Full-Moon

When I see Edna Sunz
I soon remember
the newly bloom Sampaguita
looking
at the new full-moon

Only Yesterday

It was only yesterday
when the red-pink flowers
of bougainvillea
were looking at the sun
but now they kiss the ground

Now It's Dawn

She waited till sundown
for him to come
as he used to
when he was still courting her--
now it's dawn, still waiting

Titit

masilak nga hapon--
gakinanta ro titit
maski tigbaw eang ro gapamati

Ginatan-aw Mo?

kapaya
ginatan-aw mo
ring kaeuyo, ring oras?

Underground River

Sa Underground River it Palawan
Ano baea
ring mga sugilanon?

Tubbataha

Tubbataha
una pa ro exotic fish
hin-aga, una pa baea?

Kaabuan

kaabuan
ginatukuran ro
nagahapay nga kapaya

Sa Sukoe Nga Kapaya

sa sukoe nga kapaya
sige ro it-it it ueod--
sige ro piyesta

Mosquito

While thinking
of what haiku to write
the hungry mosquito
busies itself
on how to suck my blood

Sige Ro Tabon

sige ro tabon
it gaeum
sa bueak it sampaguita

Natueoa't Toktok

natueoa't toktok
ro sangsipad nga bueak
it sampaguita

Bakterya

uean it Abril
hadugana't bakterya
ro ugat it kapaya

Morning Glory

morning glory
in full bloom
all over the atis tree

Alone

Alone
I look at my guppies
how happily they freely swim
inside
an aquarium

Fruits

fruits
disappear
as honey bees
disappear
as pesticides appear

His Tongue

he sticks out
his tongue
like Albert Einstein
the child
the world

While

While
the croton withers
bougainvillea
is in full
bloom

Garlic

afraid
of aswang
I slip in
a globe of garlic
into my pocket

Fearing

fearing
his crop will be slashed
he hurriedly reaps
his rice
before Typhoon Undang rips his field

After Apprehension

after
the snatcher was apprehended
he received three degrees:
first, second
and third degree

Overfishing Bells

overfishing bells
have been ringing
but
only scientists
hear it

Footprints

I waited
for the moon to shine
and the stars to twinkle
to see how many footprints
I have left in my path

Sometimes

sometimes
when my wife is around
I become a child
like I used to
when mother was around

He Guides

he guides
his gandpa cross
a bamboo bridge
as he used to
when he was a child

Landslide

landslide
covers the whole barangay
not even the tip of
your love
can be felt

I Will Stop A While

I will stop
A while
To light
Another candle--
Bye

Dark Cloud

again
dark cloud
just passes by

***UPV,Graduation Day yesterday

Last Leaf

cool dawn--
the last leaf
swings gently

Cool Dawn

cool dawn--
she breathes
summer

Dark Cloud

dark cloud
blocks the sunray
from passing through

Someday

Someday
I will climb Mt. Manduyog
And light again
All those candles
That had lost their light

Bamboo Bridge

He crosses the bamboo bridge
After crossing another one
But he keeps on thinking
That he is holding your hand
Like you used to do.

Why?

Why
do I have to forget you
when the stolen moments we had
behind the door bring me back to
you?

Again

Again
The dark clouds
Loom over
And over
Our cold room

In Between

In between
A file of twigs
Lies a symmetry
Of once full
Of green leaves

***This is my first attempt at tanka writing.

Garlic Grows

garlic grows
in test tubes--
man next?

Bag-ong Hampang

Bag-ong hampang
sa Pilipinas--
Taguan it kamatuuran

Come

come nearer
let's see
the long line of rice buyers

The Mist

the morning mist
steals Guimaras
from my sight

Bougainvillea

bougainvillea in bloom--
fully fed cat
stares at a mouse

Primerong Uean It Abril

primerong uean it Abril--
nakatipig pa
ro kaputi sa aparador

Agahon

Agahon--
gulping pinusdak
ro ginabuytang kalibutan

Town Fiesta

town fiesta today
but the church
is half filled

Papaya

blue skies--
distorted papaya fruit
still hanging

Sa Buhing Sanga

sa buhing sanga--
may patay nga maya
tag-init

Gakaea-kaea

sa tinumpok nga papel--
sa idaeum
gakaea-kaea

Low tide

low tide--
women shellfish gleaners
look at the horizon

Gloria's Summer

Gloria's summer--
people line up
to buy NFA rice

Black River

black river--
cricket frogs
sing their swan song

Home

brown rice fields--
dilapidated windows
brown out

Seventh Day of April

Seventh Day of April--
I search for
my new path

Ay Abaw Petra

Ay abaw Petra
Anong desisyon eon man ra
Ham-at ginbutang mo
Ro kabayo sa likod it kalesa?

Ro Unga

tumikang ro unga
sok-sok ro bakya
nga haeog ka na--
ay natumba!

Brown Fields

brown fields--
the string of her kite
snapped off

Writing on the Wall

writing on the wall--
the kitten
just stares at it