Once upon a time
I was in a dancer's body
high kicks and splits
on the count of one two three
finger pointing to the moon
tell it like it is
rheumatoid sets in
with carbon steel hips
the cards fall this way
now deal
at the airport
my hip replacement
triggers alarms
so much attention
for all the wrong reasons
even in my dreams
flight is not easy
arms beat the air
heavy legs drag
until the silk veil lifts
Genie Nakano
Published, Wings on a Silk Veil. Available on Lulu.
Note: Finger pointing to the moon is a Buddhist metaphor. The moon represents knowledge and enlightenment. However, the finger or a person pointing to the moon is not the moon.
I was born in Boyle Heights, California, Aliso Village Housing Projects.
Aliso Village: 1942 – demolished in 1999 one of the most impoverished areas of Los Angeles – and considered one of the last remaining slums. Wikipedia
(shrugs shoulders) We didn’t have computers and couldn’t afford a television. So I ran around the play grounds in a red cowgirl skirt with white fringe and cap gun six shooter wrapped around my hips. I never got in any trouble. All that cowgirl practice made me a good dancer
No pony for Christmas instead I lasso the stars originally published in Contemporary on line Haibun, 2012 Printed in Enter the Stream, Haibun and Tanka Tales, 2013 available on Amazon
Los Angeles River~~ a Cherita
a childhood walk holding hands when the river was full
buttered tortillas how I long for them instead of rice
yellow sunshine dripping from my fingers
Los Angeles River I came back to remember Genie Nakano
Dancing in the night
Dancing in the dark
Dancing in the day
Dancing in the light
My mother told me when I was three
Firebird by Stravinsky was my song
with arms spread out in wings
spinning round and round and round
I danced
until I fell to the ground
drunk with dizziness
so I've danced all my
life
a religions that keeps me growing going
all stopped
when I inherited Mom's disease
it sunk into my joints
ate away my bones,
sockets,fingers and knees
no more walking straight ahead
screaming at the world
tapping with my cane
healers took my money...
"just take this potion
take this herb
this needle through your hips and knees
don't trust doctors, just believe
you'll be fine again"
my husband sees
but doesn't believe
we fight, I scream, we fight
no never, I won't give up
that is ...
until I see his tears
please believe in doctors please
he says
I will I do I am
with two hip replacements
and western medicine
a yogini I dance again
no more gran jetes,
or drop down splits
yet still I move and dance
to salsa rhythms
as serotonin flows into my blood
75 ain't so bad
as I journey inwards writing is my new love deeper and deeper we share our words maybe you and I can dance our poems here’s my poem to you … dance with me our words, our voices will be the musics speak them loud and clear press into each other around into each other London bridges here we come just a thought just a daydream maybe maybe not just a chance why not
Genie Nakano, 1 22 23 10:23 AM
a tanka: come dance with me in the morning light this is your only chance the wind is at our heels let’s leap above the gusts
re-blogging for today — Valentines day February 14, 2023
I have a dream
where no secrets lie between us
intimacy our perfume
laughter is our music
love our key of C
in the glow of moon light
we forever tango
Eternity or hill top view
with rolling fields of memories
the grapes of wrath have settled
the wine of life
pours sweet and savory
let's make a toast to vintage, now and ...
all those years
Genie Nakano
at last, the song I choose for me and you rhythms drip with slow sensuality arms spread in Mariposa
someday, we’ll fly into the sky our souls will be free … all the steps we’ve practiced will surely take us there.
number 2
I have a dream where no secrets lie between us loyal and true intimacy is our perfume laughter is our music love our key of C in the glow of moonlight we forever tango eternity is our hill top view with rolling fields of memories the grapes of wrath have settled the wine of life pours savory and sweet lets make a toast to vintage 2008 it’s been a very good year (an oldie — 2008)
*orchestra de la luz –a Japanese salsa musical group *mariposa is a salsa step/embrace with arms spread like a butterfly.
this tanka response will be published in November, 2022 in Better than Starbucks on line…check it out. A wonderful on line journal with an array of different styles of poetry and stories. We are proud to be there!
Floating on Air
Kampai
the only Nihongo I know
brings the clang
of glasses filling the space
while I am spinning on air Genie
she waits in the dark
while he rushes through
crowded alleys
patrons praise the chef
they consume a fiery feast Dean
was it him
or the splendor of the night
that lured me
into his warm embrace
a night of pas de deux Genie
adrift in the blues
a roller coaster of smooth dips
syncopated hips
shaking until we come loose
floating thought the moonlight Dean
music fills the air
wild moths drawn to the flame
out of darkness
into the burning light
we dance into timelessness Genie
I will be teaching Metta Meditation at JCI–Gardena Valley Japanese cultlural Institute this Friday , Feb. 10, 2023 12:15 – 1:00, Call: 310 869-0233 for further information.
….if a monk practices love meditation even if only for the length of time it takes to snap one’s fingers, he will not fail in meditative concentration. There is no greater virtue than practicing love meditation everyday. From the book, ‘Teachings on Love’ Thich Nhat Hanh
So, I’ve been snapping my fingers all day today and whispering the love and kindness mantra. from, Genie Nakano
Genie Nakano 