Interesting times

“trust that the future” is 8x10, made of paper, acrylic paint, and adhesive on illustration board. It is available as a greeting card. A haiku version appears in my 2021 calendar. © Annette Makino 2020.

What an intense and stressful time we're living through: a fraught election, a worsening pandemic, economic distress, racial unrest and climate-driven disasters, just for starters. The year 2020 embodies the ancient curse, “may you live in interesting times.” 

Long-term, I honestly don't know if we will get through this as a species, especially at the rate we’re destroying our home planet and its climate.

lights out—
we discuss
our extinction

But just days before the end of the election, I am finally daring to hope. Massive early voting shows we may be amidst a sea change, a shift away from the politics of hate and divisiveness.

Voting in staggering numbers, young people especially are giving me hope. The three young folks in my house are closely tracking the election news and urging their social media followers to vote. My daughter and I have written several hundred letters and postcards to voters.

Meanwhile, when the stress becomes overwhelming, I try to take my own advice in the card shown above, part of my new collage series:

trust that the future
is already unfolding
from long-planted seeds

And if the election goes badly for us, we can always emulate the migrating birds:

campaign season
geese practice leaving
the country

•

“lights out” was first published in Acorn, No. 45, Fall 2020

•

Makino Studios News

NEW: Holiday notecards: I’ve made boxed sets of holiday notecards from three of my new collage designs. There are eight cards and eight kraft envelopes per box. These cards are also available as single 5x7 cards.

NEW: 2021 mini-calendar: My new calendars of art and haiku are now available online and in select local stores! They feature 12 of my new collages with original haiku. These make great holiday gifts!

Made in Humboldt fair: You can find my calendars, prints and boxed notecards at the “Made in Humboldt” event at Pierson Garden Shop in Eureka, CA from Tuesday, Nov. 10 through Tuesday, Dec. 24. This will be the only fair where you can find my work this season.

Seabeck Haiku Getaway: I will be giving a reading of my haiku and presenting my new collage haiga (art with haiku) at this annual gathering, which is being held on Zoom this year. This free event takes place this weekend, Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Registration is now open to everyone.

Election Edition

“redwood time” is 11×14, painted with sumi ink and Japanese watercolors on paper. It is also available as a greeting card or print. © Annette Makino 2016

Apparently there is some sort of election coming up. Lately I’ve been grinding my teeth at night and, although this could be one of Hillary Clinton’s secret conspiracies, I prefer to blame it on Donald Trump.

campaign sign
the dog registers
his opinion

Last weekend I attended the wonderful Seabeck Haiku Getaway in Washington State. Sprinkled among the presentations and activities, there were several “Write Now” sessions in which we had five minutes to draft haiku on a particular topic. Here are a couple from a session on the elections:

swing state
leaves land on both sides
of the fence

kissing the baby still undecided

This is truly one of the most bizarre, unpredictable and ugly U.S. elections ever. Each day has brought new revelations and accusations. It will be very hard to heal the nation after this divisive process.

campaign season
geese practice leaving
the country

But when I look out my window at the forest outside, I am reminded of another time frame, where a four-year election cycle is no more than a breath.

redwood time . . .
the steady journey
from earth to sky

No matter the outcome on Tuesday, I am rooting for common sense, compassion and a sense of perspective.

warmly, Annette Makino

(“campaign sign” was first published in Haiku News, Vol. 1, No. 44, November 2012)

•

Makino Studios News

Senryu award: I’m honored that this poem, which I wrote in Japan, recently won third place in the annual Gerald Brady Awards for Senryu held by the Haiku Society of America (HSA). (View all the winners plus judges' comments):

sacred shrine
worshippers raise
their selfie sticks

Haiku award: And this haiku won second honorable mention in the HSA’s prestigious Harold G. Henderson Awards for Haiku (View all the winners plus judges' comments):

our easy silence
every puddle
sky-deep

Annette Makino’s 2017 mini-calendar of art and haiku features animals, landscapes, and other scenes from nature. The calendars are $11.99 plus tax and shipping on Etsy.

Free shipping through November: Use shipping code FREESHIP2016 for free shipping through November on orders of $15 or more from the Makino Studios Etsy shop. There you will find my 2017 calendar, laser-engraved wooden keychains, holiday and everyday greeting cards and signed prints.

Arcata Holiday Crafts Market: My only public event of the holidays, this fair includes many local artists and craftspeople, plus music and food. It runs Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Arcata Community Center, Arcata.

Pierson Made in Humboldt Fair: November 15-Dec. 24. Ongoing fair of arts, crafts and specialty foods handmade in Humboldt County. Pierson Garden Shop, 4100 Broadway Street, Eureka.