Tag: Janice Joy Chiongson

Solitude

Poetry by | December 25, 2011

I say
this solitude is a cold,
slow bullet
piercing your heart

violet on your favorite white shirt
the blood blossoming into a somber flower
red and black
noiseless on your throat
muffled by your sobs

Tremble
Cower
Clamber up some secret hiding place
Fall into yourself
deeper some more
Gasp for the name of God

and with a last breath
say your prayer

forgive

this stranger
warming your heart

—
Janice Joy Chiongson teaches English at Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus.

Urban Legends

Nonfiction by | December 7, 2008

Ang Babaye sa Salamin
Giasoy ni Elmer Oncada, Ateneo de Davao University

Gikan ni sa akong kaubanan sa una, kadtong wala pa ninghawa dinhi. Gikan siya og CR. Karon pagpanamin niya sa Del Rosario Building sa panlalaki na CR sa ground, nanudlay siya. Mga 9:30. Pagpanamin niya, atol pod to og kalag-kalag hinuon. Tingala siya naa may babaye na puti og buhok ug puti pod ang sanina. Kuyawan siya. Nanindog iyang mga balahibo. Paglingi niya sa likod, nawala man og kalit.

So unsay gibuhat niya? Dali-dali siyag suot sa iyang uniporme. Dagan siya, dagan. Tingala mi pag-abot dinhi. “Ngano naghangos-hangos man ka?”

“Buanga, bay. Nag-CR ko sa Del Rosario, naay babayeng nagpakita sa akoa, puti tanan.”

White lady ba to or unsa to siya. Taas daw kaayo og buhok. Gitan-aw siya sa samin.

Continue reading Urban Legends

because e.e. cummings said

Poetry by | February 10, 2008

e.e. cummings said
since feelings are first
we really shouldn’t bother with the syntax of things

allow my verbs to crash and spin
let my nouns collide with other nouns
allow my modifiers to dangle and get misplaced
let my words multiply and fly
allow my sentences to fall and rise

towards you
into you

but

we really shouldn’t bother with the syntax of things
since feelings are first
e.e. cummings said