rooted

I sat under the shadow of this tree;
and pondered about life –

Where the river of fate will lead me:
to the plateau of abundance, or the
vast sea of mystery; could be
the desert of oblivion.

Then I asked: where I be,
will this old tree where I take refuge
stand forever?

immortal city

There are cities that never die.

And where my weary feet lie I see one.

Once sanctuary to natural wonders: of
towering luscious trees like narra and
acacia. The canopy of which shades
little insects – red fiery ants, bugs, praying
mantis, butterflies of rainbow hues. Where
birds of different feathers nestle. Plants and
flowers scatter. Blooming to color the ground
as canvass painted with pastel. Native.
And appealing. Fresh and refreshing.

When time passes. There are still trees
and shades – now made of metals. Almost
touching the skies. They hide people – dyed
with different traits. Some sweats in their field.
Some trades flesh for life. There are
saints; hypocrites. Indeed, they are colorful.
Above are birds: giants carrying people
to places. Below are similar oversize bugs.
The grounds are flourishing with colorful grass
and vegetation. But the texture and smell,
they differ. Plastics, rubbers, steels, papers.
Stinking like hell. Polluting the world.

This is a city that never dies.

Because it lives without a heart.

a red tulip

My eyes fixed at this wonderful
flora that ever graced this terrain.

Don in crimson dress, inviting,
and beaming with refined beauty.

At times I felt its stare at me.
With the sweetest smile on its face.

But I just could not decipher reality.
Fantasy was toying with emotion.

Then –
a strong instinct to pluck it.

Except I hesitated, was unsure. Afraid.
It might only wilt in my hands.

dream

Pardon my doubt on your
existence, but you pain me
when light opens my eyes.
In verge of despair.
You give false impression –
that I am encased in a
warm embrace. Of a beloved.
Only to realize that illusion.
I shiver in darkness. My bare hands
hugging my body. Cold.
Desolated in the shadows.
At times you affirm this loneliness.
With another loneliness.
Devastating. Please! I am hopeful:
don’t make my day an eternal night
of storms. Shine light in my darkness.
Make me fly when all else are in the sky.

in solitude

Tonight I write a poem for the lonely
for I am one – trapped in a cozy room
where the only light emanates from a
dying lamp; I hear the sound of silence:
it is deafening. But it reminds me I am alive,
for in this unholy hour past midnight, nothing lives
except me. The moon and the stars shine
brightly at the dark sky, they would not confess,
but loneliness overpowers their being. Like me.
As we live distance apart a single touch is
impossible. I want to shout to arouse the stillness
but I recognize the futility, no one will be awaken
except enemies. In this time, I am alone;
my mind though kept wandering, traveling
through time – past, present, future. Yesterday
I had the company of loving beings,
this minute I exist in solitude; will tomorrow
be the same, I ask. No one is certain, but me.
If I persist, paradise is a hand away.
So tonight I end this solitude,
tomorrow I will sow company.

waves

You are great – a part
of a vast ocean enfolding the whole terrain
I will drown if you swallow me, gasping
for breath as my air chamber
slowly crumbles;
the dangerous but wonderful, it is you.
Beauty: the scene of your palisades that churches
become dwarfs:
hue of blue and white intertwined with
splash of green all around. But be not too proud;
you are nothing –
the sun and sky gave you color,
color that nothing compares
and the tectonics dance you in great rhythm
choreographed in harmony.
Be simple, and in eternity
I will see you forever
living in grandeur. Waving.

room 209

Nakadungaw ang aking mga mata sa bintana.
Nagmamasid ng mga taong dumadaan. Sa labas,
may mga estudyante: masasaya, nagkukwentuhan,
nagtatawanan . Ang iba seryoso,
siguro may pagsubok sa klase
may nalimutang basahin; kawawa.
Sa kotse sa kalsada, masid ang
mga propesyonal may kausap sa cellphone
habang nagmamaneho, huwag naman maaksidente.
May mga nagtratrabaho sa kalye,
bantay ang mga panindang nilalako
dyaryo, sigarilyo, pagkain – sarap.
Mabuti pa sila. Nasisilayan ang pagsikat
ng araw, ramdam ang pagpatak ng ulan,
nakakapaglibot kung saan. Malaya.
Habang ako nandito sa loob,
nagmamasid ng buhay sa labas: isang bilanggo
– inosente pero walang magawa
nakatali ang kamay
bilang ang paghinga. Death sentenced:
ilang buwan na lang sabi nila.
Di makalakad ng malayo: nanghihina.
Puso’t katawan naghihirap na. Kaya heto,
nakadungaw lang sa bintana. Nag-aabang ng buhay.
May hinihintay. (Sa Hospital Ward 209)

