at the opera
hand on my thigh
the soprano fans herself

Colin McGonagle

summer love
his hand on my thigh
stuck

Jeana Pierson

TOP half champion

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

CHAMPION
 

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

lovers at the riverside
she pokes him
with a twig

BOTTOM half champion

bed head and glasses
he still calls me
a model

Jeana Pierson

the world's worst gift
he smiles
from ear to ear

Linnea Nordstrom

drive thru line
just so you know
I love you

Camryn Skundberg

How do I love thee?
I filled your tank with gas.
It was on empty.

Danni Beard

the world's worst gift
he smiles
from ear to ear

drive thru line
just so you know
I love you

the world's worst gift
he smiles
from ear to ear

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

lovers at the riverside
she pokes him
with a twig

bottom quarter champion

lovers at the riverside
she pokes him
with a twig

lovers at the riverside
she pokes him
with a twig

fairy lights
I sink into
my bed

lovers at the riverside
she pokes him
with a twig

Elliot Mahon

the morning after
your sock
left behind

Katelynn Watkins

fairy lights
I sink into
my bed

Kaitlin Hathaway

the perfect moment
I wrote
a song about it

Bryce Bayer

I wake up
to check my phone
no good morning text

Camryn Skundberg

new message
aren't you . . .
seeing someone?

Courtney Klein

old friends
meeting for dinner
could this be more?

Piper Charlton

we meet
in the middle
a long overdue visit

Sarah Barter

new message
aren't you . . .
seeing someone?

we meet
in the middle
a long overdue visit

new message
aren't you . . .
seeing someone?

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

new message
aren't you . . .
seeing someone?

bottom quarter champion

sharing a milkshake
at sunset
he says another girl's name

sharing a milkshake
at sunset
he says another girl's name

next week on . . .
the anticipation
of our time

another blind date
hoping this one
goes better than the last

Chloe Herbert

sharing a milkshake
at sunset
he says another girl's name

Alyson Robbins

next week on . . .
the anticipation
of our time

Paige Hockman

the soundtrack
to my life
I skip a song

Jamie Gamonez

TOP half champion

new message
aren't you . . .
seeing someone?

CHAMPION
 

new message
aren't you . . .
seeing someone?

standing
in the freezing cold
only for you

BOTTOM half champion

marks on my neck
wasn't love
just marking territory

Jordan Hildebrand

strung along
like a marionette
puppeteer of the heart

Kionah Flowers

hurtful words
he promises to never
say them again

Kaitlin Hathaway

impromptu haircut
everyone whispers stories
but she is free

Linnea Nordstrom

marks on my neck
wasn't love
just marking territory

hurtful words
he promises to never
say them again

hurtful words
he promises to never
say them again

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

standing
in the freezing cold
only for you

bottom quarter champion

standing
in the freezing cold
only for you

standing
in the freezing cold
only for you

no romantic kisses
at least
the dog loves me

being vulnerable for once
he cannot take it
ghosted

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

standing
in the freezing cold
only for you

Carly Clo

no romantic kisses
at least
the dog loves me

Savanna Prasun

I can always count on
my
furry friend

Brooke Oitker

he suggests
the art museum
my favorite place

Alyson Robbins

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

Savanna Prasun

i trace figure eights
on his chest
infinity

Colin McGonagle

landscape
mapping every detail
of her beauty

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

I enjoyed this first haiku because I love that it shows how simple things can mean the world to someone. No matter if it is a significant other, friend, family member--whenever someone remembers something about you and suggests it, it shows that they pay attention to your interests and care about you. This haiku captured the feeling of love being shown through the little things. Linnea Nordstrom, Spring 2021

The second one was one of my favorite love haiku from the day. It created an image of a person being so in love with their partner and looking at them like they are the most important person in the world. This haiku could be interpreted in many different ways, but the main thing I thought of when I read it was that the “her” in the haiku sees the “him” as complete perfection- like a marble statue. They love everything about them, even if they are imperfect, and they see those imperfections as something that makes them special and loveable. Linnea Nordstrom, Spring 2021

This match was my favorite because of its relation to art. I feel like both authors defined art in these haikus in different ways. The first haiku defines art in a somewhat physical sense. An art museum is a favorite place for the narrator. In the second haiku, the narrator sees her significant other as art. Which, is more of a state of mind. In her eyes he’s perfect. He might come off as cold and detached sometimes, in the way that marble statues are, however, the fact remains that’s perfect. Kionah Flowers, Spring 2021

