From My Eyes

My knees hurt from having to kneel
waiting to hand one offering after another

beads of sweat in my blood
wondering whether or not it was enough.

in the end it was not jewelry but my words
just as it was in the beginning.

Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation
Edited by Victoria M. Chang
Foreword by Marilyn Chin

Filipino American poets featured

Rick Barot
Nick Carbo
Antonio Jocson
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Oliver de la Paz
Jon Pineda
Marisa de los Santos

This exciting anthology of work by up-and-coming writers is the first to profile a new generation of Asian American poets. Building on the legacy of now-canonized poets, such as Li-Young Lee, Cathy Song, and Garrett Hongo, who were the first to achieve widespread recognition in the American literary community, this new generation also strikes off in bold new directions. Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation gathers for the first time a broad cross section of the very best work of these young poets, much of which has never before been published or has appeared only in hard-to-find journals and first books of poetry.

The poems collected in Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation lay a groundwork for readers while at the same time expanding the scope of American literature. Featured poets, all under the age of forty, include Timothy Liu, Adrienne Su, Nick Carbo, Sue Kwock Kim, Rick Barot, Brenda Shaughnessy, Mong-Lan, as well as less familiar names. Their backgrounds combine many ethnicities and their perspectives and concerns broaden the boundaries of Asian American poetry. Some continue with styles and topics closely related to those of their predecessors while others break conventional patterns and challenge readers with new subject matter, fresh language, and powerful new voices.

A foreword by Marilyn Chin puts the book in context of both Asian American national identity and history, and makes the important distinctions between generations clear. Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation opens the door on a dynamic, developing part of the poetic world, making it finally accessible to students, scholars, and poetry fans alike.


"The poems in this vibrant, varied collection address so many subjects in such a range of voices that it all but destroys monolithic notions of Asian American identity, culture, and issues."
-- Guiyou Huang, author of The Columbia Guide to Asian American Literature

"A new generation of Asian American poets has indeed risen and needs to be acknowledged and celebrated--something this book does brilliantly. Victoria Chang has done a great deal of digging, allowing the reader of this collection to experience again and again the excitement of discovering a vibrant new poetic voice."
-- Jim Daniels, author of City Pool and coeditor of American Poetry: The Next Generation.


Illinois Univ. Press
232 pages. 6 x 9 inches.
Cloth, ISBN 0-252-02905-4. $45.00
Paper, ISBN 0-252-07174-3. $20.00
Poetry / Asian-American Studies / Literature, American

Pilipino Poems

If you ever wanted Pin@y poems, here it is.

Assignment for March 2004: Flipping the situation.

This is the poem that I forced to birth. It was a difficult assignment from Rollie Guess who my inspiration is: George W. Bush!!! He stammered, he yawed, he sank into oblivion when asked about the US soldiers who were taking photos of tortured Iraqis posed in the nude. Talk about having an idiot in the White House. We got one!

A Filipino-American Soldier in Afghanistan

(First days of the Gulf War II)
Barbarians! The whole lot of them.
Living in filth so that they can
humiliate and murder people.
Barbarians! They deserve to die!

A special place in hell awaits all these
who would be the bringers of jihad.
They will burn in the fires of damnation.

(December 2003 of Gulf War II)
Barbarians! They separate me from
my wife and children. If it were not them
I would be at home fixing my children's
Christmas presents. I will kill them for that!

I am doing God's work by bringing civilization
to the Middle East. I will sanctify
this land with the power of America
just like Spain civilized the Philippines.


(May 2004 of Gulf War II)
Barbarian! I killed a whole village yesterday
with the simple push of a button.
While the world trade center took four thousand
I have taken four thousand myself.

I will meet in hell the jihad warriors
whom I despised so much.
I am in hell.

