Mapping the Artist: Genie Nakano

Kathabela Wilson and Genie Nakano.

An interview with Genie Nakano, a poet, a teacher, and a dancer. Her unique and passionate approach to life and poetry enlightens us, and draws us into her alluring dance.

By Kathabela Wilson

A telescope on the poet

What were your beginnings as an artist and poet?

my father was a poet
my mother a painter
I danced into life
in my old age
I write tanka

My family was very artistic. Dad played the trumpet, sculpted and wrote hundreds of poems. But he was a closet poet and his poetry never saw the light of day. My mom’s real dream was to be an actress but Nisei after WW2 had very little opportunities for a theatrical career. My mother, recently out of the concentration camps, and dad, just out of combat, had to deal with basic survival needs. You might say I made up for my dad and mom by becoming a dancer/performer and openly sharing my work in with 5 books of poetry, and a yoga book.

for mom ​–​

with a toss of her head
high cheek bones
mom said it all
full of fire and drama
her flame burned within

for dad —

after you died
we read your journals
stacks,files, boxes full
of notes, poems , sketches of life–
dad you paved my way

A microscope on the poet

What do you write about, what are the topics and inspirations for your tanka?

Much of my work speak of my Japanese ancestry. The interaction of the haiku, tanka and prose uncover memories that create a vibrant meaningful present. Haiku and tanka focus primarily on the now while the prose allows me to weave past, present and allude to the future. Writing is a journey of self discovery filled with joy, grief and gratitude.

My poetry is very personal and even therapeutic. As my husband said …

my lover says
a childhood filled with hardship
made me strong
perhaps it brought us together
as we moved towards the light

My two recent books, Enter the Stream and Storyteller are tanka, haiku, haibun and tanka prose. In these I share my unstable background and personal experiences. Many people who read my work explain my poetry as having an edge. I can’t see it, but I definitely had moments where/when I lived on the edge.

don’t know, don’t know
I’ve lost my honest voice
where do I go
how can I stand
on these trembling legs

my unborn
clung to a fallopian tube
no one knows
of the hidden scar where
life was sliced out of me

This was the first tanka I ever wrote. Tanka because of it’s brevity is naturally cutting. It cuts out unneeded fluff. Sometimes my tanka lacks lyricism but to me the most important thing is to say something…as clearly and directly as I can. My language is often conversational. My goal is to keep my child spirit…see the world as much as I can from the eyes, heart and open spirit of a child.

Pulse of the poet

Genie Nakano

You’ve told me you love to share with those who don’t know about tanka, opening their minds to the experience?

I am now a columnist for Gardena Valley News and the Rafu Shimpo. My style has changed somewhat for the columns. I write with my readers in mind. Most of my readers have never seen , heard or written a tanka. So I bear this in mind. I know they don’t want to read about my fallopian tube*, that’s for sure. Sometimes I meet people in the market or yesterday at a counter in Gardena Bowl Coffee shop and I got the comment….I read your column and “I got it”. or I hear…your poetry goes straight to the heart…that makes me feel good. I want to communicate with my readers. My editor at GVN, Gary Kohatsu, advocates the three E’s: entertain, educate, enlighten.

Yes, nothing wrong with entertainment. As a dancer, I enjoyed entertaining and receiving applause. Sometimes communicating with your audience is more important than technique. Sometimes you throw away the perfect pointed toes for dancing your heart out.

A compass to the Poet

Genie Nakano and camel.

You have always been a dancer and you often combine your poems with your dance. What of your dancing life and your travels?

I was a dancer by profession. Then, due to a deteriorating hip and it’s replacement, I couldn’t dance for over a year. At this time I was introduced to haibun, tanka and tanka prose. That was it. The Japanese poetry became my passion and was also kinder on my joints.

But I’m still dancing… at 67 years can’t stop. Still teaching yoga 4 times a week and Bollywood Dancing I love the powerful rhythms of Indian tablas. I went to India three times because the rhythms and by contrast the quietness of Buddhist meditation and yoga lured me to India. I pray I’ll be like Josephine Baker and dance until I drop.

India
the land of my dreams
where magic​ ​
is ordinary

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*The fallopian tube tanka was published in “Ribbons,” the journal of the Tanka Society of America.

> You can order Genie’s books and find more poetry and upcoming events on her website and check out her latest video below.