Flash Flood

flash flood--
the decaying stumps
of giant trees

Rice Porridge

evacuation center--
Pastor So gives us
a glass of rice porridge

Bagyo Frank

pagtaliwan it baha
sang dangaw nga eunang
ro habilin sa saeog it baeay

Grabe Gid Rang Amiga

Grabe gid rang amiga
Kon may hibatian imaw nga manok
Insigida gina-obra ra
Nga pabo

Ay Abaw si Maria

Ay abaw si Maria
Agahon pa nagpangeaba
Ugaling ra inuba
Abu pa gihabon nga mantsa.

Ces Drilon

tungang gabii--
kagat it mga namok
sa mga butkon ni Ces Drilon

June 18, 2008
Ces Drilon was fred by her Abu Sayap kidnappers after 9 nine days of captivity in Jolo, Sulu.

My Father's Message

my father's message--
I cannot
recall it

Ay, Abaw Si Maria

Ay, ahay si Maria
Nagapanumpaay sa may bintana
Gatan-aw eang sa mga unga
Nga nagawagayway
It andang hayahay

***June 12, 2008

Independence Day

Independence Day
school children wave their national flag
along the highway

****June 12, 2008

Grey Morning

grey morning--
snails feed
on newly sprouted rice

Ahay

Ahay
si Petra man
ro nagkutoe
ku anang gintanum
nga bueak

Early Morning

early morning
a gardener cuts off
the new shoots of a bonsai

She Pounds Her Heart

asking her
why she raises her voice
when she runs out
of reason
she pounds her heart

Gumamila Petals

the blue
gumamila petals
on her stairs
bring her back
to her sleepless nights

Blue Gumamila

grey afternoon--
blue gumamila
on her stairs

Ay Abaw Petra

Ay abaw Petra
ham-at
pinasilabu mo ring tinug-on?

Cloudy Morning

cloudy morning--
she asks her supporters
to raise her chair

Rang Apo ag Ako

rang apo ag ako--
nagabisa kay lolo
nagabisa kay lola

Ay, Abaw

Ay, abaw Petra
Ham-at nagpatuytoy ka
Sa bulag?

Key Hole

key hole--
through that space
where I saw Mommy kissed Daddy

End of Summer

end of summer--
frogs start
to sing