Poet, Performer, Dancer, Storyteller, Yogini
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
I'm here on this great American holiday-- Easter Buddhist-- tho I am so didn't make a ham made bread and Passion Fruit jam didn't mean to rhyme just came out in time to be silly and nonsensical in this era of pandemonium tell me-- will I be able to look back laugh this day away who is to say yet, I am here watching robie robot do his dirty work picking up the dog hairs and morsels on the floor my virtual theatre class starts at four 9 smiling actors waiting to be discovered now hiding undercover in a state of doom but here we act in this room maybe tomorrow I will get cast if this elder is lucky to last Oh yes, I've been thinking this way reading all the stats it's us elders who are cursed I was looking forward to my time sitting upon a throne of wise-dome do I have to worry my heart beats strong but my lungs have been abused Newports, Salems, and Golden Kents marijuana up in smoke does that mean I'm dead Only time will tell ya better do my yoga Genie Nakano at 2:40 PM, Easter Sunday, April 12, (I'm a flower child through -- born May, 1948 "make love not war--PEACE)
Namaste revised . . . April 8, 2020
Your fragrance
spirits me away
where am I going
what am I doing
Peace….
a tanka by Genie Nakano
This poem was written by my friend Aya Yuhki. She is currently the editor of "Tanka International", in Tokyo, Japan.
All I can do
softly
when the winds
caress the door of fate,
I will open it for you.
a bare tree stands
with silver branches
stretched to the utmost,
I will gaze at the clouds with you.
at waters' edge
a reed stands almost broken
by winds,
I will be brown together with you.
for the sake of hungry birds,
in this winter brought by the cold waves
of global warming,
I put a feeder in my garden.
once born,
with one hundred percentage certainty
Death comes;
we will share the time on the earth.
to accept you,
to stand by you,
to give a little,
to share the time on the earth,
this is all I can do.
Aya Yuhki
I left the world. It was getting too heavy, surreal like a Dali nightmare. Clocks falling off trees, big blinking eyes in the clouds. Plus a pandemic was going on. The White House announced it on Friday and the Eagle didn’t fly. So I decided to leave the world. I made a deal with my dreams. The deal was–pick one of my dreams and I could be there.
I chose the misted magical forest with a small stream running through it. This dream was special because it had a marvelous scent. Though my dreams are always in color most are not gifted with fragrance — this one was. As soon as I got there–I knew I made the right choice. I was in bliss the moment I opened my eyes.
There weren’t any people around so this made life easier — only me. I walked around and thought about people. What I liked about them and also what I didn’t like. It started to become a comedy reel — seeing all our blunders in one big laugh. Well that didn’t last long. Very quickly, the tears started falling. I couldn’t figure out why there are so many killings, wars, poverty, and suffering. And then this pandemic that was killing more and more people everyday. The plumber told me it was God’s will. But is god that cruel? I wanted to say–Buddha wouldn’t do that. But I didn’t think of that until he left. Then my neighbor chimed in and said the pandemic was the Democrats fault. A cold wind started blowing hard — a good excuse to go inside, close the door and leave the world.
It was twilight time and I started to miss people. So in this world of bliss, I decided to leave and return to L. A. Because of my age, I’m quarantined. But I think I’ll make life. I’m breathing pretty regularly. After all, I like humanity–people scurrying around doing things I don’t understand. I want to keep my heart in meditation mode–wide open. So in ten more breaths — I surrender.
count down
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
I am here–home.
Genie Nakano, March, 2020
Every time my lover Goes out the door I wonder Will he come back Safe and sound, with corona going around Conscience says... Don't worry See the woman walking her dog outside Join her in her walk Your dogs are bored and listless See the crow hopping on the tree before a backdrop of blue sky and cotton candy clouds And you, Fearless yoga teacher Canceled all classes did you not? Now you know-- That's not the way to be. Conscience, listen to me-- I feel I'm doing my part The White House, said to do this. Conscience says... But girl you're not white When did you go with the sheep? Please, I don't know if I'm right But I'm doing my part in practicing "social distancing" Give me a week to think this over Yesterday dancing in the street Next day, Our family restaurant shut down Into a surreal world Where vampires sweep the grocery stores String beans strewn on the floors All the shelves scraped clean "Three minutes to closing time", I keep hearing But don't you close at 12 PM and it's only 9 PM Don't you know, we need to eat? I hear in the air, through the lines, and in lines We have a chance to make a better world One that values life Perhaps the teeter totter of our lives Makes life more precious I love my husband lover, like there is no tomorrow Yet, only yesterday I was hollering-- Empty the trash, get organized. So conscience, I'm heading for an open nursery to find roses to plant in the Spring I hope I'm not too late But first, I'll take the dogs for a walk Genie Nakano, March 17, 2020
Genie Nakano