Okane–Lakshmi–$

Money money moneyHow much do you makeHow much do you takebeads, sugar and spiceslet’s trade with good will Ask a personhow much money do you makeit’s unpresidentialor “how old are you”impolite–crude and crass My income–Retirement–450 dollars a monthSocial SecurityIt’s all so boring and pettyI’m 73 and moving up A billionaire friend of mineasked what’s thisContinue reading “Okane–Lakshmi–$”

IDENTITY“`tanka

I was born with two strikes against me Asian and…my mother didn’t like me I wanted to be golden wear a curly blonde crown of Shirley Temple locks Into my teens I streamed, oye orale pues orale pues I poemed my story right on write on Blackness became my call I danced the moves woreContinue reading “IDENTITY“`tanka”

there are days like this…tanka series

there are days like this… the weatherhas changed to misty greysummerheld in check and global heatis swept under cover that is…until the fires sweep againstrange thingshappening to our air, waters, soilstirring doubts at tea parties why bear childrenin a world that won’t be aroundmuch longerso the prophets claim I still have hopeI guess–maybe–who careslet theContinue reading “there are days like this…tanka series”

Orale Pues~~Tanka

born in ELA barriosI live in a world of dualitiesin my tight skirt and sweaterI can cha cha ‘n hully gully downbut I don’t know who I amI peroxide my black hair redrat it high, rat it highpierce my ears with catholic crossorale pues-sanseiBuddha- head become a wannabe cholahomeroom teachersends me to the back ofContinue reading “Orale Pues~~Tanka”

First Rain

Raindrops . . . Embryos of life flowing from the sky. . . Implanting into Earth’s womb. Earth is ecstatic today . . . Twins bounce, triplets play, quadruplets march in 4/4 time Faster and faster until we cannot count the meter. . . Oh, Heaven and Earth unite today. . . Marry and penetrateContinue reading “First Rain”