Category Archives: feminism/women

A Floating World…poetic history of tanka

genie Nakano Before Japan could read or write,  tanka was called waka performed as short songs in five lines short  long  short   long   long Heian imperial court was well versed in  waka after a love affair erotic exchanges of waka was expected proper etiquette Women were the best of tanka’s golden era yearning, soaring talesContinue reading “A Floating World…poetic history of tanka”

Soshite (Complete)

I am writing because the blog lost the last five stanzas–sorry… Soshite Cold outside fingers cramp and freeze my age is showing like a fallen slip so… slap on the blush gloss the lips piggy bank more time I’m not ready for elderhood my heart is still a child my body is merely disobedient so…Continue reading “Soshite (Complete)”

Gentle Yoga #4 Our Hands-Healing Mudras

A short Haibun below the video–“Guardian” which explains how these mudras worked to heal my Rheumatoid arthritis. Gentle Yoga exercises and Mudras “Mohiniattam” for hands. Keep your hands supple, soft and strong. In 2012, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis. My hands were starting to be deformed. This is part of a haibun I wrote.Continue reading “Gentle Yoga #4 Our Hands-Healing Mudras”

Akiko Yosano #2

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 50Continue reading “Akiko Yosano #2”