I really enjoy this pairing of haiku in how they compare love and art. While they both incorporate art and love, they each give off a different feeling. The haiku by Alyson reminds me of a new love, maybe even a first date. The guy suggests they visit the art museum, and the girl is instantly excited because the art museum is one of her favorite places. You can feel the newness and the electricity of discovering connections as you get to know a new person. While Alyson’s is light and exciting, Savanna’s is deeper and lusty. Savanna’s haiku emanates desire as she compares the man to a marble statue and how the girl’s eyes follow every curve of him. These two haiku have the perfect amount of similarity, but what I really like about them is how they contrast. Jeana Pierson, Spring 2021

I really enjoyed this matching. One of these haikus, yes is mine, but I found it fascinating to match these two together. It really works. I love the imagery both haikus share about mapping or tracing the human body of someone we are intimate with. It gives a clear picture on the perspectives of both stories. I saw one being the female perspective and the other being the male perspective. Even if the author (I know I did not) didn’t intend for this story to appear when placed together it really worked well to capture that picture. Marissa Garcia, Spring 2021

I loved these haiku because they exemplify the first signs of love. It’s the moment you realize every inch of your person is perfect. You have no edits to make – they’re sculpted perfectly without trying. It’s a feeling you don’t expect, and out of the blue, you realize this person has been everything you’ve wanted. Alyson Robbins, Spring 2021

food market
your hand
brushes mine

Elliot Mahon

his hand
in mine
a perfect fit

Sarah Barter

night at the opera
hand on my thigh
the soprano fans herself

Colin McGonagle

summer love
his hand on my thigh
stuck

Jeana Pierson

her eyes travel
over him . . .
a marble statue

Savanna Prasun

i trace figure eights
on his chest
infinity

Colin McGonagle

his hand
in mine
a perfect fit

Sarah Barter

summer love
his hand on my thigh
stuck

Jeana Pierson

I really liked both of these haiku so I decided to focus on them as they are similar. They are similar in the admiration that is behind the writing. In order to think of something forever or as such a great figure, it must be very important to the person. I also just love both of these haiku, call me clique but I think of my boyfriend. I just love laying and talking with him and admiring how caring and empathetic he is. Paige Hockman, Spring 2021

I really like this match up because of how it seems to be written with the same thoughts in mind. It makes me imagine that this could be the same person who is absolutely in love with her significant other. I also have a feeling of intimacy between these two haiku as it seems that these two would be close to each other. I could also imagine how these people my not be partners and just a hook up that they turn into something more. Katelynn Watkins, Spring 2021

I really enjoyed this pair because there a heartwarming loving feeling within both. I see both as someone who is appreciating the beauty in their partner. I could see this within my mind, as once you start seeing someone you notice all the beautiful things about them. This pair brought a good feeling to me. Kaitlin Hathaway, Spring 2021

I like this haiku match because I picture it as high school love in both of them. I think there is a moment in both of them that the writer feels an “at home” connection. Whether that be when their hands touch and fit perfectly or when his hand touches his or her legs. I think these haiku fit really well with each other. Jordan Hildebrand, Spring 2021

I really enjoy this match of haiku because they are both describing an intimate bond of love through physical touch. The first haiku is more cute and innocent, while the second haiku shows more of the realistic side of physical touch in relationships. I really enjoy these haikus because of the different thoughts/view of physical touch in relationships. Some relationships really value physical touch as a love language, but others don’t. Sarah Barter, Spring 2021

bed head and glasses
he still calls me
a model

Jeana Pierson

the world's worst gift
he smiles
from ear to ear

Linnea Nordstrom

drive thru line
just so you know
I love you

Camryn Skundberg

How do I love thee?
I filled your tank with gas.
It was on empty.

Danni Beard

This is the kind of love I want, that we all want really, some of us have just found it already. Often when I'm reading haikus, they remind me of certain songs. This one reminds me of “A Sunday Kind Of Love” by Etta James. This is the kind of love where you can just lounge around the house looking like a bum, but you still are so taken with your partner. Piper Charlton, Spring 2021

This is so sweet. I've seen this happen with the men in my family a million times. As the girl, we just have to smile right back because, at the end of the day, it's the thought that counts. Piper Charlton, Spring 2021

I like this match because they both capture that moment of unconditional love from a partner. It makes me think about all the times I've woken up looking like a crazy woman, but my boyfriend will tell me I'm the most beautiful or when I get him something that he doesn't necessarily want, but he'll still appreciate it. I think love is at its most beautiful form when there's a difference in perspective for the better good. Where you find a flaw, your partner finds perfection. Jamie Gamonez, Spring 2021

