Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008
I say goodbye
to Hospital Room 306

New Leaf

new leaf sprouts
after sunset

Hindi Nakikita

hindi nakikita
Ang Pasku
Sa bahay ni Aling Alma

The Rising Sun

The rising sun
In Tacloban City
Keeps me thinking
Thinking of what the color of the western skies,
Of the setting sun in Cebu City without my wife

Weathered Coffee Cup

weathered coffee cup--
emails still waiting
for sun breaking
----Maeara, December 19, 2008

Paeupok Nga Botong

paeupok nga botong--
operahan kuno rang ilong
ay may nagapugong
owa abi't alibyo ro mga bueong
nga akong gina-inum

Amihan Breeze

Amihan breeze
now engulfs the Philippines
a headache to most parents
a fiesta among doctors
and drug stores

Tigmaeais

tigmaeais--
owa't mahapunan
ro sangpanong nga maya

After Typhoon Frank

After Typhoon Frank
The streets of Kalibo
Look like Payatas--
A child looks
For her mother among the debris

Show What You Got

Show to your countrymen
What you have gotten
Isolation cells
Unknown graves
Sto Niño Shrine in Tacloban

Discovery

The day I learned
That they are not my parents
I could not sleep
Wondering how cold my bed would be
Without them beside me

I Wonder

I wonder
what the owl
would think
the rat gnawing
the snake crawling

Frank's Memories

After Frank left Panay
Everyone shared experiences
While shifting out
The debris Frank
Left behind

To Confirm A Dream

I woke up
to see if you were still
beside me
to confirm
my dream

Danog

danog
magueang ako
ikaw eang!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve
alone, alone
with these stars

Agagangis

agagangis
amat-amat
rang euha gatiurok sa anang tagipusuon

cicada
little by little
my tears penetrate her heart

Christmas Parade

Christmas Parade
free airplane tickets
from a book dealer

Lantern Parade

Lantern Parade--
aba,nagpakita eon ka handong
ro kapaya

Misa de Gallo

Misa de Gallo--
malinong ro palibot
pero owa pa gihapon
si Sta. Klaws nag-abot

Christmas Party

Christmas Party--
she prays unity
she talks of hatred

December Breeze

December breeze--
she gathers
olive for his martini

(for Hope Sabanpan-Yu)

Shining Morning

shining morning--
her eyes follow
the flying herons

April Moon

April moon shines
before the sun
set

Paskua Eon Man

Paskua eon man--
ro mga unga
galibot-libot eon man sa barangay
agod magkaroling

Hailuwa

What is hailuwa?
This is a combination of haiku and luwa.
This is a new form of poetry which I invented.
Here is an example:

Hangin it Amihan--
Sa pag-agto ko sa baybay
May napueot akong sigay
Ginbaylo ko it kaeamay.

Maeara
December 14, 2008

Rainbow

the rainbow
an inverted rainbow
above the other rainbow

Great Day

Great day
after
I received your email

Ay, Saeamat

Ay, saeamat
ginlingling eon man ako
it ugsad

Owa't Dahon Nga Narra

owa't dahon nga narra
gin-iba rang tue-an
sa tue-an ni Tatay

Pangpang It Akean

Pag-abot ko sa Kalibo
Si Bagyo Frank nakaabot eot-a gali igto
Ginpangutana ko imaw kon ano ra gusto
Ro pangpang it Akean gusto nana nga hawanan it husto.

Men's Fingerprints

men's fingerprints
in the sea--
Amihan

Pag-eaum Ko

pag-eaum ko
makasaka ako sa hagdan--
Amihan

Ginakiris-kiris Ku Uwak

ginakiris-kiris eang
ku uwak ro kaeagitan
kapid nga baeangaw

Gapamatyag Ro Mga Taeabong

Amihan--
gapamatyag eang
ro mga taeabong sa anwang

Nagahipos Ro Hangin

nagahipos
ro hangin
samtang gapakita ro baeangaw

Galingling Ro Ugsad

galingling
ro ugsad
sa balisbisan kang eangbon

May Toktok Ro Tornilyo

may toktok ro tornilyo
sa among kwarto
katapusan it dag-on

Tig-ueoean sa Nobembre

tig-ueoean sa Nobembre
gusto gid kunta ku kapaya
nga may tugas man imaw't narra

Pagkupkupanay

pagkupkupanay ni Taob
ag ku baha ni Bagyo Frank
nagkapaykapay ro mga anwang sa Akean

