Melchor F. Cichon
(1) A Request
Come to me after sunset
But bring me no roses for a wreath;
Nor sing Ave Maria to awaken my soul,
Nor shed a tear, nor touch my tomb.
Our world, designed to be a paradise
For us to enjoy forever;
But you are pessimistic, indifferent.
We shared nothing but pain.
I did all the things I knew
To keep our love forever aglow.
But you disdained them all.
You said our worlds were really two.
It pains my heart to forget you
For you have been a part of me.
But what could I really do,
When you wanted to go?
Lately, I heard you wished to see me again
To repair the bridge you had broken.
You can see me after sunset,
But please bring me no roses for a wreath.
1983
(2) Sunflower
ni Melcichon October 19, 2011
Ikaw, Sunflower, ro ugsad nga buean
Nga gatao it kasiga
Sa madueom ko nga daean.
Matuod nga kon amat nagakaduea-dueaka
Bangod sa naga-agi-agi nga gae-um
Pero ring kasiga nagapadayon nganagatuytoy
Sa mga paminsaron ko
Eabi eon gid kon magapaeuka itbutong ro hangin,
Kon owa't untat ro pagbinunok ituean
Sa kabuhi ko.
Ikaw eon lang, Sunflower,
Ro nagatao kakon it kainit,
Kainit sa tagipusuon ko
Agod ako makapanumdom nga may kabuhi
Nga may kapus-eanan pa rangpagkatawo.
Ag kon matunod gid man rang adlaw
Hueogan mo eang rang paeahuwayan
Ku imong owa't pag-eaya nga rosas,
Owa't pagkaduea nga kahumot,
Magbutlak it oman rang adlaw,
Maski sa katueondan.
(3) Crowded By Fallen Leaves
by
Melcichon
April 9, 2012
crowded by fallen narra leaves--
alone with a crescent moon
in a bench where we first kissed
and where our last embrace was sealed.
I remember how the full moon
spread its beam, uplifted our spirits,
our dream of eternal togetherness
even on days of summer
and of nights of howling storms.
oh, how short was the night
of our togetherness!
but like the moon that sets
and the leaves that fall,
we have to kiss our Earth
or be alone like now
in this lonely bench
where we first kissed,
where our last embrace
was sealed.
(4) You Always Have A Reason or Two
Melcichon
May 20, 2012
You always have a reason or two
To say “No!” each time I ask you
To have lunch at Jollibee or at Macdo;
You always have a reason or two
To say “No!” each time I invite you
To see the Concert at the Park;
You always have a reason or two
To say “No!” each time I ask you
To see the rising sun at Boracay Beach;
You always have a reason or two
To say “No!” each time
I ask you a kiss.
But you always say “Wow, I love it!”
Each time I steal you a kiss.
(5) I Will Not Write My Loneliest Poem
(With apologies to Pablo Neruda)
by
Melchor F. Cichon
September 24. 2012
I will not write my loneliest poem
Even I am between the heavens and the earth.
When you accepted my love at Boracay Beach
While the sun was setting is enough to make me smile.
I will not write my loneliest poem.
Like now when the moon is full and the December breeze is cold
Is enough for me to smile.
It was also December when we first kissed.
I will not write my loneliest poem
Even I can no longer pinch your face
Nor can I whisper your name.
It’s enough for me to sleep while I clinch the ring that you inserted on my finger.
And when time comes for the sun to set
And spreads its veil all over my world,
Still I will not write my loneliest poem.
When I remember you, I immediately smile.
(6) A Request
Come to me after sunset
But bring me no roses for a wreath;
Nor sing Ave Maria to awaken my soul,
Nor shed a tear, nor touch my tomb.
Our world, designed to be a paradise
For us to enjoy forever;
But you are pessimistic, indifferent.
We shared nothing but pain.
I did all the things I knew
To keep our love forever aglow.
But you disdained them all.
You said our worlds were really two.
It pains my heart to forget you
For you have been a part of me.
What could I really do,
When you wanted to go?
Lately, I heard you wished to see me again
To repair the bridge you had broken.
You can see me after sunset,
But please bring me no roses for a wreath.
(7) A Letter
John,
I will definitely go home
To our house
Where we can see the clouds
Through the roof.
I'm fed up
With the twinkling neon lights,
But I have not yet paid
For the earrings that I got
From Mama San.
I need them so my tinkling
Will be louder and my hips
Will be heavier.
Don't worry, John,
This Christmas
You and I will create a moon
And through the roof
We two alone
Will grasp it light.
Ana
Kiss me
In a way
That keeps
The summer breeze
Stand still;
In a way
That keeps
Me awake
From dawn
To dawn.
