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Reading Pleasure

~ A Blog of Books and Literature

Reading Pleasure

Monthly Archives: May 2014

Carpe Diem Tan Renga : Ribbon of Colours

30 Friday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Carpe Diem, Challenges, Poetry, Romance, Tan Renga

≈ 29 Comments

Tags

festival of colours, Mysticism

Done for Carpe Diem. We are to complete the following haiku by Yours Truly with  two lines of 7-7 syllables each. I feel deeply honoured that Kristjaan used my humble offering for the Tan renga prompt . Thanks a million!

Original

ribbon of colours

streaks across the endless sky

dance of the spirits

Completion

we waltz in  the misty dawn

bodies in mystic ritual

ribbon of colours

streaks across the endless sky

dance of the spirits

we waltz in  the misty dawn

bodies in mystic ritual

 
 
Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 
(30/05/14)
I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom.

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Haiku My Heart: Gothic

30 Friday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Carpe Diem, Haiku, Haiku My Heart, Poetry, Romance

≈ 43 Comments

Tags

Gothic, paranormal, romance, wolves

Done for Carpe Diem Haiku Shuukan prompt, Gothic. And also for Recuerda Mi Corazon

Gothic

angry bolts

rip through the full moon

howling wolves

2

her death cries

 sear the wanton night

the gods weep

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 
30/05/14)

I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom

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Thursday Haiku: Nature Bells

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Haiku, Poetry

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Nature

A little haiku to make your day. 🙂 The photo is by kind permission from Gilly.

snail

Nature Bells

step by dainty step

I ring these white nature bells

mollusc on a stroll

 
 Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 
(29/05/14)
I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom.

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Go Well, Maya

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in African Women Writers, Guests, Poetry

≈ 32 Comments

Tags

Death, Maya Angelou

I just read of the demise of Maya Angelou, the American poet and author, at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina today. In her life time, she published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than fifty years. She received dozens of awards and over thirty honorary doctoral degrees. Angelou is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of seventeen, and brought her international recognition and acclaim.

My brother, Ricky wrote this beautiful tribute in her honour on his Facebook page and with his kind permission, I have posted it here. We in Ghana are proud and honoured that she spent some of her years living with us.  Nanti Yie!  Ewurade Nfa Wo Nsie! Damirifa Due!

Maya Angelou

“While the rest of the world has been improving technology, Ghana has been improving the quality of man’s humanity to man.” Maya Angelou

Go Well, Maya

There comes, once in a while, a moment to stare death. In disdain.
When death serves our purpose, giving us rest.
When death becomes only a rite of passage.
When death affords opportunity for mortals to pay tribute to the not-so-mortal.
When death occasions celebration.
Celebration of odds defied
Celebration of years lived
Celebration of causes fought for.
Celebration of barriers broken
of songs composed
of poems written and recited
of ceremonies graced
of testimonies rendered
of tears shed
of joyous moments
of history witnessed
of greats met
of epochs survived
of time………….
Rest In Peace Mama Maya Angelou.
Your song rings from roofs across the world
The lilt of your voice awakens verve
Adieu Mama Maya Angelou.
From as far away as Sirigu in Ghana, I say well done, feeble as my voice may be. GO WELL

Copyright © Kasise Ricky Peprah

(28/05/14)

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Heeding Haiku With HA: Love Dirge

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Challenges, Haiku, Poetry

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Love Dirge, Nature

 Done for Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie – Heeding Haiku with HA. Be inspired and write a haiku or tanka from A Love Song from the North by Sarojini Naidu

Tell me no more of thy love papeeha
Wouldst thou recall to my heart, papeeha,
Dreams of delight that are gone,
When swift to my side came the feet of my lover
With stars of the dusk and the dawn?
I see the soft wings of the clouds on the river,
And jewelled with raindrops the mango-leaves quiver,
And tender boughs flower on the plain…..
But what is their beauty to me, papeeha,
Beauty of blossom and shower, papeeha,
That brings not my lover again?
Tell me no more of thy love, papeeha,
Wouldst thou revive in my heart, papeeha
Grief for the joy that is gone?
I hear the bright peacock in glimmering woodlands
Cry to its mate in the dawn;
I hear the black koel’s slow, tremulous wooing,
And sweet in the gardens the calling and cooing
Of passionate bulbul and dove….
But what is their music to me, papeeha
Songs of their laughter and love, papeeha,
To me, forsaken of love?

My Inspiration

above fluffy clouds

my love dirge ululating

with a choir of birds

 
Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 
28/05/14)

I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom!

