Saturday, March 24, 2012

Maximum Penalty

The muted walls of this cell leaves  an
indelible grime of paranoia... It stings.
Stinging like an endless chirp blended 
with the thought of halting the pattern
of inhale exhale. Bright blue is only the
rainbow in sight and never did a lullaby
of the golden bell resonated the cold 
ground. Those hot bars are frying the 
bitter salt I once enjoyed. It bubbled.
Momentarily, I glimpsed at my vibrating
reflection. Those big round eyes, it mirrored
the squinting eyelids of my little Dante.
Oh, my poor tiny Dante. Heavy barrage
of red and dark brown robes imply....
that you're not meant to be here with
me. With me, in my pouched arms.
Steel blankets would suffocate your fragile 
spine, just like how many saints behave 
badly with crimson tempt. Tough call.
Fistic kisses, sweet curses, dry-iced tears
streaming.....smoking. Your curling fingers
tastes like burning cotton while I laughed.
No, I will not beg. The piercing echoes
of my feet will reign over the sobs.
Gripping faint chances, bushy eyebrows
signalled the pull of the tug.
Strongly daunted refusal drawn wispy
runaway of sanity. That was two
nights ago. Throbs bargain with the
stomping keys, they will never twitch
with pity. How can the crooked cement
eat my nails? Hair strands embraced my
chipped legs, pinned and thorned. The
shadows dancing around squirted
blood with blue sweats.
They again bubbled.
They popped like nine flashbacks.
And thereupon, I folded the knife
I used to lick.



Wednesday, March 21, 2012

What is a Poem?

In commemoration of "World Poetry Day" (March 21, 2012).

What is a poem?
It is the children dipping their innocent toes
       in the brook during their favorite summerday...
It is a grandmother humming a country song,
       cradling her big ol' fat lazy cat...
It is a sweating activist crying out for change
       to thereupon fall in his hands...
It is a deep-seated angst of an abandoned
       street-child, rolling his eyes in paranoia...
It is a small island, tired of being fondled by the
       ripples of the ocean...
It is the red shining apple in the tree, in danger
       of falling...
It is a dazed damsel in distress, looking at the
       cracked mirror...
It is a dusty blank notebook, its crooked pages
       tearing apart...
It is about dancing naked in the rain and
       prostrating in the wet grass, smiling...
It is a glorious bonfire, furious but calm...
It is a double-edged sword, bragged and swung in
       war by an omnipotent warrior...
It is a silent prayer, however deafening across
       the sweeping ocean...

It is one of those falling leaves of autumn,
       dancing with the gentle wind...
It is learning how to kiss for the first time...
It is one of those dark, sleepless nights...

It is an endless question
And a pointless endeavor...
It harbors an inner conflict
On whether to end this with a period.
Or an ellipsis.....

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Extranjero # 2

This one's from the 2007 edition of "The Spires". The Spires is the official literary journal of San Beda College (the school where I finished my bachelor's degree in Philosophy & Human Resource Development. I'm part of Class 2010). I chose this poem for my second Extranjero post because it exactly relates to one of my experiences 4 years ago.


Sa Aking Karatig Dagat
Pambie Herrera


Marahil,
hindi mo na matatanggap
ang aking pagbabalik:


Dahil minsan, ikaw ay
aking nilisan nang walang
babala.


Duwag ako,
dahil iniwan ko
ang iyong kariktan
at kalaliman para
sa isang kapayakan.


Dahil ninais kong
maging mababaw.
Dahil minarapat kong
maniwala sa isang
kabalintunaan.
Dahil nawalay ako
sa iyong sisidlan.
Dahil nalula ako sa lawak
ng ating kaisahan.


Tinanggap mo na ba?
Tinatanggap mo ba?
Matatanggap mo pa ba?
Na napaso na ako
ng ibang araw?
Na nagatlaan na ako
ng ibang buwan?


Alam mo, noon pa man,
madalas akong
malunod sa iyong paanan.


At hanggang ngayon,
ang aking nagdurugong tuhod
ay nakatulos pa rin
sa lamig ng iyong
nagbabagang buhanginan.


Nagbalik ako,
hindi lamang dahil
sa lunas mong tangan.


Ngunit dahil sa simula pa man,
alam ko (at alam mo rin)
na sa pusod mo lamang
ang tangi kong
kanlungan.


(At doon, ako'y muling
mananahanan)