Haiku Rengay Favorites
Mattoon PACE Global Rengay, Fall 2005
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NEW DAY sun sneaks through the blinds coffee stain instant soup the clock radio kicking off her heels light flickers Maria Clark & Marlene Gardner I like this rengay because it represents an entire cycle of a day in the life of a businesswoman. The alarm clock rings and she is warm and comfortable underneath her comforter and does not want to get out of bed. Then she remembers that she has a new suit, and she wants to show it off. She gets out of bed, looking forward to that new clothes feel and how it boosts her confidence. She takes a shower, does her makeup, and puts on her suit. She goes out into the kitchen, makes herself a cup of coffee and spills some of it on the new suit. Now the pleasure from wearing the suit is gone. It is old already because it has a coffee stain on it. She no longer feels perfect. She goes to work and does the same thing that she does day after day. She has a clock on her desk, and she lifts the papers piled on top of it every once in a while to see how long she has until 5:00. She just wants to go home. She gets home, and it is the same routine there too. She comes in, changes her clothes and starts dinner. After dinner, everyone else is doing their own thing, and there she is in the kitchen by herself, cleaning the dishes. A little while later, she decides she will watch tv in bed, but there is a rerun on. She falls asleep, to start the cycle again another day. This rengay is really kind of sad, because there doesn't seem to be any kind of spark in the woman. It seems as if she has the same humdrum routine day after day. But it is also very poignant. Even though she has the same routine, she still does it. She is very brave. Jenny |
Family Pets A warm golden cover Dad is at war Bright green eyes Roscoe climbs on the roof Get the kitty, get the kitty! My face is wet. Jenny & Trey Munro |
Struggle sitting in the restaurant sipping a cola staring at the counter old ladies playing cards all alone friends put heads together Mickey Hrvol & Donna Hyland The above rengay reminds me of the many, many nights that my Physical Therapy classmates and I spent doing homework. Since we all lived in different towns, we would meet at restaurants in the Mattoon and Effingham areas. There were times that we would get so sidetracked watching the other restaurant patrons, we would forget what we were there for. We were even asked to leave, a few times, because the restaurant was closing. We would spend countless hours working on a specific subject and still not come up with a educated response. Most generally we were more concerned with what our instructor would want us to think, than what we really thought ourselves. This was all fine and dandy for getting a good grade, but not so good for gaining the ability to problem solve for ourselves. Susan
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snow outside too cold to play warmth from the oven scotch tape and ribbons everywhere soldiers are marching muddy footprints on the porch angels watching from above MacKenzie & Megan Alwardt |
Temporary Insanity Red with Envy From the exteriority Entering the home Holding A thought of imprisonment Pausing Charla & Audrey Bond |
Happily Ever After Patiently listening Eyes wide Open Smiling Jorden & Maria Clark In my opinion, this is a well-written rengay that most people can relate to. It focuses on the challenges in marriage. In this particular haiku the couple seems to be having more bad times than good. However, as I am told, this sometimes happens and can be repaired. The word "patiently" appears several times. This seems to indicate the couple's willingness to try and resolve their issues. I particularly like the link that reads, "a dozen red roses each sharp thorn dignity lost". I think that is beautifully written. Usually when a man has made a mistake and wants to be forgiven he sends flowers. I think using roses was wise in this haiku. The rose is something that is common to all of us and has the ever-powerful image as being beautiful and dangerous simultaneously. In my opinion, when the woman accepts the roses, she forgives him again. Possibly, this is something that has happened too many times and she feels she is losing her self-respect for putting up with his actions. This is something many of us can relate to, I know I can. There also seems to be some repetitive aspects to haiku. This indicates the problems have been occurring for a period of time. For example, "Patiently listening to his explanation again", "another sleepless night", "patiently listening to her crying again". I feel this couple is trying, but may need some additional help to get through their routine of issues. Jamie • I like this haiku because it seems very real-life to me. Anyone who has been involved in a relationship has most certainly had similar experiences. I like that it starts and ends with the same phrases, "patiently listening" and "again". Particularly, the word "again" seems to give the haiku on-going life, which is reflected in real life as well. The link, "Smiling, I tell him everything is okay" is another favorite of mine. Although she indicates everything is okay, the link conveys to the reader that everything is definitely not okay. The fifth link, "an uncomfortable SILENCE a quick embrace" seems to further underscore the message to the reader that the behaviors and actions on the outside may not necessarily reflect what's being felt on the inside. The last link ties in nicely and gives the haiku its cyclical feeling. This time it is he who is patiently listening, thus completing the cycle. However, by using the word "again" at the very end, we can see that it is only over until the next time. Starr
