Ode to A Songstress

Rainbow visions were all I could see


upon hearing this diva, an artist so lovely.


She reaches heaven with rhythms so smooth


and a voice that make mountains move.


She may not be so delighting in dance,


but her music will put you in a trance.


She wrenches your heart with her lyrics.


She'll make you crave for more with her gimmicks.


She brokedown in the past, but got up to her feet.


She emancipated and again made it big.


She is larger than life, a force to be reckoned with.


She is an idol, an icon, in her own merit.

Tralala

Minsang nagmahal sa baog na salita.
May biyaya ni Ikapati ang pagniniig.
Halik at yakap ay may halaga
sa mga katagang hindi naririnig.

Kaaya-ayang pagmasdan, maamo niyang mukha.
Ngunit may sumusugat sa aking pandama.
Minsang nagmahal sa baog na salita,
isang paghamon ang di inakala.

May biyaya ni Ikapati ang pagniniig.
Ngunit kailangang mag-alay kay Sta Clara
Upang umusbong ang ninanais na pag-ibig,
Upang mamunga ang sinusupling na pag-asa.

Halik at yakap ay may halaga
Sa bawat sandali ng pagniniig.
Ngunit tadhana'y walang magagawa
Kung kapwa kayong nagtitiis.

Mayroon pa bang mas nakabibingi
Sa mga katagang di naririnig?
Ito'y mga saloobing nasisikil,
nagsusumigaw na damdamin.

Fires of Feb

A sniff, then stoned, it's the start of it all.
You'll expect more than a bump, you'll begin to soar.
See streaks of colors, blinding ones like the sun.
It is night, and you like the excitement and fun
of naked bodies getting in to the groove
of house and trance as your little world move.
A spin, a blur, it is nothing at all
compared to the heady feeling of free fall.
It's you flying from the edge of the cliff,
and smoothly gliding, not minding the stiff
sensation that rams inside your innocent hole.
You just groan in pleasure, begging for more.
And the seweges scream of the fluids of Feb.
It's the start of the strain, getting caught in the web
of lust and base desires of your heart.
The beat, the rhythm, the bone in your flesh
you feel him starting to slingshot some fresh
seeds of his manly essence. A flash. A silvery glow.
A hit, a bang, the fang of his bow.
The smug in the face, he's a keeper and a find,
the edge of the bed, the end of the line.
His spear, a spike, he nails you several times.
A drip, a drop, the start of an epic climb.
A sniff, then stoned, it's the start of it all.
You get more than a bump, you'll end up sore.
And the city burns in the fires of Feb.
It's the start of getting caught in the web.

Para sa Iyo - Isang Minadaling Berso Bilang Pagpapaalam at Pagsasara ng Kung Anumang Namagitan sa Atin

Lumisan kang dala ang kapiraso ng aking puso.
Ni hindi nagsara ang kabanata ng ating pagsuyo.
Paano kita masisisi kung ako naman yung lumayo,
pagkat tiwala ko'y iyong 'pinagkanulo.

Buong akala ko'y isa kang anghel,
isang pagkataong di dapat kinakarir.
Ngunit sadyang kay bilis ng pagdating
at paglisan ng pagsintang mithiin.

Ako pala'y walang lugar sa iyong hinaharap.
Ang sabi mo'y may ibang bubuo sa 'yong pangarap.
May katuwang ka pa't ako'y panakip-butas
sa mga oras ng pag-iisa't pagkasawimpalad.

Salamat. Pinalakas mo ang aking loob.
Akala ko'y langit at lupa'y tuluyan nang sumaklob
sa nanliliit kong mundong nagunaw, tinupok,
na muling bumangon sa aso ng pagsubok.

Pinapanalnagin kong maging maingat ka
sa paghawak ng puso't damdamin ng iba.
Maging lalong maingat sa pakikipagniig,
ngayong balita koy' ika'y HIV-positive.

Another One Written After Introduction but even before a Date Materializes

We're not that close.
Close friends don't flirt
at each other, and put strawberries
in their mouths. They harvest the sweetest
fruits and share them to the world.

Close friends don't kiss
to seal greetings or messages
of sweet nothings and i miss you's.
They face the music of life.

Close friends don't hug
and feed each other's fantasies.
They send each other off with love
for them to keep on their way.

We've gotten close,
because you led me on to you.
And not because we're friends.

