Category Archives: tanka

An Enchanting Tanka

I am back to working with our local Gardena Newspaper in L.A. county. Here is my latest contribution. I took the photo in Vietnam, 2010. It’s a palace but sorry I can’t remember where it was. If anyone knows where this photo is — please tell me. I suggest new writers approach their local newspapersContinue reading “An Enchanting Tanka”

Ying Yang Moon

darkness, lightnessyin yang, yang yinman…womananimal…humanwe have many lives beaming downon my skin a silver moon…how can needs be fulfilledwhen what is wantedis not needed a turtle floatedto the island’s shoreyears agomy father rode on his backto the bottom of the sea waves rollingacross the sandjust a dreamsoft and tenderI believe in Miracles an ocean shimmeringContinue reading “Ying Yang Moon”

Ravages of Aging…

(Michael H. Lester and GenieNakano,  a tanka response) Micheal is in black print~~ Genie is in Purple and italic) a tongue in cheek but true Tanka Series the old skina patchwork of spotsand strange bumpsdry as the desertwind-worn sands of time bags baggageand budding wrinklesyet I feelthirty five insidemirrors tell cruel lies rememberwhen we wereContinue reading “Ravages of Aging…”

A death poem…

let mebe a raindropfallingdeep into the earthwildflowers in the springGenie Nakano, 2019 This ‘death’ tanka was first published in a special feature — 25 death poems edited by Michael H. Lester for Atlas Poetica, 2019. “The genre of death poems has its origin in Zen Buddhism in Japan and offers a reflection on and natureContinue reading “A death poem…”