Category: Poetry

Playground

Poetry by | December 6, 2009

I was there again,
In the river where we used to play with my friends,
The water from the cave beside it was still clear,
But the river looked different.
I thought something strange had changed.
For the last years it was still playable,
We had even spent time soaking our bodies in it.
But now floating on it were crumpled toiletries,
empty beaten cans,
and rotten skins of coconut and pomelo.
From the bridge already rotten,
Naked children jumped off, just like we used to.
The splashing sound of water reached me,
But it doesn’t feel cool anymore.
I shuddered at the thought
of the water pinching my skin.
I woke up from my sleep
And took off my headphone,
Wishing I had a better dream.

Continue reading Playground

Panaad

Poetry by | December 6, 2009

Panaad kanako
nga gaksun ko nimo sa hugot
sa mga buktong luwas ako
diin makabatyag kalinaw
ug makalimtan ang tanan.

Panaad kanako
nga sagupon ko nimo
ug padayunon sa gambalay
sa imong hunahuna
dayon sa kasingkasing
lahos sa imong kalag.

Panaad kanako
nga subayan ko nimo
sa dalan sa way sukod
ug samang kalipay
diin mawagtang ang
handumanan sa kagahapon
sa paghulat ug pagmahay.

Ayaw tuod ko pakyasa
diin kaniadto napakyas ko
kay ako nakahukom na
nga dugmukon ang talikala
sa akong kalibog
nga nagpitul sa akong
kagawasan.

Karon ako manaad usab
nga panggaon
ug amumahon ka sa labaw –
butang nga wa nako
nabuhat kaniya.

Dili ko mabasol
ang mga rosas nga
gibalibad ni Alyssa
nga maoy nagtukmod
kanako sa kahimtang
kung ang pinitik mao
nang imong gugma.

Alang kanila
dili man kini angay
apan maangay ra kini.
Salig lang kanako
ug diha usab kanimo
ug sa atong mga panaad

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Science Fiction

Poetry by | November 22, 2009

I wish to live with you on a planet
at the edge of the universe. Earthly
houses, their pestilence of weed and gnome
have tired me. I wish to uproot
myself from them as quickly as I would mute
the screens of this black and white world
of Di Caprio and Winslet. Titanic
towers and princesses – the same entrapment,
the same frame, the graven
images we are meant to idolize.
I wish to live with you on a planet
at the edge of the universe. Where we constellate
the zodiac of our fates
and the geography of our feet.
And the Sun? The Sun will be an alien,
a distant star we shall point out one night
and say: It took billions of years for that light
to reach us. The Sun must be dead by now.
I wish to live with you on a planet
at the edge of the universe.
And there, where strange is now home
I can finally say to you this, this, this:
Only in your hands, stellar yet familiar, light
hands will I dissolve
and die.

Continue reading Science Fiction

Pagpadu’ng sa Jolo (Sakay sa Gamay’ng Eroplano)

Poetry by | November 15, 2009

Layo ang pamalandong sa mata
Samtang naghuwat sa airport sa Zamboanga

Karga ang bug-at nga bag
Puno ug bisti ug mga pulong sa asawa nga mga tambag

Ang camera, computer ug mineral water,
Daghang papel, gisuksok sa pikas bag nga di-zipper

Hantud nanawag na ang laki’ng taga Seair
Boarding na ang eroplanong 19-seater

Dayun sa su’od, sa gamay’ng bintanang palingin dayun modungaw
Ug bisan sa kaigang, maminsar pag-usab sa katuyuan ug laraw

Mahunong lang sa pag-andar ug pagtuyok sa makabungog nga tapiraw
Arun molupad sa padul’ngang gibantuga’ng kulba’g kuyaw.

Continue reading Pagpadu’ng sa Jolo (Sakay sa Gamay’ng Eroplano)

Gardening by Accident

Poetry by | November 15, 2009

for Nanette

I wish I could tell you now
that you were right—
after two years
the pineapple head you had thrown
in the backyard has grown
and in fact, the strange
bromeliad is now the throne
of a lovely little piña,
still magenta in the base,
but already wearing a crown.
It competes with the thorns
and constant flowering
of the pink euphorbia beside it.
Also, the golden bamboo
you planted in the clay pot
to keep it portable
has broken through and proudly
taken root, right beside
the bougainvillea that had threatened
to die when the carpenter
chopped it down
to a stump.
It now bursts madly
into fuchsia revenge.
You have always known
it would all come to this,
didn’t you?
My wilderness of a garden
is profuse with paradoxes
and I grow lush
with a hundred eyes.

Continue reading Gardening by Accident

When you die I will bury you

Poetry by | November 1, 2009

When you die I will bury you
I will have trees murdered
And have their corpses mutilated
To make a casket for yours
That is all

When you die I will bury you
I and our relatives
will be busy
Preparing your wake
Serving your guests
with coffee and biscuits
Presiding the bingo
Spitting out the prayers
That is all

When you die I will bury you
I will weep a tear
Say a good word
Express regret
And express sorrow
That is all

When you die I will bury you
That is all

Continue reading When you die I will bury you

You Inside of Me

Poetry by | November 1, 2009

The alluring taste of sweet kisses
that sends impulses through my skin.
The warm breath
whispering into my ear.
Those velvety hands
caressing me all over.
Your heavenly tongue
that lingers in my body.
Yes, I want you inside of me.

Enticing lips,
biting teeth,
intense kisses,
hearts racing
heating gush of blood
driving me into insanity.
The tingling sensation
Of each others touch
Tethering into an indulgent embrace
Pacing with desire
Until both scream in blissful sensuality
Yes, you inside of me.

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Pagpanghinguto

Poetry by | October 25, 2009

Gilaksi ni nanay ang usa ka panid sa kalendaryo
Nahuman na ba gud diay ang bulan sa Pebrero?
Dungan sa iyang sitsit mao ang mapugsanong sinyas
“Duol ra kadiyot ug pungko dinhi sa tsinelas.”

Iyang gibuklad sa salog ang gilaksing papel
Samtang ako miyaka duol sa iyang tiil
Gibadbad niya ang lastikong bugkos sa akong buhok
Gitaktak niya ang sulud dayon ako gipaduko

Huma’g kahig-kahig nangahulog ang mga kuto
Daw mga nasakpang kawatang nagtapok!
Gidalian dayon namog pamusa
Usa pa man sa ulo mobalik ug tugpa

Makapanlimbawot ang ilang balhiboong lawas
Gaitom lang ang agi sa mga gagmayng Hudas!
Ang kanhing puting likod sa kalendaryo
Nahimong usa ka langsang menteryo

Nagkatag ang dugo
dugo sa kuto?

o dugo nako?

Ah,basta ang importante hayahay na akong paminaw
Gikumot na ni nanay ang kalendaryong hugaw
Kuyog ang panghinaot nga ‘di na ko kutohon pa
Aron wa nay mahadlok nakong motapad ug makigdula