Tag: Paul Randy Gumanao

Tell me how much you loved your firstborn,
about how you could have kissed every inch
of his tender skin. I know, as you told me,
you only allowed him to eat blended veggies
that you carefully prepared. Are you sure
he did not sleep unless you run while cradling him?
That was funny! I could not imagine how you delighted
when he learned to close-open his hands while
you sang him that simple rhyme.
I am interested on what you shared about how fast
he learned to talk, how fast he learned to walk.
Was he really just seven months old then?
Ahh, so he is nineteen now.
Why do you worry when he leaves? It was you
who taught him how to walk. No, please,
please don’t cry when he talks. He is just
thanking you because he now learns not to
unclench his fist. No more close-open rhymes.
He has to be steadfast because many
do not eat even blended veggies.
And he told me, when he does not come back
and when you hear of him no more, follow his trail.
Pick him, bone after bone and kiss him.
He will not sleep unless you run while cradling him.
I know you will. You told me you love your firstborn.

–-
Paul Randy Gumanao is a BS Chemistry student and editor-in-chief of Atenews at Ateneo de Davao University. He was fellow to the Davao Writers Workshop and to IYAS Workshop in Bacolod.

Maybe it was not the sea-breeze
you smelled but your tears
after your long try to understand
fragrance.
I tell you, a bouquet of roses
is not enough for you to smell
love.

My comrade loves you. Ask him
to crush the fallen petals
of lilies and orchids in the wild.
Let him perspire.
The scent of sweat is sweet
when offered for love.
Then forget about the flowers.

Go with him in the jungles.
He will tell you which river
is safer to cross.
Rivers, unlike seas, keep
more danger. He knows it.
Because of the water’s smell?
Perhaps. With the enemies
around, a river stinks.
You may not be able to smell
the danger of that river.
But his breaths and whispers
will tell you the fragrance
of the word trust.
You are not alone, with him
and with the masses.

No cure for your hyposmia?
Ah, I regret, my friend.
Your crush’s cologne may smell good.
But did he know you cared?
Smell is not a feeling.
What feels better is to have
someone with you who would savor
the sweetness of a mango.
Or maybe someone who would leave
another set of footprints
beside yours, along the shore.

—-
Paul Randy Gumanao is a BS Chem Student at AdDU who recently attended the IYAS Creative Writing Workshop 2010.

What’s in our aircon classrooms
that convinces you that
the blood in your veins is blue?

The coldness makes you half-frozen
thin layer of flaking skin
wrapping your meandering tenderness.

Move. Why don’t you move?
Wipe the mists from the window pane;
mists like tears held back.

Wipe the mists, wipe the tears.
Beyond the windows
is the dying race of the living.

—-
Paul Randy Gumanao is a BS Chemisty student of Ateneo de Davao University.

Nangandoy ko nga motubo og paspas aron maapsan tika.
Napul-an na ko sa pagsul-ob sa imong tinuboang sapatos
nga baho og mga langyawng pangandoy.

Ang mga tinuboan mong sinina guot na kaayo
sa akong dughan. Kanunay ko nga gahilak kon masimhotan
ang nahibiling tinagoan sa imong ilok.

Unsaon, kay lagi, matod ni tatay ‘pobre ra ta’.
Sigon ni nanay, ‘mapuslan pa man na.’
Unya karon, ang imo na pung brip?

Kon may kamot lang ning akong kinatawo,
manampong gyud ni.
Pero sige na lang. Katapusan na ni.

Kay sukad karon, matod mo,
ang imong sul-obon kay panty.
Hay, salamat, kuya.

—-
Paul Randy P. Gumanao is BS Chem Student at AdDU who loves to write poems

As long as they have names
they are not small

I could easily point to Kitty
among the group of cats
or turn to Mr. Paw among the dogs
and stroke its furry back

I know of a lion named Torr
whose only pride is its misfortune
of having a coarse, roaring voice
and a terrifying looks
enough to startle the herons at poise

Continue reading The 'Small' Have No Names

Gilaksi ni nanay ang usa ka panid sa kalendaryo
Nahuman na ba gud diay ang bulan sa Pebrero?
Dungan sa iyang sitsit mao ang mapugsanong sinyas
“Duol ra kadiyot ug pungko dinhi sa tsinelas.”

Iyang gibuklad sa salog ang gilaksing papel
Samtang ako miyaka duol sa iyang tiil
Gibadbad niya ang lastikong bugkos sa akong buhok
Gitaktak niya ang sulud dayon ako gipaduko

Huma’g kahig-kahig nangahulog ang mga kuto
Daw mga nasakpang kawatang nagtapok!
Gidalian dayon namog pamusa
Usa pa man sa ulo mobalik ug tugpa

Makapanlimbawot ang ilang balhiboong lawas
Gaitom lang ang agi sa mga gagmayng Hudas!
Ang kanhing puting likod sa kalendaryo
Nahimong usa ka langsang menteryo

Nagkatag ang dugo
dugo sa kuto?

o dugo nako?

Ah,basta ang importante hayahay na akong paminaw
Gikumot na ni nanay ang kalendaryong hugaw
Kuyog ang panghinaot nga ‘di na ko kutohon pa
Aron wa nay mahadlok nakong motapad ug makigdula

ung puydi lang untang
talian ang bulan,
kaw-itan ko kini’g pisi
ug ihikot sa haligi

Ipaguyod ko ang akong payag
sama’s kangga sa kabaw,
ug salmotan ko ang bulan
sa iyang paglatagaw

Ako mohangad
Lili-on ug ngisihan ko siya
gikan sa bangag
sa gamay kong bintana

Makapamalandong ako…

Tuod, wala ako’y bitoon
apan higala kami sa bulan

Ipaguyod ko pa ang akong payag

Ug ipaguyod ko usab
ang akong kalag
sama sa kangga sa kabaw
nga sakyanan sa mag-uumang
gikapoy ug nagtukaw

Tultulan ako sa bulan
sa iyang tagoanan
sa mga higayong
masilawan siya sa adlaw

Hatagan kaha ko niya
ug bisan gamayng luna?
Tungod kay dinhi sa kalibutan
dili akoa kining yuta

Taud-taud
ipakita sa bulan
ang iyang tulumanon
ang iyang bag-ong porma

Monipis
Moniwang
Mahisama sa karet!

Karet!
Sama ka’s karet, higalang bulan!
Hait ug talinis.

Hay! Kung puydi lang untang
talian ang bulan

Apan karon, itugyan ko lang usa
ang akong mga damgo

Ugma, sa pagmata
puniton ko ang karet
ug mosakay sa kangga

magpaguyod ko sa kabaw
padulong sa kadaugan!