Ang dalisay na hangin,
Sa aking pisngi dumadampi
Mga huni ng ibon,
Sa aking paggising inaawit
Ang amoy ng kape
Na timpla ni nanay
At mga halakhak
Ng aking tatay—
Ito ay ilan lamang sa binabalikan
Ng aking pusong nangungulila
~English Translation~
The undiluted wind
That kisses my cheeks
The bluebirds’ hymn
As I wake
The sweet aroma
Of mother’s coffee
And my dear father’s
Lively laughter—
These are just few things
My longing heart wants to relive
Mahal, ikaw ay nasaan?
Sa gitna ng gabi ako ay iniwan
Sa malupit na dilim, nagsusumamo
Na sana maibalik ang ‘ikaw at ako’
Ngunit mga luha ay hindi mo nilingon
Pag-ibig mo ba’y nalimot ng kahapon?
Dinggin ang pusong nagmamakaawa
Sana ay balikan sa dapit-umaga
~English Translation~
Where are you, my love?
In the middle of the night you left
In the cruel darkness I pleaded
To bring back ‘you and I’
Yet you failed to see my tears
Was love forgotten in yesteryear?
Hear this begging heart of mine
Please, come back to me at dawn
A week ago, I added a new section called Love Local and posted my very first poem written in our national language, Filipino. It was heartwarming and fulfilling that I was able to embark on a new journey of exploring Philippines’ literature through poetry. The challenge, I realized, lies in translating the poem in the English language without sacrificing its true meaning and emotion. Gladly, it turned out all right but, still, this remains a work in progress. *Sigh*
So here’s a second of (hopefully) more local poems from a hopeless romantic’s pen. I hope you enjoy this. 🙂 ❤
Sampung segundong nagtagal bago ang mga ngiti ay napawi At ang mga hikbi ay kumawala kasabay nang pagtulo ng mga luha Mga patak ng luha na tila ulan na humahampas sa puso at kaluluwa Nilulunod ang natitirang pag-asa At mga ala-ala Sampung segundo na ikaw ay minasdan Papalayo sa bukas kong pintuan Naghihintay, umaasa- nagmamakaawa Na sana ikaw ay lumingon, takbuhin ang ating pagitan Pigain sa higpit ng iyong mga yakap Ang lahat ng hindi natin pagkakaunawaan Sampung segundo na wari mga daliring nakakapit sa bangin Nanginginig, nangangalay, nangangawit At isa-isang bumibitiw sa bawat hakbang ng iyong paglayo Sampung segundong pagsusumamo Na ang ating kwento ay madugtongan Maibalik sa panahon ng ikaw at ako At makulayang muli ang aking mundo.
English Translation: Ten Seconds
Ten seconds that lasted before my smile fades Before sobs loosened up and tears fell down my face Tears that felt like drops of rain hammering my heart and soul Drowning whatever is left of hope-
And your memories Ten seconds of longingly watching you Walk away from my door Waiting, hoping- begging That you’d turn back around, run the gap between us Squeeze with your tight embrace All our differences and rifts Ten seconds that seemed like fingers gripping on a cliff Shaky, numb, and tired Letting go one at a time in each step you make Ten seconds of pleading To keep the story of us Turn back the time when there was you and I And bring the color back into my life
I have mentioned in my 2016 list of desires that I want to explore and try our local poetry, to eventually write poems in our local dialect (Tagalog or Bisaya) and share it in this blog soon. I think that ‘soon’ is now.
And since today marks the start of love month and the countdown to a very special day, I’m sharing this first of (hopefully) many local poems from me. This one’s inspired by two of my favorite spoken word poets, Juan Miguel Severo and Sarah Kay. I hope I did fine. 😀 😀 😀
A Tagalog Poem: Hahanapin Kita
Hahanapin kita sa magagandang linya sa bawat pahina Sa madamdaming liriko sa bawat kanta, hahanapin kita Sa mga luha’t galak ng mga artista sa isang pelikula na maaaring sabay nating pinanood Hahanapin kita sa malumanay na pagtugtug ng isang magandang piyesa na tila mga alon na tumatangoy sa aking kaba papalayo sa dalampasigan ng iyong pagmamahal Mahal, hahanapin kita Hahanapin kita sa bawat kislap ng mga bituin sa langit Sa liwanag ng buwan sa mga gabing kay dilim Sa simoy ng hangin na sa akin ay dumadampi At kung ako man ay maidlip sa huni ng mga kuliglig, hahanapin pa rin kita Hahanapin kita sa aking mga panaginip Makikipaglaro sa isip hanggat mahanap kita Ngunit kung sa pagbungad ng bagong umaga Sa aking paggising, pagmulat, pagbangon Ay hindi kita makita, hahanapin ulit kita.
English Translation:
I will look for you in beautiful lines of every page I read In poignant lyrics of every song I listen to, I will look for you In the tears and joys of an actor in a movie that we may have watched together I will look for you in gentle melodies of a playing beautiful piece—taking away my fears, like rolling waves, from the shores of your love Love, I will look for you I will look for you in every shining star in the sky In the darkness of a moonlit night In the touch of the squalling winds And if I ever fall asleep amidst the crickets’ hymn, I will still look for you I will look for you in my dreams I will gamble and play until you’re found But if a brand new day starts and As I wake, rise, and realize That you are not here, I will look for you again.
