Poetry Place Collected Poems

Meeting Fate Tangaga

Meeting Fate Tangaa

when we met, I met my fate
Sparks flew between us on date
two months later became my mate
She was truly my soulmate



The Tanaga is a Filipino verse form that was originally composed in Tagolog, which to my ear is one of the more musical of languages. (Kumusta ka? Mabuti salam at) The form dates back to the 16th century and has an oral tradition. This old folk form had a resurgence of popularity in the 20th century, died down and resurfaced again mid 21st century. The poems are not titled. Originally it was a compact poem, contained in 4 lines, each is emotionally charged and asks a question that begs an answer.

1. a tetrastich, a poem in 4 lines. However, modern poets have modified it to longer works in a stanzaic pattern of any number of quatrains.
2. syllabic, 7-7-7-7 syllables per line.
3. rhymed, originally monorhymed aaaa. Modern Tanagas also use aaaa bbbb etc., or aabb ccdd etc or abba cddc etc or any combination rhyme can be used.
4. asks a question seeking an answer
5. composed with the liberal use of metaphor.
untitled. But in this poetic world we kind of have to title our poems for identity's sake.


https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/2191-philippines-ambahanawit-tanaga/#tana...