Submit your work, meet writers and drop the ads. Become a member
 
Kapag ang lupa'y nag-alay na ng huling hininga,
Alalahanin mo yaong sayo'y sumamo ng tiwala,
Humimbing ka sa mga nalabing labi ng karumalan,
Ilubog mo ang sarili sa pusod ng kawalan.
Tama kaibigan, ito na nga ang kamatayan.


Death

When the earth has breathed its last,
Remember the people who gained your trust
Then, sleep  with the ruins this monstrosity has created
Plunge yourself in deep desolation
Yes my dear friend, this is no longer an illusion.
This piece is my Filipino translation of Julie Ann Alfonso Pachoco's English poem entitled "Death." Julie Ann is my former student in the university. She is one of those who survived the enormous threats foisted by  traditional praxis of university education in the Philippines. There is an iota of truth in Einstein's words: "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."
 Oct 2013 Sofia Paderes
Chris
When I was younger I always used to
see how long I could hold my breath
under water.
I never realized that I was preparing
myself for days
(for weeks)
like these when the surface is far beyond
my reach and water begins to fill my lungs.
I should have taught my bones to survive
on something other than air,
but here I am; driving with the windows down
on nights that sink below 50 degrees,
just so the wind can try and keep me company.
It does a terrible job you know.
It keeps telling me that it will be okay,
but I’m still hitting every red light.
And as I pass by arching power lines
I wonder which ones lead in your direction.
I wonder how long it would take me to get there.
I’ve been traveling around too much lately
anyways.
Nothing feels like home anymore.
I miss you.
 Oct 2013 Sofia Paderes
R
it was easier to
look into your
eyes today.

you helped me
with my math
and you looked
me in the eyes
but now i see
the real you and
you'd think i'd
despise the
way you judge
people so easily
and the way you
looked at her
when she came in;
it was like she was
the worst thing
that could happen
in your day.

yet somehow, i
stayed calm and
made you calm
down because
you bring out the
best in me and yet
i still love you no
matter how many
flaws you have.

does your fiancé do the
same?
 Oct 2013 Sofia Paderes
Jedd Ong
On the wooden beds you once lay
Bloodstains remain-
A murky brown
Undoubtedly
Yours.

You paid the full price
For sinners who wouldn't
Stop

Injecting pins and needles full of
Bitterness, scorn and
Shame.

For your life
Was exchanged rusty needles and half-
Filled syringes full of
Hate—

Searing our
Eyes full of anger and mockery and—

Grace,
What have you done


You,
Stabbed to death for a
Freedom not even guaranteed,
Wounds not even cleansed,
Bones not even mended—

Murdered for me on that cross

All for the slightest glint of broken mirror,
Hoping that a shard would
Pierce

Me.
Ex. 14:14
 Oct 2013 Sofia Paderes
brooke
occasionally I
live in old
photos.
(c) Brooke Otto
 Oct 2013 Sofia Paderes
brooke
i remember;
for so long you
used that photo
i took of you at
the mukilteo beach
climbing the tower
beside the train tracks
we were so long bathed
in a sepia world in a state
ever clouded but i remember
being young with you, I remember
being carefully happy.
(c) Brooke Otto

until later.
Ang pagpapakahulugan mo sa
kahulugan na animo'y unos ng
kataga, sukat, at tugma, ay

sapat nang saplot sa hubad na

siniphayong talinghaga ng isipan
at libingan. "Namnamin mo ang
damdamin ng Wika," ang wika ng

mangingibig na makata.
For my teacher and inspiration, Dr. ROLANDO A. BERNALES.
Read his works and be inspired: http://www.rabernalesliterature.com/

Quezon City, Philippines
September 30, 2013
 Oct 2013 Sofia Paderes
Jedd Ong
I have never woken up to a sunrise

Instead,
I have watched the walls turn
From gray to orange, and
From orange to white,

Seen the shadows of trees
That never knew the sight of my face,
Refracted light creeping into my bedroom through
The windowsill

Forcing their way through the darkness,
The cracks,
And the creases of my eyelids.

To this day,
The closest I have gotten to sunrise
Wass the musky gray of
Dawn.


But I have woken up to a moonset.
 Oct 2013 Sofia Paderes
Chris
I hate buying milk.
I always think about
where I’ll be when it reaches
its expiration date,
and how you still
won’t be there with me.
Next page