Hinila ka ng hilahil
patungo sa di mawaring
liwanag, banaag na bumubulag,

unti-unting pumupunit sa iyong
balintataw at pananaw sa
kahulugan ng pagpapatianod

sa agos ng panahon. Pag-ahon
ito kung ituring ng sinumang
wala sa iyong perspektibo. Ngunit

ang iyong pag-iral ay hindi iniadya
ng panahon. Likas itong likha ng
buhay, kinatha ng kahulugan,

kataga, at pag-asa.

A rose stares at me
At the bedside table.
Reposed and still, it is
Withered by time,

Drizzled with tears and
Years of waiting and
Wanting for love's
Redemption.

For a moment, it recites
A poignant Villanele
Inscribed on a faded
Photograph of young

Lovers. There was a
Promise of forever,
But forever is a word
That belongs to fairy tales.

There is no fairy, only a
Tale of fair reality that even
The Sun sets in paradise...
Another rose stares at me

At the bedside table, she is
Reposed and still. Nightfall
Comes, as she leaves our
Room, darkness invades the

Horizon. The rose has ceased to
Bloom.

Kinakanlong mo ang
Hiwaga at kahulugan ng
Isipang sumisipat sa
Walang kapares na
Alindog ng paralumang
Itinatangi ng engkantasyon.

Tumila ka man, tila ang
Unos na tangan mo ay
Bitbiting papasanin ng
Agam-agam at gunita.
Lisanin man ng ulap at
Ikubli ng bahag-hari ang
Nagbabadyang pangamba,
Ang iyong pagdatal ay
Lumbay at ligaya na sa
                  puso'y ikinintal.

I have traveled this road
So many times, toward
The remoteness and
Nearness of our love.

In rhythm and rhyme
Our hearts and minds repose
Their faith, conquering
A thousand cycles of tires,

Which, no matter how many
Times they and this fate bring
Me closer and farther from you,
This road, will remain barely

As a road, because you are
The **path...