the poet

That’s him. On the desk. Making himself at ease
on that wooden chair. Sometimes he would roam
around and finds his place of comfort. Then
he’ll try to weave simple scribbles into meanings
that convey thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Struggling –
and forcing all the sweats and blood do the work
of creating imaginations. He smirks,
cries, laughs, smiles, frowns. He thinks about
or confuses himself with several feelings and
thoughts. About how the fish flies in the sea
without drowning, the real highest mountains still
unconquered by the toughest, on the continuous burning
of the sun after being buried in the horizon. Even the joys
and harshest of personal experiences –
how he loves to look at his beloved and wish
she’ll always be protected; certainty of a happy-ever-after
ending though it’s just a dream, and before long
the leaving. And the hope of being together again.
On being alone; companies of friends and the shared
moments. These – . Single words concocted with another,
and another. Soon a masterpiece is built. Oftentimes
only he can understand. But then, it will not stop
there. Words cannot suffice, he knows. And so he keeps
forming the world as he knew it. That’s him. Still writing.

two rivers flowing

Two rivers –
they are dripping,
flowing from her lakes
soon as the weary man
commence the leaving

two rivers –
they are dripping,
but the cause not unfolded
guess: was sorrow
or bliss the sense

two rivers –
they are dripping,
and then it will halt
for now lake is no more;
tomorrow it will fill again.

inosente

Sa isang titik
naisilang ang salita
sumusigaw ng kaisipan
nagtuturo –
iminulat ang mga mata
sa kadiliman ng gabi
upang sa araw
ibaling

at dun lumikha
ng diwa –
makasaysayan,
mayaman
naglilok ng bakas
sa mga taong lumipas
ngunit ngayo'y
tila tinatalikuran

ang siyang simula
nagbadya ng wakas
na kahahantungan ng lahat
maliban na lamang
kung maiganyak ng puso
ang isipan
na bumalik
sa katuturan.

lakaw sa kamatangaan

Ngunyan garadan na an kadaklan na tawo

maglakwatsa kita sa tahaw kan tinampo
istoryahan kita kan mga pangyarari
tungkol sa buhay man o maski sari-sari

Pwede man magkanta maski mayo sa tono
sigurado mayo man makakarisa sato
an nasa paligid, mga anino lang saka ako
asin sa pagdangog ko magayon an boses mo

Sa irarom kan mga bituon kita magbayle pa
todo kembot sabay lukso sa pagkaogma
sobra an sakong namamate ta ika an kaiba
sana man lang ako an iniisip mayo nang iba

Sa bangging ini kakaputan ko an saimong kamot
dai na bubutasan ta ako talagang namomoot
pangadyi ko lang na an puso dai talikudan
sa oras na ining maliwanagon an bulan.

rayuma

Aray! Aray!
nagsabat sa malipot na aga
kasunod pa kaini
makusog na muda
aga-aga madadangog
sa kwarto kan tanda
huli ta an betes
nagkukulog nin tuda.

Langit, lupa, impyerno

Dakulon mga aki sa tinampo kan syudad. Nagraralakaw, nagmumuto-muto, naglilimos. An iba nakabado kan pinakamagayon na panlakaw, an iba man mayong pakiaram sa badong pangharong, mantang an iba muriton sa badong pirang semana na sulot-sulot.