I chose to match these two haiku because they are conceptually similar, but have some unmistakable differences as well. While each of these haiku are centered around the simplicity of love, they both depict this in very distinct scenarios. In the first haiku, the author uses the phrase “bed head and glasses”, in order to emphasize the little amount of effort that went into their appearance. The author of the second haiku begins with the phrase “the world’s worst gift”, denoting that they wouldn’t be surprised by a negative reaction. However, the conclusions of each of these haiku are extremely comparable. They both cease with the notion that they are loved and appreciated by someone, despite their looks or gift-giving abilities. While I like each of these haiku for their own distinct reasons, the first one is my favorite of the two. The language used in this haiku was perfectly selected, as it describes a clear scene for readers to imagine. In addition, I found this haiku to relate more closely to that of my personal life. Even when I am looking my worst, my fiancé is always there to boost my self-confidence.  Chloe Herbert, Spring 2021

I love this match! I think the story is so sweet. I think of couple that is so in love and they appreciate everything about each other. Linnea’s haiku was my favorite one in this entire matching contest. I think the story is so cute. I also like that it doesn’t have to be a couple, it can be a father and daughter or grandparents! There are so many different types of love. Carly Clo, Spring 2021

I really like this match because it’s very nostalgic of a young relationship. The image that comes to mind are two partners in a car together for a late-night bite. I think of this relationship between two people in that they’re in the early stages of becoming more intimate with each other. When you start to get fast food together and fill each other’s tanks with gas, that’s a sign of a relationship becoming more solidified and intimate. For me, my love language is acts of service, so I like to do things for other people to show them my love. Bryce Bayer, Spring 2021

lovers at the riverside
she pokes him
with a twig

Elliot Mahon

the morning after
your sock
left behind

Katelynn Watkins

fairy lights
I sink into
my bed

Kaitlin Hathaway

the perfect moment
I wrote
a song about it

Bryce Bayer

I really like this one because this is the love that I hope to have. It’s the kind of love that you know you can be annoying or a bother, and they will still love you in the end. It is a sweet kind of love that gives you cavities thinking about. This is a Gomez and Morticia kind of love, at least, in my opinion. It is a committed kind of love. Savanna Prasun, Spring 2021

I wake up
to check my phone
no good morning text

Camryn Skundberg

new message
aren't you . . .
seeing someone?

Courtney Klein

old friends
meeting for dinner
could this be more?

Piper Charlton

we meet
in the middle
a long overdue visit

Sarah Barter

I like how both of these haiku compare about love but in different forms. The first one talks about being able to find that close friends of yours that you want to be able to distinguish more than a friend. The second haiku is more about not seeing if it’s your true love and finding out if that one is the love you for you. I really like these because each of the lines are equivalent to one another. Both these haiku really make you feel like you are in the moment which is a beneficial quality to writing a good haiku. Danni Beard, Spring 2021

another blind date
hoping this one
goes better than the last

Chloe Herbert

sharing a milkshake
at sunset
he says another girl's name

Alyson Robbins

next week on . . .
the anticipation
of our time

Paige Hockman

the soundtrack
to my life
I skip a song

Jamie Gamonez

marks on my neck
wasn't love
just marking territory

Jordan Hildebrand

strung along
like a marionette
puppeteer of the heart

Kionah Flowers

hurtful words
he promises to never
say them again

Kaitlin Hathaway

impromptu haircut
everyone whispers stories
but she is free

Linnea Nordstrom

I loved the angst of this pair. Both of these haikus embody the emotions of betrayal and being used, and it hurts to read. Yet, even with the pain, that’s what makes this pair so beautiful to match up with one another. There’s that lingering sense of sadness in both haikus that makes you want to cry after reading it. The images of love bites upon the neck, the possessiveness of the words, and the mentions of a marionette. These partners didn’t love the authors, but kept them around because they were their “territory.” It’s exactly that pain that makes it such a unique and beautiful pair. Brooke Oitker, Spring 2021

being vulnerable for once
he cannot take it
ghosted

Marissa Garcia-Kaliner

standing
in the freezing cold
only for you

Carly Clo

no romantic kisses
at least
the dog loves me

Savanna Prasun

I can always count on
my
furry friend

Brooke Oitker

I like this pair a lot. They both show the sacrifices you must make or risks you have to take when in a relationship. They both require going the extra mile because in the first one, the extra mile would be maybe sharing something about yourself that you would never share with anyone else. In the second one, it would be supporting your significant other in weather conditions that aren’t the best when maybe you could be doing something else. Overall, both of these haiku caught my eye and I thought they were a cool match. Camryn Skundberg, Spring 2021