Pilit hinahabol ng gunting-pamugot
ang tanging dugsong na duguang pusod,
huminto’t tumigil, piniringang may-takot
ang pangalan ng saksi sa mga sagot -
pusod, di-makita, hila ng sanggol na supót,
nag-anyong kabayo, takbo nang takbo
ngunit di abutan, kawatang kangkarot,
akmang tatakas sa malupit na bangungot
mabuti’t nag-iwan ng aklat, Gat Patnugot,
at tila ebanghelyong liwanag ang dulot -
kapag namulat ka’y mahahawi ang ulap at ulop
Kay sarap lumayang tila tsokolateng malambot.
Translation:
Nightmare
The scissors appeared running, relentlessly
after the bloodied umbilical cord - the only
remaining link, pausing, stopping worriedly
blindfolding the name of the witness to the answers –
the navel-umbilicus, concealed, trailing the infant
uncircumcised, disguised as a horse, galloping, trotting,
but unable to catch up, with the thieves running,
attempting to escape from this nightmare so dreadful
but the Hero Author-Editor luckily left a book, eventful
and like biblical epistles to the heathen, giving light
clearing clouds and fog as your eyes open bright.
How sweet it is to be free, like choco mallows delight.
Written as a response to San Anselmo Publications' Martial Law Weekend Poetry Challenge; inspired by an image depicting the book "The Conjugal Dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos" by Primitivo Mijares, a scissor covering the name of the book's owner to whom the author wrote a dedication, a horse figurine and a chocolate marshmallow - all on a table in a corner of some room.
