Monthly Archives: July 2022

Maria Clara (A Loop Poetry)

Maria Clara (A Loop Poetry)

you are the woman they used to call Maria Clara
Maria Clara the symbol of purity and innocence
innocence further described by Rizal as a pure soul
soul that is of a sheltered  Filipina woman.

woman, who does not value material things
things bestowed upon her by admirers
admirers seeking to capture her heart
heart that she promised to remain pure.

pure and demure that’s what you are
are you just now a product of forgotten history?
history twisted and fabricated by some and by many
many who who have nothing but evil intentions.

intentions after intentions; ambitions after ambitions
ambitions that destroyed the pure heart
heart of a Filipina woman called Maria Clara
Maria Clara, oh, Maria Clara where are you now?

Note:

👉María Clara, whose full name is María Clara de los Santos, is the mestiza heroine in Noli Me Tángere, a novel by José Rizal, the national hero of the Republic of the Philippines. Her name and character has since become a byword in Filipino culture.

👉José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national hero of the Philippines.

Over at d’Verse Grace asked us to write a loop poetry.

Loop is a poetry form created by Hellon. There are no restrictions on the number of stanzas nor on the syllable count for each line. In each stanza, the last word of the first line becomes the first word of line two, last word of line 2 becomes the first word of line 3, last word of line 3 becomes the first word of line 4. This is followed for each stanza. The rhyme scheme is abcb.

Variations:

1. Stanzas, writers choice on the number, no rhyming, the last word, first word scheme is maintained.

2. One long stanza, no limit on number of lines, no rhyming scheme, the last word, first word scheme is maintained.

3. Couplets mixed with 4 line stanzas, the last word, first word scheme is maintained in the stanzas. It can also be used in the couplets. Rhyme scheme is ab, cc, defg, hh, ii, jklm, nn, oo.

https://dversepoets.com/2022/07/28/poetry-form-loop-poetry/

👉SAVE THE DATE: 15th August, 2022 “It Ain’t Winning If Without You” releasing worldwide.

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt

i was a child of lies and compromises
i was a child of  disputes and pretenses
they say i was doomed from the start
broken before even i become whole.

i was a child of maybe’s and differences
i was a child of what if’s and controversies
they say i was a disaster in the making
condemned even before born.

they say it made me stronger
they say it made me braver
but i was a child
i don’t need to be strong
i don’t need to be brave.

a child i was
i need to  have a playground
i need to be in a safe haven
the womb was not even my haven.

it didn’t matter though
even if i didn’t have a playground
even it i didn’t have a safe haven
for true enough i am stonger, braver.

but if there is any a great woman that i am
is gravely afraid of that is the completely
abandoned and forsaken child version of me
in need of a playground, in need of a safe haven.

damn! finding haven
is the hardest scavenger hunt.

A single line prompt for this week by Reena:

“The only ghost that scares is a past version of you.”

https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2022/07/28/reenas-xploration-challenge-241/

Mornings

Mornings

mornings are bright
i could wrap you with
candied-coated embraces
over sunshine kisses
with a cup of half-emptied coffee
while you are caressing
my face gently in loving
circling motion.

how long has it been?

i can’t tell
but i remember.

This week, Mish over at d’Verse challenged us to compose a Quadrille poem using the word Wrap

This is my first submission to d’Verse after over a year i guess.

https://dversepoets.com/2022/07/25/quadrille-155/

👉AUGUST 15, 2022 -save the date “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” releasing worldwide in all platforms.

Again

Again

i thought i’m healed from all the wounds of my bruised days
but today i was reminded that only scars heal; wounds don’t; they never will
and you know what’s funny? you reminded me of them one by one,  every pain, every trauma
it takes one great love to ease down my brokenness
sadly though, that same great love cuts the same wound deeper, more painful
now i’m left waiting to heal my own
again.

👉my 7th Poetry book, “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” releasing 15th August, worldwide on all platforms and in all formats.

