Tick Tock~~Free verse

Photo taken by Rafael Rafael of Genie Nakano , 2020
There's an error sorry the number #44 is a typographical error when I tried to move my poem to wordpress. Hope you understand??

IDENTITY“`tanka

Photo: by genie nakano of genie nakano, 11.15.21

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
wore the hats
and sang off key

Now at 73
a hybrid a tribrid a unitard
something in between
a floating world
I was, will be, I am

genie Nakano,
10.15.21

meditation meltdown~~revised

Sky
you’ve been holding on
too long
pour it on
my droughtful mind.
Picking, poking
on myself
I’m alright
and so is he
I’m not a Buddha yet.
There’s more
to come out
of this cage
the Zebra goes first
then others follow
some crawl, some swim,
some even fly

Melting down
the yellow chakra
I care less and less
for what’s
out there
Just want to touch
those states of bliss
let them drip
through my fingers
then move on to…

Where
I don’t know
sitting on
right now
breathing
in and out
inner
smile
smiles
drop the jaw
lift the chin
catch me
as I
circle the sun
Iridescence
free falls

Revised poem: November 14, 2021

Genie Nakano


armor ~~haiku






Melting the armor
off my shoulders…
meditation





Genie Nakano, November 8, 2021





Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

	


	





	

		
there are days like this…tanka series
	


	
			

				
			


		
	

		

Photo by Andrew Beatson on Pexels.com





there are days like this…





the weather
has changed to  misty grey
summer
held in check and global heat
is swept under cover

that is…
until the fires sweep again
strange things
happening to our air, waters, soil
stirring doubts at tea parties

why bear children
in a world that won’t 
be around
much longer
so the prophets claim





I still have hope
I guess–maybe–who cares
let the future
take care of itself
I’m retired

sirens blow
every hour day and night
heart attack
robbery murder rape
play it louder–I’m deaf

waiting
for the aliens to come down
and teach us
show us humans
how to live another way





Genie Nakano, Sept. 5, 2018



	


	







	

		
Orale Pues~~Tanka
	


	
			

				
			


		
	

		

born in ELA barrios
I live in a world of dualities
in my tight skirt and sweater
I can cha cha 'n hully gully down
but I don't know who I am

I peroxide my black hair red
rat it high, rat it high
pierce my ears with catholic cross
orale pues-sansei
Buddha- head become a wannabe chola

homeroom teacher
sends me to the back of the room
my hair is too high to see over
she calls me a disgrace
oye, better to nap in the back

back eyeliner, jade green shadow
I look older now don't I 
times going to slow
I want to get out of here
I am Maria of Westside Story

in my purple skirt
I twirl with amateur grace
round and round
and then again ...
suddenly a balance

that's it for me
dance sets me free
forget those guys,
those blackened eyes
catch me in the rye

while legs grow strong
my spine becomes a willow
time moves in rhythm
and everything makes sense
the world becomes a dance

keep on is all I say
you call me a show-off now 
I don't care - 'cause I feel good
and don't you wish you had my legs
orales pues, write on, right on