Monthly Archives: June 2020

Don’t call me Bachan

Uncle George ,Sugie, 2-8-1892 , 1965 ,Sugie & Yaemon,3-8-1880,Uncle Jay, 1918-1960 my grandmother died at 73 the age that I am now her thin grey hair was tied back in a bun was she ever young? coming from a foreign land her songs were of an old Japan coming to America a picture bride “freshContinue reading “Don’t call me Bachan”

Invitation to Peace

Invitation to Peace early morning these days no T.V. no radio prone to quietness I meditate everyday the same way like sitting on a rabbit’s foot I feel safe and lucky bound by our desires I watch the incense rise busy busy busy thoughts busy buzzing clear the space toss them out watch them flyContinue reading “Invitation to Peace”

2020 BLUES

This poem is written by my poet friend Selma Benjamin. She is 101 years old. She has been through the holocaust. She is gentle, kind, and very wise. Here is one out of her hundreds of poems that she has given me permission to print. Here goes: 2020 BLUES Crazy plague from unknown sourceMakes usContinue reading “2020 BLUES”

this is…

this is my hoodwhere concrete meets the skyneon lights twinklehumanity in your faceborn here, loved here, die here I was born in East L.A., Boyle Heights, CA USA in the Japanese American Hospital, May 15, 1948. Racists in America often refused to care or treat Japanese Americans, so we built our own hospital in BoyleContinue reading “this is…”