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1.1k · Jan 2018
Bosses
Tita Halaman Jan 2018
We are artsy lasses with dorky glasses
On spurned kisses with tinny braces
On selfsame faces at lavish places
On kindred spirits in empty spaces

We, we are the bosses
Archi, we are everything I want
We, we are the bosses
Archi, we could be everything they want
Tita Halaman Sep 2021
Come hurl hurdles
Come hurl hindrances
Never will I loose grip
Heading to where I wish to be
Never will I swim, in depths of apathy
To strive, to thank, to forgive
I’ll faith it till I make it
So please don’t you lose faith in me
Tita Halaman Aug 2023
Growing lines, stretching limbs
The eyes, I'll endlessly bury
The hands, I'll endlessly move
Flipping pages, sniffing phrases
I'll fold the skin, I'll bend the bones
For nowhere
But up
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Nov 2021
Never a stumbling block
But, a rising stepping stone
To leap, to outlive, to surpass on
A constant change, where I belong?
A constant move, to thrive along
Hence never will I stop, never will I fret
Leaping higher, jumping over
Me, myself
A poem for a painting for Art Moments Jakarta, representing Philippines under DF Art Agency
Tita Halaman Dec 2022
Yes! Hate’s only from the brutes
It’s not in our books, not in our books
Like this brotherhood of the dudes
Count on me, Count me in
I’ll pull you up!
With flowers!
A poem for a painting about sisterhood/strong friendship
624 · Oct 2021
A Leo
Tita Halaman Oct 2021
Tons of letters, I put on to sheets
Day by day, by and by
For myself and I, could fly and die
For you
A poem for an original painting and a song
566 · Jan 2023
“Overwork”
Tita Halaman Jan 2023
Us, our lives in hard mode
Born unlucky to grow in a hard way
Systems, eating us alive
Folding us, wrecking our wild
Unbalanced, restless, uptight
Some systems, do not nurture creativity
And i’m a fiercely enduring candlelight
Here, we’re set to overwork,
Until,
We’re up there
A poem for a painting
559 · Jan 2018
After the Dreamer
Tita Halaman Jan 2018
Henceforth all shameful outbursts
Thenceforward my final death
Jilt, she made me play with fire
Wooed by appalling words she said

She, i ween, is no beautiful
She, i ween, is no enchanting
Yet, she is her dreamer, she is her art
Ergo since farewell, once deaf harked

After the dreamer, after the art
Sniffer cheated, sinner starved
Naked I mourned, naked I yowled
Lost faith from Agave, still fresh from the yard
Tita Halaman Jan 2018
Loosened strips, unfastened cords
Cloaked tawny petals you constantly hold
Eight Thirteen, by the park
Heading to Montevista, you showed your art

Oh crippled young wishful thinker
An acquaintance from her alter ego
You taste like sea and you glint like gold
You cried an ocean yet never left her floored

Come closer fake schuyler, come closer...
Stains from my cheek, the briny tang of Montevista
Smears from my agony, your sweet smell like tequila
Who killed this fondness? Who ruined this mania?
Answer me, answer me, Montevista!
467 · Jan 2022
“Ablaze”
Tita Halaman Jan 2022
Enraptured with flames, here I stand
I’d lick the shame built by eyes tricking
Visions tempting to suffocate, to bury bliss under
Them seeing light as a phase, a never forever

Yet why here, I stand still like a brawny brute?
Blazing courage, a burning gritty pursuit
Drifting cosmic hues, flowing boundless gleam
How come to love, is now a sin?
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Jun 2022
Here, you’ll see
Wild souls, so vivid
Young minds, fueled spirits
Bursting hues beyond grit and faith
Striving, truly, is the heart you’ve made
Molded and shaped to ignite the blaze
A treasure indeed, we’ll forever embrace
445 · Sep 2018
Lei and Antimonan
Tita Halaman Sep 2018
All stately, all prime
She, who's steady, she who's fine
Heedfully, she's plodding
Yet impassioned, she's overwhelmed
Whilst covertly she's asking
Wherefore am i can't profess?
Abruptly, what's endless, she ended
Clueless, my own demise
To whomever i should be incensed?
Who would've thought she could?
442 · Feb 2021
Swim of the Faithful
Tita Halaman Feb 2021
worry not, we’ll cheat death
eternity, I had it set
for you’ll live forever in me
deeper than my soul
louder than my divinity
so I’ll always get through
here in the cold, unmoved and blue
yet, will never be bluer
for waves, they’re pulling me under
yet with faith, all is above water
so I believe
435 · Mar 2021
Out of Hurt
Tita Halaman Mar 2021
What have you become?
From every harm that has been done
From every bullet you bit
From every grief you licked
You tasted fire, you chewed flames
You’d burn greater, you’d burn brighter in the rain
For every courage came from pain
Out of love, you’ll win every game
Out of hurt, you’ll never be the same
So why would I fret?
A poem for an art exhibit in Altro Mondo Creative Space Makati, Philippines
Tita Halaman Sep 2021
day by day, I go
to unfamiliar paths I’ve dreamt
without a thing, but with a word
a dream, an aim to put to work

