She Smiles~~polaroid transfer~~haiku

I am talking to the moon She smiles… Genie Nakano, July 10, 2021 The image is a polaroid transfer that is highlighted with colored pencils and gold acrylic paint. It won a blue ribbon back in 1993 for the Gardena Arts Festival. It is a self – portrait using masks.

Ravages of Aging…

(Michael H. Lester and GenieNakano,  a tanka response) Micheal is in black print~~ Genie is in Purple and italic) a tongue in cheek but true Tanka Series the old skina patchwork of spotsand strange bumpsdry as the desertwind-worn sands of time bags baggageand budding wrinklesyet I feelthirty five insidemirrors tell cruel lies rememberwhen we wereContinue reading “Ravages of Aging…”

A Retired Dancer

A ballet dancer looks at herself in the mirror everyday as a matter of fact a check on reality a retired ballet dancer–facts change is that really me in the mirror the front or the back bring out the bike the scales take a walk retard–the old bastard of time some say lucky to beContinue reading “A Retired Dancer”

Om Mani Padme Hum ~~Celebrate not Celibate

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.Continue reading “Om Mani Padme Hum ~~Celebrate not Celibate”

A Floating World…poetic history of tanka

genie Nakano Before Japan could read or write,  tanka was called waka performed as short songs in five lines short  long  short   long   long Heian imperial court was well versed in  waka after a love affair erotic exchanges of waka was expected proper etiquette Women were the best of tanka’s golden era yearning, soaring talesContinue reading “A Floating World…poetic history of tanka”