fear waits staccato my sunken chest rises sharp the clouded breath wafts accosted by frigid air reaching through the cracked window
soft belly rises and falls eyes closed I pay attention to my connection
timeless tradition breeding safely within kin unfettered I fly my permeable will flows one with the hidden senses
an empath hypersensitive skin inherited yet I remain here sponge-like absorbing
my delicate touch raps upon the spectral shield ethereal lights guide haunting journeys beyond parallel and united
no need for anything more why go on let me die here under your magic spell
Michael Murdoch, a WordPress blogger and Genie Nakano,a wordpress blogger. Together we blog--thank you Michael!!! 2020 Michael is in black and Genie is in purple and italicized.
Hill top deer
yearns for a pine branch
the bough softens
leans and bows
a golden sunset glowsbathed in gold
the hills sing
a ballad of light
everywhere she turns
divinity shinesunder pine trees
matsutake mushroom
reveal
their fragrant scent
a secret offeringshe kneels
among pine needles
giving gratitude
for each blessing
she has revealedhunters
somewhere in the distance
as twilight stills
her muscles twitch
the scent of blood is nearin deep quiet
cries of the fallen
are arrows in her heart
she slows her breath
listens
vibrations
deeper louder faster
she leaps into air
with strength soars
earth cannot hold her downhigh above pines
Orion beckons
piercing the dark with stars
she rises to meet himA tanka Response:
By Genie Nakano and Susan Rogers.Genie is in black print and Susan in Italic purple print. First published in "Storyteller" tanka by Genie Nakano, 2014
"The Heian era of 794-1185, is considered Japan's Golden Age in literary history where women writers were the predominant geniuses." (The Ink Dark Moon, Jane Hirshfield with Mariko Aratani).
Tanka response or courtship and friendship tanka was developed and shared among lovers and friends. The Golden Deer is an example of a "tanka response".
the train lost speed and just plain stopped everyone got off and stood staring at the tracks
mother cow jumps over the old man in the moon milk spills everywhere luna-tics start spraying silver bullets
deep in the forest things settle into a snooze while urban women blare a new kind of music you’ve got to hear it…
I can’t explain it you just have to be here dance and move to a new formed rhythm with a universal beat
Can’t dream it nor stream it must be in real time, Right now, right now let a new world sing
Clickety clack the train picks up the beat just like that the train is back on track.
GEnie Nakano 9/26/15
I wrote this poem years ago (9-26-15) coming out of the doldrums and slight depression. I edited it “just a little” to complement the way I feel today. I’m coming out of sadness and back on track.
Toto our loving dog of 17 years died last week. My husband had just came home from being in the hospital for four days. He had a mini-stroke. Then Toto passed 4 days later– October 22, 2020. I haven’t been able to write since–fortunately our good friend Irene Furukawa wrote this lovely prose for Toto…
They love you oh so very, very much,and are missing you terribly now.
You have gone to Rainbow Meadows. All your hurting and pain are gone. You are perfect now.
Thank you Toto, for all the wonderful and marvelous everyday moments you spent and gave to your dear family.
Many of us relatives and friends of Hideki and Genie Knew and loved you. We will remember you with much love and affection.
Enjoy now your operfect life in Rainbow Meadows and know that your are loved by many here on Planet Earth.
Irene and Aki
The day I wrote this tanka October 14, 2020 my husband Hideki had a stroke. I finished meditating and was compelled to write it. I had no idea he was out in the world and was having a stroke. Hideki, drove himself van to emergency hospital and stayed for 4 days. He is out of the hospital and luckily he survived! Doctors will watch and monitor his heart, and he is on heavy duty medication–“he is still not out of the woods”.
“Umbrella“
You are my umbrella you keep me cool when it’s too hot protect me from the storm
My best friend and confidant, my special sparring partner we stay strong until death do us part.
No… cutting my hair until Covid is Controlled the weight of it…
Genie Nakano, Oct. 13, 2020
When the quarantine began in Los Angeles in March 2020 my hair was shoulder length. Today Oct.15, 2020–Thursday, my hair is almost to my waist and I’ve gained a few pounds along with it–“the weight of it”.
Genie Nakano 