by and by, I’ll learn
little by little, I’ll thrive
to inspirit every end of the story
every luckless can someday be lucky
A poem for a commissioned painting
403 · Jan 2023
I, Sometimes
Tita Halaman Jan 2023
Your spirit’s high, your tongue’s cold
My soul’s deep, my mouth’s bold
A gentle love we knew that once grew old
Floating on your waters, spinning above my road
Have you ever thought about me?
I sometimes tear up
I sometimes wonder...
A poem for a painting
353 · Dec 2021
“Sometimes I Wonder”
Tita Halaman Dec 2021
Never can a teardrop even
Roll down on your sad face
Whenever you leave me
Whenever I’m hurt
And here am I
Crying oceans below you
Feeling the weight, feeling the depth
You’ll never feel
You’ll never let the world to see
How come you’re telling me
You love me?
Tita Halaman Jan 2023
When this world’s mess is mine
When i’m eaten alive by my mind
When it felt like quicksand
You’ll find my elbows bent
Palms up, hands raised
Standing, in a nearby church
Singing, “Ama Namin”
And I’ll live again...
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Jun 2022
In life, I race
High-heeled climbing rocky mountains
Undaunted swimming in gnashing flames
The harder it gets, the better I’ll be
For in life, I’ll race
Just to hear, your praise
So I could die, lucky
Hearing, you’re proud of me
Tita Halaman Jan 2021
then, it filled me loathing
wondering, why can’t I?
stop
these tears
they show up, they disgust me
they fall, they swim
into places I have been
into cracks, onto pavements
of my never-ending dream
just to find out
that the queen
is just a girl, to your film
just a verse of a song, you don’t mean
just a myth, my reality can’t win
A poem for a painting
279 · Jan 2023
“Karaoke, To Forget”
Tita Halaman Jan 2023
Sure she’ll lose what she won’t take care of
She lost one, she lost two
Remorse, regret: She captured, she caught

Hence parties now aren’t just for celebrating
She’d blowout grief, she’d pop some tears
Here, she sings, she drinks, she dances
To forget...
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Feb 2022
Some moments, some days
Scared, we are to him
He, a path maker building towers
Dribbling battles, catching hurt
Writing our next chapters, word per word

His unheard laughs, his unseen tears
His grateful heart, his firm power
He, a light seeker lifting us like a king
A man who can lose for us to win
A poem for a painting
268 · Jul 2022
“To Patiently Endure”
Tita Halaman Jul 2022
Her and her indomitable will
She’ll bend and burn, and will stay still
For she, who can endure, can conquer
The patient, is the hopeful growing flowers
A squat in the storm, a breeding of power
A trailblazer who can also be a follower
And in time, you’ll see
What an ache of a disciplined could be
Beneath the curves of a tired bending body
The prize of her and her indomitable will
264 · Jun 2021
“Toast to the Grief”
Tita Halaman Jun 2021
Go, gaze; eye to eye
Dive in hues, swim against the current
Do what scares you, until it doesn’t
Each tasted hurt, each tasted flames
Yet, guts eat fire; grit win games
A mirror of charm, a mirror of gloom
A toast to the grief
One’s sadness in bloom
A poem for a painting
253 · May 2021
A Toast To New Chapter
Tita Halaman May 2021
On glooms and shadows, alone we seek
Strokes of hues, glimpse of light
To flip the page, then start to write
A new chapter, as we sleep tonight