Ginapaknit Ku Uwak

ginapaknit ku uwak
ra itum nga panit--
silikaeum

Hueagok

indi maintindihan
kon kay sin-ong hueagok
sa mga ayam o sa andang amo

Sang Panong Nga Uwak

nag-eupad
ro sang panong nga uwak
putot ro anino

Amihan--

Amihan--
once upon a time
an old moon tries to be a star

Late October Moon

late October moon--
a red cat enters a
a waste can

Pag-uli Ko Sa Akean

Pag-uli ko sa Akean
Ro mga kaeag nagtaeaeang
Ro andang baeay sa may pangpang
Ginpanghalin gali ni Bagyo Frank

Maeara
November 2, 2008

Pagkatopos it Pista Minatay

Pagkatopos it Pista Minatay--
anyong pantiyon
ro may hilamon ngaron?

Maeara
November 2, 2008

Ro Shrine Sa Batan

Ro shrine sa Batan ni Kalantiao
Ginsaylo sa Kalibo ay pangmusiyum eon lang ra kuno
Ay hambae ni Ambeth Ocampo
Peke kuno ro ay Kalantiaw nga kodigo.

Maeara
October 31, 2008

Pag-abot Ko Sa Batan

Pag-abot ko sa Batan
Hakita ko si Datu Kalantiao
Si Ambeth Ocampo anang ginaagbayan
Imaw gid abi kuno ra mahirop nga amigo.

Maeara
September 19, 2008

Aba si Ana Maria

Aba si Ana Maria
Nagpueot it martilyong puea
Ag ginpukpok sa ueo na
Ag nagsingkit "Kueang pa!"

Maeara
July 30, 2008

Uwak

amihan--
nag-eugom it puti
ro uwak

Last Day of October

last day of October--
the crow blames the heron
for her black feathers

White Lady

White Lady--
magpakita ka sa mga eanggam
nga nagangat-ngat ku atong taeagbasan

Maeara
October 30, 2008

Sos!

Kon ikaw waay obra
Kundi magreport sa Mommy mo
Tusluka bala mata mo
Agod may forever ka nga premyo

Samtang Hunas Pa

dali,
mahampang anay kita, kalampay
samtang hunas pa

Maeara
October 29, 2008

Bagyo Frank!

Bagyo Frank!
owa ka ginabasoe
sa pagkaeunod it Kalibo!

Maeara
October 29, 2008

Gray Afternoon

October late afternoon--
gray clouds cover
the rainbow

Outside Her Window

outside her window--
a yellow leaf drops
on the clothesline

Cold Iron Bars

she embraces
cold iron bars
as if her chldren

Left Over Food

she throws left over food
to her children
outside her cell

**written after seeing a tv program in ABS-CBN.

Aba, Presko Ro Hangin

aba presko ro hangin kaina nga hapon

Clapping

Late October--
I hear the sound
of the clapping of his hand

Nagtaob Ro Basura

paghubas ku baha
ni Bagyo Frank
nagtaob ro basura sa pangpang it Akean

Maeara
october 23, 2008

Amihan

Amihan--
nahueog rang antipara
sa karsada

Tando-Tando

liso sa waea
liso sa tuo
eubaga ring liog
eukso sa kaeayo--bravo!

Alone

full moon--
I drink tuba
alone

Maeara
October 21, 2008

Baeangaw sa Nakatundan

owa gatukturuok
ro sueog--
baeangaw sa nakatundan

Maeara
October 21, 2008

Ablated Eye

The ablated eye of a prawn
sinks into my mind--
summer shower

Amat-Amat

amat-amat
nagakapueak ro manok
gaumpisa ro tag-uean

Maeara
October 20, 2008

Inihaw Nga Gusaw

Kon rang suea sa pamahaw
Hay inihaw nga gusaw
Nagapreparar ako't sinamak nga dalisay
Agod kon ako magkaon gaeaway-eaway.

