Haiku--Coffee Time

coffee time--
don't worry
it only costs P1-B
Maeara
July 27, 2011

Flower Horn

Flower Horn
by Melchor F. Cichon
July 30, 2017

For three months, Itsong had been feeding regularly the flower horn in his master's house. He also changed its water every month to keep it clean and when brown out occurred, he stirred the water in the aquarium to replace the losing dissolved oxygen. Otherwise, the fish would not be able to breath.

 One Sunday morning, Itsong and his friends went to Jawili Falls to take a bath in its crystal clear flowing water. In the afternoon, Itsong and his friends went back home to Lezo. Immediately upon arrival, he visited his beloved flower horn. But the flower horn was missing. He went to his master and informed about the missing fish. His master told him that he took it out and sold it to his friend. Frustrated, Itsong told his master why he took it without his knowledge. But his master said, "That fish is mine and I only asked you to take care of it. But I supposed you learned something from it."

Itsong just scratched his head and walked away.

Flash Fiction--Real Name

Real Name
by Melchor F. Cichon
July 28, 2017

First day of class.
Every student was asked to introduce himself/herself to their classmates. When Janice's turn came, she said:
"Good morning, classmates. I am Janice Or Francisco from Lezo, Aklan."
Their teacher wondered, so she asked Janice: "Janice, what is your real name, I mean your first name? Is it Janice or Francisco?"
"My first name, Ma'am, is Janice, and my family name is Francisco. Or is the maiden name of my mother."

Luwa--Sa Baeay nga Botong

Sa baeay nga botong
Nagsaka ro hilong
Nag-inum it Siu Hoc Tong
Owa eon kabangon.

Maeara
July 22, 2012

Haiku--Ati-Ati Festival

Ati-Ati Festival--
the silence
in an Ati's eyes.
***Melchor F. Cichon,
July 20, 2015

The Boy Who Wanted to Swallow Santol’s Seeds

The Boy Who Wanted to Swallow Santol’s Seeds

By

Melchor F. Cichon

August 8, 2016

“Oh, Itsong, why did you come home only now?” inquired his father. “Isn’t it that your classes end at four in the afternoon? It’s already five thirty!”, his father added.

Before Itsong answered him, he first reached his father’s right hand to kiss it.
"God bless you, Anak."

“Tay, we passed by the house of our classmates, Ambeth,” Itsong answered.  “They have a big santol tree in their backyard with ripe fruits. They are so sweet, Father. We even swallowed the seeds.”

“What! You swallowed the seeds? If these seeds will stock up in your throat, you will be gone forever!” his father warned him.

“Not really, Tay! They just slide down into my throat once I swallow them.”

“OK, go on swallowing santol seeds! Don’t you know that santol seeds grow in the stomach? When that happens, you won’t be able to move. Santol will torn you into pieces!”

“Really, ‘Tay?”

“Yes! Now, go and change your clothes, then work on your assignments.”

“Yes, Tay.” And he proceeded to his room.

Itsong is Grade Three at Lezo Integrated School, in Lezo, Aklan, about a kilometer away from their house in Sta. Cruz, Lezo. Their house is made of light materials with nipa roofing and split bamboo for the flooring.  It’s floor is about five feet above the ground. And it’s along the street.On school days, Itsong just walked back and forth to their school.
While Itsong was reading his book, he thought of what his father just told him. But he thought that it was very satisfying to swallow sandol’s seeds while eating it’s pulp, especially the seeds of the native big santol.

So that on the next day, he and his classmates again passed by the house of Ambeth and they again ate santol. Of course, Itsong again swallowed its seeds.  Unfortunately, the last seed that he swallowed stocked up at his throat. He kept on coughing, but the seed would not get out. He got nervous. Ambeth noticed the situation of Itsong. Immediately, Ambeth came to his rescue. He told Itsong to bend his neck, and in just one pound with his fist on Itsong’s nape, the seed came out. Itsong breathed deeply and thanked Ambeth for his help. But Itsong said that if Ambeth will again invite him and his classmates to pass by their house to eat santol, he would still come and eat santol and swallow its seeds.

Five minutes after that, Itsong went home. But before he left, Ambeth jokingly said that they would still eat santol the following day.

“Of course, I will!” Itsong said as he walked on his way home, “And swallow its seeds!”

When Itsong reached home, his father was standing in front of their house.

“Oh, you came home late again, Itsong. Perhaps, you again passed by the house of your friend, Ambeth.  And perhaps, they still have some more santol there.”

As usual, Itsong would first kiss his father’s hand before he would say anything to him.

“Yes, Father. Our classmates and I passed by the house of Ambeth and we again ate some santol there.  I really love to eat santol. I am just taking this opportunity because we can only eat santol once a year,” Itsong said.