Aren’t we all trying?
To live a life worth dying
To put a smile beneath our breath
So lucky you, if you have met
Who will toast with you to new beginnings?
Who will make life worthwhile?
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Jun 2022
She, a collector of chances she embraced
Piling the work, in her big blue space
She’ll toss and catch with her hands so weary
Clutching ways, through her handmade glory
A jill of trades, yet master of some
We’ll watch her out, she’s just begun
245 · Jul 2022
If Soulmates are Unreal
Tita Halaman Jul 2022
Yes, might be
To think is such a responsibility
The less curious won’t read
Won’t  mind, won’t care
Might be complacent, maybe unaware
But how come you’re still here?
Stirring thoughts beneath my phrases
Holding me, through your mind in ages
If soulmates are unreal
Surely we won’t believe it
For certain, I know you feel
So surreal yet so real
Come, bury us down with what we deserve
You and me, in this slow spinning world
243 · May 2021
Avid Believer
Tita Halaman May 2021
On pins and needles
I’ve never dreamt with bated breath
Though not all I wish is what I get
Though I swim in sins, in tears I shed
For my limbs hugged me to get up
For my faith helped me to never drown
Never, as long as I believe
238 · Dec 2021
“Life’s Worth Living”
Tita Halaman Dec 2021
“Hurry up!”, the blue world saying
Yet when love dives deep, none will be drowning
Beneath the hues, it’ll set your soul burning
Side by side, you’ll find life’s worth living
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Sep 2021
Maybe then I’ll meet
My secret weeper, in public places
My yesterday’s plea, my shade of blue
Yet, I can never look her in the eye
Jump high instead, would I?
Leap over, overcome
So I can laugh, like it’s no harm done
A poem for a painting
236 · Feb 2021
Music
Tita Halaman Feb 2021
Tell me,
how can you sing
words you don’t mean?
Forgive me,
I’ve never known, I’ve never heard
music
like that
Until,
you left
Tita Halaman Jun 2022
Not much was given, yet I give so much
And if you’ll treat me badly, I’ll treat you good
A one step better aid, the way it should
See? that dance I know for a living
Come, play too as the grateful being
With firm handshake, I’ll support
Here, one of the easy wins, I can afford
230 · Jan 2021
Lucky One
Tita Halaman Jan 2021
to you, how true
I’ll never win
I’ll hold your hand
I’ll wash them clean
I’ll kiss the blame
the lines between
your hair, your eyes
your frowning disguise
I’ll cry the pain
I’d lick the shame
and I won’t complain
for still,
I’m a lucky one
for I’ve never felt so true
I’ve never loved someone
a lucky one like you
Tita Halaman Jul 2022
I know I shouldn’t be
Fitting in to what I hate to see
Spending time and energy
Useless lines, so temporary
Her and her every night parties
When she gets sad, there’s suddenly me
Oh God, She remembers
I somehow make her happy

Mind’s pitch black
Thoughts’ upside down
She yells and screams
She smokes and thinks
Dancing life through her makeshift joy
I should allow, as her happy toy
A total opposite
To my depths, to my flames
Her and her every night parties
A perpetual bleed to my agony
I beg, please let me sleep
227 · Mar 2021
Beautiful Dependence
Tita Halaman Mar 2021
How can we believe,
on love we don’t receive?
How can we give back,
something that’s not given to us?
How can we depend,
on words they will send?
How can we wait,
though we know it’s too late?

Things I’m surprised I can do
Never for anyone, just for you
I’d stretch limits, I’d swim through
For I trust, someday you’ll hear me too

so beautiful dependence,
pardon me, I won’t embrace
sweet life world promised, full of grace
for I know, for certain, what’s real
so I won’t leave
A poem for a painting
218 · Sep 2022
“Tired yet Hopeful”
Tita Halaman Sep 2022
Words of a happy
So simple, so ordinary
We could’ve said, we could’ve read
Yet for our sake,
We’d rather not remember

Words of a happy,
Piling up phrases, I can see
Swimming through our irises
Eye to eye, we’d feel
We could’ve said, we could’ve read
Yet, world spins wildly
Hurting now seems routinary
Timing’s just unkind to the unlucky
So...
Maybe I’ll just see you again someday
Till “happy”, becomes...
A safe feeling to portray
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Jun 2022
Deep breaths hither as I ponder
Stretched out limbs, bearing my character
Heavy, but I’ll let my pain lift me
Closed eyes, as I see clearly
Calm, is the mindful and aware
Mind, is the weapon
To this world, so unfair
Tita Halaman Feb 2021
How can you sleep?
Only to dream
How can you sing?
Words you don’t mean
How can you try?
Without aiming to win
And how can you love?
Without giving it

I need to learn, I need to see
How can you even turn,
something real to a dream?
How can you do it?
How come I’m still wondering?
In the middle of an ocean
of tears, I swam
of blood, I sailed
all day, all night
for you
212 · Jul 2019
An Exclusion
Tita Halaman Jul 2019
Kinda disappointing:
Instead of motivating,
You’re accusing, you’re defending

