Poems

 

I'M GOING HOME

(c. 2015)

 

I'm going home. Again. This is the last place

To discuss over dinner how, one morning,

Your sister killed your father’s favorite duck

By tapping the poor devil lightly on the head

With a broomstick. It’s not that I’m not amused

At how shocked your sister was when the devil

Went into a violent spasm at so gentle a tap—

She said it was gentle, so it must have been

Really gentle (otherwise, she isn’t your sister).

The thing is, this place lacks the comfort

Our respective homes could provide: a table,

Decent lighting, cups of coffee, and a meal

To whet our appetite—a roast duck, for example.

So I must go home. Again. But if truth be told,

I wouldn’t mind two pence if we stay here

For a little more time. How about forever?

But no, we can’t. You have your father’s ducks

To look after, right? One is probably missing

By now, and you have to find out where it is.

We always have to find out where the ducks go

When they’re gone. Like happiness. So dear,

There’s just no escaping it: we gotta go home.

We gotta conduct search-and-rescue operations

To retrieve our missing ducks. Separately.

I hope yours will fare better than mine had. Ω




WELCOME

(c.2015)


‘Welcome’ is a very curious word.

It turns up insolently all the time

Like it doesn’t have anything else to do.

And you can’t do anything about it

The same way you can’t do anything

About the fact that you are alive

Except to die. Inevitable. Absurd.

“Welcome to Urdaneta, Mabuhay!”

“Welcome, don’t mention it!”

You see, it’s almost as meaningless

As watching Final Destination 10

For the 10th time, and you can tell

That a character is going to die

When the background music changes.

Except nobody screams at seeing

A “Welcome Home!” sign at the door.

Although you can never really tell

With the others. I guess the only time

 ‘Welcome’ truly means something

Other than that you’re home at last

Or that you are being well-mannered

Is when it drops from your own lips

And falls on the ear of a beloved

Who is only trying to be friendly

And grateful for a favor given. Ω

 



UWIAN NA

(c.2015)

 

buhol-buhol

kung umungol

ang mga palaka.

 

di naglilikat

sa pagsiyap

ang mga kuliglig.

 

nagpupumilit

ang paglangitngit

ng mga punong kawayan.

 

lumalagos

ang mga haplos

ng hanging malamig.

 

tumila na ang ulan.

dumaratal na ang gabi.

oras na nang pag-uwi.

 

kaya etong si Elena

bumalikwas sa putikan—

pinulot ang bag at damit

 

habang tumatangis

nang buong pait.Ω




JUETENG IN VAIN

(c. 2010)


ang pagmamahal

at ang pagiging minamahal

ay parang dalawang numero sa jueteng

na mahirap tamaan.


hinintay mong ilang buwan

pinuhunanan ng puso't isipan

pero sa bandang huli

nang sa wakas tumama'y

di mo natayaan. Ω




The Valedictorian

(c. 2010)

 

she stands on stage behind the podium,

glancing down at the sea of gawking faces.

she must have been brilliant

 

and beautiful that afternoon they’ve all gone

dumb. but it is only for a moment, and soon

the crowd explodes into applause. She stays

 

where she is standing a bit longer

and ponders: isn’t it a good thing to be

bright and to have everything? but she knows

 

the answer more than she thinks she does.

‘cause there she is on stage, behind the podium,

showered with praises, admired, but 

 

alone. W




EVEREST

(c. 2006)


my baby is an Everest;

the summit is her love.

stands amongst creations' best--

descended from above.


i envy him who's reached her clouds:

Garduce of her heart!

i seem him standing tall and proud;

my miseries start.


and so i'll watch her from afar

before i turn to go.

i'll keep inside my wounds and scars

my tears will kiss the snow. Ω




HIT AND RUN

(c. 2006)


love's a hit and run

kills you worse than gun

breaks your limbs and head

leaves you bleeding--dead!


the criminal is gone

she has business to be done

alas, she is out of sight--

an ordinary night! Ω




HOLY COW!

(c. 2005)


Pinuputakte

ng mga buwitre 

ang gobyerno.


Binababoy 

ng mga buwaya

ang sistema.


Inaahas

ng mga aso 

ang kasarinlan.


Inaanay ang estado...

Inuuod ang lipunan...


Buti pa sa mga Bumbay,

isang hayop lang

ang 'di kinakatay.


Bakit 'di tayo gumaya?

Halina at tayo'y maki--


baka! Ω





NADULAS

(c. 2005)


Nadulas ako 

sa pasilyo

kanina.


Natusok ako

ng tingin

at ngiti niya.


Salamat sa Diyos--

kaygandang

alaala.


Nadulas ako--

Naamin kong

mahal ko siya. Ω




PASOK

(c. 2005)


Malakas ang ulan

sa labas ng bahay ninyo.


Malamig ang hangin

at kumukulog.


Pwede bang pumasok?

(Hindi mo ba naririnig ang katok

at tinig ko?)


Miserable ang bukas

sa labas ng buhay mo.


Mapait ang mangarap

at walang direksyon.


Maaari bang pumasok?

(Hindi mo ba naririnig ang tibok

ng puso ko?)Ω





WHEN WILL I DIE

(c. 2003)


I want to know

When I will die

What end for me

Ahead doth lie


I want to see

As soon as now

Where it will be

and when and how


What time of day

It will befall

Will I be awake 

To see it all


Will it be cruel

Or kind to me

These thoughts, they steal

My sanity


I cannot wait

I cannot run

Is this I see

A fucking gun?


I'm sick of waiting

Guessing games I hate

I'll shape my future!

I'll shape my fate! Ω








 

 

 

 

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