#SoCS June 24/17 – “rain/rein/reign”

Rattle that lock and lose those chains
Don’t let them take over the reins
Get out of that dark forest
Don’t want it to be the bleakest
Force your way into the light
Don’t give up easily the fight
Beneath the waterfalls such force
And within us we’ve got resource
Marvellous sound the falling water
We won’t know until we’ve entered
Rattling but so soothing
All the positive force it brings
Think a little and send us the rain
We’ve got the power to reign
Rattle that lock and lose those chains
Don’t let them take over the reins

For: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS June 24/17

#SoCS June 3/17 – “whether/weather”

Whether the weather is lovely
Sunny or not we’re out cycling
To say thanks for what life can bring
We are so happy to be free
We sing a song we all belong
Climb a mountain or swim in sea
Thanks for the food we love cooking
Whether the weather is lovely

So glad we have this family
We may be afar but still cling
Support each one no need asking
When we’re together life is glee
Don’t get us wrong, we are strong
Challenges, we face life bravely
Count our blessing, life is a zing
So glad we have this family*

(c) ladyleemanila 2017

*
The Octain, full name Octain Refrain, is a form of poetry developed by English poet Luke Prater in December 2010.

It comprises eight lines as two tercets and a couplet, either as octosyllables (counting eight syllables per line), or as iambic tetrameter, whichever is preferable. Trochaic tetrameter also acceptable. The latter yields a more propulsive rhythm, as opposed to iambs, which lilt.

As the name suggests, the first line is a refrain, repeated as the last (some variation of refrain acceptable). Rhyme-scheme as follows –

A-b-b
a-c/c-a
b-A

A = refrain line. c/c refers to line five having midline (internal) rhyme (e.g. here/sneer), which is different to the a- and b-rhymes. The midline rhyme does not have to fall exactly in the middle of the line, in fact it can be more effective and subtle, depending on context, to have it fall earlier or later.

The High Octain is simply a double Octain, but as one poem – the refrains are the same, a- and b- rhymes are the same, but actual words are different, and the c/c line with the internal rhyme can optionally be rhymed in the second instance. There is no restriction on the level of repetition, but in most cases the stipulated refrain A is enough; this may even feel too repetitive and need varying. As a general guideline, changing up to four syllables of the eight still retains enough to feel like the refrain. The end word must remain the same.

The structure of the High Octain is one single after another with a break in between; alternatively, it can be written as two blocks of eight lines:

A-b-b-a-c/c-a-b-A
A-b-b-a-c/c-a-b-A [or d/d instead of c/c]

It is also possible to write a piece consisting of a string of single Octains (the rhymes of which would not usually correspond).

For: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS June 3/17, Weekend Writing Prompt #5 – Gratitude

#SoCS May 27/17 – “smell”

When the wicked witch visited
What a sight, the smell was so acrid
It was dark, eerie and she levitated
Full of wrinkles, her teeth were crooked
That dreadful creature held her tarot cards
And she was giving them like some rewards
Her cloak full of blood like she had been to a plague
A fleshy abdominal limb of a caterpillar’s proleg
She seduced me with a penny and gave me a kiss
She curtsied like I was some sort of a princess
“Make a wish,” she said but I was dumbstruck
I was drenched with sweat, all of these playing havoc
I ran to my room, got my gun and said “please go away!”
“I know you meant well but I don’t need any soothsay”
She left, I danced with elation when she was gone
She wasn’t expecting that and became withdrawn
I prayed that she won’t visit me again
Such a weird experience then

For: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS May 27/17

#SoCS May 20/17 – “all or nothing”

All or nothing, if I can’t have all of you
Then I’ll have nothing at all
We met, we kissed and made promises
We were on top of the world
No one could reach us
Like being with the stars
Or the seventh heaven
On top of the highest mountain
Ah, that was heaven!
But then out of the blue
You were gone and left me alone
I didn’t want to carry on
Like there was no air to breathe
No sunshine, no breeze, nothing
It went on like that until I realised
I’ve got to live, I’ve got to move on
Slowly, with the help of time, I’m me again
I’m strong, I could do it and you don’t deserve me

 

For: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS May 20/17

We tend to smile in the exact same language

#SoCS May 13/17- “language”

smiling of eyes
sincere and pure emotion
the eyes never lie

when someone smiled at me
it pierced through bad things of life
all was well again

a ray of sunshine
a smile is so contagious
you pass it on

the presence of heart
sharing a smile is a gift
it lights up the world

For: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS May 13/17

#SoCS Apr. 29/17 – “yard”

I love our 3-door apartment. I think we moved there when I was three and stayed until I left for Europe. Our cousins lived in the first door and we’re in the third. The back yard connected us all, so we went back and forth through it. That was also where we did our laundry and hanged our clothes. There were 4 cousins and 4 of us siblings who were always together. Playing, talking and listening to music. Arguing, fighting and being friends again.

That was also the time when we used to have phone friends. In those days, there was only one phone between 2 families. That was tough! We took turns and somehow a system and a schedule was followed.

We started having parties. Any excuse for a party, we would have one. We used one house for food, drinks and entertaining. We removed all the furniture in the second house – that’s our disco house! We set up some strobe lights, disco lights and loud music and we partied all evening.

We lived in a busy street. It wasn’t the main road for cars and jeepneys but we could hear them all. From sweltering morning – traffic was starting to build up in Dapitan. The noise of cars, taxis, motorcycles, vans and jeepneys beeping and honking, children going to school and adults to work, street vendors selling taho (soya), barbeque or peanuts. That was a normal hectic day in Dapitan. I always have fond memories of it.

 

For: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Apr. 29/17

#SoCS Apr. 8/17 – “give/given/giving”

Is it the end of life as we know it?
When perversity wins and we accept?
When equality loses and we bow?
And the king of the throne is such a twit?

The response was somewhat a tat for tit
Make the most of it or see how it goes
Frustrating perhaps but give it a chance
We’re all in it together, so don’t quit

We let it happen, we have to admit
Let’s not lose hope, we have to keep trying
There’s always light at the end of tunnel
In the end, it’s all for our benefit

Give me the key to your heart
I can crawl to you but don’t thwart
So I can crack the code and open it
Until every bit of the starlit and sunlit
Before I collapse from splintered life
Until we meet again in our afterlife
Escaping reality and flying like a bird
Turning to a clay, that must be awkward
In the open space where I can breathe
But not like the grey ocean that seethe
And step on the shoes that were just right
I know whatever I do, eventually will be alright
Feeling the love within and through my bones
Each step I take is a positive milestone
Creating the tapestry or quilt of my life
The crows eat the grain, that’s wildlife
Hand down from one generation to another
And if we share the love, that’s even greater

For: #SoCS Apr. 8/17, April PAD Challenge: Day 7