THE PARADOX OF UNIVERSITY DEGREE

Most "First Class" and "Second Class Upper" students become Doctors, Engineers, Lecturers.

The "Second Class Lower" students get an MBA and become Administrators and control the "First Class"

The "Third Class" and "Pass" Students enter into Politics and become Governors, Ministers, Senators and control both the 2 categories above.

The Failures and Drop-outs join the underworld (Robbers, Kidnappers, Drug pushers, etc) and control all of the above.

Interestingly true, isn't it?

THE WORMS ARE PATIENT - #NonetPoem

THE WORMS ARE PATIENT

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

The worms are patient with the living

Invincible to the two eyes

Until someone's pronounced dead

Once shrouded and buried

They then manifest

From no where

Munching all

Leaving

None.

(c)2014 Tijjani M. M.

All Rights Reserved

Here is another first for me. 

It is called a NONET POEM. A cascading syllables piece made of nine lines, with the first line having 9 syllables, the second having 8, the third having 7 and so on till the last line having only one syllable.

I observed a baffling phenomenon one afternoon. Among the rams that were sacrificed during an Eid-el-Adha Sallah, one of the skins that is usually tanned and turned to leather for exports was not properly spread out and treated for its preservation. I was thus compelled to move the hides from the positions they were laid and upon turning a small part of the animal skins, I discovered worms, tiny, light-yellowish in color, wriggling about, as if complaining that I was disturbing their peace, their schedule responsibility. 

This sight immediately reminded me of dead human bodies. So long as humans are alive, these tiny, little creatures remain stay aloft of us, are never seen on us, stay away from us in most circumstances. Except of course in extreme cases of negligence of a health condition affecting a human body part or in sicknesses that have them as part of their characteristics.

The pondering, the reflections on this very intriguing, mystifying and unexplainable happenings suddenly stirred my poetic mused and words started pouring in my mind, which I immediately found necessary to capture, thus giving birth to this poem.

And having just discovered a poetic style called NONET, I decided to pen it down in that style to sample my maiden effort with it. The above is what I ended up with.

(c)2014 Tijjani M. M.
All Rights Reserved

ONE (1) DAY CASUAL LEAVE (Shared)

Someone asked his boss for 'one (1) day casual leave' and he got this response.

"So you want a day off? Let's take a look at what you are asking for!

There are 365 days this year.

There are 52 weeks per year in which you already have 2 days off per week, leaving 261 days available for work.

Since you spend 16 hours each day away from work, you have used up 170 days, leaving only 91 days available.

You spend 30 minutes each day on coffee break. That accounts for 23 days each year, leaving only 68 days available.

With a one hour lunch period each day, you have used up another 46 days, leaving only 22 days available for work.

You normally spend 2 days per year on sick leave. This leaves you only 20 days available for work.

We are off for 5 holidays per year, so your available working time is down to 15 days.

We generously give you 14 days vacation per year which leaves only one day available for work and I'll be damned if you're going to take that day off!"

Hahahaha. Based on this, one wonders where we actually get the time we use to do any paid work. And work we still do, often very exhausting work too. Justifying a pay and even bonuses! Amazing, isn't it?

Enjoy your Independence day leave...

WHAT IS POETRY?

Poetry makes you say things, good or bad, you normally wouldn't have said, in response to it.  - Tijjani M. M.

Like

TIJJANI'S QUOTE 12

What a grave irony! Laughing heartily at one's own ignorance. - Tijjani M. M.

TIJJANI'S QUOTE 11

Poetry is man in the universe, lined out word by word in a beautiful or otherwise rhythmic or non-rhythmic stanza(s).- Tijjani M. M.

WHAT IS NOT POETRY?

Nothing.

Poetry is man in the universe, lined out word by word in a beautiful or otherwise rhythmic or non-rhythmic stanza(s).- Tijjani M. M.

SOUL OF ETERNITY, BODY OF A MORTAL

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

An Ode To You SAWS, My Rasool
This Eid-el-Adha 1435A.

It starts from a purposeful instance
Of a known origin, a near distance
A humbled body, free of arrogance
Cleansed of dirt, steep in fragrance.

Sound mind, body of soul substance
It bows as commanded, prostrating
It abstains crescent to crescent, vigil
It gives little, to purify an abundance.

It travels to fulfill an obligation, binding
It submits first, and will do same at last.
Truth breather amidst a star-studded quansar
Light, faster than a blink, tipping off the brink.

Purer nectar fed to floaters, growing, glowing
Moving swifter than a caged thought in escape
Seeking a master that matters in all matter. Him

Not a god, but revered above all known gods.

Regal, walking majestic steps upon eden waters
Darkness perisher, illuminating all cardinal points
The soul of eternity, the body of a mere mortal, man
Who else, but Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam.

Barka Da Sallah Ya Nabiyyul Ummi. RasululLaa

(c)2014 Tijjani M. M.
All Rights Reserved

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*EID-el-ADHA, OUR HAPPY SALLAH DAY - #‎TANKApoem‬

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

It's the 10th Dhul-Hajj
Colours adorn babes, young, old
Smiles charming our hearts
Delicious smells feed the nose
Eid Adha, our ^Sallah Day..

