From a letter written by poet Gary Snyder:
“Last night I got word from Japan that Nanao Sakaki had suddenly died. He was living with friends in the mountains of Nagano prefecture in a little cabin. He had stepped out the door in the middle of the night to stargaze or pee and apparently had a severe heart attack. His friends found him on the ground the next morning. Christmas afternoon they’ll hold the otsuya — intimate friends drinking party in his room, sitting with his body — and a cremation after that. He was one of my best friends in this lifetime.”
From the Allen Ginsberg Project
See also David-Baptiste Chirot
And Nanao Sakaki at About.com Poetry:
Read books
If you have time to read
Walk into mountain, desert and ocean
If you have time to walk
Sing Songs and dance
If you have time to dance
Sit quietly, you Happy Lucky Idiot
To have first met Nanao in Dec.1980 in Zuni, New Mexico set myself onto new trails of thought, spirit, adventure. He loved the “Apache Trail Song” in “top 10 of world music”. He influenced many, John Brandi, Jirka Wein, Ruth Ross, Jakimo Soucy, Kush at the Cloud House, Shig in North Beach, Tweet and Charolet in Zuni, Barie in Santa Fe, Chris Wells, Peter Blue Cloud, Peter Garland,Peter Rabbit. Nanao helped to plant seeds of Community in Gila,N.M.. I brought Nanao to a Grateful Dead concert on Valentines Day 1986 and introduced him to Bobby Petersen (Beat Poet, G.D.songwriter). And the list goes on and on of the many he inspired. Now on the Star Trail dear friend. I thank him for all the beautiful blessings. As ever, Strider
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Blessings.
awakened by the light
I go outside
naked under the first full moon of winter
ah Nanao there you are
shining down on us
Eya Nanao
The stars are so far
Eya
The stars are so far
Eya
And we are here
Eya
Nanao Eya
I took this picture (http://tr.im/am9j) of Nanao Sakaki during his visit to Northern California in 2007.
The poetry quote ruïnes the poem.
The opening sentence is left out. It starts with:
If you have time to chatter,
Read books.
etc…
…I miss you so much…
…I send you all my LOVE…
…NANAO…
…”I am always with you…
…the way you are always with me…”
…remembering Sardinia…
…Biennale/Guggenheim…
…and the Five enemies…
…go…go…go…
…in the Galaxies…
…Lat. 43″ 53′ 13.68″ North…
…Long. 7″ 36′ 48.09″ East…
…I am here…
…moderation?!?!?!
…I am GANGAROAR…
…Coyote Samurai…
…Love and Light…
…and Nanao is My Master…
Dear Nanao
I miss you,
I miss you,
I miss you,
so much!
I Love you
and you are with me.
Step in
Step out!
Anna GANGA
What an honor to meet this man in the universe as he changes over–searching to become aquainted with him:
whole universe
open window
hearts touching
–oui, oui, oui. merci, merci, merci
Get “JanKenPo” (cd) to hear snyder,sakaki,andsaijo in an essential gathering of friends and poems. Listen over and over.
Thanks so much. 🙂
…anno/year 2000
…”La Quercia” “I LOVE YOU”
…more than 300 years old…
…PIACENTINO…
…I MISS YOU MY NANAO
…I MISS YOU SO MUCH!
…GangaQuercia, COYOTE SAMURAI.
…Pass WOR[l]D
…LOVE LOVEAMOREAMORE!
…STEP IN…
…STEP OUT…
…STEP UP…
…dear NANAO in THE GALAXIES…
…Ganga, your LITTLE FLOWER…
Dear NANAO,
LoveAmoreAMMMORE…to YOU…
for ever and ever.
I MISS YOU SO MUCH!
Your Anna GANGA
Thank you Nanao ..thank you Gary ..Deep Bow !