Akiko Yosano, 1847- 1948, Japanese feminist tanka poet.
Akiko is my favorite tanka poet. Her tanka were bold, sensuous and controversial. Here is my tanka in honor of Akiko and below it are examples of her tanka from the book "Tangled Hair." They were chosen randomly. The book is excellent and has 165 of her tanka, notes and her biography.
Akiko
wrote 50 tanka a day
I wonder
if she smoked
and drank red wine
26
Softly I pushed open
That door
We call a mystery,
These full breasts
Held in both my hands
32
After my bath
At the hot spring,
These clothes
As rough to my skin
As the world
46
In love
And frail as the stem
Of this summer flower--
Yet will I bloom
Deep red under a dazzling sun!
107
Inside the coffin
Of my beautiful
Friend,
The flowers
A riot of colors
I love writing--It's my joy, my therapy--my confession. I'm a performer, dancer, yoga and meditation instructor, write a poetry column for Rafu Shimpo. Growth and love of life is a key to my happiness.
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Genie Nakano 
Reblogged this on Genie Nakano and commented:
I’m having technical difficulties posting–so reblogging to make sure this revision gets published.
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