Carpe Diem : Jen’s Tanaga

Tags

Frog, Ghana, Proverb, Tanaga

Frog as a Carpe Diem Prompt from Jen, (Ghost Writer) using the Tanaga form.

The Tanaga is an ancient Filipino poem which has been dying out in its native language, Tagalog.  Tanagas are being encouraged in English in an attempt to reach new audiences and keep the form alive. Some sources call the Tanaga a “Filipino Haiku”, but that isn’t quite accurate.  Like an English haiku, the Tanaga counts syllables. Unlike the haiku, the pattern is four lines of 7 syllables each (7-7-7-7). The difference is that the Tanaga rhymes; it has a pattern of AABB.  In addition, ancient Tanagas were handed down through oral history and contain advice for living.

Ghanaian proverbs:

• We only see the length of the frog after its death.

• it is only when the frog is satiated with water that it burps

frog

gurgling sounds from empty pond

heard above the waking dawn

has the frog had its moment

 we plan an all black event

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 

(05/05/14)

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

 

Bastet’s Shadorma Photo Prompt #6: Bring Back Our Girls

Tags

abduction, Boko Haram, Chibok, Elfjie, Nigeria, Shadorma

Done for Mindmiserymenagerie, BastetsShardorma photo prompt

Still experimenting with the  Shardoma and Elfje, this is in honour of the over 230  girls abducted from a school in Chibok, Nigeria, by Islamist militants,  Boko Haram.

(3-5-3-3-7-5)

above roofs

of those black clad eaves

we hear wails

of Rama

piercing through the golden skies

plea to a deaf God?

(1-2-3-4-1)

innocence

mutilated on

alter of brutality

for female breasts to

nurture

(3-5-3-3-7-5)

above sheaths

of dimming sunlight

we flounder

and ponder

the fate of the missing girls

just bring back our gems!

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 

(05/05/14)

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

Haiku Horizons: Ring

Tags

relationship, ring

Done for Haiku Horizons

Ring

through the breeze

he whistles my name

love through time

2

stolen moments

evaporates with his words

ring gathers dust

Copyright © Celestine Nudanu 

(05/05/14)

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