Manok Nga Baeaw

May manok ako nga baeaw
Ginbueang ko sa Libacao
Pag-uli namon sa Gaeaw
May pahaom nga kapaya ag tangead rang bayaw.

Baeay nga Bilog

May baeay ako nga bilog
Gindaskan ko't itlog
Itlog it bebe, pato ag manok
Pati itlog it mga soltero nga taga-Calinog

Ham-at Mahipos Ka?

ham-at mahipos ka?
mahipos man baea
ring dughan?

Maangtod Nga tinug-on

maangtod nga tinug-on--
sige pa ro kueop-kupan
sa kama

Taeabong

magaeom
ginpakita ku taeabong
ra panit nga maitum

Mud Throwing

no elections yet
mud throwing
all around

Uway

gaasaw-asaw nga agahon
pag-eaum na
mabali na eon ro uway

Tungang Adlaw

tungang adlaw
owa gahueag ro mga daho't
kapaya ag saging

Filipino Bankers

why do
Filipino bankers cough
after Lehman Brothers sneezed?

Honorable Mayor

Honorable Mayor
do not blame Typhoon Frank
for the flash flood

A Cyclist

a cyclist
breaks away
from the pack

Ligum Dueom

ligum dueom--
indi mabatian ro huni
ku tiki sa tueo't uean

Aba, makahig pa

aba,makahig pa
owa eon it siki.

All Stand Still

all stand still
school children sing
Bayang Magiliw

Milk from China

milk from China?
sorry
not for me!

Small Breasts

with small
breasts, you're free
from the penetrating eyes

Bangud

bangud ginabungoe-bungoean
ginhutik na ra reklamo
sa pader it kahilwayan

Daywang Baeangaw

daywang baeangaw
haeos gatangkas
samtang gasunod sa opisina

Samtang Gakatueog

samtang gakatueog
ginahutikan imaw--
naila ako kimo

Kapaya

kapaya
owa imaw kasayod
ginakitkit ra utok it anay

Pag-abot Ko sa Batan

Pag-abot ko sa Batan
Hakita ko si Datu Kalantiao
Si Ambeth Ocampo anang ginaagbayan
Imaw gid abi kuno ra mahirup nga abyan.

Gasandig

gasandig
sa gahapay nga niyog
ginatan-aw kon siin malisu ro gae-om

Anniversary

death anniversary--
I woke up
crying after seeing Tatay

World of Dew

The world of dew
is a world of dew, and yet
and yet
---Issa

ro kalibutan it tun-og
hay kalibutan it tun-og, ag pero
ag pero
Gin-Inakeanon ni Maeara

Bituon

gapilo man gali ro bituon kon tuhugon

Too Many Foods

Megamall--
too many foods for sale
an empty stomach

Ilabas Eon

ilabas eon
owa ako gakaon
it toe-an

A child Prisoner

Angelo, a child prisoner
sleeps
with adult convicts

Sa Tinumpok Nga Uhay

sa tinumpok nga uhay
nahueog ro euha
ni Yoyo Empoy

Child Soldier

Walid Ander*--
an MILF child soldier
crosses a river with RPG

*"Another child, Walid Ander, 13, said, 'I asked my father to teach me how to handle and carry guns. I want to be a good fighter.'"
Source: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/01/27/10014408.html, retrieved: September 14, 2008

Morning Drizzle

morning drizzle--
students still play basketball
in an open court

Ilabas

ilabas--
ginapasiplatan na
ro eake sa pihak nga lamesa

Lunch Time

lunch time at SM Megamall--
her glances
catch the boy at the next table

Isuksok-Isuksok

isuksok-isuksok
ro inyong kulintas
maagi ro rayna

May Eumokso

may eumokso
nga pantat sa galintak
nga tangke

Sa Daean Ngara

sa daean ngara--
may ueod
nga nagangangat it kapaya

Ha?!

ha?!
may kapaya
ag may narra?

