Frank Lapena - April 29, Iyengar II & I

Frank Lapena 1937-2019, Nomtipom Wintu - from the new Norton’s Anthology of Native Nations Poetry, edited by Joy Harjo. This multi-talented poet was also a professor, dancer, visual and performance artist. Some of that shows in this piece, “fragrances are footprints”, at least to me. Also loved the joyful mouse!

THE UNIVERSE SINGS

Spring days

and winter nights

have beautiful

flowers shining

they make themselves

visible

by whispering

in the color

of blue pollen

Their fragrances

are footprints

lightly traveling

on the milky way

Once I was given

a bracelet of

golden yellow flowers

on velvet darkness

Reenie said that

a mouse was painted

in the color of the sun

and that he danced for joy

on seeing flowers

blossom into stars

dancing across the universe

and singing,

singing, singing.