Once and a While
it comes
once and a while
this morning
molecules moving in my ears
play the noise of silence
let the chin drop
the TMJ joint loosen
get gelatin soft
unfurl the spinal cord
the grass needs to be watered
once and a while
we can stop, hang up this world
be kind to ourselves r
rest, snooze, sleep
like dogs do when sick
once and a while
this white noise of silence
falls over the edge
of a flattened world
into a sea of maple syrup
once and a while
all the birds sleep till noon
the earth worms
move and till the earth
and the grass turns green again
© Genie Nakano
"Princess Konohanasakuya", Domoto Insho, 1929.
Genie Nakano is an award winning poet, performer, photographer, Yoga and Zumba instructor. She was born in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, May 15, 1948. She is dancing into her elder years. She is a poet columnist for the Rafu Shimpo, an international newspaper, and has written three books of poetry. Writing tanka, is her passion, confession and joy.