***Melcichon, May 1, 2012
(9) Paano Kita Mahaeon?
By Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Gin-Inakeanon ni Melchor F. Cichon
Paano baea kita mahaeon?
Pahuyapa ako ku mga paagi.
Mahae kita sa kadaeom ag kaeapad ag kataas
Nga maabot kang kaeag, kon ro pamatyag hay maeayo sa panan-aw.
Para sa katapusan it kabuhi ag sa hamiling grasya.
Mahae kita sa kataas it adlaw-adlaw
Nga pinakamalinong nga kinahangeanon, sa kahayag it adlaw ag it kandila.
Mahae kita nga may kahilwayan, paris ku tawo nga naga-usoy it kamatuuran.
Ginamahae kita it dalisay, sa andang paghalin sa pagbayaw.
Mahae kita nga may kainit nga ginagamit
Sa magueang ko nga mga kasubo, ag sa kabataan ko nga pagsalig.
Mahae kita nga may pagmahae nga ingko maduea
Sa may naduea ko nga mga santos.
Mahae kita nga may pagginhawa,
Mga hiyum-hiyum, mga euha, sa tanan nga kabuhi ko, ag, kon pilion it Dios,
Eabaw pa gid rang pagmahae kimo sa pagtaliwan ko.
Gin-Inakeanon ni Melchor F. Cichon
February 13, 2005
****By Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Gin-Inakeanon ni Melchor F. Cichon
Paano baea kita mahaeon?
Pahuyapa ako ku mga paagi.
Mahae kita sa kadaeom ag kaeapad ag kataas
Nga maabot kang kaeag, kon ro pamatyag hay maeayo sa panan-aw.
Para sa katapusan it kabuhi ag sa hamiling grasya.
Mahae kita sa kataas it adlaw-adlaw
Nga pinakamalinong nga kinahangeanon, sa kahayag it adlaw ag it kandila.
Mahae kita nga may kahilwayan, paris ku tawo nga naga-usoy it kamatuuran.
Ginamahae kita it dalisay, sa andang paghalin sa pagbayaw.
Mahae kita nga may kainit nga ginagamit
Sa magueang ko nga mga kasubo, ag sa kabataan ko nga pagsalig.
Mahae kita nga may pagmahae nga ingko maduea
Sa may naduea ko nga mga santos.
Mahae kita nga may pagginhawa,
Mga hiyum-hiyum, mga euha, sa tanan nga kabuhi ko, ag, kon pilion it Dios,
Eabaw pa gid rang pagmahae kimo sa pagtaliwan ko.
Gin-Inakeanon ni Melchor F. Cichon
February 13, 2005
(10) Indi Ko Masueat Rang Pinakamasubo Nga Binaeaybay
Ni
Melchor F. Cichon
September 11, 2003
Indi ko masarangean nga isueat rang pinakamasubo nga binaeaybay.
Maskin sa tunga-tunga eon ako’t eangit ag eogta.
Ro imong pagsabat it huo kakon sa may baybayon it Boracay
Samtang gatunod ro adlaw hay sapat eon nga akon nga ikalipay.
Indi ko masarangan nga isueat rang pinakamasubo nga binaeaybay.
Paris makaron nga ugsad ro buean ag maeamig ro huyop it hangin it Disyembre,
Sapat eon para kakon nga magpahiyomhiyom.
Disyembre man kato ro primero nimo nga haru kakon.
Indi ko masarangean nga isueat ko rang pinakamasubo nga binaeaybay.
Maskin indi ko eon haeos maabut ring uyahon agod akon nga pisilpisilon;
O mahutikan ka man lang paris tag bag-o pa eang kita nga nagaumpisa ku atong pangabuhi.
Sapat eon nga makatueog ako kon ginakumkum ko ro singsing nga ginsuksuk mo sang tudlo.
Ag kon mag-abot kid man ro oras nga magtunod rang adlaw
Ag ro gabii hay mag-eapnaag sa bilog ko nga kalibutan,
Indi ko man gihapon pagsueaton ro pinakamasubo ko nga binaeaybay.
Madumduman ko eang ikaw, gahiyomhiyom eon dayon ako.
(11) Let The Leaves Shake Tonight
Melchor F. Cichon
Let the leaves shake tonight.
Let my heart beats upright.
But I must meet my Pilma tonight
In Boracay Beach while the moon is bright.
Typhoon Seniang has gone by
Without a tear, without a smile.
But I must meet my love tonight
In Boracay Beach while the moon is bright.
God...let the trees shake their leaves tonight.
