Nabuntagan

Kita mo niya?

Mora siya’g burikat nabuntagan.
Samtang ang uban nanguli na sa ilang gigikanan
O kaha mitugpa na kuyog sa ilang unlan
Siya naa pa sa kapunawpunawan
Nagpa-gwapa, nagpa-byu, byu sa imong agtang!
Kung unsay hinungdan wa koy kasayuran.

Kung ania pa lang si Nanay sa nataran
Kung tua pa lang na siya sa balay hikaplagan
Sigurado jod ko nga anaay makusnitan
Kung di sa iyang dalunggan sigurado ko diha sa bugan!
Perte raba jod to si Nanay maka-kuan
Makahilak ka uban sa imong bugan.

Hay, buwan
Ngano intawn nga ikaw nabuntagan?



Friday, April 30, 2010
5.30 in the morning

Flying to the moon and back

I stared into the moon empty. Boring myself into its brilliance. From my bed, through the windows, summer nights are blue, I noticed. But nothing comes into mind. I adjusted my pillows and forced myself to think. About something. Or someone. But even if the moon is slowly dipping towards the mountainous horizon and still I could not think of anything. My eyes drowsy, however.

It has been a very busy week, doing extra hours that sometimes drag into the wee hours of the morning. My mind is actually used up. I even noticed, only lately, that my works were all the same. Boring. Flat. And nobody pointed them out.

But the moon gives me something to look up to. An inspiration? A sentimental reason? Once, I alighted from the jeep because I could not help but be awed by its magnificent beauty even nursing a stiff neck the day after. And now, in this bed, lying alone and waiting for sleep to come, I stared at her again.

It is one of those rare moments when my head is empty but myself full. Another one of those lunatic moments.

The Moon and a Street in Tagbilaran

The moon is the only quiet witness to the deserted Tagbilaran street. It was only 9 in the evening. Sayang. My Sony Ericsson was not able to give justice to the beauty of the moon and the street that evening.

The Fish Greeters of Alcoy

They just sat there. On the beach. Like some entranced zombies waiting for the kill. I did not understand. When I saw them they were silent. Staring. In the distance. If not of the torches put in a red plastic containers, the place would have been mistaken as abandoned. The moon slowly inched up the sky. There I saw them. That was when I discovered them.

Still I did not understand. I did not asked for the answers. Some times we never ask. Observation provides the answers. 

And then the innocent boats came to shore. Their innocence was evidenced by just the shadows the moon cast on them. Like ghosts never wanting to be disturbed. But a single boat with a torch slowly made circles and advancing towards the shore. A leader? A shining light to be followed? I was amazed. The boats and the people at the shore acted the same. 

And then a shout.

Just one shout and the shores suddenly made a frenetic activity. The zombies came alive. Running. Dragging. Pulling. Shouting. Their shadows illuminated by the moon. The torches came on. Then I saw the small silvery fish on the nets they were pulling. The zombies were preying on the small fish. The small things jumping out, their silvery color being enhanced by the moonshine. The moon and the death amongst them. Survival of the fittest. Silver. Moon. Death. Survival.

The once-thought-as-zombies were alive with the intent to kill. Eat specifically. They were putting small silvery fish on containers. Large ones. Too large for the small fish. And giving a measure to those who helped. One for the pullers. Two for the drivers. How much for the sailors?

I was caught in the madness...

Early morning Easter, after a rain

I woke up early this morning because it rained and someone called me up to greet me a Happy Easter. I looked out from my window and there was the moon smiling at me. I took a remembrance using Canon DSLR Rebel XSi.

Between the Moon and You

In the moonlight I can see your lips quiver
Touching me, every inch I shiver
I could have wanted to catch the moon
And place it on a silver spoon
And feed your mouth as your tongue works its wonder
To see my body shine and slither and surrender.
But the evasive moon only lend her rays of glory
To the glass pane that covers our entirety
All I could do is arched in darkness
Where we moan our satisfaction and emptiness.

Pagpangayo sa bulan / Asking for the moon

Lubaga ang liug sa manok

Sa pagpangita mog pinulongan sa pagsadya

Unsaon paghisgot sa kasadya

Kining tanan giladlad sa langit

Unsa kaha og pinulongan sa bulak na lang?

Malaya ra

Pinulongan sa mga dahon,

Matagak sa panulti

Ang kawayan magkurog

Maghohongihong kon imong duolon.

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Wring the neck of the chicken

In your search for a language of festivity

How to speak of celebration

The skies lay all these out

Why not the language of flowers instead?

It will only wither

The language of leaves

Will fall from speech

The bamboo will quiver

Whispering if you come near.

Hope Sabanpan-Yu

Mga Dad-onon sa Biyahe / Things to Take on a Journey

Sunflower Press