Rang Handong

rang handong
naghayag
rang kalibutan

Haron Ro Kapaya

haron ro kapaya
nagdueoeaw
ra dahon

Morning Glory

morning glory
in full bloom
all over the atis tree

Your Warmness

catching your warmness
on the stone
you threw away

Her Shadow

her shadow
scattering all over
the library

Grey Morning

grey morning
where do you sing
your swan song?

Late Afternoon

late afternoon shower
she sings
offbeat

Whistling Breeze

whistling breeze--
she looks
at the skies

Malinong

malinong
huni't tueo't uean
sa kabo

Young Narra

young narra--
much leaves, not seeds
underneath the tree

Cool Dawn

cool dawn
the crows of our neighbors' roosters
keep me company

September Morning

September morning--
she pretends to look somewhere else
as he passes by

Early Morning Sun

early morning sun--
dragonflies
just fly around and around

Inspection

Almost end of August--
what the hell
of inspection before payment

September Dawn

September dawn--
father appears
in my dream

Dawn

dawn--
I hear bangs
from the garrison

(for the 19 Martyrs of Aklan)

September Sunset

September Sunset
she smiles
but no thanks

After Harvest

after harvest
the scarecrow lies
among the hays

Water Current

cicadas--
she wants to push back
the water current

Morning Sun

morning sun--
she looks at the floating bottles
in Iloilo River

Morning Sun

morning sun--
she looks at the floating bottles
in Iloilo River

Sundown

sundown--
she sings her own
swan song

New Website 0n Aklanon Literature

Here is one website that consolidates works on Aklanon literature.

http://aklanonliterature.smf4u.com/index.php

Beijing Olympics 2008

Beijing Olympics 2008--
"one world, one dream"
touches billions of hearts

Passing Clouds

passing clouds--
she draws a hollow
over her head

Delivery Room

inside a delivery room--
a male doctor
yawns

August 6

August 6--
oh my laptop
disappears!

Rising Sun

rising sun--
a crow
sits on a ripe papaya

Morning sun

morning sun--
narra's new leaves
turn to the sunlight

Narra Flowers

narra flowers--
she keeps on blaming him
for her mistakes

Grey Morning

grey morning--
she wears
black dress

Pasundayag

pasundayag--
everybody forgets
the office politics

Flooded Morning

flooded morning--
we can cross
the bridge

Neck-Deep Flood Water

neck-deep flood water--
I tightly hold on
the manila rope

After Typhoon Frank

After Typhoon Frank--
he refuses to drink water
from his own well

Anay

Abaw,ginbayaw
it mga anay
ro anda nga rayna

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

Dagat

Dagat
ham-an it
masangag ka kon
gumon gid nga gumon rang
painu-ino?

Eutay

masilak--
pumilit sa tuod
ro sinipang eutay

Bangod

Bangod
Sa hisa
Gin-eunok ni Ran
Ro paon nga may bunit
Hatunok imaw

Baeay

Bakod is the term use in Aklan for a five centavo coin.
I am using this term to call my new poetic form: a five-line poem with 2,3,5,7,5 syllables. Below is my first attempt.


Baeay
Ku eamang
Gahabyog-habyog
Bangod gaalipugsa
Ro daga-daga

Tatlong Mahipos Nga Butang

Below is one of the famous cinquains of Adelaide Crapsy, the originator of cinquain.
I put it here as an example of this poetic form which I have recently started to experiment on.
Below is my translation of this poem in Aklanon. Of course, it is not in cinquain form as it is difficult to translate it in 2,4,6,8,2 structure.

TRIAD

These be
Three silent things:
The falling snow... the hour
Before the dawn... the mouth of one
Just dead.

***Adelaide Crapsy

Tatlo
Ro mahipos nga butang:
Ro gakahueog nga niyebe...ro oras
Bag-o magbuteak ro adlaw...ro bibig ku
Tawo nga bag-o eang namatay.
******Adelaide Crapsy

Blowing Wind

Again
her eyes keep watch
on the blowing wind while
she forgets to see her uncombed
white hair.

