Sublime Climb to Renewal

Tanaga Tuesday

There is hope for tomorrow
But work to be done today
With some lingering sorrow
Amidst the battlefield fray

And we will make no pretense
Of attitudes quite sublime
While walking thru forest dense
As upward, onward we climb

We do not know the ending
Only that it will be good
While we are slow ascending
Into renewed childhood

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Note: The Tanaga is written in quatrains with seven syllables per line and originally with a rhyme scheme of  a a a a,  b b b b,  c c c c,  but in contemporary composition may be  a b a b,  c d c d,  etc. or any other consistent rhyme scheme.

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Feet: A Tanaga

Will you come to me today?
Will you teach me how to play?
Can we dance in glowing rain?
Will you take away my pain?

Will you bring me to my knees?
Will you do just as you please?
Can we ride the flashing seas?
Will you heal my deep disease?

Will you save me from this heat?
Will you lift me to the sky?
Can you teach me how to fly?
Will you let me kiss your feet?

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Note: The Tanaga is a Filipino stanzaic form that was originally written in Tagalog. The form dates back to the 16th century and has an oral tradition. The poems are (usually) not titled. Each is emotionally charged and asks a question that begs an answer. The Tanaga is:

• stanzaic, written in any number of quatrains.
• syllabic, 7-7-7-7 syllables per line.
• rhymed, originally aaaa bbbb cccc etc., modern Tanagas also use aabb ccdd, etc., or abba cddc, etc., or any combination rhyme can be used.
• composed with the liberal use of metaphor.