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PACE Experience a midlife adventure reading books restless nights matured a circus act relationships mixed with Mickey Hrvol, Missy Goad The rengay I chose was "PACE Experience". I'm sure this will be a popular choice for the December graduates in the class. Susan and Missy did a wonderful job detailing the events and emotions that the PACE program brought about in the last eighteen months. The first verse talks about opening up the world. I think that everyone who is in the PACE program is there to help open new doors and opportunities. Everyone wants to advance their career. I also really liked the part about reading books but not for pleasure. I love to read and I cannot wait until I am able to sit down and read a book because that is what I choose to do, not because that is what I have to do. Restless nights are worth the reward was also a good verse. Since we are so very close to graduation, this really makes this verse mean even more. There were many night (especially in finance) that I lay awake pondering different questions, equations, and answers. Not to mention the many late nights I was up reading and writing. My favorite verse in the poem is the third one. It was challenging trying to complete homework, raise a child, work, and juggle all of the other daily activities. There were many times that I definitely felt that I was failing miserably at life. I had a tendency to become absent minded in times that I really needed to be focused. I thank God that it is almost over and free time is in the near future. I think the poem does a great job at speaking the thoughts and feelings that everyone has experienced in the last eighteen months. Brooke I absolutely love this! It is just amazing how a cohort of students can be put through hell together for 18 months and never know that there are other right beside you that feel as "overwhelmed" as you. This Rengay should be posted on a PACE website for all PACE student to read. I like how it starts out positive (as all of us once did) and then in the middle, the attitude changes significantly. This indicates the pressure and overwhelmed feeling felt trying to deal with life in general and PACE. By the end, once you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, even though you are burned out, you realize how much you have gained. The gains here are way more than just a degree. You have also gained strong friendships, an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and determination, and most of all self pride and gratification. Megan |
Family’s Bond Laughter in the kitchen Preparation of the chitterlings! Though happy times flourish Stuffing the turkey The arrival of the family Soft sentiments of life history repeating Charla & Audrey Bond |
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Life Lessons words the sound of a slamming door sweet smell a thawing heart cautious excitement enduring love Starr Dawkins & Sarah Drewicy |
Second Chance echoes in the chapel laced hands small patent leather shoes weathered face facing his family stiff kleenex Amber Penhale & Marlene Gardner |
Winter Dreams November chill two tickets feet in the sand Missy Goad & Amy Pourchot |
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The Truck Driver thinning gray hair good ole farm boy working hard daughters grow up strong hands all grown up Mickey Hrvol & Tina Henning I can relate to this rengay because it reminds me of my own dad. Dad was 45 when I was born and had gray hair for al long as I can remember. He too grew up on a farm, but did not have farming as an occupation. When I was small, Dad drove a school bus, which ties into the driving theme. Later, he worked nights in a factory and slept during the days. With this work schedule, he too missed a lot of milestones. Dad had all girls…10 of them. As each of us grew up and married, he was blessed with many, many grandchildren. Although his health was poor, he really enjoyed watching his grandchildren at play and enjoyed spoiling them whenever possible. Unfortunately, he died before my children were born so my children never had the opportunity to know what a wonderful man my Dad was. Donna |
Life sifting through life’s accumulation pony tail skinned knees bears and dolls cheerleader with big pom poms standing alone Donna Hyland & Mickey Hrvol |
The River flows through the land mice scurry through windmills turning wheels rolling overhead angry, submerged land rain, sunshine, stillness Susan & Lois Love |
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Aggravation Chewed up shoes Aggravated and stressed Women in fuzzy slippers DRIVE people DRIVE! Mounds and mounds Talk, talk, talk Children’s activities Jenny Munro & Brooke Weemer My favorite rengay was Aggravation. I liked it because it was so typical of a busy mom. The title was perfect too. My favorite section was the fourth one. It seems that any time you are in a hurry; you get behind someone driving really slowly. I am usually like, "Get out of my way!" And the road rage is everywhere. Mickey Coming home from work you walk in the door and the new puppy has chewed up a pair of shoes. The shoes that you instructed the children to pick up before heading off to school. Followed by another stressful day at work, which you think will never end. After work, you try to catch up on shopping and people are in a rage to get to the next bargain. Trying to get home the rage overcomes you because all you wanted to do is get home only to find mounds of never ending laundry. All you want is peace and quiet just for a little while. Driving the kids to their many activities, only to find that the car is out of gas just adding one more thing to the list of things to do. This is overall a typical day for a working mother. The chores are never done. The kids have many activities and just when you think the day will end there is always one more thing to add to the list. I think we all feel overwhelmed sometimes with life and this rengay depicts a little piece of what life is about as a mother. Missy This rengay really struck home with me. All the links are so true and
seem to have been taken directly from my life. Having small children I
relate to the link about mounds of laundry. You try to keep caught up
with your chores but just when you think you have everything done life
happens and you’re back to square one. Also my family just got a
new puppy and since I stay home with my kids I am in charge of training
and cleaning up after the puppy. It’s as bad as having another kid
sometimes, but at the end of the day I still love my little Wrigley.
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HAIKU! HAIKU! HAIKU! warm bed reading for pleasure cannot eat nor sleep No one understands me no one talking in sentences I made a haiku Brooke Weemer |
Then and Now Wild flowers the old red flag on the mailbox one last look around empty, dark windows starting over the weeping willow sways Megan Alwardt & Starr Dawkins |
© 2005, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.