I STARTED the call for my Pink Poetry workshop in November.
I gave the prompts early so I could begin with my critiques and evaluation by December 1.
I don’t really know why I bothered.
But your see, I like the challenge of political poems.
And I wanted a few people to journey with me.
***
Political poems are tricky.
How do you even elevate them from cliches and sloganeering?
But then again, here’s my take: Poetry first; politics follows, if at all.
Between politics and poetry, choose poetry!
And so, I dare with the alliteration— Pink Poetry: Propaganda, Protest, and Philippine Politics with The PSN.
So now, you know.
***
And we proceed with…
Lesson 3:
Ipakita sa concretong imahen ang gusto mong iparating.
Think like an emoji.
May emoji for feeling sad, meron din for LMAO—no words, just images that we understand.
Imagery is your unique way of seeing and saying things. (See Lesson 2.)
But specificity and particularity make your poems stand out.
Ano ang pinagkaiba ng lugaw mo sa lugaw ni Leni?
***
There is a world of difference between ‘sardinas’ (and we all think of de lata), and Ligo.
Meron ding subtle difference o pinagkaiba ang Ligo sa 555.
Sino kaya ang mas may pera—ang pumapapak ng Ligo o nag-iimbak ng 555?
***
#ThePSN secret: I research the name of things, and study their connotations.
I can just say pokpok or prostitution, pero iba ang bigat/dating if I mention the pabukol boys of TikTok, or if I drop some AlterPh vidjakol references.
I can afford pornsites, pero iba ang dating if I also know PornHub.
***
Your turn: Write a poem about a specific neighbor (or person you know) who is doing specific things to support Leni.
Consider painting a portrait-in-words of her/him.
Write about what she/he does, but don’t forget to give us unforgettable details about her/him that separates her/him from other Leni supporters.
***
BALUT, BALOTA, KAYO RIYAN!
ni Peter Solis Nery
May sisiw na namamatay sa balut, at
Sa balota, may pag-asang nakikitil
Kung ang magbabalut ay nabibili’t
Nasisisilaw sa pera ng kampanya.
Ang magbabalut ay mamamatay
Na magbabalut; at ang kandidato niyang
Namamakyaw ng boto’t balut ay magnanakaw
Muli sa kaban ng bayan para muli
Ay may pambili ng balota sa susunod pang
Mga botohan; walang pagbabago sa rota
Ng magbabalut habang kumakapal naman
Ang pitaka’t mukha ng kandidatong
Mahilig sa mga magbabalut, mga pokpok
At mga patay-gutom na pumapagting
Ang tainga sa malulutong na mga kaluskos
Ng perang inimprinta talaga para sa eleksyon.
Para sa iilan pang piraso ng perang papel
Ipagbibili rin ng magbabalut ang kanyang
Mga itlog—balut, penoy, bayag, basag
Na dignidad; ipagbibili pati ang kaluluwa ng
Kanyang anak, asawa, ina, at Inang Bayan.
Sa balut at nabibiling balota, may mga bagay
Na namamatay; at ang pinakamasaklap sa
Mga ito ay ang Pag-asa.
***
The good thing about social media is how word travels fast.
Even the illiterates who do not read the newspaper have time for soc med.
And so, I use the platform to the max as I engage people online.
Thus, the virtual workshop.
Thus, my strong online presence on Facebook.
***
And since I consider Facebook a publication, I can actually see immediately the response to my work, even if it is poetry.
And I’m happy that my poems are “liked” even if they are political.
Some people react politically, of course.
But there are those who compliment me on my clever play with words.
I value the latter more.
It’s testament to my power as a poet: That I’m able to amaze people even if I do protest, propaganda, or even political poetry. (To be continued, or not…)/PN
