MN
ICE
HAIKU
Minnesotans telling their stories through haiku
our ice haiku
why haiku?
There is a legacy of resistance haiku stretching back hundreds of years. At first, it may seem impossible to write our big experiences inside such a tiny poem, but it is doable.
Because a haiku is so short, it forces us to narrow our focus. We can’t tell the whole, complicated story in a haiku, so instead we are free to only tell one little part of it.
By breaking our big experiences down into smaller fragments, we may find that it’s easier to start sharing our truths.
The surge of ICE agents that Minnesotans experienced during the winter of 2026 was emotionally charged and many of us still struggle to understand the events and feelings of those days.
We think that the process of writing haiku can help us find a way through. Our hope is to collect enough haiku from the community to publish a book about our shared experiences.
how to write haiku
There are three main elements of haiku
FORM
A haiku is separated into 3 lines.
the first line is 5 syllables
the second line is 7 syllables
the third line is 5 syllables
In total, this equals 17 syllables.
SEASON Word
A haiku contains a season word.
The season word might simply be winter ,
or another word that nods to the season.
For example, these words also point to winter :
cardinal, snow plow, blizzard
cold wind, frozen pond, ice
TURN OF THOUGHT
The magic of haiku is in the turn of thought. Here, the writer
adds an extra idea that might not be about nature.
share your haiku
If you can't make it to one of our workshops but would like to submit your ICE haiku, please use the form below. You can submit up to five haiku. If we would like to publish your haiku in our anthology we will be in touch to get permission and more information from you.
about us
Kelly Westhoff is that neighbor who stands in the middle of the street watching birds in tree tops. She loves the puzzle of tapping out syllables and moving words around to fit them into the 5-7-5 format of traditional counted haiku. Over the years, haiku has become a practice in mindfulness for her. She loves discovering parallels between the events of her own life and the nature she sees on her walks. She has found that the ever-changing seasons of Minnesota are a constantly-renewing source of inspiration.
Nissa Valdez is a native of Minneapolis who has found a safe container for big thoughts and feelings within the seventeen syllable puzzle of haiku. She loves the playfulness of tapping out syllables and finding a way to convey her observations in nature. Merging photography and haiku is one of her favorite things.
events
Friday, May 1, 2026
9 am - 10:30 am
New City Center
3104 16th Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
We'll start by teaching some haiku basics and encourage participants to write about their experiences during metro surge within the haiku form. Sharing will be optional.
This is a free workshop and is open to all. No experience necessary. Children under eight years may find this experience less helpful so nine and over is ideal.
