Category: Poetry

lights

Poetry by | December 2, 2012

everything is still
the sun takes forever
giving the passing cars
a chance to stir the room
and my imagination
with their lights
i turn away
escaping yet failing
seeing the yesterdays
i look to my right
and there you are
sleeping beside me
i look away
and there you are
making your way to the bathroom
i sit up
and there you are
smiling at me from some time ago
i close my eyes
and i feel your lips touch mine
i open my eyes
everything is still
the sun takes forever
giving the passing cars
a chance to stir the room
and my imagination
with their lights

—
Davao born and raised, ex-architecture student at Ateneo de Davao University, currently out of school yet again.

Istoryahi Ko

Poetry by | November 18, 2012

maayo mu istorya si Ma’am uy
purbidang paminaw nako

“the annulment cannot be processed
when the spouse is not in trial
before the court of the land.”

unsa daw to? pastilan jud murag tinuod man
gilansangan ang iyang mga pulong
sa katahum sa iyang power point
de colores kaayo, naa pay gauntol-untol na bata
napuno ug drawing sa mga nindot nga
panang linya
paadto didto
paari diri
simang sa wala
tul-id sa tuo
katoohan jud ay

Continue reading Istoryahi Ko

Pagmumura ng babaeng hindi marunong gumawa ng tula

Poetry by | November 11, 2012

Anak ng tupa.
Nagbabasa ako ng kanilang mga tula
at wala akong magawa
kung hindi ang humanga
sa indak ng mga salitang
lumilikha ng paraiso dito sa lupa.

Wala akong ganyang kakayahan.
Ni Katiting. Ni Daplis.
Ang alam ko lang ay magbasa
at humanga
at magbasa
at magmukhang kawawa.

Paano ba kasi nila
binuburda ang mga titik
upang makabuo ng tula
sa langit?
Saan ba kasi nila
kinukuha
ang indayog at kulay ng
kanilang salita?

Anak ng tupa.
Pagmumura lang ang aking magagawa.
Wala akong kakayahan.
Ubos na rin ang tinta ng aking mumurahing
bolpen.
Higit sa lahat
wala akong mahagilap
na totoo sa akin

Walang pag-ibig
Walang Ligaya
Walang Luha.
Ang tanging totoo lang
ay ang tulang kinatha ng iba
at hinding-hindi ko magagawa.

Anak ng tupa.

—
Si Djamyla ay apat na taong nag-aral sa Ateneo de Davao University, mahilig magbasa ng mga tula ngunit hindi (raw) marunong gumawa.

Sa likod ng pulang lipstick

Poetry by | November 11, 2012

Dapit hapon ay sumapit na
Oras na para magpaganda.
Kolorete ay nakahanda na at
Ilang oras na lang palabas ay mag sismula na.
Sa likod ng pulang lipstick
Akala ng iba sya’y masaya
Ngunit sa kanyang pag-iisa luha ang pumapalibot sa kanya.
Sa paningin ng madla buhay pag-ibig nya ay masaya
Di alam na puso niya’y nagdurusa’t nangungulila
Sa harap nila siya ay ayos lang
Lingid sa kanilang kaalaman siya’y pagod na pagod na
Sa likod ng pulang Lipstick
Pinipilit nyang maging masaya
Umaasang sa paglipas ng panahon
Sugat sa puso ay maghihilom na

—
Si Ayessa ay isang gradweyt ng University of Mindanao sa kursong Hotel and Restaurant Management at nagtatrabaho ngayon sa isang BPO sa Davao City.

Sparklers

Poetry by | October 28, 2012

It started with a spark
That ignited the excitement –
I was inflamed by what I held
As we celebrated the moment
Our flames finally flickered
In unison.
But our light was dying
Our sparklers
Have been cindered into ashes –
And the ashes
into nothing.

—
Karen Kae Dicdican is currently enrolled in Ateneo de Davao University and is a fellow of the recently concluded 2012 Davao Writers Workshop.

Moving Van

Poetry by | October 21, 2012

No, child.
We cannot take Thina, Daimhin, and Muti with us.
They’re too big.
Just put on your Sunday’s best
and tie your hair into pigtails,
so you can resemble your dolls.
That way, you’re bringing them with you.
No, child.
We cannot bring your crayons.
Not even your coloring books or drawing pads.
They’re too many.
Just put on your shoes with your favorite colors on it.
That way, you’re treading on rainbows when we leave.
No, child.
We cannot carry your story books.
They’re too heavy.
Just hold this piggy bank while I take the safe box.
Our arms can only bear so much.
That way, we take only what’s necessary.
No, child.
We cannot tote your play tent.
It’s too big and too old.
Just like this house, worn out and hollow.
I promise, we’ll buy a new one.
Where we’re headed sells better tents.
Hurry, child.
I can see our ride in the driveway.
Dear child, why are you crying?
We don’t have time.
What’s that, child?
No, child. I’m sorry.
We cannot wait for Papa.

—
Margaux Denice Garcia, a graduate of BS Education at the Ateneo de Davao University, was a fellow of the 2011 Davao Writers Workshop.

This Cup of Coffee

Poetry by | October 21, 2012

This cup of coffee
is the sadness
of your absence
Steam rising
to perfume
the sleepless void
of your absence
Smooth surface
free from the lies
of milk and honey,
refusing to reflect
memories,
or the sweetness of your smile –
mirroring only the emptiness
of your absence
And because you are gone
I have no one to drink
this coffee with
but a hundred years of solitude.
Even ants do not come
to feast on my crumbles
But even as things
cool down
I grow used
to the flavor of this misery,
soon making this habit
a ritual,
of sipping it in afternoons
Refusing
to sweeten
this bitterness
until I am as empty
as the cup
of black coffee
that is the sadness
of your absence.

—
Karlo Antonio David was a fellow at the 2011 Iyas Creative Writing Workshop, and the Silliman National Writers Workshop which was held in Dumaguete.

Kape

Poetry by | October 14, 2012

Ang umuusok mong init
Ang siyang umakit sa akin
Na ika’y aking tikman.
‘di baleng bibig ko’y mapaso
Mula sa iyong naglalagablab na init,
Malasap ko lang ang taglay mong sarap.
Pero dumaan ang ilang minuto
Napagtanto ko na mas malalasap ko
ang iyong sarap kung init mo’y tama lang,
Kaya mas mainam na hihintayin ko na lang
Ang sandaling pwede ka na.
Sa sandaling ako’y naghintay
Hindi ko namalayan –
Dahan-dahan ka ng lumalamig.
Pero dahil ayokong masayang ka,
pinagtiyagaan na lang kita,
baka sakaling pwede pa?
Ngunit sa aking paglasap,
Sarap mo’y nawala
Mula nang init mo’y naglaho.

—
Armando B. Fenequito, Jr. is studying at the University of Southeastern Philippines, and is currently taking up Literature.