A Message~ Tanka Series

Dad

played piano

melodies

wandered

but  he was  steady

he

was too shy to dance

me

I love to dance

the gates of heaven open

time wears down

as pulse gets weaker

and feet can’t keep on beat

a sitar drones . . .

Dad I wonder  

does this sadden you

as you recall

the earthly pains

before your final steps

ten years

after you passed

advice

from you in a dream

in clear prophetic words

Dad

your warm tears

falling

from the sky

rinse away my fears

January 24, 2021, written by Genie Nakano

Tom Nakano, June 16, 1921 – October 23, 1999

Moroccan Taqsim …..

Moroccan Taqsim

4 years old
Firebird by Stravinsky
My favorite song to dance
big sounds for little feet
Mom makes me a ballet costume

I love dancing alone
improv to music — my way
I love dancing
With a partner who gently
Guides me to heaven

Belly dancing
In Moroccan nightclubs
I’m over 55
Afraid to tell the truth about my age

Beaded costumes
Silk, veil, tablas, running riffs
Belly dancing
Wine and dine into the night
Euphoria and getting paid

A struggling
Modern dancer, with an MFA in dance
Unneeded…
Working as a belly dancer
My highest paying job

                        Photo by Jim Brewer

tell me your story~~haiku

This photo was taken by me during my travels in Viet Nam. I wrote a haiku and made it into a card. Just found it this morning--never sent it out. So today it is born.... March 7, 2024 Thursday

his arms around me…..

Nothing like

an old belt, he says

sits softly at the waist

like my arms around him

does not cinch or cut.

Genie Nakano

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Relationships

Photo by Alex Andrews on Pexels.com
the sun
the moon and 8 planets
with so much 
space between them
they never argue

soon to be published in Ribbons, 
Spring 2024 a journal of tanka

i am…

“please call me by my true name so i can wake up,”*

i’m a whore i’m a bitch
there’s a whole lot more words
i’m a goddess i’m a Saint
that will break your back

the monks named me Daya
the compassionate one
this compassion breaks my heart daily
a homeless cat
a homeless dog
the homeless
the homelessness

it’s raining today
tears from the sky
bring the maudlin out of me

bring on the sun
sun rays to pierce the heart
this cycle, of recycling
again and again

rain falling
on pink petals
into the ground
a final burial
for my unborn child

genie nakano, 1 .14 .23