1: You are a multi-talented personality. Would you say a few words about yourself?
I love learning new things, achieving and accomplishing great endeavors in life that will bring great impact to humanity as a whole.
2. What inspired you to be a poet?
I grew up reciting poetry. Since I was young, I am already
Our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal is one of the first poets I admire. He was a multi-talented person too. Besides being an eye doctor, painter, he was a sculptor and a lot more, he was a poet. At a very young age, he had written his first poem.
But my first poetry book collection was of an American poet who inspired me to be a poet. That’s Helen Steiner Rice. I love collecting books, but not poetry books. I never bought any poetry books beside her 2 books which I found being advertised in a magazine I read from my college library. Only recently that I have more poetry books from co-poets I met during Poetry festivals.
Who left an indelible impact on your notional-emotional outpourings?
I WANTED TO SAY… my multi-faceted experiences in life. I just mean,
3. What is your conception of a poem?
The poem is an expression of one’s innermost thoughts, feelings in a very artistic, dramatic, creative way.
And for me, Poetry is for posterity.
4. Which Classical or Romantic poets impressed you more than others?
William Shakespeare of course. He is one if not the most famous classical poets of all time.
5. Do you see any relevance of Facebook poetry in the overall Poetic Scenario?
FB is now the poetry flatform of many poets around the world. With all the outpouring of poems being posted every second, thanks to FB guy. We become celebrity not just poets. As we are now in this era of very advanced technology, techno-savvy people, poets have all the advantages, and why not?
6. How are facebook poems different from other poems beyond this circle?
FB poems are more creative and artistic. It encourages more and more people from all walks of life to be poets too. Some poets are using other social media to post and promote their works.it discourages corrupted minds to speak or comment negative and say bad comments toward the poem and the poets.
After all positive things, feedbacks create a more friendly atmosphere. If you want your poem to be criticized, you can encourage critics to do so.
7. Do you think that facebook poems in general and your poems, in particular, have been properly appreciated?
I hope that readers truly read firstly and savor each poem. I used to read firstly each poem I saw posted on Facebook. I don’t click like if I have not read yet. But due to super outpouring of the post and with hundreds of poetry sites on FB, I could hardly read all. So I couldn’t create any reactions or remarks if I have not read the poem yet… Even if I want to, I do not have all day to dwell on FB.
8. You have gone through the poetic works of globally reputed poets who are writing for different poetic groups belonging to different countries. How do you feel when sharing your views with them?
Oh, I am tremendously in cloud 9 to have met personally and talked especially Dr. NK Sharma, Dr. L Sr Prasad, and other famous poets in FB. They are celebrities in the world of poetry. They are very kind and accommodating that even I am very small in the world of poetry and literature I don’t feel uncomfortable talking to them. On the contrary, I feel very special as they treat me with respect, and with high regard. They are very supportive of me. They want me to grow as a poet and they are always ready to give me advises as I am a person full of inquiries.
9. Would you like to comment on the overall standard of poems of the Indian poets who are writing for facebook groups?
I truly admire the Indian poets. They are very passionate about poetry writing. So many are absolute writing par excellence.
There are some I could hardly grasp or comprehend their meaning. Sometimes I cannot translate it in my language as I couldn’t understand what they are trying to impart.
10. Please share one of your early / latest poems, preferably a shorter one.
Earliest Poems in English and in my own dialect Zambal
MANGOES
The mangoes in Zambales are truly unique
Bearing enormous fruit, it’s aesthetic
It smells and tastes undeniably the sweetest
Meaty fruit, seed tiniest
So yummy! Causing saliva to drip.
Come and have a taste
Of these mangoes of Zambales.
11. Is your poetry subjective? To what extent does it mirror the lives of the underprivileged?
Yes. In every poem I write, the reader can assess and feel the different beliefs, perspectives, opinions, and feelings which the masses could easily relate.
Though I am given a great opportunity and I succeeded in translating into the Filipino language a great legendary story in objective poetry form.
12. We have come to know that you had been to different places to attend Poetry Festivals? How did you feel attending those festivals abroad?
Oh, wonderful and educational. I gained real friends, from virtual friends to real friends in life. It very humbling experience too.
I do not expect much so I will not feel disappointed. So far, my hosts are superb.
