Poet, Performer, Dancer, Storyteller, Yogini
You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy, then you should sit for an hour. ZEN ADAGE
Memories of Sri Lanka. Thank you venerable Bhante Piananda, for graciously honoring me to meditate and teach yoga in your temple, Colombo, Sri Lanka Circa 2014?
the tree to the telephone says "keep your wires to yourself" let me grow my way Genie Nakano
photography by Raphael Raphael, 2020
wind
blowing through my hair
there is so little time
let's leap above the gust
and dance with the wind
Genie Nakano,
originally published in My book--Storyteller
He fans open his weapon of seduction peacock vibrates his magnificent train
Personal interview with the artist, writer, dancer, Genie Nakano
Spillwords.com presents: Spotlight On Writers – Genie Nakano, for whom writing tanka is her passion, joy, therapy and confession.
Source: Spotlight On Writers – Genie Nakano, interview at Spillwords.com
A magic realism story for everyone who believes in magic.
Spillwords.com presents: Best Friends, a short story written by Genie Nakano – I was born in Boyle Heights, CA…known as the barrios of East L.A.
Source: Best Friends written by Genie Nakano at Spillwords.com
"Best Friends", is a "magic realism" story I wrote after my dog Charlie died of lung cancer. My best friends dog died of cancer shortly after Charlie. Charlie the cocker spaniel, is the main character of the story. He is a philosopher and Shelby the red dog is his best friend. Originally posted on Spillwords.Com. Thank you Spillwords for supplying the image. It looks just like my dog Charlie. Please click the source and it will take you to Best Friends. I have 50 other posts on Spillwords. It's a good place for poets to post. They promote your work all over the world.
forgiven and feeling fine.
In the sauna
purging last night’s sins
as the sweat
rolls down my breasts
forgiven and feeling fine
Originally published in Spillword.com and Ribbons a tanka journal
make my dreams come true
written by: Genie Nakano
@genieyogini
magic butterfly
a flower in the sky
as I nap
come alight on me
make my dreams come true
originally published in "Storyteller" and Spillwords.com
Uncle George ,Sugie, 2-8-1892 , 1965 ,Sugie & Yaemon,3-8-1880,Uncle Jay, 1918-1960
my grandmother died at 73
the age that I am now
her thin grey hair was tied back in a bun
was she ever young?
coming from a foreign land
her songs were of an old Japan
coming to America
a picture bride
"fresh off the boat"
a timely phrase
did she ever love?
Grandpa and Grandma
everyday
bickering mumbled sounds
long ago
my mother remembers
"when papa drank sake"
fights were brutal and bloody
now with age just words
how do you get out
of this slave trade world
your children are the keys
work and save
work and slave
send your sons
to be a doctor
but Uncle George died at 22
Uncle Jay died at 42
a doctor whose dream
to be an artist
was it suicide
Grandmas' dreams flew by
only English was my mistake
back then when--
Japs were defeated in war
I only wanted to be American
NO, "I don't speak Japanese"
and Grandma don't speaku Enguirish
so we are pigeons in the dark
we never touched
I'm not sure why
did we ever play
Bill Wither Sings
"grandmas, hands played a tambourine so well"
my Grandma never did
I tried to understand
but it's been so long ago
Grandma
picking strawberries
cracked hands
filled with fresh hopes
scorched from the sun
Note:
Bachan means grandmother in Japanese. I don't like to be called Bachan and Grandma because I don't feel like a grandma and when I digged deeper I remembered my own Bachan. Her story was so sad. She was creative, a great cook but her life was tragic. I suppose that may be a reason why I don't want to be Bachan--call me Auntie. Aloha Auntie.
I spoke pigeon English to Grandma--so speaku Engurish means speak English.
Invitation to Peace early morning these days no T.V. no radio prone to quietness I meditate everyday the same way like sitting on a rabbit's foot I feel safe and lucky bound by our desires I watch the incense rise busy busy busy thoughts busy buzzing clear the space toss them out watch them fly before they fall catch moments Genie Nakano, June 25, 2020 revised July 17, 2022
These are tanka that come to me as I meditate. I have aligned them into a tanka series.
Genie Nakano