Thursday, March 19, 2020: National Women's Month: Genie Nakano's tanka sequence "Shoshite"

Soshite

Cold outside 

fingers cramp and freeze 

my age 

is showing 

like a fallen slip 

So… 

slap on the blush 

gloss the lips 

piggybank some time 

I’m not ready for elderhood 

my heart 

is still a child 

my body 

merely 

disobedient

So… 

I’ll wear a hoodie of youth 

keep little 

red riding hood 

riding 

insecurities 

always keep me young 

my mind 

is always changing 

indecision keeps me growing 

In the end 

I like it that way 

which way do I turn 

right left 

I’m not sure

So… 

let’s just keep going 

straight ahead 

follow the coyotes 

walking in the middle of the street 

yellow lights 

have turned to green 

uncross your fingers 

uncross your legs 

the clock is ticking to our pulse

Breathe 

Inhale--Exhale 

Squeeze 

the stale air out 

back bend and open your heart 

So 

Forward-bend 

Balance 

Get out of your head 

Savasana 

On your feet 

Open the window shades 

Look listen 

Next moment 

Tell me more

© 2020 Genie Nakano

Bio: 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.