Now, I don’t go abroad just to tour around but to participate in International Poetry Fest, and as one of the international guest poets. Isn’t that great? This poetry movement is doing great things for society and humanity as a whole.
13. Please share something about your profession. How do you combine the three – profession, passion & family?
My being a school Director, an entrepreneur, a business consultant, a seaweed farmer and a poet makes me more versatile in life. Whatever I’m doing is my passion. If I don’t like it, I will not engage. As my sons are all grown-ups, they are not a hindrance to me as a poet. Which is why only just recently I can indulge in poetry writing. When they were young, I did not have that time to write. Back then I have so much more in my hands.
My husband is my number one fan as a poet. As a musician himself, he knows to give space to me. And he is so proud of all my little achievements as a poet.
14. What do you prefer as a poet, rhyme or blank verse? Why?
Both. Rhyming poems are good to hear, but sometimes even not rhyme but the way it is being composed is music to my ears then I like too. I am more into free verses but trying to rhyme too. It is good to also discover or create a new style of poems.
For me, short poems are better to relate your message.
Too long becomes boring. My target readers for my poems are the ordinary readers.
I want ordinary readers to understand my poems and uplifts their souls.
15. Ours is an age of experiment. Do you also experiment with your poetry?
Yes, I always want to be unique if possible. But sometimes, we are expected to write an acceptable way.
Someone told me before “only those who write sonnets are being called poets and are acceptable to posts on FB poetry sites.” So, I did not bother to post my compositions until just recently. Look at this…
Can rain wash away some memories?
Memories glued in my consciousness so deep
Deep is the joy and misery it brought to my fragile tender heart
Heart that longs for someone I love
Love is a feeling so wonderful always
Always making us giggle – hearts palpitating
Palpitating too when you are nervous
Nervous when words are not enough
Enough to convey the emotion you cannot contain
Contain in your mind and vocal cord
Cord of happiness tie around your neck
Neck laces of pearls and precious gems
Gems that are rare to find don’t let disappear
Disappear in my thoughts I will not concede
Concede to leave me not and forget our love
Love, love will come to you no matter what.
Copyright: Eden Soriano Trinidad
July 17, 2018
4:47 PM
16. What do you think about the relevancy of our Group’s vision and mission for promoting Peace and humanity?
I ‘m kin to your group’s vision and mission. You are supportive of budding poets. Likewise and once again, let me refer to our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal who once said, “The youth is the hope of our future”. I know budding poets are not only the youth but every newly immerses in the poetry world.
I believe if we are into promoting peace, we must be peaceful ourselves, pro-humanity not just on our lyrics, on our verses. We cannot hide our true character behind our poetry.
Can poets bring any good through their magical and mighty lines?
Why not? Surely. Poems can calm minds and brings out the magic in every person’s heart and mind. Hearts fall in love by just reading mere poems.
Can poetry bring world peace?
Yes, if we poets will “walk our talk”. It can start to touch men and women in every nation. Where we do not have world war for the past 7 decades, yet we have a nation to nation war.
Here’s a poem that is included in an Anthology for World Peace in Mexico.
Serenity
By: Eden Soriano Trinidad
The never-ending call for world peace
And musings in spite of differences
Continue the Call to achieve
This illusive Peace through poets
And Poetries.
Waking up in the noise of traffic jam in most cities
Choking us with endless waiting for vehicles to reach destinies
Muse’s phrasing traffic and noises
Screaming, redrafting traffic jerks and breaks
Busy penciling-in ballads and verses for peace.
But can we truly ever achieve WORLD PEACE? Through Poetry?
A sage once told me, “Yes, we can, if we walk our talk!”.
If the demons in our body will be soothed and calmed by poetry
But if poets only etch their quills, making it doodle in red or black
And posts hundreds of certificates to boast each achieves?
Can we achieve World Peace?
I will preach neither teach!
But I will do outreach!
Through my fancy verses!
Evoking in our hearts to be like a dove,
Offering olive branches
Wiping away traces of dark clouds looming in the dark morning sky
And with the outstretched arms of each branch of trees
Will reach instead of on a clear day a deep blue sky.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2019
17. You are a published Poet. How many anthologies do you have to your credit so far?
I only have 1 anthology book. Symphony of Souls which will be published soon. It contains poems by my few chosen poet friends with my poem Translations in Hindi language and some in Spanish.
