BJ’s Shadorma & Beyond – Naani – December 6, 2014

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Welcome once again to BJ’s Shadorma & Beyond!  Thank you to all of you who participated in last week’s challenge – well done!  Let’s celebrate with some fireworks!
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Giacomo Balla. Feu d’Artifice, 1915. WikiArt.

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Well, take my word for it, anyway.  Those are fireworks.
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For this week you have the option to write a shadorma – a non-rhyming six-line poem of 3/5/3/3/7/5 syllables – or a naani.

The naani is a popular form of poetry in India, introduced by Dr. N. Gopi.  There are 4 lines for a total of 20-25 syllables.  (The exact number is up to the poet.)

“Naani” means “an expression of one and all”.  The subject relates to human relations or to current statements.  The naani’s form is compact – but at 25 syllables you have enough room to make a short, powerful statement about current events or about human nature and the human experience.

Here is an example of a “human” naani featured on Shadow Poetry:

Black clouds
In her eyelids
It’s time certainly
To drizzle.

© 2001 Bollimuntha venkata Ramana Rao

Here is an example of a “current statements” naani.  I wrote it back in August 2013 after learning about the death of Delbert Belton.  He was an 88-year-old veteran who survived the Battle of Okinawa in WWII – but died after being robbed and beaten by two teenagers.  Understandably Mr. Belton’s death caused outrage – and was the subject of heavy news coverage.

Whispering bullet
waits seventy years
before felling an oak
with bloody fists.

The form is just long enough to allow you more freedom than a haiku or senryu – but short enough to give your poem some power.

You can write about current events, human nature – or the carnival photo (below) may trigger some thoughts as well.

Pennwood Carnival Popcorn by Jen R for MLMM

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Once you’ve written your post please tag:  BJ’s Shadorma & Beyond and MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie, then put your info onto the Mr. Linky app.  If you ping us back, we’ll be able to read your post ASAP because we will be notified that you’ve written the post (not so with Mr. Linky).

Have fun!
Jen

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