Isla ng Kahambongan
Yang pag-latog ng hambong, sang ting-gawasan nami gikan iskwelahan—permaninti ko ikita ngining isla, sang lipag ng dagat, mauwan man o masuga, permi yaka tutok yang kanak mga mata.
Yanganak ng mga misteryoso na pangbati. Basi indikasyon angko ngini na magpahuway, gikan sang kakapoy ng kinabuhi. Kadyaway mag inusara na yaka totok san-ing isla, daw siang konektado yang kanami mga kinabuhi: na iginhawa lang yang mga kasakit haw mga mabog-at na timbang na yaka pilit sang kanak kalag.
Ono-ono kaha ngadto sang atbang? Sanktwaryo ba ngini? Kaboang san-ing pag-antos! Madayaway na pagkatago. Nasa isab ag nato tagoon yang mga kasakit?
Wa da isab ako kahango. Basta lang maka sutoy ako sang kalabha san-i na kinabuhi. Kalingawan da ko lamang yang mga pasyonado na mga damgo ng kanak pagkaiso. Wa da isab ako yahango. Basta lang yaka-tutok ako sang isla ng imortal na kahambongan.
Island of the Afternoon
The erection of the afternoon, our departure from school—I always discern this island, across the sea, may it rain or shine, my eyes are consistently locked towards it.
Offsprings of enigma that it propagates. Probably an indication to rest, from the strenuousness of life. The pleasure to be in solitude, whilst gazing at this island, as if our existence were connected: to exhale the hurts and the heavy weight that is imprinted on my soul.
I wonder what it’s like across? A sanctuary perchance? The lunacy of agony! It is well hidden. Why do we even hide our pain?
It doesn’t even matter anymore. If only I can escape the cruelty of this world. Ignoring the passionate dreams of my childhood. It doesn’t even matter anymore. As long as I can gaze upon the island of the immortal afternoon.
Jeff Raiven C. Iway, 16, is a junior high school student from Maryknoll Academy of Cateel and is the Editor-in-Chief of their school publication, Riverviews and Sibol. He hails from his ethnic hometown of Mandayas, in Cateel, Davao Oriental.