“OK. Continue eating santol and swallowing its seeds. If that seed will grow in your stomach, that’s the time when you will obey me.”

“That’s not true, Tay!”

“It’s up to you if you will not believe in me. But I have warned you. OK. Go inside now and change your clothes and then work on your assignments.”

“Thank you, Tay.” And he proceeded into his room.

After eating their supper, Itsong felt that something was moving inside his stomach. But he did not mind this. He went back to his room and went to sleep.

Usually, he would wake up at around six thirty in the morning. But this time, he woke up much earlier. He felt that something was moving inside his stomach. A few minutes after, he noticed that something was getting out of his right ear. He went in front of his mirror on the wall of his room to see what was coming out of his ear. And he saw that a fresh santol leaf was getting out of his ear. He wanted to call his mother, but another santol leaf was blocking his mouth so he could not say any word. He wanted to cry, but then fresh santol leaves simultaneously came out through his two eyes.  Then two other santol leaves sprouted out of his two noses. He wanted to run out of his room, but some roots came out of his anus and penetrated through the floor of his room and penetrated to the ground. He was helpless, so he had to stand still as he felt his body being splitted out as the tree was steadily growing bigger.  He lost his consciousness.

At that time, Itsong’s mother was preparing their breakfast. And since she was through with her cooking, she went out of the kitchen to check Itsong in his room. She was shocked when she noticed that a santol tree was rapidly growing inside Itsong’s room and parts of Itsong’s body had been sliced into pieces. Her mother rapidly ran to her husband who was sleeping in the other room, and nervously informed him of what happened to Itsong. Immediately, Itsong’s father woke up and walked hurriedly at Itsong’s room and found the growing santol tree with some flesh of Itsong on its branches, hanging. By this time, the branches of the santol had penetrated through their rooftop. Itsong’s father just held his own forehead.

Linog, Maute

linog, maute--
maea nga eutay
sa daean it Leyte
***Melchor F. Cichon
July 12, 2017

Writing His Feelings

Writing His Feelings

He writes his anger
on the sand
while his happiness
on a granite wall
***Melcichon
July 4, 2014

Indi Eon Gid Ako

Indi Eon Gid Ako
ni Melchor F. Cichon
July 11, 2017

Ginsueat ko sa daeaura
Nga indi eon gid ako
Magkaila sa sangka babaye
Pagkatapos aywan mo ako
Sa kaeangitan.
Pero pagkakilaea ko kimo
Gulpi nga nagbangon rang eumagpak nga paghigugma.
Hambae ko
Raya eon gid ro pangaywa ko nga kabuhi.
Ag owa ako magsaea.
Ag daywa kita
Ro nagpaea kang ginsueat.
Makaron daywa eon
Ro atong apo
Sa tuhod.

Salamat

Salamat
Ni Melchor F. Cichon
July 10, 2016

Mabuti na lang at narito
Si Rio Alma,
Kumapal ang diksiyonaryong Filipino;
Mabuti na lang at narito
Si Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada,
Pinag-uusapan na ang literatura
Ng Western Visayas
Sa mga kolehiyo at mga unibersidad.
Mabuti na lang at narito
Si Noel G. De Leon,
Bumibilis ang pag-unlad
Ng mga panulatang literatura
Sa Western Visayas.

Kung hindi sila dumaan rito,
Hindi lang nabansot ang mga wikang katutubo,
Kundi nabansot din ang katutubong literatura
ng Western Visayas.

Haiku--Labor Day

Labor Day--
at the corridor waiting
for our first baby
**Melchor F. Cichon
July 4, 2017

Haiku--after lunch

after lunch--
a cup of hot coffee
can not lift my eyelids
***Melcichon
July 4, 2013

Gold Fish

Gold Fish
Melchor F. Cichon
July 2, 2017

Mayad pa ro golden fish busog,

Maski indi imaw kakita it eangit;

Ako, makita ko ro bilog nga kaeangitan,

Pero gahilab rang tiyan.

Bakod

Sa Akean ro bakod hay ngaean ku five centavos nga bilog. Some years back, may ginsueat ako nga mga four-line poems nga tiglima ro syllable sa kada linya.
Kaina samtang gahueat kang Apo hay hadumduman ko magsueat it Bakod. Ag hara rang natapos.

Bakod

Ro batong baeay
Puno it paeay
Pagsueod ni Guy
Nagkaway-kaway.
***
May antiyamis
Sa puno't tambis
Umagi si Kris
May anang hingbis
***
Hara rang paead
Gagiltak-giltak
Bangod sa paeay
Sa atong baeay
Melchor F. Cichon.
***Nov 26, 2015