Workshop

Poetry by | August 10, 2008

I sit at the center,
the red metal stool
bearing my weight.
the girl in blue stares
at me with tiger eyes.
I face the other way, dragging
the stool as
it screeches—
my thoughts exactly.
The man in eyeglasses
shouts, “what’s the central image?”
the girl in blue nods,
not once
but twice
as the man hammers
my poems
on the table.
I face them,
carrying
my own weight as
he hurls the sheets
up in the air.
Our eyes witness
my syllables
fall
like the loosened
leaves
of a tree.

Dark Pink Harvest

Poetry by | August 10, 2008

Peering through a picture window
I saw pastel-hued balloons dance in the air,
anchored to chairs built so low
uprooted children are ill-fitted there.
I gaze at you and me standing –
opposite ends of a rainbow:
I am writing history.
You are certain
in this country
there is a treasure of stories to know.
You finally understood why you had to go.
Seeping sambong in a screened porch
embraced by life-filling green
Alone I stare upon your raiment of dark pink torch
more lovely than I can ever imagine.

Ang Ulan ug ang imong Pagbiya

Poetry by | July 20, 2008

Nakahinumdum ka ba sa panganod?
Itom ug nagataliabot,
Halagpad nga gawara-wara sa nasukong langit;
Murag imong pagbiya nga managsugod,
Dili matugkad sa akong pagsabot,
Dili mahangyo sa pulong ug sa hagit.
 
Nakahinumdum ka ba sa kilat?
Hugpong ang iyang mga kamot
Sa pag-igo sa kakahuyan ug kayutaan,
Halangdon sa iyang pagbusikad ug pagpakurat
Murag imong mga kalagot ug kasukong hurot
Sa usa ka kalit ug dili gitaganang katapusan.
 
Continue reading Ang Ulan ug ang imong Pagbiya

Palaw

Poetry by | July 6, 2008

7:00 o’clock
Ligo…
    Ilis…
       Dagan…
Para!
Nccc Uyanguren ROXAS
BAYAD MUNA BAGO BABA
     Liko sa tuo…
          Liko sa wala…
Lugar lang!
Bayad oh? Estudyante!
     Naog…
          natingala…
No ID No Entry
No Class Today!!!

Reality

Poetry by | July 6, 2008

Here is the truth of all truths;
love is a stone on the road
where vultures circle
with a lone cactus on the side.

Yes…

Love is boring.

Kisses become dull
caresses become tiresome
whispers simply become rasping breaths
and shoulders become solid rock.

Love is boring;

Continue reading Reality

Scaffolding

Poetry by | June 29, 2008

Though you are a mature cane,
You are still grass.

How did they mount your
Pliant body

With no ropes to knot you
If sand dunes rather strengthen

Your base node
Loosely you will fall

How long can
Your suntanned body endure

The light weight
Of a ceaseless work.

By now, rootless-

Leafless,

As you are;
No more sap

And soundless breath
To fend

This Artificial
Growth.