My first poetry book EDEN BLOOMS are my poems, and it has a bilingual book translated in Telugu by Dr. Lanka Siva Rama Prasad. I don’t aim to write a lot. My aim is for my EDEN BLOOMS poems to be translated into many different languages. So, it will be able to read by different nationalities.
I take pride to translate in the Filipino language an epic Poetry book of Dr. Lanka Siva Rama Prasad.
Some of the International Anthologies I joined are:
Anthology for World Peace 2019 in Mexico will publish my poems
Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019 – Poems in my language and my dialect
12th Guntur International Anthology 2019 -The Vase
DIFFERENT TRUTHS ANTHOLOGY 2019. A poem and a Short story on “AUTISM AWARENESS”.
1st INTERNATIONAL LITERARY ANTHOLOGY called “KINGS OF SOCIAL CIRCLE, 2019”, a poem, short story and Love letter on the Topic “LOVE”.
ATUNIS GALAXY ANTHOLOGY 2019– Published four (4) of my poems in this beautiful anthology book of different poets and languages around the world
International Anthology, LOVE: MY RELIGION, July 27, 2018 – Three (3) of my compositions was chosen to be part of the Book Launched done in Indian Poetic Confluence, Hyderabad on 30th September 2018
18. How do you manage your profession and passion for poetry at the same time?
I am a very organized person and a multi-task one. I don’t like being unproductive. I don’t want to be idle.
But I don’t have the luxury of time to sit and write anytime I want.
Poetry, I write down anytime a thought, an idea comes to mind. In my notebook or my phone. Before even in a table napkin, paper bags, whatever I am holding on that moment an inspiration comes.
In the evening after I finished my other chores, I will polish it. Which is why I take time writing because I am very occupied.
I know how to remove my stress, boredom. I will write a poem. (haha) So this is how I do it. When I am starting to get bored with what I am doing, I will stop for a while and write anything that comes to my mind. I will browse my FB timeline, read the posts of any poets. If I can’t finish what I am doing, I will not push, I will post and write a line or two. If got inspired all of a sudden, I can finish one poem in an hour.
Whenever I am on the road, between traffic and long hours of sitting I used the time to write poems.
Could you please share your experiences in dance & music?
One is using body language to express the message, the other one is the voice and lyrics.
Oh, I love dancing. But I need a good dancing partner to be able to dance well. I can dance if I want to. But I feel I need more practice to dance well. I dance folk dances, my favorite is dancing with lighted glass on palm and my head.
My father was very strict. He does not want me to dance afraid I’ll get married at a very young age.
I learned not to sway my hips while walking so that I don’t displease my father.
Music? Music is my first passion. Before I lost my golden voice due to laryngitis and thyroid operation. I used to sing beautifully since I was a kid. In choir, solo, wedding ceremonies, musical drama. I used to be the lead vocalist of our church band. I am much known to have a good singing voice than a poet. But now, I cannot sing the way I used to sing.
19. What impresses you most about our group and why?
The Octet Master is the first and foremost that impressed me. He is one of the authorities in writing poems. He has the qualifications to have a poetry site, conduct poem contest as well and as an award-giving body.
I requested him to be my FB friend. And I also chat with him and he is very friendly to me. I love his poems. He knew it. This is why when I met him at the 12th Guntur festival 2019, I was overwhelmed. I have to hug him.
20. What would be your valuable input or piece of advice to the budding poets?
Let them be poets if this will help people to gain their self -esteem, confidence and, self-worth. If it will help enhance their skills in writing and discover more knowledge, experiences, and turn them to be a good and better human being.
Let them be poets if poetry will help them achieve their dreams, and contribute in the world calls for World Peace, harmony, unity among humans.
Don’t just aim for fame and sales of your books.
See what poetry did to me.
Never did I think or plan that I will be receiving an outpouring felicitation. And I am being invited to many international events.
I am not doing poetry to gain fame and collect certificates. No. I am not after that. But I get a sense of accomplishment in my life in becoming a poet. I also gain thousands of friends around the world, which is much more fulfilling for me.
Eden Soriano Trinidad
November 1, 2019
Philippines