I.
You are the earth and all that earth implies:
The gravity that ballasts me in space,
The air I breathe, the land that stills my cries
For food and shelter against devouring days.
You are the earth whose orbit marks my way
And sets my north and south, my east and west,
You are the final elemental clay
The driven heart must turn to for its rest. (more…)
… mourn a woman’s
bitter lot: to give birth to men
who kill and are killed.
Grace Monte de Ramos
That morning alone
he had sunk ten warships, downed four planes,
marched countless armies across unseen
territories, borders mapped only in his mind.
Gunpowder and ash stained his arms and shirt,
across one chubby cheek, a brave streak of red. (more…)
Babae akong namumuhay na mag-isa
Hiwalay sa asawa
Matandang Dalaga
Kerida
Puta.
Ang aking pag-iisa’y
Batik na ituturing ng aking lipunan
Latay na pabaon ng nakaraan,
Pilat na taglay hanggang sa kasalukuyan. (more…)
To this harlequinade
I wear black tights and fool’s cap
Billiken, make me three bright masks
For the three tasks in my life.
Three faces to wear
One after the other
For the three men in my life. (more…)
Ginahasa ako ng mga salita,
Paulit-ulit,
Paulit-ulit,
Hanggang magutay ang diwa.
Buntis ang alaala
Sa mga alimura,
Pasa-pasa ang puso’t
Lama’y salanta.
— Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, 1992. (more…)