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An October Surprise: my review of Ghanaian haiku poet Celestine Nudanu's first haiku book - 'Haiku Rhapsodies (verses from Ghana)'.
Celestine, graciously accepted my offer to book swap, so i sent her a copy of my book 'Moments" and in turn she sent me a copy of 'Haiku Rhapsodies (verses from Ghana)'

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'Afriku' opens the rhapsody, with a serenade of rushing streams and weighted sun dances. Our hearts are steered to such samplings from nature's basket - of humanity, hunger and loss, and the mystery of divining.

bamboo flute
rushing stream calms
the savannah

black night
the voodoo priest
shivers at the moon

market day
the stench of unsold wares
fills her stomach

These micro aha moments traverse to wider meanderings, for the inclusion of a Ghana secular in a global essence. Her chapter 'Nature'. Shares such moments as

carnival
masquerades display
autumn

At the chapter 'Haiku My Heart', i paused a little longer in reflection, for the naming of this chapter, made me go back to first meetings with this sister haijin. We met through the linky redirecting of listed blogs at 'Recuerda Mi Corazon' - a Haiku blog hop hosted by Rebecca Brooks.
So it was through blog hopping that i first read the works of sister haijin Celestine Nudanu. But this is side tracking a bit.
Celestine's chapter 'Haiku My Heart' sensitizes us to icons of family, sentimental, and passionate love. Here her 'i-she,' flaunts, who is Celestine.

mother's pride
his bead earrings
adorn me
(for Cyril)

chocolate delight
Valentine's day
on my tongue

And finally in her chapters 'Divine', followed by 'Death'; here she identifies for us glimpses of life in: joy, nature's share of blessings, pain, and stife by a unique perspective, that is Celestine.

raindrops
ticking off the days
to Easter

fresh lilies
the little girl's gift
sways the coffin

These are some of the signposts, planted along the way in Celestine's rhapsody: the high roads, the low roads, the mud tracks, the lighted paths; as she takes our hand and invites us to journey with her, through her heartland Ghana. She presents in her epic wanderings gems of glittering haiku. Taking us along treks of delight, mood swings of tearsdrops, and the pauses for extra pensive mummurings from our heart.
'Haiku Rhapsodies (verses from Ghana) is a definite must read, or you don't know what you are missing.
Thanks Celestine for a journey and a serenade unique to Ghana.
--gillena cox, Oct 2016.


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Sunday Smiles

[smiley from a google search]

Sundays are always special here at Lunch Break. Today is #05 in the series The Sunday Standard Here's wishing you a happy Sunday email me post a COMMENT or leave a link to your blog at the linky below



Blog hopping today at
Poetry Pantry #323


AND

Recuerda Mi Corazon haiku my heart - rhapsody


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my video of choice for today


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stormy rain showers -
the bright glimpses of Ghana
in her crafted words
© gillena cox 2016

Revisit
Sunday Savvy #5
Sunday Lime #5