Genie Nakano & Dean Okamura

Kampai
the only Nihongo I know
brings the clang
of glasses filling the space
while I am spinning on air      Genie

she waits in the dark
while he rushes through
crowded alleys
patrons praise the chef
they consume a fiery feast    Dean

was it him
or the splendor of the night
that lured me
into his warm embrace
a night of pas de deux

adrift in the blues
a roller coaster of smooth deips
synchopated hips
shaking until we come loose
floating through the midnight

music fills the air
wild moths drawn to the flame
out of darkness
into  the burning light
we dance into timelessness

Genie Nakano & Dean Okamura
Originally Published in International Tanka
publisher:  Aya Yuki
Also published in Better than StarBucks
©2022 Genie Nakano all rights reserved