in baler where the sun shines and the waves visit
is where freedom bathes under the blue skies
in the seaside realm of surfing

simple hotels line the shore
where you can run to the beach fronts
after settling in little white rooms,
and in the blue water
wait tanned, youthful surfing instructors--
local boys of the province who've grown up
with the salt water as their playground.

get on your surfboard and
join the waters,
"mag-timing ka sa alon,"—
"wait for the waves", the instructors say
and lie down on your stomach on the surfboard,
and when you do get the waves you ride them fearlessly,
you are lifted, invincible,
by the hands of the philippine sea.

and if you don't surf,
the smooth sands are there,
calling you to lie around
under the seaside sun.

and when night falls
and the waves are reckless,
you can sit on the sand
with a bonfire and some drinks—
watch the stars
with the sound of the tides as your music
and do not fear;
for in the morning
the waves will come rushing
back to the shores of Balers
to give anyone freedom
as they always do.

It had been awhile since I made
my bed blanket print down.
The lines diced her torso like
veal bound with baler's twine.
I walked out shirtless, aimless
into the old night beneath
the frigid-stricken branches
refusing to sway. The pads
of my feet turned gravel
from the fresh asphalt the city
just laid beside me. The tar
lines that patched the gaps
glossy like kintsukuroi.
Where workers in ash and oil
gloves picked away at the new
earth two weeks beside me.
Too weak beside me,
too weak alone.
My movements were sparse
wading through the dry
swimming pool. My joints
were like a shed lock trying
different keys until one's
ridges matched enough to move.
Branches, no cars, just branches
like arteries pumping night,
but more like baler's twine.

Kalungkutang bumabalot,
Nooy kumukunot.
Nagkakamayang kilay,
Nakakainis na buhay.

Nag away kasi tayo,
Kaya mainit aking ulo.
Ito nga ba'y pang ilan?
Di ko na yata mabilang.

Pero kahit anong mangyari,
Di kita malimutan...

Sa pagkat akoy isang alon,
Ipagtulakan mo man, ikay babalikan.
Naiwan nating kahapon,
Ikay dalampasigan, hahalik-halikan.

Lagi **** sinasabi,
Alaala mo'y aking isantabi,
Lagi man tayong mgtalo,
Sa ngiti mo d kayang manalo.

Isang hakbang palayo,
Pabalik akoy tumatakbo.
Isang sigaw sa hangin,
Pambawi koy paglalambing.

Dahil kahit anong mangyari,
Di kita malimutan...

Sa pagkat akoy isang alon,
Ipagtulakan mo man, ikay babalikan.
Naiwan nating kahapon,
Ikay dalampasigan, hahalik-halikan.