Beauty and Grace Dwells in You

Break away from the errors of the past.
Nurture not the demon child of your weakness,
for it will only feed on your fears and frustrations.
It drains you dry of energy and spirit,
and leaves you in the jungle for dead.
Should you tackle a mountain or a mammoth,
step back. Don't run away.
A journey starts with one step;
a rival finishes in good tactic.
If you're facing a reflection of yourself
that's unattractive,
fall not into the illusion of the mind.
You were created in the image and likeness
of the Spirit. Beauty and grace dwells in you.

Pagbalik ng Musa

Bumalik ang Musang may kurot sa tadyang.
Nakagugulantang.
Pawang nagmula sa batis o masahian,
kinumusta ako nang may kalandian.
Ako'y napanganga; kinabog ang ganda ng haring
pinagpala ng maraming tagasuyong
nagbuhat sa iba't ibang bayan
upang hanapin ang natatanging
magpapalaya sa kanila sa kaapihan
ng pag-iisa.

Minsan nya akong dinala sa mapupulang lansangan
ng pag-aalinlangan. Nakipaglandian sa katwiran.
Nilaro ang dibdib ng kasibulan. Kinangkang
at kinamkam ang hiyas ng kahinhinan at kahinaan. Ngayon
tinutulak akong tawirin ang tulay ng panunugis,
pagbangon at pagtatagumpay. Hinahayaan akong
baybayin ang birheng kakahuyan at suyurin
ang madidilim na sulok ng kalibuga't
Sadyain ang salasalabat na landas na bihirang
sulyapan ng mga silahis ng araw.

Sinuway ko siya na parang anak sa madrasta.
Pinili kong iguhit ang mundo
sa kulay ng aking paraiso - isang bahagharing
ipinangako sa sariling hindi na muling
magbabaha ng luha o luluhod ang mga tala
kapag ang puso'y tinapon sa hangin.

Batis

Samu't saring diwata
ang nagbabatis sa gabi,
nagtatampisaw sa dilim,
ikinukubli ang kinang at pakpak,
ibinababa ang lipad sa lupa
hanggang mairaos ang magdamag.

Nakita ko sya sa batis kamakailan.
Pawang isang malakas na siga ng apoy,
pinutakte siya ng tingin, pagnanasa, at pagtatakam.
Dinumog ng mga nagpaparamdam,
walang pakialam ang adonis
sa mga di nya nais.
Isa syang bathala
na naghihintay ng kanyang kapwa.

Nais kong mag-alay ng laman.
Baka ako'y matanggihan.
Kaya't ako'y lumayo;
sa mababang-uri nakipaglaro.

Hindi lahat ng batis,
nakapanglilinis.
Hindi lahat ng bathala,
may mata ng awa.

Happy Are Those Who Have Been Loved All Their Life

The center of turbulence is peace.
Let not the spirit be purturbed by the harsh winds,
for love is still and unshaken.
Thunder and lightning may terrify,
but the heart is kind and uplifting.
We face the unkind and insensitive in our lives;
we should welcome the good and embrace the truth.
For nothing is greater than death...
Or even worse.

If something or someone is taken away from us,
we trade our tears to the hopes of bringing them back.
But death is an unfair businessman.
We are victims of our own illusion.
Any loss can only be settled with a will to let go
of our shortcomings,
our sins,
and our past.
For the weight of the burden is an impediment to glory
and to peace.

Our hearts seek to be forgiven,
to be accepted,
and to be loved.
Tragic are the final moments,
when the one mercy
the one hope,
and the one love
were given at the last minute.
Happy are those who have been loved all their life.

Isinulat sa Gitna ng Isang Whirlwind Romance na may Bittersweet Aftertaste

Ayokong isiping kinakarir kita.
Mabuti kang tao at busilak ang loob.
Pero ang ginagawa nati'y mukhang di tama.
Unti-unti na kong sa iyo'y nahuhulog.

Tinatanggi kong nilalandi kita,
pero wala akong masabi - isa kang anghel.
Hihilahin lang kita sa iyong pagkasira,
pero hangad ko sa buhay, ika'y makapiling.

Sana nga, wag mong akalaing
nilalaro kita.
Minsan na akong nagsayang
ng dyamante.

Don't Get Close

Don't get close to me.
My heart's like a trap:
At first, it's lovely.
Then it hurts you in a snap.

Don't get close to me.
I'm wearing a mask
of shallow pleasantry,
of deep but subtle angst.

Don't ever get close to me.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
I keep closer my enemy,
the lover I'll soon resent.