Sunday, October 09, 2016

1974



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

44 comments:

Jae Rose said...

What a wonderful exchange - often the micro things mean the most ;)

J C said...

This is an awesome review, and a wonderful exchange. Thank you for sharing this peace and beauty in my morning.

Diane Mayr said...

Sounds like a wonderful collection with so much having relevance to people all over the world. I especially was moved by "fresh lilies."

Sanaa Rizvi said...

Such a fabulous review here, Gillena :D I enjoyed reading this so much ❤️
Happy Sunday to you gorgeous ❤️


Lots of love,
Sanaa

Unknown said...

You never ever fail to amaze me so much talent, so much beauty, Oh you world, dear Gillena, love always

scotthastiepoet said...

Delightful - so much of life's beauty captured so effortlessly here... Added real sparkle to my Sunday, Gillena -
Thank You Scottie xxx

brudberg said...

I do love your selection of Celestine's haiku... we have crossed paths many times, and it's an amazing exchange you have done.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I most love "Afriku". Sounds like a gorgeous collection, Gillena.

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping by Jae

much love...

Lea said...

Gillena, it is lovely to see the words of our haiku lapping into our lives, crossing cultures and continents... thank you for these "bright glimpses of Ghana" and your love of art and haiku. XO

Mary said...

Such a variety of haiku you have shared today. I think my favorite one is of raindrops ticking out the days until Easter!...but then again I like the taste of Valentine's Day! Smiles.

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped by Diane

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks Sanaa

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping by Lorraine

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping by Scott

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped in Bjorn

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped in Sherry

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped by Lea

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping in Mary

much love...

Old Egg said...

That was a feast wasn't is? I even had an session with the gospel singers too!

Truedessa said...

This was a lovely collection of poems. I enjoyed the whole post. Thanks for the ray of light.

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped by Robin

Much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thank you for dropping by Truedessa

Much love...

kaykuala said...

It is such a wonderful thing to hear of a collaboration. The poetry world is all the richer as a result. It will touch a nerve to beg a finality of two minds. Great gillena!

Hank

BLOGitse said...

You haikus prove it: less is more....

Reading Pleasure said...

Saying thank you is not enough my dear friend. But it is all I can say, from the bottom of my heart. God bless you.

Gillena Cox said...

Blogsite, the haiku in the review all are from Celestine's book, happy you dropped by

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Celestine; Your book 'Haiku Rhapsodies' was a delight to read and i'm happy you are pleased with my review. Hope your buying public increases

much love...

Wendy Bourke said...

An awesome post - for so many reasons ... not the least of which is the mesmerizing haiku that is showcased.

Magyar said...

__ As always, little needs to be written in complement here, your written thought collections laud themselves. _m

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

This was such a beautiful read!

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped in Wendy

MUCH LOVE...

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you enjoyed the haiku showcased from Celestine's Haiku Rhapsodies , Magyar

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping in Rosemary

much love...

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

How wonderful to be exchanging books! Great delights come from far away and nestle in the heart...

Julian said...

Well I must say I so enjoyed reading here today, and to collaborate and exchange can be such creative fun.

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping by MMT

Much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping by Julian

Much love...

vanderloost said...

Good review

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping in Vanderloost

much love...

Adelaide said...

Thanks for the review. The haiku by Celestine are beautiful.

Adelaide

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for dropping in Adelaide

much love...

rebecca said...

i am deeply touched-the idea of sharing "the smallest words" linking all our haiku hearts together! thank you both for sharing each others books, and singing your gorgeous haiku songs.
feeling the love-and very grateful!
xo

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped in Rebecca, thanks for being a great hostess at Recuerda de Corazon

much love...