I guess
Some part of me
Wishes
There was more
But maybe
That was enough
Dapithapon
Hindi ko naman sinasadya
Na makita kang muli
Ngunit bigla kang sumagi
Sa isipan ko
Kahit na ilang taon na
Na nakabaon sa lupa
Ang mga alaalang kasama ka
Bakat pa rin sa isipan ko
Ang mga luha sa iyong mga mata
Nang ikuwento mo noon
Ang paglisan
Ng taong inakala mo
Na siyang magdadala sa’yo
Sa altar
At nangakong hindi ka iiwan
Kailanman
Imortal
Napakamalas mo naman
Na isang manunulat pa
Ang nagkagusto sa iyo
Moonset
She asked me once
Why I take pills
To fall asleep
I asked her back
If I was enough
To heal the wounds
She once concealed
Malamang ay hindi
Minsa’y iniisip ko
Kung nabasa mo ba
Ang lahat ng mga tula
Na isinulat ko
Para sa iyo
Noon
The Coldest Summer Night
Funny how a year later
You are still on my mind
But not in the way
That I thought it would be
For you are no longer in my heart
Yet your phantom sits there
In an empty seat
Waiting for the signal
To get up and leave
Uubusin ko lang ito
Bakit ang mga tao,
Sa tuwing nalulungkot
Ay umiinom ng alak
At nagpapakalasing?
Bakit hindi na lang sila
Magsulat ng tula
Na tulad ko ngayon
Na nalulunod na sa alak
Kakaisip sa iyo
At sa mga gabi
Na tayong dalawa
Ay umiinom ng alak
At nagpapakalasing
Dahil ba hindi nila masabi
Sa mga kaibigan nila
Ang mga bumabagabag
Sa isipan nila?
Kaya ba ako nagsusulat
Ng isang tula ngayon
Ay dahil ba hindi ko masabi
Sa harap mo mismo
Kung ano man itong
Putang inang nararamdaman ko
At hindi ako makapagbigay
Ng malinaw na sagot
Sa tanong mo
Kung ano nga ba tayo?
Bakit tayo nagkakaganito?
Na kahit na mali,
Ay parang gusto mo
Na ituloy ang mga bagay
Na labag sa iyong prinsipyo
Green Hearts
Last night, I had a dream. Someone said she was waiting for me at home. But when I returned to my abode, she was no longer there.
So, I looked for her even when the rain was pouring hard. But I did not see her at the usual place where we would often spend the night — in the grassy field under the moon where the breeze is fresh and cold. And so, I turned away and walked back to where I came from.
But, to my surprise, she saw me and called my name. She started tossing paper cards at me which were shaped into green hearts. She screamed my name in glee. And my heart was filled with joy. We locked eyes and quickly wrapped ourselves in each other’s arms. She told me stories of how life had been without me and showed me things she treasured so that I could see. It was all just a brief moment in my head, yet everything felt so vivid.
Continue readingThis poem is just a whim
I don’t know what the issue is
Is it me or is it you?
If it was you,
Then why can’t I make a move on you?
If it was me,
Then why won’t you let me take another step
On whatever this thing is
That is going on between us?
Natatanging Ligaya
Wala naman akong sinabi
Na hindi kita gusto
Hindi ko lang sinasabi na
Ikaw ang gusto ko
Ikaw ang gusto kong makasama
Sa mga sandaling ako’y nag-iisa
Ikaw ang liwanag na nagbibigay pag-asa
Ikaw ang aking natatanging ligaya
Kahapon Pa Ako Gising 