I try hard to do nothing all day. I stir tea with sugar and milk, plan to sit still, sip and do nothing. Suddenly, the day is gone.

It’s twilight. I’ve done everything but nothing all day.

days turn

into years, into decades—

time keeps rolling on.

where does it all go,

the cup still warm in my hands

Genie Nakano

Originally published in

International Tanka, Tokyo, Japan, 2026

Publisher :Aya Yuki