Category: Poetry

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.

Katulad ng Ulan ang Aking Pag-Ibig

Poetry by | October 14, 2012

Katulad ng ulan ang aking pag-ibig
na may diwang nais ipahiwatig,
Kahit dala nito ay lamig,
Maipadama lamang ang kanyang ibig.
Huwag magtaka’t maligalig
Pag pumapatak ‘to sa iyong daigdig
Pagkat ito’y dalisay na tubig:
Sa tigang mong lupain, didilig.
Talagang kakaiba at walang kahawig,
Pag-ibig ko’y kristal na pumipintig;
Sa makulimlim na kalangitan, naglalawig,
Patungo sa iyo na aking iniibig.
Halika na’t maligo sa ulan –
Sa ulan ng pag-ibig ko:
Ulan ng tunay na damdamin,
Ulan ng tunay na pagmamahal;
Mula sa kanlungan ng langit
Hanggang sa pusod ng dagat
Pag-ibig ko’y bumubuhos ng awit.

—
Dick B. Navaja is currently taking up his doctorate in Philosophy at the University of the Immaculate Conception.

Ang Basurero

Poetry by | October 14, 2012

Binubuhay ako ng mga berde at puting botelya
Na natatagpuan ko sa mga bundok ng basura
Namumuhay ako sa lawa ng latak
Samantalang nagpipista ang ilan sa alak
Kailangan kong mabuhay sa mundong ito
Kundi walang tagalikom sa kalat ninyo
Sa tuwing nahahalukay ko ang mga botelya
Kasama ang mga plastik at kalawanging lata
Ay pinapaubaya ko silang maghalo
Sa isang matibay at maluwang na sako
Hindi inihihiwalay ayon sa kulay at anyo
Gaya ng pagbubukod ng lipunan sa tao
Silang mga itinapon at walang buhay
Ang umaalalay sa binabasurang buhay.

—
Edgar Bacong studied AB Sociology at the Ateneo de Davao University. He now resides in Zurich, Switzerland.

Ikaw Pa Rin

Poetry by | October 14, 2012

Bawat ngiti mo nagpapaalala
ng bawat panaginip at pangarap
Mukha mo’y puno ng alaala
na nag dadala sa ‘kin sa alapaap
Bawat luha’y isang madilim na kahapon
na nais makalimutan, sa isip ay dapat maitapon
Bawat alaala ay nakaraan
na bawat sakit at bawat tamis ay minsan nang natikman
Katotohana’y gusto kong limutin
and panahon na tayo’y magkalayo
Saan man dalhin ng hangin
Papadpad pa rin sayo
Oras ma’y tumigil at di na tumakbo
Isip ma’y pumurol at matuyo
Puso ma’y mahirapan at huminto
Ikaw ang bumuhay sa mundo ko

—
John Ferdinand Torralba, who writes poems in Filipino and English, is in his 3rd year as a Information Technology student at Holy Cross of Davao College.