Jun Lit

Jun Lit Dec 2020

Small bites penetrate.
Large blisters declare the war.
Human invaders . . .

Jun Lit Nov 2020

Bumalikwas ang madaling araw
Mapula ang sinag ng malamlam na ilaw
Mula sa pagkagupiling ng iniwang gabi
Isang paos na tilaok pinilit magsabi
Tila inutil na tuod ang unan at papag
Walang tugon ni tikhim man lang
para sa likod at ulong lumapat

Mapagkunwari ang kulambo
Lamok pala’y kalaguyo
Akala ng balana’y karamay
Sa magdamag na paglalamay
Batang ipinaglihi sa Sto Niño
Ibebenta pala sa demonyo

Naglaga ng kape ang among kapre
Butil daw ay hinirang ng musang na tumae
Galapong pala’y napanis na sapal
Nilagyan ng dagta ng nilinlang na bangkal
Bang-aw na ang panatikong tagasunod
Lublob na sa pusali, puwit pa rin ang hinihimod:

          Sayang ang kita, mamaya’y bayaran na!
          Copy-paste-post - sige pa!
          Ang perang kikitain ay mas mahalaga
          May paburger pa sina konsi at mayora
          O e 'no kung nasa poso ***** tanang kaluluwa?

Bayaning tangan ay tabak, tila nakanganga
Kinain na ng anay ang papel at pluma.

Brewed Coffee - 12; 12th in a series of poems mostly focusing on my memories of Lipa, the place of my birth, childhood and teenage years.

#brewedcoffeepoems

Jun Lit Nov 2020

Molawin Creek

Loud gush or chilled chimes
Hornbills’ chants accent your flows
Sounds bring inner peace.

Molawin Creek in Mount Makiling flows from midmontane part of the rainforest and downstream to the UPLB Campus. During the rainy season the sound of gushing waters dominate the sounds along the trail. In the drier months the flow brings calming sounds of a gentle stream.

#haikusinformnatureintheme

Jun Lit Nov 2020

Mudspring

Sulfur mists rising.
The goddess boils her thick soup.
I am enchanted.

inspired by the Mudspring, an acidic hot spring in Mount Makiling, Laguna Province, the Philippines. Local mythology says a goddess, Mariang Makiling, guards the forest. Despite the sulfurous fumes, the site, along with surrounding little mudpots, amazes me.

#haikusinformnatureintheme

Jun Lit Nov 2020

Riverine Symphonies

Clear waters running
Playing notes, percussion stones
Nature’s symphonies.

inspired by a river flowing through a forest

#haikusinformnatureintheme

Jun Lit Nov 2020

Cree Indian Saying Paraphrased

When all trees cease breath
and all rivers smell of death
Money means worthless.

Widespread destruction of lives, sources of income and natural habitats - happening in the Philippines and in other places in the world right now are products of human activities - worsening as climate change increasingly approaches the point of no return. It reminds me of the Cree Indian saying: "Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money." This haiku paraphrases it.

#haikusinfromnatureintheme

Jun Lit Nov 2020

Ulysses' Strong Winds

You huffed and you puffed
Howling, blowing all night long.
We’re but poor li’l pigs.

The Philippines just experienced its 21st typhoon this year, from last Tuesday until today, 12 November 2020. Locally named Ulysses (International name: Vamco), it is the 7th in a succession of destructive tropical cyclones within just 6 weeks. Climate change is real.

#haikusinformnatureintheme