👉This is my response to A. J.’s prompt guidelines

• Write a poem of no more than 12 lines;

• It must include the word “waiting”

W3 Prompt #13: Wea’ve Written Weekly

https://skepticskaddish.com/2022/07/27/w3-prompt-13-weave-written-weekly/

I Do

Here is my whimsical take on this week’s poetry challenge by Eugi (Moon-washed weekly challenge)

I am using the word prompt “dramatic”…to say…

I Do

i just wanna say, “i do”
i don’t need a grand hair updo
or a stunning glam team
that would make me look like a queen.

i just wanna say, “i do”
i don’t need a dramatic dress though
or an awe-inspiring long trail veil
that would make me look like a character from a folktale.

i just wanna say “i do”
even if it would be just me and you
for i don’t need an ensemble of people, i don’t know
or a magnificent gymnasium venue.

i just wanna say “i do”
no need for a melodramatic
full symphony entrance
the ’80s hit love song would do
sang or played on a piano.

i just wanna say “i do”
with you and you alone, i do
so baby, tell me will i wait in blue
in anticipation with glee?

‘cos i just wanna say “i do, i do”
and let the whole world melt
with my vow of undying love for you.

Moon-washed Weekly Challenge- Dramatic – July 26, 2022

Life River

“will this life river still run as smoothly as it used to,
or will it die fast after your departure?”

all the storms there just hit me the hardest
all the sunshine of the morning was taken abruptly away from me
all the grief in the world was laid perfectly down upon me
no amount of rainbow-colored sky could brighten up this day.

the storm just flooded the river of my heart with despair
my once vibrant reflection has now turned into a brutally distorted zombie
my once lively colors have now turned gray with sorrow
no amount of positive thoughts could make me want for tomorrow.

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2022/07/25/what-do-you-see-144-july-252022/

Featured (Ipoh Echo)

🙏💕 “‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say.” —Alice Walker

💕🙏THANK YOU, MY DEAR FRIENDS AND POETS, FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT.

💕🙏 THANK YOU, MY WORDPRESS FAMILY

👉it’s always an honor to be featured by Ipoh Echo. Ipoh Echo is a community-based newspaper established with the sole aim of providing a platform for the residents of Ipoh.

👉my publishing journey started in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, in 2019. My first online and Print feature was with Ipoh Echo, and for that, I am and will forever be grateful to its Editorial Staff, especially to Tan Mei Kuan for writing my feature stories since 2019.

👉 thank you so much, Ipoh!!

👉 the forewords for my 7th Poetry Book, “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” releasing 15th August 2022, were written by amazing and intelligent poets, educators, and a television executive.

👉 it will also feature poems of my poet friends and budding poets; I personally hand-picked.

👉 will be announcing significant details of the book soon.

👉 meanwhile, head over to Ipoh Echo to read the full feature story

Ipoh-based Amazon Bestselling Author To Release 7th Poetry Book This August

The Fight

The Fight

i forgive the stars
for not shining the brightest
at nights when i needed a little
spark of light outside my bed
when my world is at its darkest.

i forgive the rainbow
for not showing up
the day storm took away
my strength, my hope, my dreams
when my world is crumbling down.

i forgive the sun
for forgetting to rise
the morning my soul was broken
by night’s traumatic dreams
and false promises of a better morning
when my world is at a complete halt.

and i forgive myself
for not taking on
the fight anymore.

P. S.

When I saw Reena’s Photo Collage Prompt, I immediately thought of the many battles I fought. The kind of fight seemed to be an endless battle, and I wondered if it was time to just stop. Just stop fighting.

Maybe. Or maybe not.

If ever I do, it doesn’t mean I’m done. It doesn’t mean I’m giving up. Maybe, just maybe, I need to gather more strength again. And come back stronger, better, wiser.

https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/reenas-xploration-challenge-240/

Two Poems: One Star & One World

One Star

i beg you, my love, to
look at the sky tonight
sure we see the same light
that one lonely star from afar.

how astounding it is
as it shines brightly despite
the struggle to fight
the blinding lights around.

that, my dear, is how i love you
from where i am for no amount
of oceans and seas apart could make
me love you less than you deserve.

how did this happen i continue to ask
i struggle to understand the ocean
of doubts in our hearts, but i sure
miss you like hell, truly yours, my dear.

One World

it’s perfectly alright
to see the world
as an astounding
place to live despite
the chaos and the discord
the war and the conflict
the global warming and hunger
for when all these are over
we have but one world to live
the earth where God made for us
to tend and to manage.

Eugi’s Weekly Prompt – Astounding – July 19, 2022