Su lukës ta i nagayun
Apiya di ta galiliyag
Apiya di ta pakaulalëng
Na da lëkita a ungangën.
Namag su kabamaluy sa lëkita
Uway na niyapan a mailay ko sëka
Mana aku manuk a di pun bamitas
Muna pan sa wata a di mataw mëdtas.
Saguna na pëdtindëg ta sa hadapan nu Tuhan
Manguda su mga pamikilan
Bagibi si dalëm
Lagid di gaanup su lalan.
Migkalëbug i kapëgkailay ku
Sabap ku mga lu
Pakailing sa pulangi sa Pikit
a di pëndëgka i kabagukit
Banalus–
Bangilay sa gadsabpan.
Taliman ka niya i kulis
Apiya maibped pa su mga lu migis–
Sabap ku simba
Sabap ku agama
Na da manggula.
[Translation in English]
Wedding
Our parents made a decision
even if we’re not into it
even if we can’t
but we don’t have the voice.
Tomorrow is the day
but I just saw you today
a dependent chick that still needs a mother hen
Naive as a child who can’t even cross a street.
Today, we’re standing in front of the Lord
our minds still young
our souls crying
for the path that is unclear.
My vision turned blurry
maybe from tears
like the Pulangi River in Pikit
flowing nonstop
directly–
finding a place to stay.
Accepting it, for this is fate
even if no tears are left
because of hope
because of faith
no decision is ours to make.
Al-jhamier U. Mosib is a young writer from Banisilan, Cotabato. He writes in various languages, including Maguindanaon, English, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Karay-a, and Maranao. He is currently taking AB English Language at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Kabacan, Cotabato.