EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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SHOTS OF POETRY
(12 QUINTAIN, 6 NONET, 6 RONDEL, 3 TERZA RIMA)
EDITED: LEONELL ECHA EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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TABLE OF CONTENT 12 QUINTAIN
6 NONET
6 RONDEL
3 TERZA RIMA
Copyright © Ebartsng.org 2016 EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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CONTRIBUTORS 1. Joseph Abioye 2. Joseph Olaoluwa 3. Emma Dashe 4. Malvina Patrick 5. Preston Obadan 6. Omolola Onigbinde 7. Nkemjika Christien 8. Haruna Solomon 9. Olajumoke Oke-baatimo 10. Sonia Nwosu 11. Victoria Aliyu 12. Muyideen Ayinla
EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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DEDICATION
To every poet, writer & reader.
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12 Quintain THEME: BIRTHDAYS AND DEATHDAYS
POET: Abioye Joseph Birthdays and death days, like open and close Are like start and end found in poem and prose. Setting us on the path of good living Because we are traders in this market And sometime someday, we will go back home.
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POET: Muyideen Ayinla Like a convict is being reminded of his execution day I need not remind myself of one in silent fear While waiting patiently for the heaven’s ray As the coarse hands of death creeps near, Longing in the guise of birthdays to take me away.
POET: Malvina Patrick On fallow grounds swivel seedlings are sown, Earthly vessels swallowed in time Begotten on papas Arcadian lawn. Debris bury to exit a malign line Of an old age, awaiting a new born.
POET: Joseph Olaoluwa To age is number; to bless life's order Death and Life are opposites; coin flipsides, We always wish to stay young forever, Wishes are mere desires, failing foresights; Joys of being blessed in age lasts longer. EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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POET: Emma Dashe There is always so much joy on birthdays, such that every year it is marked in style. But then, each year still welcomes the death days, all our attempts to forget this fact futile. For alas, they both mark the end of days.
POET: Nkemjika Christien Life gave my nature breathe as my cry came Gradually I grew, counting one to ten Yet life slept on my breathe when time lost fame. I see limbs wrapped in past deeds, forgotten Deeds only eternity would call forth to tame
POET: Victoria Aliyu Beautiful irony of existence; Days tell when you start and end life's journey, Yet, say not birth or day of exit, hence; Let purpose driven days be attorney, Speaking your life's cause at hereafter's fence. EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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POET: Oke-baatimo Olajumoke Year tide, we all extol our existence, Appreciating lifetime which is mortal. Like a wave, he comes with a disturbance. Him; 'Azreal' the chosen one is brutal, Daily ceasing breath for tears with his lance.
POET: Haruna Solomon In sweet night-bed where life's ingrained till dawn, Stealer of breath hides with hands of mo(u)rning, So virgin cries escape the womb it sprung, To descend earth's barn where emptiness live, This mortal ill man's cowry never bought.
POET: Lola Onigbinde Grandpa Ayo died at eighty with smiles He believed the spirit of death a buff He believed the spirit of life cures Born with hiccups, smiles bowed out with a laugh Black veiled spirit with wails whisked him off cliffs! EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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POET: Nwosu Sonia The day I longed became the day I feared The first breath you took was the last I drew Death took you stealing the joy which I cared 1st July, '94, happy birthday Sue The day you died a part of me died too.
POET: Preston Obadan I desire life without her girlfriend A note I nailed as I drew my first breath Clawed through time and chose knowledge for a friend. ‘Don't be fooled’, she said, ‘embrace reality's dirt’. Life's girlfriend is not much of a friend.
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6Nonet THEME: TO A FUTURE LOST POET: Sonia Nwosu Time is running, tails right behind me Collector, here to take her fee Same back and forth, pantomime Alas! I need more time My debts if I may Today repay But this deal Might kill Me
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POET: Haruna Solomon Your future was lost under our brow When we hid vision beneath cloud To glory in memories Of wrinkled histories. You were gone unborn In dreamless snore Now we wake To say Found.
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THEME: UNREQUITED LOVE POET: Abioye Joseph Nothing pains like unrequited love, A hard puzzle you cannot solve. Loving and not being loved back Is being stabbed in the back. Love unrequited Is life unfed. Soul won't grow With no Love.
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POET: Nkemjika Christien I walked on the aisles of your heartbeat Singing melodies paved from my passion And bearing flowers, carved in your name But, alas, your light has slipped Erasing me in its trail As dust and air Draining me, Unwanted Burnt.
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THEME: FORGIVE NOT POET: Joseph Olaoluwa There was a time I loved thee, so sweet, Like the rains and bright beacon glint, Dew fell on our little love deed Sprouting fruits with big yield Love fell out of steam Hate fuelled to brim No great peace, Slays bliss Sweet.
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POET: Olajumoke Oke-baatimo To his equals he was like a friend With nil arrogance at his end. Later on, he dashed our hopes As we were left to grope, Taking our loved ones, Slaying them once. Forgive not And loathe, Fiend.
