A Message~~ poem for my father

my father
played piano
melodies
wandered
but he was steady

my father
was too shy to dance
me
I love to dance
the gates of heaven open

time wears
down the cushion
a sitar drones
as pulse gets weaker
and feet can’t keep a beat

my father
does this sadden you
as you recall
the earthly pains
before our final steps

my father
long after you passed
a message
from you in a dream
clear prophetic words

my father
your warm tears
falling
from the sky
rinse away my fears

Genie Nakano

Jan. 2021

Tom Nakano, June 16, 1921 – October 23, 1999

My father was a poet, musician, artist, philosopher, counselor but most of all my Dad. He was a brave soldier in WW2 in the 442 combat team. He received ten wartime medals. But was a man of peace.
I will be sharing and posting his poems from time to time.
‘To Myself Unknown’, is one of many of his poems. Here it is..

T o M y s e l f U n k n o w n

Someday I will wander into the regions of my mind,
And meet the self that remains itself,
That mocks the slashing sword of reason.
I will wander among demons, goblins, gods and candy trees,
and lie with naked maidens.

I will twirl the sun and soar among the stars,
And clouds will play about my feet.
I will be all things, and all things will be me.
I will die and my mother and sister will weep
at my death.
But I will be reborn and be sure of love,
and all love will be mine to give and to receive.

Tom Nakano
1960

Photo of Tom Nakano in Nice France, WW2 era.