a cocktail party
holding hands
beneath the table

Marlene Gardner (5)

a long scar.
the other children leave him behind
on the playground

Jenny Munro (4)

This Haiku brings to mind a small child who has had some type of major surgery or injury that has left him slightly physically handicapped. The child cannot move around as quickly as the other children. At the playground, the other children run off to play games but do not ask the small boy with the scar to join them. He is left to play by himself. Donna

This poem by Jenny made me a bit sad to think about. Children in this day and age are so cruel to children with any kind of disability or anything else that stands out from other children. Before the discussion we had in class about this poem I had the idea that the child had a physical scar and the visual that I seen was on his face. The other children looked at him as being odd due to this and they all ran out to play on the playground and left him behind. After the discussion, I started thinking more along the lines of a physical scar. The child was not able to keep up with the other kids and was left behind on the playground. Either way, it really gives a mother something to think about and pray that this does not happen to your own child. Brooke

eager young man
buying a rose
the last one

Susan Love (2)

cranberry candle
on the bedside table
gathering dust

Marlene Gardner

woman of the eve
...red dress, red heels, red lips
being escorted to her destiny

Charla Bond (2)

a butterfly
beats against the window.
homework

Jenny Munro (5)

I think we all can relate to this over the last 18 months of our lives. Sitting at the desk with many hours of work to be done, catching yourself periodically gazing out the window. A butterfly taps on the window as to invite you outside to enjoy the day. You know you must stay and finish but the temptation is so strong that you must resist and stay to finish or you’ll only be behind tomorrow. Missy

Grandma's house
for Sunday dinner
picking queen anne's lace

Megan Alwardt (3)

Shivering
...in the dark night
Dad comforts me

Charla Bond (3)

Mom and Dad dance the cumbia
our family's breakfast
on the table

Maria Clark

grinning
behind a full house
cards on the table

Marlene Gardner (4)

Marlene’s haiku also reminds me of my childhood. A couple of times a month, my family would take off for Grandma and Grandpa’s house to have dinner. It was usually a school night, but once homework was finished, we would all sit around the table and play cards. The game of choice was Crazy 8’s. Grandma would make popcorn and my brother and sister and I would get to split a bottle of Coca-Cola. Starr

This haiku captures such a specific moment. My husband is so into poker these days and thinks himself the best bluffer. The reason I love this haiku is because it reminds me of my husband. No matter how hard he tries to keep on his poker face even after the need for it is over he still gloats once he’s won. I can picture him in our dark and dingy basement, surrounded by all his poker buddies. There is the smell of stale cigarette smoke and beer. I can also hear all the groans and laughter from the other poker players once they realized they’ve lost. What a great haiku! Maria

old cans for dishes
in an imaginary kitchen
the mud looks good today

Donna Hyland (6)

This haiku takes me back to my child hood. I remember playing outside everyday regardless of the weather and always letting my imagination run wild. There was a little girl around the block that I would always play with; her imagination was just as wild as mine. We use to go to this neighbor ladies house that always bought Avon and got tons of perfume samples with her orders. We would knock on the door and ask if we could have any of the samples she didn’t want. She always had something to give us. The same lady had a tree in her back yard that had a big fork in it, at the fork there was an indention that we imagined as a witches cauldron. We would mix mud, water, leaves and perfume of course in the tree and pretend like it was brew. When we would get tired of being witches, we would play restaurant and feed the garbage to our dolls (or sometimes the neighbor kids if they fell for it). What a fun memory to relive all from another persons haiku. Megan

This reminds me of my childhood. My cousins and I used to create mud pies and place them in little dishes. They were so ugly but we would decorate them with flowers and to us it was the biggest accomplishment of the summer. My mother still has the little dishes and they bring back so many memories of that time in my life when the simplest thing as mud pies was so fascinating. Missy

Christmas morning
unwrapped presents
missing her  

Brooke Weemer (3)

My grandma died on Christmas morning. It was very hard to decide what to do with her presents. Do we keep them, take them back or give them to someone else? I gave mine to someone else to enjoy. Every Christmas I miss her dearly. Mickey

This particular response is from emotion and memory. A soon as I read “Christmas morning”, my mind automatically flooded with memories. The scent of the Christmas tree, the smell of fresh coffee, my family happy and excited still wearing their pajamas. It was tradition that my Grandma and Grandpa came over on Christmas morning to watch us unwrap our Christmas presents. Since they have passed on, Christmas is still special, but there is always a quiet spot in my heat that knows something is missing. For this particular haiku, it makes me think it may be someone who passed right before Christmas and did not get to open their presents. The holidays are such a happy time, but memories may be bittersweet. Jamie

