Punctuation Philosophies

This is the 13th and last poem for 13b42013 Poetry Series.

Punctuation Philosophies

Ma. Gladys Repollo

Semi-colon, apostrophe, question mark, comma
ellipsis at tuldok. Isiningit man o nasa hulihan,
sila'y naglalahad ng mga kwentong hindi nasusulat
sa papel ng mga salitang humihiyaw, minamalat.

The semi-colon establishes a relationship
between two independent clauses.
Bakit hindi na lang niya sila hayaang
maging two separate sentences?

Itong apostrophe, masyadong possessive.
Kailan pa naging pagmamay-ari
ng salita ang kapwa niya? Meron
naman silang kahulugan kahit nag-iisa.

Ang queston mark nama'y nababalot
ng hiwaga; ikaw mismo'y magtatanong.
Tunay bang ang pangungusap ay nag-uusisa,
o sadyang mahirap lang itong tuldukan?

The comma, however, complicates things.
Maraming idinudugtong na mga ideya,
 isa lang naman ang nais sabihin. Ang buhay,
nagiging compound na, complex pa.

Paborito ng ilan ang ellipsis dahil kapag
idinugtong sa sentence, instant veil of mystery.
Parang question mark, nagpapaasa lang.
Pero siguro, meron lang ding hindi maamin.

Ngayon, talakayin natin ang tuldok.
Isa lang ang trabaho nito: end a statement.
Halimbawa: Hindi na kita mahal.
Simple lang di'ba? No frills whatsoever.
Ayan, nasabi ko na.

Ma. Gladys  Repollo  is a  Bachelor in Secondary Education senior in Araullo University-PHINMA and is the Editor-in-Chief of Viewpoint.  She was inspired by the power of punctuation marks and how they affect the meaning of sentences. She believes that holding back or saying a lot more than required  create the same effect on relationships. This poem is composed as a part of 13b42013  Poetry Series.