A New Bamboo Sprout

a new bamboo sprout--
a sparrow sings
a new song

Body Bags

Basilan--
when will body bags stop
coming?

Still Leaves

Tangos Ilong

Kon ako mag-asawa
Pilion ko ro tangos-ilong
Ay kon maubusan ako't hamon
Imaw ro akong pritu-prituhon.

Sunflower Field

Sunflower Field--
Conrad lifts her
to Cloud 10

Only in Australia

I take this as an exception.
I wrote a poem upon seeing a picture of a kangaroo inside a supermarket.


Only in Australia
by
Melchor F. Cichon

May forwarded message akong natanggap
Mula sa dati kong guro.
Isa sa mga larawang pinakita
Ay larawang ng kangaroo
Sa loob ng supermarket.
May tali ang leeg na hawak-hawak ng isang misis
Katulad ng kabayo.
At ang dalawa niyang paa ay may kadena
Katulad ng isang bilanggo.
Kawawang kanggaro ginawang pushcart.
Ang biniling tsukolate, hamon at kape ni misis
Ay linagay sa kanyang pouch sa tiyan.
Peru de bale, nakapasok naman siya sa supermarket
At nakakita ng iba’t-ibang tinda.
Baka kumain pa siya ng halo-halo
Sa lamesa pagkatapos ng grocery.
Nakita pa siya ng libo-libong tao.
Di katulad ng Ati.
Malayo pa sa main gate ng megamall
Ay tinataboy na siya ng blue guard.

Heat Wave

visiting again
my old town--
heat wave

After the Fishing Season

after the fishing season
the cry
of the coral reefs

First Full Moon

first full moon--
the brightness
of Sirius

(for the people of Trinidad and Tobago)

Loving Her Again

loving her again--
re-reading
her Valentine's card

Sunday Mass

Sunday mass
the cry
of the baby

windy afternoon--
she kisses
a painting on the wall

Clearing Skies

New Cycle

new cycle--
her hand
reaching His shoulder

Johnson's Blue

please turn to me too
bee--
Johnson's blue

Offbeat

even the sound of the tide
in Libagon Bridge,
offbeat

gabunok ro uean--
gapinanilong man ro mga namok
sang batiis

Maeara
July 8, 2007

rainy Sunday morning--
mosquitoes take shelter
on my legs

Cash

cash--
the wind comes
the wind goes without notice

Nanny

early morning shower--
Nanny looks at me
wherever I go

*Nanny is the name of a dog of a Japanese haiku poet, Etsuko.