Haiku Kukai 2—Valentine's Day
(select your top 10 favorites)
Global Haiku Tradition--Kukai 2, Spring 2002

Special guest selector:

Dr. Lee Gurga
Editor of two newspaper columns published by
(1) Solaris Hill, Key West, Florida
(2) Illinois Times, Springfield, Illinois

candy and flowers
on the kitchen table
an off-key serenade

Nikki Garry
Dr. Brooks' 2nd place

published by Solaris Hill
Key West, Florida: 02/22/02

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

the carnations
in the crystal vase
mom's favorite

Package arrives!
Chocolates, kissing bears and more..
The sun magically comes out

the smell of his cologne
stays on my skin
after he leaves

laughs through the night
our minds
in abstract reality

doorbell ringing
one last spray
of perfume

Natalie Kussart
(Gurga selection)

published by Solaris Hill
Key West, Florida: 02/22/02

Valentine's Day
watching television
alone

waiting and waiting for the phone call
I pleasantly awake to a ringing
Shoot! Just time to get up

he walks in
the only sound
the fluttering of my heart

the train departs—
my mother
dries her eyes

tequila shot
his face
grows more handsome

Mahrya Fulfer (4)
best Valentine's senryu

keys in the ignition
my heart
won't let him leave

instead of long stem roses
slender fingers
play with her hair

Mahrya Fulfer (2)

your lips
my hands
searching your face

Mahrya Fulfer

valentine's day
my gift
is her reaction

Matt Eichhorn (7)
3rd Place

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

Chocolates
On the bed
Alone

hearing crickets—
I watch his hand
holding mine

strawberry shampoo
I hold her close
while dancing

Matt Eichhorn
Chelsey Peter's 1st Place

another Valentine’s Day
his final letter
still in my drawer

first date
I pretend
to be cold

Meg Schleppenbach (11)
2nd Place

cool gray dawn
english muffin
for one

winter moon
laying next to him
I remove my hairclips

Valentine's day
girlfriends meet
for dinner

Maggie Hart
(Gurga selection)

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

red or white roses?
an hour passes
in the flower shop

Eric Sharp (2)

Hershey's kiss
softening
winter sunlight

Jennifer Clements
Dr. Brooks' 1st Place

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

Relationship 411 . . .
rolling my eyes
I turn the page

her hair in curlers
he still kisses
her neck

Jennifer Clements

lost mittens
her hands
in his pockets

Alexis Iffert (14)
1st Place

ice skating frenzy
she falls
in his arms

broad chest
a safe place
to rest my head

I sit in silence
the touch of my best friend
brings out the tears

AJ Cunningham

arctic winter night
I find myself
thinking of him again

Valentines dinner
I watch the couple
squabble

Roses and chocolate
I rest my face in my hands
The pain still lingers

February snow
he arrives at my door
hands behind his back

AJ Cunningham
(Gurga selection)

nail scarred hands
crown of thorns
true love

Stephanie Ford (4)

walking down the aisle
he’s standing there
I wake up

Stephanie Ford

valentine’s day
a date with
just the girls

crush
I check his
horoscope

Kerry Hammergren (2)

sitting on pillows
the stories shared
always go back to him

or

sitting on pillows
we share stories
about him

days of begging for my hand
now she wears his ring
that was meant for me

Krista Duffett

gentle rain falls
acceptation of what may come
the first kiss is born

sorority house
on valentine's day
40 dozen roses

Shannon Kroner
(Gurga selection)

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

Disney’’s Mulan a gift
on my v-day plate
because she is strong

more time on the road
than in my arms
running on empty

Darrin Thurman

first valentine's day
without him
dried roses

or

valentine's day
without him
dried roses

messy room
he'll soon be here
dust off his pictures

jumping with excitement
as the ball sinks
she finally said yes

two laying in amazement
thinking
who was I before you

Kristin Card (2)

dried tears
cold face
car won't start

Dorina Aguilar
(Gurga selection)

in the box
stuffed puppy from
my ex

my love
steady
a willow tree

Angie Williams (3)

concrete pancakes
his attempt
to make me breakfast

Brianne Marsel

so accustomed to being
on her own
his hand on her knee

unsure of where we stand
his ex-girlfriend
asks about my valentine's day

make-up removed
now       he tells me
that I'm beautiful

Brianne Marsel (2)

Valentine's dance
I only go
for the cupcakes

Brianne Marsel
2nd Place senryu

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

summer breeze
sunrise over the clear water
lovers lying in the sand

two lovers under the stars
not one word
yet perfect understanding

kissing bears
on the shelf
I look the other way

red hearts and roses
surround the room
kindergardeners shout

gracious gift
she finds fault in the vase
eleven red roses

my valentine
all dressed up
never shows up

Gia Drouzas
(Gurga selection)

published by Solaris Hill
Key West, Florida: 02/22/02

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

candlelight dinner
her hands in mine
from across the table

my past
he swallows
lump in his throat

dragonflies flirt and chase
reflection in the pond
we laugh

2-14     24-7-365 . . .
the hidden message
of the day

Summer morning
His touch no longer
On my lips

Valentine’s Day
frozen petals
on my windshield

Angie Williams

published by Illinois Times
Springfield, IL: 02/21/02

 

© 2002, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.