Category: Poetry

Ekphrasis on a Baguio Hilltop

Poetry by | March 18, 2018

Crest a hill in the city of pines just after an evening meal, one with an overview of another incline. It doesn’t matter if the other hill towers over the one you are on, it’s the hillside that matters.

Pick a light, one brighter than most; not the gilded glow of sodium street lights, the ones lining the main roads for traffic, nor their silvery residential counterparts, and definitely not the ones that are in motion, staying either ahead or behind the vehicles carrying them, as they all will fade and wink out, as if the world were trying to forget this part of it, as you soon shall see. Pick one that stands out, like a construction site’s floodlights, or maybe one from a steeple or belfry, one brighter than necessary.

Continue reading Ekphrasis on a Baguio Hilltop

A Portrait of a Lost Love

Poetry by | March 18, 2018

(for my beloved Jason)

In these cornered apartment walls
I drew a
masterpiece
a portrait of
you
painted with the brush of my fingertips
using the colors of whispered love

Your face
a canvass
my fingers brush
the corners of your eyes
pupils like rare blue pearls from Samal
nose as high as Mount Apo
your cheeks and chin
covered by freshly cut bermuda grass
lips as pink as sweet pomelos

my fingers brush
down to your neck that Talomo River envies
to the gentle hill of your Adam’s apple
down to the crevices of your clavicles
shaped like two nipa baskets
that would catch wandering kisses

In these cornered apartment walls
my masterpiece
was lost
what only remains
the imprints of suitcases on the rumpled bedsheets
the twisted bath towels in the shower rack
the unwashed plates and utensils hungrily
gulping the staccato drips from the faucet

my masterpiece
was lost
only love
remains
cracking dry in the palette

—
Glyd Jun Arañes works as a professional linguist at Appen. He was a fellow at the 2010 ADDU Writers Workshop and the 2011 Davao Writers Workshop.

Moon Phases

Poetry by | March 18, 2018

Remind yourself that the moon
Does not need the consent
Of the sun to make
it whole again;
You can be whole again

—
KG Vitualla was born in Panabo City. He is currently taking up Enterprise Management at the University of Southeastern Philippines Tagum Mabini Campus.

Sunday Afternoon

Poetry by | March 18, 2018

Tangled bodies and bed sheets
sweaty from the sweltering heat
limbs refuse to move an inch
waiting for the slightest wind
finding comfort in discomfort
for what it’s worth
then the body clock says get up
and limbs untangle
and she becomes a she
and he becomes a he
and the sheets are now just sheets
drying up
growing cold
from the absence.

—
Krizza Jan D. Ceniza is an AB Mass Communication student from the Ateneo de Davao University.

Kinase

Poetry by | March 4, 2018

             –after Mother Teresa of Kolkata

Kindness                                   is a kinase 
that can turn                               the world 
around with                            one cascade. 
A humble catalyst                   of change, 
you never reap                what you sow.
Give more than what you receive.  
It’s nothing, you say. 
Your random acts are small 
un-flaunted miracles.        Tiny candles 
in a dark room   are welcome. Come and 
try it, you say.                Strike one match 
and watch this                  world becoming 
brighter                                  for everyone.
Kindness is                                     a kinase.
A signal.                                           A spark.

Saksi

Poetry by | November 12, 2017

Sa pagtikang nako sa ang-ang,
Bitbit ang mga libro
Sa akong tuong kamot
Nakita nako ang duha ka taong nagtingkagol
Ang isa naglingkod, nagdungo
Dapit sa ga kipat- kipat nga suga
Ang isa, mingtukod sa lamesa
Ang mga gasigang mata nga mingtutok
Sa iyang kaatbang.

Tamiaw na ang palibot
Alas onse na ang takna
Naghulat na ang palong-palong nga patyon
Apan kaning balaya saba sa kamingaw.

Misinghag ang lalaki
Singhag nga susama sa taong nasakitan
Midepensa sa mga tumo-tumo sa silingan

Tumo- tumo nga dugay rang gakadunggan
Sa iyang kaatbang
Tumo- tumo nga daghan na ang nakasaksi
Nga ang lalaki gakambyada sa lahing babaye

Mitindog and babaye
Mitalikod sa lalaki
Gikan sa akong pwesto nakita ko
Sa tuong bahin sa iyang mata
Nahulog ang mga kasakit.
Dali- dali niya kining gipahiran
Sa pagtuong buta ang saksi
Milingi ang babaye
Sa akong gitindogan
Naghilak nga mingisi siya og miingon
“Yan nangabit imong papa”

Ianna lives in Puerto in Cagayan de Oro City. She is in her 4th year as BS Education major in Capitol University.

Kuhol

Poetry by | November 12, 2017

wa lang mo kabalo
sa akoang kahimtang
buntag udto hapon

padayon sa pagkamang
ning kalibutan
akong gipas-an
higala palihog
ko sa pagtabang

wa lang mo kabalo
unsa akong mga kasakit
sa akong padahik
ilalum sa kainit
usahay akong kaubanan
maligsan, tamakan
kataw-an ug pasipad-an

wa lang mo kabalo
usa lang akong kalipay
sa akong paghinay-hinay
ning gidala-dala kong balay
bisan asa ko muadto
makanto man o baryo
ning akong kalipay
akong poreber
nga gamay’ng balay

“kuhol man ako
sa inyong paningin
hihinga din ako
katulad nyo rin”
daghan diay mi
dinhia sa daplin-daplin
naningkamot, nanginabuhi
sa ginagmay nagpabilin

Jovanie was born in La Union, San Isidro, Davao Oriental. He is BSEd English graduate in Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology, Mati City and currently an English instructor from the said institution.

Lyres and Dolls

Poetry by | October 22, 2017

One long toot and two short toots
The mother blows the whistle
and the rest of the dolls move.
The drums are beaten
and the lyres begin to sound
left, right, left the leather skirts
swoosh, swoosh, swoosh
The dolls dance to the sound
of the lyre
They move smoothly at each
ting of the lyre
But as the lyre changes the
melody the mother commands
the dolls to a different groove
two long toots, and one short toot
the lyre demands their move
and the dolls follows its groove

Si Joyce Duhaylungsod ay nagtuturo ng Panitikan at Sining sa isang Senior High sa lungsod ng Dabaw.