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

*ABD'ALLAH IN HUMBLE ROWS - #‎TankaPoem

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

We stand humble, rows
In Your Reverence. O Allah
Accept our acts. Bless
This day of ours, full of joy.
Shower Mercy, Ya ^Rahman...

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved


KEYS:
*Servants of Allah
^One of 99 Names of Allah - The most Gracious.

*"SALLAH, BIKIN DAYA RANA" - #‎TankaPoem

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

A one day event
Or is it? A week perhaps
^Eid-el-Adha's >Yaum
Rejoice in peace, eat, drink, pray
Laugh as children play.

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved


KEYS:
*Sallah, a one day affair
^Muslim Yearly Festival
>Day

*"DA'DI KASHE NI" - #‎TankaPoem

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

Help! I'm full, rotund
So much delicacies, hmmm.
Fried, boiled, grilled, roasted
^"Dambu", ÷"kilishi", »"farfesou" ¿
O pleasure, mercy, kill me.

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved


KEYS:
*O Pleasure, kill me ~ A Haula idiom
^Dambu - Pounded-string meat
+Kilishi - Dried grilled lean mean
» Farfesou - Pepper-soup
¿ (+1 more syllable, so overlook pls.)

AN ARCHITECT DESIGNS YOU - #‎HaikuPoem

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

Architects have plans
Its source? Imagination
Forms follow function.

(c)2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

A DAY AT ARAFAT - #‎TankaPoem

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

Walking groups, chanting
*"Labbaik-Allah humma lab-
Baik." Dressed in pure whites
Arrive ^Arafat's zenith
In blissful, blessed bloom..

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

1986: SOME OF MY EARLIEST POEMS

 (c)1986

You are one in a million
Just like winning a billion.

*******

I looked you in that your ash brown
eyes and then I know my wandering heart
has finally found home.

*******

The first time I saw you, my heart
stopped beating, I had what Piukas
call a beat-cut. For a good 60 seconds
I could do nothing but stare. Then
slowly the words came out of me softly
"Wao! Woowee! Baby, you're gonna be mine."

*******

Face what you are there for;
and what you are there not for
will face you.

*******

We move in time,
In space
Destiny, here we come.

*******

Water unique
Take a sip.

*******

I am not here to
please or displease;
But if I please you,
grateful I am;
And if ever I displease you,
Ever sorry I am.

(c)tijjani M. M.

EID-el-ADHA 1435AH CELEBRATIONS - #MyFirstFewTANKAPoems

It's Eid-Adha 1435AH Celebrations time.

With this special occasion, please permit me to present to you my first-ever TANKA poems. I've never written one before, but do know it is a close relative to one of my favorite poetic styles, the Haiku.

Where the Haiku is a 3 line poem in a 5-7-5 syllables count, TANKA is 5 line piece in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllables format.

Now, the Theme of course is Eid-Adha Sallah. So I hereby share with you these 5 maiden poems, each a TANKA for your Sallah celebrations.

I've included also KEYs (as translations of words), so non-Arabic, non-Hausa reader can further understand the TANKA pieces better.

Enjoy the read please :) :D >_<

A DAY AT ARAFAT
...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

Walking groups, chanting
*"Labbaik-Allah humma lab-
Baik." Dressed in pure whites
Arrive ^Arafat's zenith
In a blissful, blessed bloom... :)

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

KEYS:
*"We hereby answer thy call O Allah, we hereby answer".
^Name of a mountain in Makkah

**********************************

*EID-el-ADHA, OUR HAPPY SALLAH DAY
...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

It's the 10th Dhul-Hajj
Colours adorn babes, young, old
Smiles charming our hearts
Delicious smells feed the nose
Eid Adha, our ^Sallah Day... :)

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

KEYS:
*Name of one of 2 yearly Islamic festivals (Arabic)
^Hausa name for the same event

**********************************

*ABD'ALLAH IN HUMBLE ROWS
...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

We stand humble, rows
In Your Reverence. O Allah
Accept our acts. Bless
This day of ours, full of joy.
Shower Mercy, Ya Rahman... :)

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

KEYS:
*Servants of Allah
^One of 99 Names of Allah - The most Gracious

**********************************

*"SALLAH BIKIN DAYA RANA"
...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

A one day event
Or is it? A week perhaps
Eid-el-Adha's ^Yaum
Rejoice in peace, eat, drink, pray
Laugh as children play.

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

KEYS:
*Sallah, a one day affair
^Day

**********************************

*"DA'DI KASHE NI"
...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

Help! I'm full, rotund
So much delicacies, hmmm.
Fried, boiled, grilled, roasted
^"Dambu", ÷"kilishi", »"farfesou" ¿
O pleasure, mercy, kill me.

