The Golden Deer~~a tanka response

a tanka response by Genie Nakano and Susan Rogers…*

Photo by Bibhukalyan Acharya on Pexels.com
Hill top deer
yearns for a pine branch
the bough softens
leans and bows
a golden sunset glows  

bathed in gold
the hills sing
a ballad of light
everywhere she turns
divinity shines

under pine trees
matsutake mushroom
reveal
their fragrant scent
a secret offering

she kneels
among pine needles
giving gratitude
for each blessing 
she has revealed

hunters
somewhere in the distance
as twilight stills
her muscles twitch
the scent of blood is near

in 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 down

high 
above pines
Orion beckons
piercing the dark with stars
she rises to meet him

A 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".

Fat Brown Cat~~Meditation in Nowness

Cat: photographed by Genie Nakano

Meow Meow

Fat brown cat
licking your lap
what do you think
of this and that?

Hiss, spat!*#!
Don’t bother me

I’m being Now.

Genie Nakano, an oldie–can’t remember when…

fat brown cat: Photographed by Genie Nakano

A New World Sings

Photo by Gabriela Palai on Pexels.com

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.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com





	


	





	

		
Toto in Rainbow Meadows
	


	
			

				
			


		
	

		






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




































Photos of Toto and Hideki by Genie Nakano
















	


	





	

		
“Umbrella”
	


	
			

				
			


		
	

		

photograph:  by Genie Nakano, Turkey, 2015





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.





                                           Genie Nakano, Oct. 14, 2020










Photograph: Genie Nakano, Turkey










    
	
    

	

    




    
	
    
		
    Waiting…
    	
    

	
			
    
				
			
    

		
	
    
		

    




    




    

    

    

    




    

    Photo by: Evelyn Sato, October 13, 2020 
    

    




    

    

    

    




    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”.
    
	
    

	

    




    
	
    
		
    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 newspapers for exposure.  I started as a journalist with a column, "Genie's Lamp" and later a poetry column, "Tanka Tales".  Now it's what it is....