Iba Gali Ra Puntariya

Aba si Petra
Siya gid ro nagdaea't labada sa suba
Pero busay gali
Ro anang ginapuntariya

Papaya

Papaya
reaching the skies
with its arm-length leaves
while its shadow sways
coreless tree

Mars

Memorial Day--
another eagle lands
on Mars

Early Morning

early morning--
a librarian raises
her own chair

Midnight

Midnight
she snores endlessly
like her husband

Ay Abaw Si Inday

Ay abaw si Inday
Nagkapakapa
Abi niya owa't gisi ra borda.

Abaw Si Inday

Abaw Si Inday
Nagtungtong sa kueon
Pag-eaum na trono

I Fear

The blood
that constantly
drops in Mendiola Bridge
reminds me of Martial Law years.
I fear.

***
I would like to share this simple lesson (especially for children and adult too!)on how to write a tanka. I got this while sufing the net:

To begin, choose a person, place, or thing to write your cinquain about.

Line 1: One word that tells what the poem is about
Line 2: Two words that describe the subject
Line 3: Three words that describe something the subject does
Line 4: Four to six words describing the subject further
Line 5: One or two words that rename what the poem is about (a synonym)

Here's an example:

Dalmatian
spotted, happy
running, barking, jumping
a wagging tail on the end
Fire Dog!

Rain

Thinking
that she can't hold
the rain that steadily
showers on her head and conscience
she quits

Fear

Because
I fear needles
my wife goes with me each
time I have my blood chemistry
checked up

After Harvest

After
Harvesting rice
She buys new shoes and bag
And eats batchoy at the nearby
Food court

Blooming Rose

When I
See Chuchie smile
I see a blooming rose
Gazing at the rising full moon
in June

Deaf*

In love
she does not hear
her mother's advises
she thinks only of adventures
with him

*I am trying to write cinquain.
This is a five-line poem with 2,4,6.8,2 syllables from first to fifth line.

Counting Backward

I have been counting
From one hundred to one
And reciting from Z to A
But our first kiss
Keeps me awake whole night

Another Creation?

Since creation
The clouds have been
Too obedient to the wind
Perhaps in the next creation
The clouds will set the direction of the wind

Like The Shore

Like the shore
That embraces the waves
She embraces him
Before he makes
Some waves

After Two Days

After two days
Our laundry got dry
After two years
My eyes are still wet
After you said goodbye

Comfort Women

They are diminishing now
These comfort women
But the Rising Sun
Still clips its lips
Will it be forever?

Longer Nights

My heart keeps pounding
Before and after
Our first kiss
But it was your first wink
That keeps my nights longer

Hitsura

Daywang
Hitsura mo
Gugma, may kasakit
May himaya nga pang-eugta
Eangit
***Maeara

Grief

dawn
he injects his grief
into his haiku

Haeansangan

alas diyes it agahon--
ginaeansangan ra boli ni S. J.
pagpangabay ko kana

Haponanon

haponanon--
habatyagan eon it kaeaha
ro kainit it kaeayo

Pabukid

pabukid si Tatay--
owa ako kasayod
kon makakupkop pa imaw
kakon o sa panamgo
eon lang

Low tide

low tide--
bangos jumps
over the net

Frog Concert

frog concert--
national park
industrial loggers

Ro Eupok

pagkatapos it arado--
ro eupok
it lebentador

Iniras-Iras Nga Mais

iniras-iras nga mais--
galamano sanda
sa kada-isaea

Ikaw Gid Eang

ikaw gid eang
rang haboe
rang duyan
rang pader
rang pag-eaum, Inay

Siin Baea Si Nanay

ginahikap-hikap
ku ungang baye ro tiyong kuring
sa idaeum it biseklita
siin baea
si Nanay makaron?

Golden Sunset

golden sunset
over Guimaras Strait--
the swaying coconut leaves

Tanan ng Haeakhak

tanan naghaeakhak
pagkatumba't kapaya--
unang uea't Mayo

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

Solar Storm

solar storm--
my cellphone
your voice, out

Sunspot

sunspot--
communication satellites
knock out!

