Previous Story
LITERARY NOOK
Tang Dynasty inspiration on Tinian
This quartet of short poems was inspired by Tang Dynasty poet Liu Zongyuan (771- 819) and the island of Tinian. Liu’s poems were known for “minimum words, maximum message.” Tinian island provided the content.
Rainy Days on Tinian
Rainy days on Tinian make me sleepy
banana trees outside the bedroom window
I wake to musical rain on banana leaves
banana stalks bend toward the house.
Bridge to Saipan
Steep cliffs to the sea form walls
I see light from Saipan in the clouds
if I could split all the cliffs
into a million slabs of rock
I’d build a bridge across the channel.
Typhoon Coming
Southeastern cliffs chungé birds vanish
coconut crab paths broken husks
one boat offshore four poles two men
checking lines typhoon on the way.
Mayor of Naftan Rock *I’e’ Party
Reef fish caught with speargun talaya pole
mafuti, parrot, tiao, trigger, tataga, yan i’e’
grilled with tangantangan fire on the beach
I’m candidate for Mayor of Naftan Rock
I’E’ Party – I easily escape being caught.
(I’e’ pronounced ee are also called tarakitu. They are baby or immature skipjack.)
Joey ‘Pepe Batnon’ Connolly (Special to the Saipan Tribune)
Joey aka Pepe Batbon is a retired educator who taught in the CNMI, NOLA, and LVNV. He is a sonnet practitioner who enjoys stargazing.
