Author: AinaBalagtas

I am an essayist, a news correspondent, a poet, a big fan of language and words; an ardent lover of arts and imagination-- I am a writer.
Inspirational · Writing True

Tests

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Courtesy of University of Rochester

Inspired by Emily Dickinson’s The Test

On Scranton or not

Proctored or not—

Don’t cheat.

Don’t miss a question.

Preparation

Is prelude

To beating the examination.

Brokenness,

Emptiness,

Loneliness,

Nothingness,

Indebtedness—

These taxes to one’s character—

Sometimes, to someone,

They seemed inevitable and unbeatable.

But there is a thing of muscle called grit,

Which is synonymous to hard work and perseverance,

Sanity and determination;

Which upend the peeve.

Life—oh what a glorious feat!

Creative · Poetry · Prayer

When this blogger makes it to heaven

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Before I ask God a long list of queries;

After I give Him a big bear hug;

Before I touch His felicitous face;

After I kiss His pleasing palm;

I’d whisper reverently

Your name, your name my friend:

To bless your heart, bless your heart

For blogging and being a blessing

For greater good, greater good.

I bet He knows you, He knows you pal.

But He’d most likely air,

“Alright!

But you’re being redundant daughter.

You kept saying that prayer for your friend.”

Verily, I would answer,

“Forgive me for the anaphora, Father.

I’m too elated for my answered prayer.”

Haiku · Writing True

In the Woods

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Yonder was so dark;

I have no one and nothing

but hope and courage.

Morn finally comes;

Oh, I made it through the night

Thank hope and courage.

No matter how dark,

See, nights are not forever

Morning never fails.

Inspirational

You Can Do Better

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See people in their eyes;

And look beyond

What their eyes can’t show.

Hear what people say;

And listen beyond

What they can’t put into words.

. . . understanding humanity,

. . . forbearing incapability,

. . . considering incompetency.

Dodge judgment.

Duck prejudice.

Eschew bias.

Being a good neighbor is not a joke.

‘T is a noble task

Towards a better you.

Haiku · Writing True

Like a Wind

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Yes, we never met;

But I felt you like a wind—

You said, you did too.

Our dreams receded;

But in my heart are fragments

Of our forever.

Safely placed in here—

Where I can go back and forth,

Cherishing just you.

YouTube/Billie Holiday/I’ll Be Seeing You

Writing True

Knock Knock Koa

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Warmer seas,

Less and less trade winds—

Setting the red carpet for a cat-five storm.

Knock knock koa. . .

Skyscrapers would turn into papers,

And everything else

In crumbs and pieces.

Climate change is a Boho. . .

ignored, belittled, labeled loony,

who’s turning earth

into his work of art

that—no one, no one—

could and would

appreciate.

Writing True

Idleness Kills

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What bores you?

Read.

Run.

Walk.

Talk.

Write.

Draw.

Dance.

Sing.

Cook.

Eat.

Run.

Jump.

Shop.

Learn a new skill.

Meet someone new.

Watch TV.

Listen to radio.

Tend to your garden.

Hike new heights.

Call a friend or a family.

Whatever you want and can do,

Do it!

You’re alive.

You’re meant to do something.

Turn to espresso for the pushing.

Poetry · Writing True

Death Who?

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Updated February 22, 2024, 11:40 HST

Who is death?

Why many is afraid of him?

Is he the boogey boo

Or the big foot whom we frighten ourselves—

As kids—if we don’t sleep at noon?

Who is death?

Why no one can tell where is he from?

Is he a republican or democrat?

What is his ideology?

Election time, shouldn’t we need to know?

Who is death?

Why no one wants to meet him?

Why even the notorious criminals

are shaken to hear his. . . in verdicts and sentencing?

We live avoiding him all our lives, mean.

All I know, when I meet death,

I’d get to see and touch God’s face.