Rev.

Isidoro Dino, a Bikol –Based writer, is a prolific writer who was cited as Poet Laureate by the United Poets
International. In 1941, he produced a book entitled My Lyre, which contains 101 poems. The following are three of his
short lyric poems which are included in the Bikol literary works cited in Realubit’s book, Bikols of the Philippines, in 1983.

Grief Joy

Grief id a piercing thorn Sweet Joy!

That wounds the human heart Tis soothing balm
A germ that eats the life away That heals life-tearing wounds
Of man Inflicted by the deadly sword
Of grief

Death of the Just

Death isn’t mere turning to dust

Men into which return they must,
Nor taking rest beneath the sod;
But one’s return to his own God
To reign with him and with the blest
And take one’s eternal rest.

Examining and responding to the texts

1. Which of the three poems uses metaphors? What are the metaphors used?
2. Which poems explores the topic by mentioning what it is and what it isn’t? Is this technique effective? Why or
why not
3. In “Grief,” what image does a piercing thorn evoke?
4. In the first line of “Joy,” why is joy describe as “sweet?” what does this mean

Noting and Appreciating Literary Craftsmanship

a. One of the poems makes use of rhyme at the end of the lines. List the rhyming words and indicate the rhyme
scheme or the pattern of arrangement of the rhymes.
b. The three poems are actually poetic definitions of the concepts mentioned in their titles. Unlike scientific
definition, poetic definition uses figurative language and cites metaphorical images to show what the item may
be compared to.

Complete the chart below to show the comparisons made between the concept and the object and where the
similarity between the items lies. The first item is done to serve an example to you.

Term defined Item to which it is compared What is true to the items compared
a. Grief Piercing thorn Both can cause wounds but with
grief, what is wounded in one’s heart.
Deadly sword Both can cause wounds that will lead
to one’s death.
Germ Both can make a person slowly waste
away.
b. Joy

c. Death