The Owl who dreams


The moon says farewell
as the owl looks at the clouds
covering the open skies

The moon in my palm
disappears as water slips
through my fingers - farewell love

***


La lune fait ses adieux
quand la chouette regarde les nuages
couvrant le ciel ouvert

by ninotaziz
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There is an idiom in Malay, "Bagai punggok rindukan bulan"

It means, Like the Owl who dreams of the moon, and signifies one pining for a love they can never have.

I am beginning to believe that we Asians, because love was once-upon-a-time a secret, often undeclared affair, play havoc with imagination and thus write poetry to express this deep longing and overwhelming feelings that otherwise would simply drown us (long sentences are bad form but here, it was  unavoidable).

We have pantun, ghazal and now sedoka.

This week, Samuel Peralta confirms this once again through his post, The Princess' Poem.

As a poetic form, the sedoka is one of the rarest forms today, not often seen even within its native Japan. And yet, some scholars have contended that one of the greatest poems of the Japanese language is a sedoka – a poem composed as a declaration of love by the Princess Nukata. Read more here

And Kelvin talks about idioms this week. So, here is a Japanese sedoka based on an ancient Malay idiom.

40 comments:

  1. This is beautiful ... the form lends itself well to your emotions, feelings about love.

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    1. Helen dear, as you can see I am back. Is Stafford behaving Downunder? I am sorry I could not join the party.

      Love is always a good place to start for me!

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  2. So beautiful.......you cant go wrong with a moon and an owl in the poem:)I must go check out Sam's post. He is a talented young man.

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    1. Yes, he is Sherry.

      I know, the moon and the owl were made for each other.

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  3. Beautiful work on the form ~ I like the moon/farewell from two different stanzas ~

    Thank you kindly for your visits in my blog/s~

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Grace. Ha ha, I always enjoy my visits to your blogs - it's akin to escapism!

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  4. this is really an awesome melancholic picture you paint here...great visual with the owl, the moon and the water slipping through the hands..

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    1. Hi Claudia, thank you for that. I rather enjoyed the water slipping through the hands, and the reflection of the moon with it.

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  5. magic...the moon slipping through the palm in the second...its very touching...also like the inclusion of the owl...and really nice job on the form...

    i will work on writing a few more love poems...smiles.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Brian. I really love these old forms that Sam introduces. I just wish I had more time to experiment with them.

      I am waiting for those love poems!

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    2. ha. i wrote one today...thanks for the push

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  6. Ninot Ma'am,
    Love can be so elusive and 'slippery'. Yes, ponggok rindukan bulan! Great!

    Hank

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    Replies
    1. You of course saw right through me! Yes, Punggok rindukan bulan.

      Sigh, I miss P Ramlee somehow...

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  7. Beautiful... especially the 2nd tercet!

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  8. Sedoka? And idiom? In one? With French and Malaysian translations? Wow! This is a work of art. "Bagai punggok rindukan bulan"- love it. Beautifully rendered, wonderfully explained, fantastic form, poetic brilliance... sorry I'm gushing. But wow. Great, great job. -Mike

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    1. I am touched that you liked my offering, Mike. We are really shy people, so I am not sure how to react. But thank you. I hope you will drop by again.

      I saw all the poetry on Boston Poetry. And I will surely revisit!

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  9. Replies
    1. Thank you Cosmo! I am glad the French short version has an audience too!

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  10. ...this is lovely Ninot... an emotionally affecting piece of sedoka... i especially like the image you conjure in the second tercet where you mourn for the reflection of the moon over your palm that is slowly fading / sliping... really excellent touches there... smiles...

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    1. Thanks Kelvin. I am glad you liked this. Belatedly, I realized, at the reminder by my dear Sir Hank, this was based on an old Malay idiom too!

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  11. Replies
    1. Thank you Anthony...I haven't been visiting for quite a while. How are you?

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  12. Nino, I love asian forms. New to your blog, and I've fallen hard. Very happy that you are participating. Beautiful contribution.

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    1. I am glad you dropped by and I am so sure, we will be reading each other's poetry more often from now on!

      Thank you.

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  13. The moon in my palm
    disappears as water slips
    through my fingers - farewell love

    Well this is just plain romance at its best. lovely write...

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    Replies
    1. Romance - can't get enough of it. Thank you Andrea. Stay steady...

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  14. Very true depiction of love that we can only imagine to be

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  15. Fabulous, as always.

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  16. Wow..I'm blown away...Poetry- language of love

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  17. excellent piece - you had me right from the title

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    Replies
    1. I am glad, because I always find the title the hardest thing to do...

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  18. Thank you. Had a look at your site - interesting!

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