Descent

On her solitary perch
Atop the spires of holy haven
She bathes in deep thought;
Stirs not, speaks not
Only waits for one.

But the clock turns;
She gives a smile,
The one illumined by eternal night;
She descends swiftly into earthly ground,
Leaving on her spire
For the one who must come
The scarlet beating of her heart.

Dependence

A thousand tiny dots
On sable skin;
Pricked, every one of them.
Little floodgates of the soul
Bleed despair.

They leave nothing,
Just themselves
That blacken,
That widen and deepen
Even when all is spent.

But she holds out
Her dotted hands;
Waiting
For someone else's despair
To course through.

Wala

Laging nakahiga,
Di makuhang sumilip man lang;
Sa mga inaamag--
Ang ganito'y mas mainam
Walang ilaw,
Walang dilim,
Walang iniisip.

Fallen

If ever I remain fallen
It is by choice that I will not rise
If by rising my blistered lips
Will but cease to kiss
The imprint of your sole
And my bruised forehead
Desist from touching
The very tips of your toes

Let me be fallen
If by remaining prostrate
My sallow arms
Could but brush against
The skin of your heel
And my broken back
Carry the weight of your step

Let me be fallen
If by being stricken
I remain naught
But the rag before your feet

Paglalakad

Milyon milyong milya,
Maghapo'y tinatahak;
Binibigyang pasakit
Mga binting walang imik.

Palibhasa'y ang tumoma'y
Lubhang mapait,
Kaya't damdami'y inilulunod
Sa dumi't pawis ng laman.

Ibang klaseng pagpapakamatay;
Sa iilang hakbang maibabaon
Mga butil ng pag-asa.

Bughaw

matagal nawala
nagpaikot-ikot
sa mga kalye ng isipan
poot
galit
kawalan
mga sangkap
ng bughaw na tinta

1:15

on the shallow waters of my river
i float dumbfounded,
but even in such waters
my soul must struggle,
for it must sink ever so deeply
beyond my reach
towards uncertain depths;
only to discover that in my sorrow
my waters are never shallow.


3:00

the truthful confessions of a reflection
tell me not all lakes are calm,
not those fed by the waters of despair.
glassy surface,
its placid countenance belies inner whirlpools
that tear apart a destitute heart.