(c) 2014 tijjani m. m.
all rights reserved

KEYS:
*O Pleasure, kill me ~ A Haula idiom
^Dambu - Pounded-string meat
+Kilishi - Dried grilled lean meat
» Farfesou - Pepper-soup
¿ (+1 more syllable, so overlook pls)

HAPPY SALLAH TO ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE...

FOUND POETRY & How To Write Them (Shared)

FOUND POEM

Definition

 

a composition made by combining fragments of such printed material as newspapers, signs, or menus, and rearranging them into the form of a poem.

 

Encyclopedia Article: 
a poem consisting of words found in a nonpoetic context (such as a product label) and usually broken into lines that convey a verse rhythm. Both the term and the concept are modeled on the objet trouve (French: "found object"), an artifact not created as art or a natural object that is held to have aesthetic value when taken out of its context

 

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com

 

 

What Is Found Poetry?

Found poems take existing texts and refashion them, reorder them, and present them as poems. The literary equivalent of a collage, found poetry is often made from newspaper articles, street signs, graffiti, speeches, letters, or even other poems.

A pure found poem consists exclusively of outside texts: the words of the poem remain as they were found, with few additions or omissions. Decisions of form, such as where to break a line, are left to the poet.

Examples of found poems can be seen in the work of Blaise Cendrars, David Antin, and Charles Reznikoff. In his book Testimony, Reznikoff created poetry from law reports, such as this excerpt:

Amelia was just fourteen and out of the orphan asylum; at her
   first job--in the bindery, and yes sir, yes ma’am, oh, so
   anxious to please.
She stood at the table, her blond hair hanging about her
   shoulders, “knocking up” for Mary and Sadie, the stichers
(“knocking up” is counting books and stacking them in piles to
   be taken away).

Many poets have also chosen to incorporate snippets of found texts into larger poems, most significantly Ezra Pound. His Cantos includes letters written by presidents and popes, as well as an array of official documents from governments and banks. The Waste Land, by T. S. Eliot, uses many different texts, including Wagnerian opera, Shakespearian theater, and Greek mythology. Other poets who combined found elements with their poetry are William Carlos Williams, Charles Olson, and Louis Zukofsky.

The found poem achieved prominence in the twentieth-century, sharing many traits with Pop Art, such as Andy Warhol’s soup cans or Marcel Duchamp’s bicycle wheels and urinals. The writer Annie Dillard has said that turning a text into a poem doubles that poem’s context. “The original meaning remains intact," she writes, “but now it swings between two poles.”

Source: http://www.poets.org 

How to Write Found Poetry

This page explains found poetry and how to write a poem using this exciting technique. At the bottom of the page, you'll find links to more creative writing lessons and tips.

How to write a found poem

A found poem uses language from non-poetic contexts and turns it into poetry. Think of a collage -- visual artists take scraps of newspaper, cloth, feathers, bottle caps, and create magic. You can do the same with language and poems.

Writing this type of poetry is a kind of treasure hunt. Search for interesting scraps of language, then put them together in different ways and see what comes out. Putting seemingly unrelated things together can create a kind of chemical spark, leading to surprising results.

You might end up rewriting the poem in the end and taking all the found language out, or you might keep the found scraps of language almost in their original form. Either way, found language is a great way to jolt your imagination.

There are no rules for found poetry, as long as you are careful to respect copyright.

Here are some potential sources of "treasure":

• instruction books, recipes


• horoscopes, fortune cookies


• bulletin boards


• science, math, or social science textbooks


• dictionaries


• graffiti


• pieces of letters, post cards, phone messages, notes you've written for yourself


• grocery lists, lists of all kinds


• spam e-mails (Well, they've got to be good for something. But be careful not to click on any suspicious links!)

Try it! Found poem ideas

Here are some ideas you can use to write your own found poetry:

1) Take parts of instructions for some appliance such as a microwave. Replace some of the words that refer to the appliance, using that words that talk about something else. For example: "Lift the memory carefully. Caution: edges may be sharp..."

Suggested poem topics:

• parenthood


• falling in love


• trying to forget something painful

2) Try writing a love poem that quotes various graffiti from a public restroom. Or one that quotes personal ads in a newspaper. This could be very sad love poem, or a funny one, depending on how you decide to write it.

3) Write a poem called "Possible Side Effects." Use phrases from the instructions for some medication in your house, and combine these with language from another source, such as newspaper headlines, advertisements, a TV guide, or a mail-order catalogue. Put these two very different elements together and see what happens.

Source: http://www.creative-writing-now.com

I DREAM OF A NIGERIA - HAPPY 54TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, NIGERIANS!!!

I DREAM OF A NIGERIA ~ Dedicated To My Country @54 ~
...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"

A garden complete.
Lions, peacocks, butterflies, worms and more.

Florations dance,
In rainbowic hues, harmonized in one entitic light.

East, west, north, south,
Free-passing, floating fragrances unabated.

A survivor, unsurpassed, unequaled.
I dream of her "Blissiniata", O Nigeria.

(c)2014 Tijjani M. M.
All Rights Reserved