Let the world turns upside down.
But I must see my love tonight
Or she will be gone forever.
Ni
Melchor F. Cichon
September 11, 2003
Indi ko masarangean nga isueat rang pinakamasubo nga binaeaybay.
Maskin sa tunga-tunga eon ako’t eangit ag eogta.
Ro imong pagsabat it huo kakon sa may baybayon it Boracay
Samtang gatunod ro adlaw hay sapat eon nga akon nga ikalipay.
Indi ko masarangan nga isueat rang pinakamasubo nga binaeaybay.
Paris makaron nga ugsad ro buean ag maeamig ro huyop it hangin it Disyembre,
Sapat eon para kakon nga magpahiyomhiyom.
Disyembre man kato ro primero nimo nga haru kakon.
Indi ko masarangean nga isueat ko rang pinakamasubo nga binaeaybay.
Maskin indi ko eon haeos maabut ring uyahon agod akon nga pisilpisilon;
O mahutikan ka man lang paris tag bag-o pa eang kita nga nagaumpisa ku atong pangabuhi.
Sapat eon nga makatueog ako kon ginakumkum ko ro singsing nga ginsuksuk mo sang tudlo.
Ag kon mag-abot kid man ro oras nga magtunod rang adlaw
Ag ro gabii hay mag-eapnaag sa bilog ko nga kalibutan,
Indi ko man gihapon pagsueaton ro pinakamasubo ko nga binaeaybay.
Madumduman ko eang ikaw, gahiyomhiyom eon dayon ako.
(11) Let The Leaves Shake Tonight
Melchor F. Cichon
Let the leaves shake tonight.
Let my heart beats upright.
But I must meet my Pilma tonight
In Boracay Beach while the moon is bright.
Typhoon Seniang has gone by
Without a tear, without a smile.
But I must meet my love tonight
In Boracay Beach while the moon is bright.
God...let the trees shake their leaves tonight.
Let the world turns upside down.
But I must see my love tonight
Or she will be gone forever.
(12) THANK YOU, ANYWAY
I did not ask you
To keep my bitter mementos.
I knew from the start
That your heart had enough space only
For your own grief.
I did not ask you
To keep my tears for remembrance.
I knew from the start
That you wanted only to sip—
While it lasted—the juice that I could squeeze
From our fire.
Thank you, anyway,
As the golden ricefield thanks the volcano
For the lava it spews.
(13) TO PILMA
You must not shed a tear
For me beloved.
I am not really leaving.
Please preserve my poems, my name.
They are for our children.
You must believe
That I am not leaving.
I was just asked by my Lord
To look for a new home
Where mayas are not caged
And gold fish are not aquariumed.
Shed no tears for me, Beloved.
We will meet again
Someday
In Heaven
I did not ask you
To keep my bitter mementos.
I knew from the start
That your heart had enough space only
For your own grief.
I did not ask you
To keep my tears for remembrance.
I knew from the start
That you wanted only to sip—
While it lasted—the juice that I could squeeze
From our fire.
Thank you, anyway,
As the golden ricefield thanks the volcano
For the lava it spews.
(13) TO PILMA
You must not shed a tear
For me beloved.
I am not really leaving.
Please preserve my poems, my name.
They are for our children.
You must believe
That I am not leaving.
I was just asked by my Lord
To look for a new home
Where mayas are not caged
And gold fish are not aquariumed.
Shed no tears for me, Beloved.
We will meet again
Someday
In Heaven
(14) The Rising Sun
Melchor F. Cichon
2019
The rising sun
Turns into sunset
Each time I recall those moments
When we watched the breaking of dawn
As we celebrated our first meeting;
The passionate kisses we had
While dreaming of our rainbow.
It’s like being bitten by a hundred red ants
When I remember those moments we shared
At Boracay Beach.
Now heavy rain is pouring
In my room.
(15)Malibot-libot Sa Harden
Melchor F. Cichon
Sept. 30, 2018
Malibot-libot sa harden.
Maeukso, madaeagan
Pareho it kanding.
Ugaling bukon man ako't masadya.
Owa ka man abi gamunot kakon riya.
(16) THE WHISPER
Aboy-aboy, batya and patadyong,
Listen to my heartbeats.
The chain I have with you
Is a cross to my calvary.
My parents told me
To just wipe away my biting tears
And put ice on my swollen lips,
A gift from my husband’s quick fists.
I have become his tail, my parents say,
After I have pressed my thumb
On our marriage contract.
Aboy-aboy, batya and patadyong,
It’s not a sin, isn’t it
To put off my chain from you
And march in the streets
With closed fists?
