Poetry by Chuck Lozano | March 31, 2013
I wish I could write
novels
and carve my
name
into the eye
of the censor
I would liquefy
themes, plots
into pools of
vitriol
turn dialogue
into a stalemate
of devices
literary and historical
populate
a heresy
as rancid
as truth
and leave
as a wake
in the river
of others’ immortality
my own
lengthy eulogy
Chuck is born and raised in Davao. He is a graduate of ADDU and now works for a TV station here.
Poetry by Alex John Abando III | March 24, 2013
I
try to imitate
a beautiful budding rose
from nature
using a piece of paper
with my bare hands.
I
form mountains and valleys
like a god.
I
paint ripples
on a canvass
breaking the stillness,
collapsing into entropy.
I
have created beauty.
—
Alex John is a 3rd year student of Chemical Engineering in Ateneo de Davao University.
Poetry by Gino Dolorzo | March 24, 2013
comfort
comes not in the form of sweat
nor in movement
but in the creases
of pillows and sheets
white as lies
where we carve
our secret reverie;
no dosage of metaphor
when it comes to you
and the heat
of your lips
pressing
against mine
and the brace
of your body
warm as your skin
and your breath
and the touch
of your fingers
on the course
of my spine
and the need
to confess
and plead guilty
in between
our legs
entwined.
—
Gino is a graduate of Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan. He was fellow of the 2010 Davao Writers Workshop.
Poetry by Darylle Rubino | March 17, 2013
You are untouched inside my thoughts;
intangible — only a feeling, but a feeling
better than touch: a picture
definite and concrete
in a room where your name
is a color painted on walls.
Staying in, a fool morphs
into pages of poetry
from all that he sees.
—
Darylle Rubino is a graduate of B.A. English and majored in Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines Mindanao.
Poetry by Reymond Pepito | March 17, 2013
This is not a love poem.
This is a poem
for the paracetamols you gave me
in Misamis when I was sick,
for the smiles you’ve shown me
at the Jacinto office when I was weak,
for the efforts of cheering me up
while I was making my impossible thesis,
and for that long warm embrace
that I will miss.
This is a poem
for the days of story telling
about yourself and the people you cherish,
for the sleepless nights
where we shared bitter secrets,
and for the demanding weeks
where we studied and wrote articles.
This is a poem
for the short simple kind words
you’ve sent me over the phone,
for the exchange of irritating
yet funny online tweets
every midnight,
and for the old-fashioned pet names
we call each other.
This is a poem
for the awkward moments,
for last night’s silence in the car
as we passed Matina Crossing,
for the dry seasons spent
at the McDonald’s.
This is a poem
for the memories
which have taught me
to keep myself safe,
away from the troubles
of friendship’s weakness.
Seriously,
this is not a love poem.
—
Reymond Pepito is a Social Media Strategist at Hijo Resources Corp. He was a fellow of the 2010 Davao Writers Workshop.
Poetry by Leonelleson Regalado Montejo | March 10, 2013
Tumutula ang isang manunulat
sapagkat may mga salitang
‘di kayang ibakat sa papel.
Mga salitang ‘di kayang ibigkas,
mga damdaming nagpupumiglas
ngunit ayaw ipadama,
ayaw ipaunawa.
Tumutula ang isang tao dahil
ibig niyang ipahiwatig
sa salita ng makata
ang ‘di kayang sabihin ng karaniwang wika.
Mga salitang tanging para sa tula lamang,
mga salitang ubod ng tamis.
Tumutula tayo
sa pait ng ligaya,
sa ligaya ng kamatayan,
at sa kamatayan ng ligaya.
Tumutula ako dahil ako ay umiibig,
umiibig sa aking bayan,
sa kapwa kong kabataan,
sa kapayapaan at tunay na kalayaan.
Umiibig ako sa ‘yo.
Oo, ikaw at wala ng iba.
Tumutula ako para sa mga bayani.
Mga bayaning wala sa perang papel
at sa perang tanso,
mga bayaning ‘di kilala,
sa mga bayaning kumonista,
at sa mga bayaning may burgis na pagkilala.
Tumutula ako
dahil gusto kong tumula,
dahil kailangang tumula,
dahil may nagbabasa ng tula,
dahil may umiibig sa tula,
dahil may pag-ibig sa tula.
Hinahayaan ng tulang lumipad ang makata,
magtampisaw sa dilim
at magbahagi ng liwanag.
Nirerespeto ng tula ang salita,
bagama’t dinudumihan nito ang malinis na wika.
Ito’y tulad ng kaning mainit,
at softdrink na malamig,
Siya ay si Biloy na kulot at Eman na buhay.
Yosing red at pulang mandirigma.
Ang tula’y kawangis ng M-16.
Nakamamatay. Nagbibigay-buhay.
Nakakabitin.
—
Si Leonelleson, kilala din bilang Oni, ay nagtratrabaho bilang isang Customer Care Specialist. Siya ay nanggaling sa Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.
Poetry by Djamyla Millona | March 3, 2013
Teka muna.
Hanggang kailan pa ba ang pagkukunwari?
Nagsuot na ako ng mahabang saya’t
tinigilan na ang pagmemeyk-ap sa sarili.
Wala pa rin eh.
Dedma ang da moves ko sa’yo.
Alam mo bang liberated ako?
Unconventional? Feminist?
Sinadya ko lang talagang iumpog ang ulo ko
nang magka-amnesia ako for a while
at magbagong-anyo
upang umakma ako sa
standard mo.
Wa epek. Ayoko na ring maghabol.
Iuuntog ko na lang uli ang sarili ko
doon sa dingding ng aking kwarto.
Bukas, babalik na ang alaala ko.
Ako na mismo ang manliligaw sa’yo.
—
Si Djamyla ay nagtapos ng kolehiyo sa unibersidad ng Ateneo de Davao at nagtratrabaho ngayon sa DILG. Dalawa sa mga paboritong niyang paksang isulat ay tungkol sa peminismo at literatura.
Poetry by Glyd Jun Arañes | February 24, 2013
Oh mon copain, how I miss you!
I search for monay bread at the bakery,
But I only notice the baguettes
smiling at me.
And I hope you are riding the rame de métro
As I ride the jeepney to Matina.
Bonjour, you say,
And I reply good evening,
As we share chicken adobo and un verre de café
over a Skype call.
You said you got lost at le Louvre?
I wonder would you discover a secret trail to Davao,
going to my house?
You said you cried my name at the top
of the Eiffel Tower?
Then tomorrow I shall climb the peak of Mt. Apo
to hear your message.
Bonne nuit, you say,
As you vanish from the screen.
But those two words shall be the lullabies
I hear on the pillow,
until I walk barefoot in France and find you
dans mes rêves.
—
Glyd works as a research assistant at Philippine Women’s College of Davao and a part-time murderer of the French language. He was a fellow of ADDU Writers Workshop 2010 and Davao Writers Workshop 2011.