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1/11/2015 2 Comments Adventures in RhymingI actually starting writing my musical play Pulani in college in a creative writing class. When I moved back to Guam, I developed it over the years into a musical play. It was produced at the University of Guam theatre in 1989. This past summer, while visiting Dance in Guam, I wrote a grant to the Arts Council to do it again, for a new generation. We got the grant, which will be housed out of the non-profit Island Girl Power in Dededo. It will be a summer program there. All are welcome to participate! (Let me or Dance know, Guam peeps.) Another thing I have always wanted to do, besides produce this again, was to write a children's book of the story of Pulani. I felt I had to do something different to compel kids to want to read it. I would love it to be a graphic novel, but that won't happen unless I can get a comic book artist to partner with me. But what I can do and what I decided to do is make it RHYME! (Once I finish writing this, I will tackle the challenge of the illustrations). I have been on a roll with this project! I think I have a guardian angel, a good fairy sprinkling creative fairy dust on me. To get it started, I went to my book shelf where I have a poetry collection. I pulled this one down, thumbed through it, and found Annabel Lee. It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea That a maiden there llived, whom you may know By the name of Annabel Lee; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. (Edgar Allen Poe) No, my story is not Poe-ish macabre, but I immediately knew it would have a similar rhyme scheme. Once I got started, it got to be only 4 lines per verse, and a ABCB pattern, which means it rhymes on the second and fourth lines. I have had so much fun doing this. It's playing with words and when you figure it out, it's a thrill. Here's how it starts: In an island near Guahan some time ago, A garden was preserving the past. Home to the young girl Pulani And her Guella, a suruhana, the last. Pulani was loving and joyful Playing with creatures along the shore. Dancing with blue-spotted butterflies, Often forgetting her chores. Note on the creative process: As I said in another blog, you need to have a "project," something to express (heard James Brown, Express Yourself today). Accessing other creative art and writing worked for me to get it going. Once I got going, it's been play, like solving a puzzle and telling a story at the same time.
Note on the story: Pulani is about a young girl who is given the task to find an apprentice to teach the knowledge of the suruhana, traditional medicine. It's a journey story, she has companions and has to overcome obstacles.
2 Comments
Carlotta
1/11/2015 04:55:16 pm
I love the way it sounds in rhyme..can't wait to hear/read finished story. Carlotta
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madrid
1/11/2015 04:58:34 pm
i love this story and especially loved being part of the production. i'm so happy new generations will get to enjoy the experience. and the book...so excited! take my money! i want copies now!! ♡
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AuthorDiane Aoki is a writer who explores other modes of creativity as her intuition leads her. Archives
December 2020
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