Kinda rude and confusing
We can’t feel that we belong
On our own, we should accomplish
On our own, we should celebrate
210 · Feb 2021
My Father’s Prayer
Tita Halaman Feb 2021
never did I feel
the touch of grief
the ****** of mercy
until,
his arms, it cracked me
his eyes, it crashed me
hurting, wishing
time, can alter truth
force, can heal my youth
love, that’s all he gave
tears, as he kneeled and prayed
oh father, you embraced me while I bleed
oh father, who am I not to forgive?
love, I thought I’ve known it
until...
203 · Jan 2023
“Painkilling in Sagada”
Tita Halaman Jan 2023
She’ll move mountains, she said
Once she’s stable, she believed
Sniffing flowers and leaves
I’m confused, I’m intrigued
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Jan 2021
If courage is pretty
bet you should award me
as the prettiest lady
with the perfect smile

To you,
if only courage is pretty
maybe, you will adore me
for eating flames, for gnawing chains
for holding tears, for facing years
for diving in your great wave
for swimming against the tide

To me, indeed
courage is pretty
Yet, why is that so, honey?
you do nothing
and you’re still lovely
bet this world should award me
as the prettiest lady
for I’ll never give you up
198 · Jan 2021
The Pain of the Creative
Tita Halaman Jan 2021
tons of strokes laid onto sheets day by day
it won’t stop, it can’t hear what they say
it’ll always hope, it’ll always pray
one day, one morning
my forehead straight to sunbeams
I’d kiss the grief away
I’d ******* dreams and stay
for I’ll never quit, I’ll never fold
I’ll touch, I’ll lick, every pain I sold
one day, one morning
I might lose, yet never be losing
faith
so I’ll try again
198 · Jan 2021
Guy Analog
Tita Halaman Jan 2021
seems like everyone’s in a hurry
writing their future, changing their stories
so dear, wouldn’t it be lovely?
to cling some time in a memory
some things I wished I had before
some things I wrote and worked hard for
so now, to drive back once more
a solace, a comfort, a fill-in to my core
194 · Feb 2021
Sorrows of the Queen
Tita Halaman Feb 2021
with all she has heard, with all she has seen
living’s cruel, so she has to win
she’d take her sorrows, wash them clean
go cleanse the hurt, beneath the skin
so you won’t see, you won’t notice
the pain below, she’d never show
Instead, she’ll  grow, she’ll let you know
crowns won’t shine, for those who let her go
188 · Jan 2021
Rich Man’s Sport
Tita Halaman Jan 2021
Slip, flub, try
See? The aim’s still there
As the rich man cries
Whiff, chip, fly
The dream’s still there
Above the bluer skies
Here, he who pays the piper calls the tune
Yet, dime a dozen men can’t get the moon
So I repeat,
Slip, flub, try
And I won’t stop
A poem for a painting
185 · Apr 2023
“An Indelible Flame”
Tita Halaman Apr 2023
My brand new soles passing through my erstwhile souls
I keep clambering up, leaving my former body
I keep growing, I keep outgrowing
I keep changing, I keep forgetting

Yet, my smallest voice keeps singing to me  
Yet, my inner child keeps remembering me
The only space where my smile sparks, fervidly
The only flame that won’t suffocate me,
Eternally...
A poem for a painting
180 · Apr 2021
Equivalence
Tita Halaman Apr 2021
One stage, time may thought it halted
Skipped the beat, missed the pocket
Cut the groove, tried to reset
Sat and stood, yet will never forget
The love it poured, behind these wires
In every word, in every line
Who sees, who saw? both sides can rhyme
A poem for a painting
Tita Halaman Apr 2021
What would we be?
If only we’ll forget
Limits, we used to set
Limits, the mind coined threat
A win or die trying
I’d lift my body soaring
For I and I, who made myself suffer
Would fly one day, steering together
My tears, my sweat as a dreamer
Tastes like water, feeds my brain
Eyes on the prize, numb on the pain
How wild, how mad, life’s truly a game
A poem for a painting
178 · Apr 2022
“Paumanhin”
Tita Halaman Apr 2022
“Rational to brawl the irrational!”
As they irrationally brawl like pawns?
Feeding kings and queens with faithful heart
Bursting flames with tongues so sharp
How far can you go? How far can you go?
With the depths of what you know
With the love you can’t let go
How far can you go? How far can you go?
A poem for a song and a painting
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