Cornelliana The Hill in Haiku: Alumni Wax Poetic about their Alma Mater Stories You May Like Peek Inside the Galleries at AAP’s Freedom of Expression Show Course Explores Nabokov as Writer and Butterfly Aficionado The Savage Club of Ithaca Is Still Making Merry We asked you to submit verses channeling the Cornell experience—and you delivered, in elegant and evocative fashion By Joe Wilensky In honor of National Poetry Month in April, we asked Cornellians to submit original haikus that celebrate the University. And we received dozens of entries—recalling cherished memories, capturing the beauty of campus, and much more. Across generations, Big Red creativity, humor, and precise wordsmithing were on full display. Mitch Weisberg ’71, for example, recalled a once-popular (though, it's our duty to note, now prohibited) seasonal pastime: I hiked up Libe Slope For the joy of tray sliding Sat on my tray, WHOOSH! And Katrina Schreiber Firlik ’91 evoked a small, poignant slice of life: I eat my bagel In the gorge, water rushing Then off to bio As a reminder: the standard form of a haiku—a type of poetry that dates back to 17th-century Japan—consists of three lines. The first and last line each contain five syllables, while the middle has seven (no rhyming required). For some expert observations on the form, we consulted Tom Clausen ’73, who worked at Mann Library for nearly four decades and still curates its Daily Haiku webpage. The project dates (in paper form) to the late 1980s, when Clausen began posting a new poem each day in the library’s elevator, partly to discourage less “safe for work” graffiti. The ideal spot for reciting Cornell-themed haikus? The Johnson Museum's Japanese garden. (Cornell University) “The important ingredients in a haiku,” he says, “are simple language, concrete imagery, inner resonance, and insight to natural relationships and experiences so that the reader can arrive at their own haiku ‘moment of awareness.’” While there are several styles (with only the traditional requiring the 5-7-5 form), he notes, all haikus should share certain attributes: they’re minimalist, practicing an economy of words; they celebrate simple yet profound relationships, especially involving the natural world; and they create opportunities for new insights. Says Clausen: “With the best haikus, there is room for the reader to have an ‘a-ha!’ revelation.” With the best haikus, there is room for the reader to have an ‘a-ha!’ revelation. Tom Clausen ’73 Indeed, several entries we received vividly captured the Cornellian experience in ways that will resonate with fellow alums. From Melinda Dower ’78: Snow so cold it creaked crunch crunch crunch rattled my brain Onward to Lynah Stories You May Like Peek Inside the Galleries at AAP’s Freedom of Expression Show Course Explores Nabokov as Writer and Butterfly Aficionado From Karen Zelkind Buglass ’77: Stress from prelims fades gazing at fall colors that hug Lake Cayuga From Suzanne Bors Andrews ’88: Kiss on bridge tonight Suspense in mind and body Rockledge pledge and I And some—like this one from Mark Roaquin ’06—were both achingly relatable and quietly hilarious: Walking up the hill Just in time for a meeting I forgot my phone Pete Saunders ’71, ME ’72, sent in several haikus he’d whipped up via ChatGPT—but threw in his own poem by way of explanation. (“So, not a product / Of my own creation, but / Nonetheless Haiku.”) (The AI-generated verse actually wasn’t bad. One example: “Ivy veils embrace, / Knowledge whispers through the halls, / Cornell’s legacy.”) Read on for a hefty sampling of the many Big Red haikus we received—there are several dozen in the following gallery, for your scrolling / swiping pleasure—and add your own in the comments! (Editor's note: While Cornellians generally copyedits contributions to adhere to a consistent style, in the spirit of poetry we have preserved punctuation and capitalization as submitted by the authors.) Top: Cherry blossoms frame McGraw Tower (Jason Koski / Cornell University). Published April 5, 2024 Are you inspired, but missed our deadline? Add your own haiku! Comments Douglas B. Crites-Moore 14 Apr, 2024 Eight oars at sunset Powered Cayuga’s gold glow Shining from the Hill Reply Marilyn du Vigneaud Brown, Class of 1957 14 Apr, 2024 Lovely Haikus Thanks Reply Allan Griff, Class of 1954 14 Apr, 2024 More than memory Something connects me to you My home for five years Reply Allan Griff, Class of 1954 14 Apr, 2024 I am moderate see all sides and often why, Learned at Cornell. Rare. Reply Bruce Rich, Class of 1965 15 Apr, 2024 The eating of a greasy hamburger and french fries emerging from a splash of ketchup at the barf bar u halls 6 Reply Dana Cooperson, Class of 1981 15 Apr, 2024 Impressed at age eight Followed my bro when eighteen Summers were the best Reply Mario Villanueva, Class of 1998 16 Apr, 2024 Playing Streetfighter Ivy Room late lunch is next Willard Straight Hall day! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Cornelliana Once Upon a Time, Beebe Was a Wonderland for Frozen Fun Ask the Expert Laundry Putting You Through the Wringer? Apparel Expert Has Tips Alumni For Miss Vermont, Pageants Are a Platform for Social Change