When I was five,
my mother told me I was loved.
Years later, she asked me to leave because
I was the reminder of the gruesome past that haunted her.

When I was ten,
my father told me he believed in me.
Years later, he refused to accompany me because
I was an embarrassment to him in front of the society.

When I was fifteen,
my friends told me I was funny.
Years later, they all laughed at me because
I was the gullible teenager who fell for their flawless façade.

When I was twenty,
this guy said I was beautiful.
Years later, he trashed me, tormented me because
I was ignorant enough to overlook my inevitable flaws.

So, sorry for not believing in you,
for questioning your intentions, inclusively, in-depth
when you told me you loved me because
I didn’t want to wind up years later,
learning it the hard way that people often don’t mean what they say.

I always hated the scorching heat
Summer always brought
I could never escape it

The undesirable feeling
That came along
Was the kind of warmth

That was too warm
And uncomfortable
As the heat engulfed my body

In an embrace
I could not free myself from
Not allowing me to function

Travelling the span of my entire body
Like critters all over my skin
Leaving me soaked in sweat

You were the cool breeze
That pressed against my forehead
An angel passing through

In this free trial of hell
I don’t know if you’ll leave
Seconds after arrival

But I thank you
All the same
For the comfort you bring

At least
For a little while
I had a taste of heaven

Kapag sinabi ko ang panghalip na “siya”
Hindi malalaman kung babae o lalaki ang tinutukoy
Mahal kong wika
Tanging panangga
Ang nagtatago ng sikreto

Kaya kitang gawan ng tula
Walang makaaalam ng lihim na tinatago

Isa kang manunula na karapat-dapat
magmahal at maging masaya.
Isa kang tula
Na may angking ganda
Na minsan ay hindi maintindihan
Kung hindi nilalaan ang oras upang pag-isipan

Minsan pinupuna ng iba
Dahil hindi sila nito pinapasaya
Hindi nila alam
Paano mahalin ang tula
Tanggapin ang lahat ng tayutay at salita nito
Na hindi na kailangan ng kapalit o salitang panibago

Wag kang makinig sa kanila
Ikaw ang tula at manunula
Ikaw ang may hawak ng sarili **** istorya
Ikaw ang magdedesisyon sa bawat salita, linya o stanza
Yakapin mo ang sarili **** ganda
Hindi mo kailangang patunayan ang sarili mo sa iba

Ako’y tanging nagbabasa lamang
Nagmamahal at nagsusuporta
Kung kakailanganin **** humiram ng ilang salita mula sa akin
Wag kang magdalawang-isip na ako’y kausapin
Alam kong balang-araw, malayo ang iyong mararating
Kung hindi ka naniniwala, magtiwala ka lamang sa akin

A spark. A flame.
The crackling of fire on wood, whispering your name.
The fire inside me calling out.
Leaving no room for any doubt.
I am sure of what I want.

I want the world to remember me.
I want to live on in people's memory.
This makes me happy.
My heart was set aflame.
This isn't just a hobby.

If you sense my fire about to die out,
Would you grab a candle
To help keep my light?
At least, for another night.
I may be bound to a life of darkness, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

Ilang buwang pumatak ang pawis at luha
Nagsunog ng kilay sa madaling umaga
Kumuha ng mga pagsusulit
Susi sa pagkamit ng mga pangarap

Sa tagal ng paghintay
Lumabas ang mga resulta
May natuwa sa tagumpay
At ibang binati ng lumbay

Hindi ko man alam ang eksaktong nararamdaman
Tiyak na hindi ito ang katapusan
Hindi ito hatol sa iyong kinabukasan
Malayo pa tayo sa dulo

Patuloy pa rin ang buhay
Iikot pa rin ang mundo
Na grabe kung ito'y mapaglaro
Ang tanging permanente ay pagbabago

Sa iyong paglakbay
Hindi maipapangakong
Makararating sa destinasyon nang walang galos
Ngunit hihilom din ang ano mang sugat

Hindi rin garantisadong laging may ilaw sa daan
Sa kalyeng lalakaran
Baka kailanganing mangapa ka sa dilim
Sa pag-abot ng mga tala

Alin mang landas ang piliing tahakin, pinangarap mo man o hindi
Naniniwala akong mahahanap din ng iyong mga paa
Ang landas patungo sa iyong destinasyon
Kung saan ika'y liligaya

Kung maligaw ka man ay 'wag mangamba
Mahahanap mo rin ang tamang direksyon
Mag-ingat ka sa iyong paglakbay, kaibigan
Padayon!

-for Easter, on a body appearing in the melting snow

You can see now...
you can breathe, freely:
nothing can touch you now.

     Cry, suffer, die ...for a brother
     - by brothers you may live.

Every person has his breaking point,
I turned to drugs to ease the pain.
Do look down on me, a mirror,
having you reborn, a man again.

     Innocent like a still-born child,
     faithful like a sleeping foetus,
     ready like a falling seed.

Today it's me,
tomorrow... you.