“Yehey, yaun na naman kami sa Naga. Masain na kaya kami na Papa saka Mama igdi. Siguro sa LCC muna, mabakal kami mga bagong kawatan tapos sapatos saka bado…

Gayon kang kawatan na ini. Ipapaara ko na naman ining korokotse ko sa mga kakawat ko. Binakalan pa ako ning magayon na bag saka lapis, notebook, saka papel. Ready na ako magklase, iyo na kaya ni an pinakamagayon na laganan kan mga lapis ko…

Ma, sa McDonalds kita makakan. Gusto ko chicken saka French fries saka spaghetti. Tapos coke saka sundae…

Iyan na lang Pa KungFu Panda an sinehun ta. Magayon yan…

Urulian na. Next week, mabalik na naman kami igdi. Hay, tungka na ako. Matorog na lang ako sa kotse pagpauli mi.”


“Maray pa yan aking lalaki, maogmahon na naman. Kaibahan pa mga magurang nya. Tapos dakulon pa nabakal na mga kawatan saka bado…

Nuarin man kaya ako babakalan kayan ni Mama. Binakal lang sako ining mga baratuhon na bag, mga papel saka lapis. Dai pa ngani ako binakalan crayola, sa sunod na lang daa…

Ma, sa McDo kita kakan… Hmm, sa karinderya na naman. Gusto ko crispy chicken kan McDo bako ni, bako man ni masiram. Dikit lang kakakanon ko…

(singhot) Gusto ko magsine KungFu Panda. Ngunyan na... Araaay, dai ako mapundo hibi, gusto ko magsine. Heeee… (singhot)

Bata-bata man igdi sa bus. Maasuhon, nalulula ako.”


“Gutom na ako… Kuya, pwede po maghagad piso. Dai pa po ako nagkakakan… Ate, pahagad kayan palamig…

Sako na yan manok, dai mo man siguro uubuson... Salamat...

Ano man daw ta pirmi nag-iirigdi ining mga aki. Ano man ginigibo ninda dyan? May mga dara pang dakulang bag na tela na dakol laog. Anu daw kaya yaun dyan?

Wow, may drowing kan cartoons. Iyo siguro ini an pasine dyan. Ano man kaya an nasa laog kani? Siguro arog man sa TV dyan sa tindahan.

Hay! Torog na lang muna ako igdi sa gilid kan tinampo, mamata na lang ako pag makulog na an tulak ko…”

Kun tano paraparareho man lang sinda mga tawo, pero an iba sobrang swerte, an iba man minalas? An iba magayon an kinamulatan, habang an saro dai pa nakakakakan nin masiram na kakanun.

samhod

Lasa
hinakot sa gilid-gild
awot na
pinagtagpi-tagpi kan gakod
sa kapalibutan kan harong
naglilinig

tawo man kaya
magkasararo
mansaen-saen man hale
siguro kinaban
iniistaran
toninong.

sanctuary

Come, enter my haven
let my body shield you from storms
silence will awaken many hearts
the candles will bestow them light.

Come, enter my haven
proceed free as the birds in sky
wait not only the day seventh
come, enter my haven.

Let my body shield you from storms
refresh the weary and dying soul
and misery will be rid off absolutely
come, enter my haven.

Silence will awaken many hearts
inside the faces are laughter and smiles
passion for life is burning within me
come, enter my haven.

The candles will bestow them light
roads ahead are mirror-clear to be
no more blindness in the travelings
come, enter my haven.

Come, enter my haven
let my body shield you from storms
silence will awaken many hearts
the candles will bestow them light.

lifeline

Live life to its fullest
never waste a single moment
bright chances are hastily passing
misfortunes around are just lurking

in the event of uncertainty be strong
expect light after darkness
enjoy every circumstances
but heed the lessons of yesterday

travel today and be merry
for tomorrow's always a stranger.

pagkaaga

Sa pagmata sa bagong aldaw
turaok kan manok an nagsenyas
liwanag kan saldang an masabat,
sa higod nagsisigid an gurang
paghampas kan gihoy sa daga
gayon sa talinga an madadangog,
pwerte man an talsik kan asin
hale sa tuyong natututong
na nililikayan kan nanay,
habang an tatay naman
saro-saro nang pinupukawan
mga aking tuninong sa pagtorog.