 

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Haiku Horizons: Drift

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Challenges, Haiku, Poetry

≈ 48 Comments

Tags

drift, kapok, love, Relationships

Done for Haiku Horizons

 twilight eve

we’re drifting apart

on kapok

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 
26/05/14)

I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom

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My Journey With Words (#mywritingprocess)

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in African Women Writers, Guests, Haiku, Poetry, Publication, Romance, Short Stories, Trivia

≈ 49 Comments

Tags

journey with words, My writing process

When my friend Tish Farrell nominated me for the #mywritingprocess  Blog Hop,I was amazed. What? Me? Then panic set in. What exactly have I written that merits writing about? Why would readers be interested in a virtually nonexistent writing process when all they read  from me is half-baked haiku ( I know you guys are not gonna agree with me here). Let’s face it, well-meaning friends from the blogosphere have at one time or the other encouraged me to hurry up and publish a novel, to be specific a romance novel. But like I said on Tish’s blog, my major fears are not knowing who would want to read/publish the work once it is done, and a deep sense of not matching up to other writers out there. Until I started blogging two years ago, I hadn’t the faintest clue as to how many writers were out there on Amazon and elsewhere with so many great books. Intimidating indeed! But write I must, or my story dies and there’ would be none to tell it. Thank you so much Tish! 🙂

Truth be told, I’ve been writing all my life (cliché?) Well, so be it then.  From scribbling poems to writing romance reads in exercises books for my friends in secondary school. 🙂 In those days who cared about nudging me on except my friends who had no idea just like me of how to get my works published. And the steamy scenes would not wash with my strict mother  (A pure Presbyterian to the bone). The writing and publishing industry then was devoted to text books we used in schools and even renowned writers like Ama Ata Aidoo and Ayi Kwei Armah were published by Heinemann, outside Ghana. Fast track a few years ahead and my writing was given a notch of a glitter when I worked for a Newspaper and part of my job description was to serialise any story in the pages as a way to boost sales. I took the nation by storm with the serialisation of romance; Dangerous Desire, The Stud, The Dark Side of Love, and Woes of a Barren Woman. I made money for the Paper and made a name for myself. Do I have the scripts? People and Places (P & P) claimed the rights to my stories and I didn’t know a thing about copyright to fight. Not to bore you with my naiveté and ignorance then, I went on to write over the years, for USAID/John Hopkins/Center for Sustainable Development/Ghana Health Service; this time radio serial drama dealing with child health, female sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDS among others. The script written in English was translated into five local languages here and aired on major radio stations all over the country. The first contract was in 1994, then later renewed in 2001, 2003 and 2006, and 2011.

2012 saw me blogging and that was when my eyes opened. Oh yes! To haiku, flash fiction and the sumptuous wonders of the blogosphere. By His grace, my works have been included in two recent anthologies; Western Haiku: A Collection, and Ballads, both produced by Dagda Publishing UK.  My flash fiction has also appeared in 1 x 50 x 100, edited by Madison Woods. And now;

What Am I Working On Right Now?

Quite a lot! I’m working on about three stories now. I say a lot because I need to focus on one and have it completed before I touch the others. But like the confused person that I am I’m tackling all at the same time and going nowhere with them. I’ve completed the first draft of the one closest to my heart though. And I’m working on edits and corrections based on suggestions by a dear writer friend of mine, Nana.  I keep on giving excuses upon excuses! Simply I’m lazy writer and work better under pressure!

How Does my Work Differ From Others Of Its Genre?

I believe the topic I’m writing on has been exhausted elsewhere. But in my country incest is a taboo subject, though there has been much education and sensitization over the years. In 1997 my research topic for my Masters thesis was Child Sexual Abuse under the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child; A Case Study of Ghana. I had a tough time gathering data because it was virtually non-existent. The reportage and sensitization of sexual abuse was very low as to be insignificant. However, Ghana has come a long way since then; though I don’t have the stats to support my claim. The subject like I said is taboo, despite our gains. I believe my story, as I’m telling it would make us sit up.  Romance, yes but with a dark twist mixed with politics and intrigue for good measure!

 Why Do I Write What I Do?

I believe I’m real passionate about the subject of sexual abuse. And no, I’m not a victim. There’s something that tugs at my heart, about a helpless little girl or boy being subjected to the depravities of some male/female.  I’ve always stood up for the down trodden and marginalized. We have to wake up to those things that go on in the bedrooms of children and adults who are victims and perpetrators of abuse.

Then again, since I’m working on more than one story, I ‘m doing what I like doing best, writing romance with lots and lots of breathtaking suspense!