Biernes Santos

Biernes Santo--
ginapaaguniyas ni Sean Marie
ra Lolo

After the War

after the war--
picking a table
with two missing legs

The Age

the age--
I grow old
to be young

Ati

start of summer--
a guard drives me out
of a restaurant

Earth Hour

Earth Hour--
father shuts our light out
for one hour

Sunset

sunset--
our water pump
disconnected

Holy Friday

Holy Friday--
a child tells her grandpa
to knell


Note: Here is a comment from a reader on this poem:

- In cherrypoetryclub@yahoogroups.com, "gumamilacruz"
wrote:
>
> This week, we Filipinos celebrate Holy Week.
> This week, we Filipinos trace the passion and death of our Lord, Jesus
> Christ.
> It will end on Sunday, the Easter Sunday.
>
> Holy Friday
>
> Holy Friday--
> a child tells her grandpa
> to knell
>
> Melcichon
> Aklan, Philippines
>
Dear Melcichon,

A delightful poem you have written. As you know, I tend to believe
that there are happy accidents in life. The last line of your poem
gave me pause to think that the child actually said the word "knell"
rather than "kneel". This reminded me of my childhood when I would get
similar sounding words mixed up as I was learning how to say them. For
several years, I said "three" for "tree"... to me they sounded the same.

Your poem is especially poignant to me because of the advanced age of
my mother excludes her from kneeling for fear of damage to her frail
bones. But, I know that if her great-granddaughter asked her to kneel,
my mother, would despite the frail health. Such is the bond between
grandparents and grandchildren or great-grandchildren.

Good Friday --
blossom petals left
on the supper table

ciao... chibi

Warm Evening

warm evening--
the sound of fallen leaves
of a narra tree

Brown Leaves

narra's brown leaves
settle
on a park car

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday--
the rocks stand still
when He passes by

Kapaya 2

katapusa't Mayo--
nagadueoeaw ro daho't
kapaya

Kaki nga Eanas

kaki nga eanas
eumagpak ro
bolador

Papaya 1

Papaya--
bacteria penetrates
her roots

Cool Breeze

cool breeze--
Rizal,Bonifacio
and Teodoro Patino in the library

Manny Pacquiao Fight

Source: Photo by Matthew Bantug / BoxingTalk.net


Manny Pacquiao fight--
no police record
filed

Ripe Bananas

summer--
ripe bananas
in our mortgaged land

Papaya

papaya grows in our yard
with arm-length leaves--
shadows all over

Cloudy Skies

cloudy skies--
our new university librarian
develops ulcer

Blue Skies

Picture of Helen Keller holding a doll, and Anne Sullevan, her teacher.
Picture released by New England Historic Genealogical Society,taken 120 years ago.



blue skies--
Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller
and her doll

Dark Clouds

dark clouds
loom
inside the university library

Retirement

retirement--
the weight of the stairs
lingers on my legs

Tirad Pass

Tirad Pass--
the grasses can't stand
still

Edge of Summer

edge of summer
our dining table
littered with fallen winged-ants

Umpisa't Tig-ueoean

umpisa't tig-ueoean
owa't gailinum nga tambay
sa idaeum it mangga

Bangaw

conference room
gulping naghapon
ro bangaw sa rosas sa lamesa

Tambis

sa shuttle bus
gapueongyot
nga bunga't tambis

Sa Shuttle Bus

sa shuttle bus
ro pink nga gumamila
nagguwa sa kurae

Raya Eang Rang Ilabas

raya eang rang ilabas--
sangka tasang humay
sambilog nga bakagan

Crossing a Bamboo Bridge

crossing a bamboo bridge
a father holds
his son's arm

I revised this, and I came up with this one:

