Dance with me across the sea,
stunning island I’ll take thee.
Reign as grand queen over all,
mild hand over big and small.
Author notes
The Tanaga is a type of short Filipino poem, consisting of four lines with seven syllables each with the same rhyme at the end of each line --- that is to say a 7-7-7-7 Syllabic verse, with an AAAA rhyme scheme as in this example:
In the Tagalog original, using archaic orthography:
"Catitibay ca tolos
sacaling datnang agos!
aco’I momonting lomot
sa iyo,I popolopot."
The Modern Tanaga, still uses the 7777 syllable count, but rhymes range from dual rhyme forms: AABB, ABAB, ABBA; to freestyle forms such as AAAB, BAAA, or ABCD. Tanagas do not have titles traditionally because the Tanaga should speak for itself. However, moderns can opt to give them titles.
In a list
A contest entry
- Tanaga by second-born.
900 points, ended January 16, 10 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Form Poetry --- II by rinzurajan.
700 points, ended November 1, 55 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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wow...thats short sweet and a very different form i learnt...
thanks a ton for introducing me to the tanaga form...
Good luck
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wow! congrats on bronze, sis!
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very romantic...and very sincere...thank you for sharing this piece!!!
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