It is my dream
To be able to paint you naked
Using tears and clay that has formed
The enchanting decorations in my eyes
I shall draw the curves of your hips,
Like the waves, splashing, as if
Making love to the rocks on the shore...
I shall let your long hair fall
Until it becomes a lush veil
To shroud all your
Weaknesses.
I shall draw your whole body,
And I will be amazed
Like a child is,
To the mysterious Mariposa
Flying back and forth
Fluttering, over the alluring
Rose of the war.
Sep 28, 2013
Sep 28, 2013 at 11:00 PM UTC
It is my dream
To be able to paint you naked
Using tears and clay that has formed
The enchanting decorations in my eyes
I shall draw the curves of your hips,
Like the waves, splashing, as if
Making love to the rocks on the shore...
I shall let your long hair fall
Until it becomes a lush veil
To shroud all your
Weaknesses.
I shall draw your whole body,
And I will be amazed
Like a child is,
To the mysterious Mariposa
Flying back and forth
Fluttering, over the alluring
Rose of the war.
Mariposa is a butterfly. The original word was retained to preserve the rich images that have been ascribed by many Filipino poets to this wonderful creature.
This excellent translation of my Filipino poem entitled "Katawan" is a proof that poetry has been and will always be our soul's universal language. I thank and salute Ms. SALLY A. BAYAN, a poet par excellence, for the honor of reincarnating the images carried by this piece to the English language. Muli, maraming salamat po Bb. Sally! Mabuhay ang makatang Pilipino!
University of the Philippines-Diliman
September 28, 2013
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