This Haiku evokes very personal memories. Christmas has always been a very important holiday in my family. It was a family tradition for sisters, husbands, children and grandchildren to celebrate Christmas day at Mom’s house. By 10:00 AM every Christmas morning, the family would be gathered at Mom’s house, ready to unwrap presents. Mom died last year and for the first time, we were not gathered at her house for our Christmas tradition. Donna

washing garden vegetables
at the kitchen sink—
a ladybug set free

Starr Dawkins

full ashtray
in between beers
old faces talk about war

Marlene Gardner (5)

snow day
a fort blanket
in the living room

Missy Goad (6)

This brings to mind my own childhood memories of how exciting a snow day could be. There was nothing more satisfying than getting to stay home during bad weather in the nice cozy confines of your own home – specifically the one that was built from blankets within your home. Nothing was off limits when it came to constructing the fort. We used everything from TV. trays and folding chairs to the kitchen chairs and living room furniture. Lunch never tasted as good as it did when you got to eat it inside the fort of blankets. Starr

the Tickle Monster:
laughs
before a touch

Maria Clark (4)

I love this one. We have the mommy monster at my house. I love to hear my boys laugh when the mommy monster comes after them. Mickey

I like this one because it also reminds me of my children. Maria is very adept in catching a mother’s feelings about her children. The tickle monster is a universal in homes with small children. I can hear it now: “The Tickle Monster is coming, here he comes, here he comes!” You’re holding your hand like a claw and your child is sitting in your lap, the anticipation making him wiggle in delight. The claw is still mid-air, but the anticipation is too much, the giggles have already started. Or you’re playing hide and seek with them, and the Tickle Monster is looking for them. They’re trying to hide, but the thought of the Tickle Monster makes them squirm and giggle, and you find them easily. They’re already in hysterics just thinking of the Tickle Monster. You never touch them, yet you’ve made them laugh! Jenny

Chatty Kathy
my sister is remembered
through an antique shop window

Jenny Munro (2)

little golden arms
around my neck
good morning my angels

Maria Clark (4)

This haiku reminds me of how wonderful it is to be a mother. The unconditional love a parent has for their children is awesome; it truly warms your heart. Unless you are a parent, you will never realize how lonely or empty you feel when you children are not there. This haiku oozes love, happiness, and contentment of not only the mother, but the child also. Maria did an excellent job! Megan

I love this kukai, because it reminds me of my sons when they get up in the morning. My oldest son is very reserved and shy and will barely touch me when he hugs me. When he kisses me his lips barely brush mine. My middle son is the polar opposite. His hugs and kisses are full of enthusiasm. I can hear him bounding down the stairs and if I don’t brace myself he will knock me over in my chair (and has) when he comes to hug and kiss me good morning. During the day, he’ll play by himself, but every couple of hours he’ll run into the room, give me a hug, tell me he loves me, and then go back to playing. My youngest son likes to cuddle. He not only wants hugs and kisses, he wants to be held and cuddled for a while in the mornings and evenings. They have their fights and squabbles, and sometimes I wish for peace, but they are my little angels. Jenny

I absolutely loved this poem when I read it. I got the warmest and sweetest feeling while I read this. I had the thought of a small, dependant child waking in the morning and wrapping their arms around their mother who is getting them out of the crib. It gave me visuals of the color of the beautiful skin babies have. It also made me think back about my son being a baby and how I loved that first morning smile he used to give me. Brooke

Fresh from the garden
Snapping beans
Dirt on my fingers

Mickey Hrvol (3)

couple unwinds
on a sun-dappled porch
world fades away

snowflakes
stick to the glass
glisten in the sunlight

making dough
on the window cushion
prrrrrfect

Starr Dawkins (3)

I did not select this one to talk about during class because I did not understand it at first glance. No I realize that it is obvious it is referring to a cat. I think this creates a wonderful, playful image. We have all seen cats move their paws in a grabbing motion. I heard somewhere this means they feel secure, like they did with their mother when they were nursing. I have seen cats lounging in the sunshine on a cushion stretching their paws and playfully “making dough”. In my opinion, this is a well-written haiku. Jamie

dozens of frantic birds
one
calico tail

Starr Dawkins (2)

staring out the window
by 8:15,
all hope is lost

Megan Alwardt (5)

Mom's perfume
waiting
for the train to pass

grandma's kitchen
poking holes
in the jar

a warm winter wedding
the gentle rain
brings good luck

Maria Clark

vacation cabin
birds singing
in the trees

Brooke Weemer

warm sun moves  
      across the deck
      the dog in tow

Starr Dawkins

Visually I love this haiku because not only can you imagine the dog moving with the sun, the way the haiku is written gives you the same movement. This haiku takes me to a cool day where you may or may not need a jacket and the only place you feel truly comfortable is in the warm sun. This haiku although probably very specific in the writer's mind has such a universal quality. I’m almost certain that all over the world all dogs behave in just this manner. They love to lounge around in the sun and will gather up the energy to move only when the sun moves. Maria