Annette Makino is a poet and artist who writes haiku and senryu and illustrates her poems with Japanese ink paintings. Her pieces, comprising a few words and brushstrokes, convey a quiet Zen perspective and gentle sense of humor. There is a gallery of her work at www.makinostudios.com.
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Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging comments, Alan. I hadn't consciously realized the animal connection between "cow" and "wild", so I appreciate your finding that nuance. I love it when readers find unexpected connections in a haiku!
I love the ambiguity of "still wild" – having suffered the imagined humiliation of a cowlick as a boy, and being "wild with embarrassment" as my mother would attempt to wet it down for photographs, and later being "wild with fury" at that untamed body part when I was trying to groom myself to impress members of the fair sex. Now I enjoy the nostalgia and can appreciate the loss of wildness in the world and in my self. I am going to enjoy my daily struggle at the mirror from now on!
Hi Strider, Thanks for your comments, it's interesting to hear all your associations with "cowlick" and "wild" — more layers of meaning that I had not realized are contained in the poem! And good luck with the cowlick-taming…
Annette – GREAT haiku.
Strider, this is my memory as well which elevates this haiku to a level of luminosity. My mother used to fight my cowlick, insisting that I do battle with this wild part of me. The problem was, I was much wilder than my hair. When I went to college, I lost the brush and comb, just let my hair grow and grow and found my long wild hair attracted equally wild women. Alas, much of the wildness is still gone. But not all of it . . .
Peace,
Jeff
Completely charming!
Thank you Sheila, glad it has touched you!
cowlick
some part of me
still wild
—Annette Makino
The near animism of cowlick lifts this haiku even before we reach the wonderful phrase of:
"some part of me still wild"
Simple at first reading, but full of energy and layers.
Great haiku! :-)
Alan, With Words
Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging comments, Alan. I hadn't consciously realized the animal connection between "cow" and "wild", so I appreciate your finding that nuance. I love it when readers find unexpected connections in a haiku!
when i was young i was embarassed of my cowlick, after reading this im rewilded.
Thanks Aonaran, I love the term "rewilded"!
Great haiku Annette.
I love the ambiguity of "still wild" – having suffered the imagined humiliation of a cowlick as a boy, and being "wild with embarrassment" as my mother would attempt to wet it down for photographs, and later being "wild with fury" at that untamed body part when I was trying to groom myself to impress members of the fair sex. Now I enjoy the nostalgia and can appreciate the loss of wildness in the world and in my self. I am going to enjoy my daily struggle at the mirror from now on!
Strider
Hi Strider, Thanks for your comments, it's interesting to hear all your associations with "cowlick" and "wild" — more layers of meaning that I had not realized are contained in the poem! And good luck with the cowlick-taming…
Annette – GREAT haiku.
Strider, this is my memory as well which elevates this haiku to a level of luminosity. My mother used to fight my cowlick, insisting that I do battle with this wild part of me. The problem was, I was much wilder than my hair. When I went to college, I lost the brush and comb, just let my hair grow and grow and found my long wild hair attracted equally wild women. Alas, much of the wildness is still gone. But not all of it . . .
Peace,
Jeff
Thanks Jeff! Wild hair and wild women, love the imagery.
Yep, there is some part of us refuses to be tamed….love this!
Thanks Alison! I think it's a good thing.
So cute!
marion
Thanks Marion!
it's those perceived imperfections that make us perfect… beautiful ku