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6
RONDEL
THEME: A RONDEL FOR STEPHEN KESHI
POET: Haruna Solomon 'Big Boss' of the green and white land Keshi, time has penned in its scroll. With immortal ink not to stroll You gave our Nation pride in hand. Buried in our hearts grave not sand With the words and deeds of your role 'Big Boss' of the green and white land Keshi, time has penned in its scroll EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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With passion for the fatherland Won many a nectar-sweet goal And defend us from defeat hole Your game unites like a strong band 'Big Boss' of the green and white land. POET: Sonia Nwosu A month and a day, you're still gone Africa rejoices! Our pride! There will always be pain inside Husband, father... Stephen live on! 8:30 pm, thoughts undone As you've moved to a better side A month and a day, you're still gone Africa rejoices! Our pride! The world's still spinning, Stephen's Gone! Victorious! Inside and outside! Sands of time, memories reside Achievements, heart with soul, cheer on A month and a day, you're still gone. EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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THEME: A RONDEL FOR MUHAMMAD ALI
POET: Abioye Joseph Your spirit and soul didn't die. It is right here, deep in our hearts. To you Cassius, we duff our hats; for even big Joe could not get a tie. That you float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, reminds us that your spirit and soul didn't die. It is here, deep in our hearts. Staying up like the sun in the sky, made you the 'John' before our 'acts'. Beating people, you learnt the art EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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effortlessly, and that is why your spirit and soul didn't die.
POET: Nkemjika Christien Muhammad walked on thoughts and life He built posterity in strides Sending warm vibes across the tribes From coast to coast, uniting lands Ali did soar o’er dares and strife And conquered life and all its fears Muhammad walked on thoughts and life He built posterity in strides. Just yesterday he dared to dive Into life's pot, selecting binds With which to hold us all as tribes. Today, we come, seeking his drive. Muhammad walked on thoughts and life.
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THEME: A RONDEL FOR ELECHI AMADI
POET: Joseph Olaoluwa The cheetah never sheds its furs. Giants don't depart, they evolve. Your death broke my aorta valve Death never comes in black overalls. Death can't obscure you with its paws Amadi, your sun will evolve. The cheetah never sheds its furs Giants don't depart, they evolve Sleep fond. Let the rain drown your claws Where do lions go and triumph? There are no words, not even morph EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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Amadioha nudge; He calls! The Cheetah never sheds its furs. POET: Oke-baatimo Olajumoke At the toughest time, he was bold Leaving his erstwhile for the war. Just like a patriot to the core, Faying with the armed forces fold. He was here at the time of old, A raw bard whose works are longed for. At the toughest time he was bold, Leaving his erstwhile for the war. Displaced like a slave that was sold, Leaving his erstwhile for the war. But now Amadi is no more. An icon as priceless as gold. At the toughest time he was bold.
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3
TERZA RIMA
THEME: MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
POET: Joseph Olaoluwa Who says birds do not migrate during spring? Refugees don't sleep. Their eyes flap in sleep. Yes! They scout new lands; for new songs to sing. My God! Why can't we just enjoy sound sleep?! Terrorists have ravaged this calm country Made us refugees; ensnared by bombs bleep Ask Paris; thousands have fled their country Just like Birds migrating every season Displaced persons; from country to county. Terrorists are to blame! The Due reason! EB FLIP CHALLENGE / 2nd ANTHOLOGY
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What is our sin? Is it a crime to live? Just forced to migrate; season by season. Pray for Paris; Pray that we do not leave, Pray for all countries: That we do not grieve.
POET: Haruna Solomon Naked! No native fabric, just orphan With scarred emotions as inheritance Dark knowledge! Haunts their memory organ War, race, religion... civil disturbance Are married demons that birth such ill fate Migrants and refugees suffer the dance On hard grounds of blind hope they plant deep gait To grow strength that withstands harm and its dent And to be sent a fearless advocate To be led where true freedom carve its vent Is the yearning desire lined in column? Like sinless masturbation in convent? The quest is but for unknown asylum Solace away from national phylum!
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POET: Nkemjika Christien I have come to seek new life up this plane Worn out but determined to rise yet again Land of my nativity a distant plain Faces walk past me with eyes begging my leave Pain lives in my being as I mourn my past I search for bread but life mocks my growing tree Would I one day see my land? Would fate stall? Thoughts of my nativity will raise me I will stand on this ground despite my fall Glory will again birth my path to joy, home For despite life, I toiled here, gaining place A monument will celebrate my soul Soon I will tell my story of mixed blessings I will say I conquered; new life courts essence.
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CKNOWLEDGEMENT
This contest was not about a show of skill or a display of verbosity and poetic techniques. While we show our creativeness in our good compositions, we remember that having achieved a healthy environment for the competition, we are building ourselves as the learning process never ends. We learn, unlearn, learn, and unlearn over again. This is a thank you from the entire EB team to both the winners and those who got eliminated from the contest. Good work you all did. Keep it up! Thanks. EB
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