Poet, Performer, Dancer, Storyteller, Yogini
I was
much younger then
little confidence
yet, lots of determination
no choice but to fly
Genie Nakano, 8/20
caravan ride
across the Thar desert sands
I pretend
we are gypsies
partners in passion
Once upon a time I considered living in a monastery. Temple life seemed so much more peaceful than worldly living. However, Theravada Buddhism monks must be celibate. I wondered why but never talked about it with the monks.
So this is my fantasy poem for all my monk friends who live a life of celibacy.
Om Mani Padme hum~~Celebrate no Celibate
Standing on the steps
of an ancient Cambodian temple
a daydream starts to reel
a thousand years tickle my toes
as footsteps vibrate under my feet
The daydream
takes me deep inside
to hear
Om mani padme hum
the ancient Pali language
Sandalwood incense mixes
with the fragrant Rumdul flowers
rising to the heavens
I am dizzy with this scent
the gods in this temple love women
I am blessed to be here
bringing rice cakes dipped in honey,
mangoes and ambrosia wine
the day turns into night
dreams continues on…
A rainbow moon
rises in an indigo sky
Om mani padmi hum
three thousand years ago
monks knew secrets of erotica
Everyone
is blissful in this temple,
the night goes on
the love goes on
Om mani padmi hum
To all my dear
Theravada Venerable friends
this is just a daydream
Oh, why can’t this be real
I am stuck in the land of Covid dreaming up a dream…
Genie Nakano
Flowing
down a river of dreams
cool soothing mists
my berry lips
darkened by the sun
welcome the unknown
Genie Nakano, August 15, 2020
golden bamboo waving in a summer breeze grows a foot a month a teenage boy in love Genie Nakano, July 15, 2020
In 2003, I was the first Asian American to teach Bollywood at El Camino College, Torrance, California. Not many people outside of the Indian community knew what Bollywood was. But I convinced El Camino it would be a hit--and it was. Here are my students dancing to Devdas, and performing a Mohiniattam folkdance. https://youtu.be/mCR-rG7LNSY
You should meditate twenty minutes everyday…unless you are very busy
then you should meditate an hour a day.
old zen adage
I am
an ancient person
I believe
in the presence of the past
in our present lives
Narayan Kaudinya
(a fellow blogger on WordPress)
Thousands of years ago
the Buddha said
we have 6 senses…
sight
smell
touch
hearing
mind
Imagine
a world beyond
human senses
what is
the _______th Sense.
Genie Nakano, Agust, 2020
Photos by Genie Nakano. Angor Wat, Cambodia and Sunrise in Thar Desert, India
Koen, my nephew, Elizabeth my niece and Kabir made these informational videos on Sunday. Kabir only 5 years old gave an incredible lecture on the solar system. He starts off nervous. but watch it in full he warms up at the end. Kid
feeling on the verge of sadness so I write a free-verse–helps to set me free.
I'm mean to you
I'm mean to myself
tho I don't mean to be
It's this feeling inside
my stomach bloated with inertia
aches in my joints
makes me mean
keeps me mean
yelling at the dogs
"stop it--stop scratching"
they don't stop
impossible to be mean to a dog
better to yell at a husband
find a fault in him
hammer it to the ground
nail it in the coffin
start a fight
round 1, round 2, 3, 4
I won--you hate me
but I hate you more
I win
count--1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,=10
knock out
he's down on the floor
what a fight!!
let's get out of town
to the ocean edge
where water drowns
the edges
danger--
better just to
stand on the edge
Do I have to
I live with myself
it's the only life I own
my luck--just renting
waiting for doors to open
then take the elevator up
where Trevor Noah's theme is playing
stuck on stanza 1 and 2
I've got more complaints with no solutions
Be grateful I heard from somewhere
it went in one ear and managed to stay
I'll take another breath on that
and a sip of Scotch....
on an old elevator
dropping downwards
whoosh-- too fast
my stomach or heart
I wake up just in time
August 4, 2020, genie Nakano
Genie Nakano