How Does My Writing Process Work?

I really don’t have any laid down process. I write when I feel like it but more serious with it when I’m under pressure to meet a deadline. With the radio serial drama, I had to work with the technical information I was given to incorporate my story line and develop the plot. Once I have the plot and the deadline, the words flow. What I do is that I create characters that I can identify with and then, well, the rest is determined by the characters, where they want to go, what they want to do and see and how they want their story to end. 🙂

With my poems, I honestly don’t know where the words come from. I may struggle sometimes if the prompt is difficult or a bit foreign but once I start, there’s no stopping me. But I will pause for now and introduce you to Kimberly Floria of http://silentlyheardonce.wordpress.com.  Kimberley is a dear friend and an amazing talented poet whose honesty and raw passion in her work are so endearing. She will continue with the #writingprocess tour on 2nd June. Kimberley is a grandmother of three and she says that is the best job there, without a doubt! 🙂 Now, please read on:

In 2008 I was forced to retire due to my fight with lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks a person’s health cells. My lupus has given me a lung/heart disease called Pulmonary Hypertension, which means the blood doesn’t flow freely from my lungs to my heart. I try not to let lupus rule my life, but there are days that just getting out of bed is over whelming. I usually end up pushing myself until I have to take several days off laying in bed eating junk food because I’m too tired to cook. This frustrates me and sometimes pushes me into depression. A lot of my earlier poems on my blog are a reflection of that depression, Ouch  A Jar Full of Tears  and I wrote one that I try to rationalize my reasons for having developed lupus, I Flirted with Lucifer. Beware the language isn’t very sweet, not for the prudish. Doctors don’t know what causes lupus, they don’t know if it’s environmental, genetic, hormonal or from your life style. My mother had lupus, I developed lupus after a hysterectomy and I had a party girl life style. So who knows.

 Honestly I have limited formal writing education. I’ve taken some free and paid classes over the years. I’ve done poetry reading and attended writing seminars. I also taught myself the craft with my ongoing subscription to Writers Digest. WD is a magazine that helps writers with tips on writing, finding agent and publishers. I learn a lot from this magazine. I’ve also read many books devoted to style, genres, plot building and character developing. I enjoy reading books on grammar and perfecting my sentence structure. I’ve had a poem published in a magazine many years ago and most recently a short story was published in an on-line magazine “You: Unlimited The Life Changing Magazine”

So here is a woman who has had and is having a wonderful time with what she loves doing best, despite the fight with lupus. Watch out for her writing life and more next week.  🙂

 

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Haiku My Heart: Festival

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Carpe Diem, Challenges, Haiku, Haiku My Heart, Poetry

≈ 62 Comments

Tags

Aurora Borealis, colours, festival, Nature

Done for Recuerda Mi Corazon and also for Carpe Diem Haiku Shuukan prompt, Festival.

The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights have had a number of names throughout history. The Cree call this phenomenon the “Dance of the Spirits”. 

Festival

ribbon of colours

streaks across the endless sky

dance of the spirits

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 
23/05/14)

I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom

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Thursday Tanka: Reds And Violets

22 Thursday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Poetry, Tan Renga

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Fire, love, Passion, peonies, romance, Thursday Tanka

A little tanka to make your day. 🙂 The photo is by kind permission from Gilly. Thanks sis. 🙂

peony

Reds And Violets

among the lush greens

a peek of reds and violets

rendering me mute

this bouquet of a smile, love

pulsates my breathe with fire

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 
(22/05/14)

I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom.

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Heeding Haiku With HA: What is Man?

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by readinpleasure in Challenges, Haiku, Poetry, Tan Renga

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Life, Man, William Blake

Done for Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie – Heeding Haiku with HA. This week, we are to distill William Blake’s poem below and write a haiku or tanka in the same spirit. I don’t know if I made any sense 🙂

William Blake : The Fly

Little fly,
Thy summer’s play
My thoughtless hand
Has brushed away.

Am not I
A fly like thee?
Or art not thou
A man like me?

For I dance
And drink and sing,
Till some blind hand
Shall brush my wing.

If thought is life
And strength and breath,
And the want
Of thought is death,

Then am I
A happy fly,
If I live,
Or if I die.

Mine

what is man

that walks on all fours

we are flies

2

a light swat

then we are no more

puffing wind

3

to live or to die

as wanton boys to mango

we’re squashed with a breath

so I am no less than me

and you are no less than you

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu
21/05/14)

I appreciate your patience with me as I catch up on your blogs. Thanks a million! Shalom.

 

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