How does it feel-Your last breath?
When you are so close to death?
Whose God do you proclaimeth?
What are the last words you saith?
In that end, Is there still pain?
Is His Voice inside your brain?
Is Sin in your soul a stain?
Is it just loss or a gain?
Will He accept all your Trust?
For your belief is a must
Before you return to dust
To which realm will you be thrust?
Author Notes
The Tanaga is a Filipino stanzaic form that was originally written in Tagalog.
The form dates back to the 16th century and has an oral tradition.
The poems are not titled.
Each is emotionally charged and asks a question that begs an answer.
The Tanaga is:
- stanzaic - written in any number of quatrains.
- syllabic - 7-7-7-7 syllables per line.
- rhymed - originally aaaa bbbb cccc etc. - modern Tanagas also use aabb ccdd etc or abba cddc etc. - or any combination rhyme can be used.
- composed with the liberal use of metaphor.
- untitled.