crossing a bamboo bridge--
a son holds
his father's arm

End of Work

end of work
he steps down
slowly on the stairs

Wake

wake--
grandma tells me
not to sweep the floor

St. Paul

St. Paul--
the coolness
of the boiling oil

Umpisa't Tinguean

umpisa't tinguean--
ro baha sa karsada
pareho tag unga pa ako

Amihan

Amihan--
ro adlaw
gintunga it eawod

Hand Shaking

hand shaking
my rheumatism
strikes again

In An Old Library

in an old library--
a new friend
I thought I could smile with

Old Library

old library--
one librarian thinks
of mental adequacy

All the Rats

all the rats remain
in this old library
except the maya

New Librarian

new librarian--
I smiled
before he came

Dawn

dawn--
mosquitoes throw
out my haiku

Dawning

dawning--
the smell of bebingka
from our neighbor

Tomas Talledo's Like Haiku

Prof. Tomas Talledo teaches political science courses at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo.
But he is a poet too. He is from Iloilo.

Here are some of his poems:

I Cry For Forest

Of what will heal earth?
Left cold on for barren road
seeds of proud trees fall

Diliman, Summer

Early bright flowers
when wind swept dark dead leaves.
Hot days are now here.

Call To Save Our Seas

Pink turtles tremble
when Mother Sea is poisoned
by deathly oil ships.

October Rain

Rains in October
Gently washed wrinkles away.
Monks are waking up.

Transfiguration

Transfiguration
holding
the passing smile

Oldest Aklanon Poem. Stanzas one and two of the poem

Source: Nabor, F. "An Inquiry into the Ancient Inakeanon Writing System," Silliman Journal, Ist Quarter, 1968, pp. 54-86.

Tig-aeani

tig-aeani
iniwaga't ugsad
ro tinaipang madueom

After A Shattering Storm

after a shattering storm
the rock
stands still

Sikaeum

sikaeum
ro adlaw
gintunga it eawod

sunset
the ocean
slices the sun

Baeangaw

baeangaw
nahadlok magtan-aw
ro bayeng nabdos

De Bale Maguba Rang Baeay

De bale sa bagyo
Maguba rang baeay
Basta rang malunggay
Indi eang maghapay.

He Asks Me

He asks me
to lie down in His green pasture
almost end of summer

Raising Voice

morning talk--
Ana thinks
I can absorb all heat

My First Hair Cut

For a moment
I thought I feel
lighter

Abaw

Abaw
Sa Burj Al Arab Hotel
Si Maam maestar
Samtang si Nong Pandoy waay sud-an

###

Ay Abaw Si Maam

Ay abaw si Maam
Sa Burj Al Arab Hotel eang gaestar
Samtang si Nong Pandoy
Igto gid sa binit it karsada gahamyang.

Maeara
Jan 26, 2008
_____________

Sa SM City

Alas sayes it gabii--
naghipos ro cash register
pag-umpisa it angelus


@@@

Alas noybe it agahon--
sige ro inobra it trabahador
samtang ginakanta ro Pambansang Awit

Mendiola Bridge

Mendiola Bridge--
gapatunga ro barbed wire
sa naga-martsa nga mga mangungoma

Ati-Atihan

Ati-atihan
gulping owa't gapakalimos
nga Ati sa karsada

Gahugot Ro Hikug

gahugot nga gahugot
ro hikug sa liog ni Pinoy--
bag-ong residente it Palasyo

Tig-ueoean

tig-ueoean--
naghugot ra pagkaupkup ni Bing
pag-eupok ku daeugdog

Edge of Summer

edge of summer--
the dew tightly grips
on the twig

sa bibi it tigsililak--
ginbaskug it tun-og
ra pagkapyot sa kagang

Death

smiling--
Death warmly opens
his door

@@@

Death warmly opens
his door--
smiling

Christmas Day

Christmas Day--
no vacant chair to rest
inside the Mall of Asia

December

California

Batan

Batan--
ro humbak nahadlok
magtabing kakon!

Maeara
February 21, 2007

Woodpecker

Sunflower

Bridge

Tree

Upside Down

Rainbow

Ob-Ob Hill

Alone

Eclipse 1

Eclipse

The Smile That Brings in Amihan

Glitter Graphics

Crossing the Street

rush hour--
a duck and her chicks
cross a busy street

Soltero Eon

soltero eon
ro unga ni Padre--
tigtaeaktak it daho't narra