A list of Pin@y Writings


NOVELS

Apostol, Gina. Bibliolepsy. U.P., 1997.
Babst, Arlene. Xeniteia. National, 1982.
Batacan, F.H. Smaller and Smaller Circles. U.P., 2002.
Brainard, Cecilia. Song of Yvonne. New Day, 1991. [The Day the Rainbow Goddess Wept, Plume, 1995]
Casper, Linda Ty. Awaiting Trespass. New Day, 1989.
__________. Dread Empire. Heinemann, 1982.
__________. Dream Eden. Ateneo, 1997.
__________. Fortress in a Plaza. New Day, 1985.
__________. The Hazards of Distance. New Day, 1981.
__________. The Peninsulars. Bookmark, 1964.
__________. A Small Party in the Garden. New Day, 1988.
__________. The Stranded Whale. Ateneo, 2002.
__________. Ten Thousand Seeds. Ateneo, 1987.
__________. Wings of Stone. New Day, 1990.
Chai. Arlene. The Last Time I Saw Mother. Fawcett Columbine, 1997.
__________. Eating Fire and Drinking Water. Review. 1998.
Castillo, Erwin. The Firewalkers. [Anvil, 1992]; U.P., 2003.
Dalisay, Jose. Killing Time in a Warm Place. Anvil, 1992.
Daroy, E. Vallado. Hazards of Memory. New Day, 1992.
Enriquez, Antonio. The Living in the Dead. Giraffe, 1994.
__________. Subanons. U.P. 1998.
__________. Surveyors of Liguasan Marsh. [Univ. of Queensland, 1981] A. Ruby/ARE, 1991.
Enriquez, Mig Alvarez. Devil Flower. National. 1977.
__________. House of Images. New Day, 1993.
Galang, Zoilo. A Child of Sorrow. [1921] PECO, 1924.
Gamalinda, Eric. Confessions of a Volcano. Anvil, 1990.
__________. The Empire of Memory. Anvil, 1992.
__________. My Sad Republic. U.P. 2000.
__________. Planet Waves. New Day, 1989.
Garrido, Wilfredo. Stolia. New Day, 1983.
Gil, Lakshmi. The Third Infinitive. Tsar, 1993.
Gonzalez, NVM. The Bamboo Dancers. Benipayo, 1960.
__________. A Season of Grace. Benipayo, 1956.
__________. Winds of April. U.P., 1998.
Groyon, Vicente. Sky Over Dimas. DLSU, 2003.
Hagedorn, Jessica. Dogeaters. Pantheon, 1990.
__________. Gangster of Love. Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
Hidalgo, Cristina Pantoja. Recuerdo. U.P., 1996.
__________. A Book of Dreams. U.P., 2001.
Holthe, Tess Uriza. When the Elephants Dance. Crown, 2002.
Ilio, Dominador. Guerrilla Memoirs. 1993.
Infante, Eddie. Affairs. New Day, 1984.
Javellana, Stevan. Without Seeing the Dawn. (1947) Phoenix, 1976.
Joaquin, Nick. Cave and Shadows. [National, 1983] Anvil, 2003.
__________. The Woman Who Had Two Navels. Regal, 1961.
Jose, F. Sionil. Ermita. Solidaridad, 1988.
__________. Gagamba. Solidaridad, 1991.
__________. Mass. Solidaridad, 1979.
__________. My Brother, My Executioner. New Day, 1979.
__________. Po-On. Solidaridad, 1984.
__________. The Pretenders. Solidaridad, 1962.
__________. Tree. Solidaridad, 1978.
__________. Two Filipino Women. Solidaridad, 1981.
__________. Viajero. Solidaridad, 1993.
Kalaw, Maximo. The Filipino Rebel. [1927] Filipiniana, 1964.
Laya, Juan, His Native Soil. [1940] Kayumanggi, 1972.
__________. This Barangay Inang Wika, 1950.
Lim, Paulino. Tiger Orchids on Mount Mayon. New Day, 1990.
__________. Requiem for a Dying Priest. New Day. 1996.
Linmark, Rinehart Zamora. Rolling the R’s. Kaya, 1995.
Madrid, Renato. Devil Wings. Ateneo, 1997.
__________. Mass for the Death of an Enemy. Ateneo, 2001.
Miraflor, Norma. Island of Wives. Mediamasters, 1994.
Moore, Lina Espina. The Honey, the Locusts. New Day, 1992.
__________. Heart of the Lotus. Solidaridad, 1970.
__________. A Lion in the House. New Day, 1980.
Nakpil, Carmen Guerrero. The Rice Conspiracy. Vessel, 1990.
Nolledo, Wilfredo. But for the Lovers. [Dutton, 1970] Dalkey, 1994.
Ong, Charlson. Embarrassment of Riches. U.P., 2000.
Ong, Hau. Fixer Chao. Farrar-Strauss, 2000.
Polotan, Kerima. The Hand of the Enemy. [Regal, 1961] U.P., 1998.
Realuyo, Bino. The Umbrella Country. Ballantine, 1999.
Reyes, Gracianus. Death in the Cordilleras. New Day, 1988.
__________. The Uncommitted. New Day, 1986.
Rosca, Ninotchka. State of War. [Norton] Phil. Edition, National, 1988.
__________. Twice Blessed. [Norton] Phil. Edition, IWS, St. Scholastica/ Gabriela, 1988.
Salanga, Alfrredo (and Romulo Sandoval). The Birthing of Hannibal Valdez (in two languages). New Day, 1984.
Santos, Bienvenido. The Man Who (Thought He) Looked Like Robert Taylor. New Day, 1983.
__________. The Praying Man. New Day, 1982.
__________. Villa Magdalena. New Day, 1965.
__________. The Volcano. New Day, 1965.
__________. What the Hell For You Left your Heart in San Francisco? New Day, 1987.
Sering, Tara F.T. “Getting Better,” Reconnaissance. U.P., 2003.
Skinner, Michele. Mango Seasons. Anvil, 1996.
Talag, Michele. The Sanchezes of Old Manila. National, 1978.
Tiempo, Edith. The Alien Corn. New Day, 1992.
__________. A Blade of Fern. [Heinemann, 1978] Giraffe, 1998.
__________. The Builder. Anvil, 2003.
__________. His Native Coast. [New Day, 1979.] U.P., 2000.
__________. One, Tilting Leaves. Giraffe, 1995.
Tiempo, Edilberto. The Cracked Mirror. New Day, 1984.
__________. More than Conquerors. 1964.
__________. The Standard Bearer. New Day, 1985.
__________. To Be Free. New Day, 1972.
__________. Watch in the Night. Archipelago, 1953.
Uranza, Azucena Grau. Bamboo in the Wind. Vera-Reyes, 1990.
__________. A Passing Season. New Day. 2002.
Yuson, Alfred. Great Philippine Jungle Energy Café. [Adriana, 1988] U.P., 1996.
__________. Voyeurs and Savages. Anvil. 1998.

I have little tolerance for people like me

Yes, I keep seeing triple L's out there. Triple Losers. Jesus. I'm one of them.

for the SO

i am in love with a woman
who wields a sword as if
she was breastfeeding her child.

her stare reveals the many spirits
communing within her flesh.
they celebrate their lives

through her halad.
every strike a breath
every parry a laughter.

desire played a role in my life once
but now the heart skips,
flutters at the thought of her smile.

Patrick Rosal

I finally figured out what it is about Patrick Rosal and why he is one of the vanguard of the golden age of Pin@y culture in America:

He's a slam poet but he is not the typical slam poet of MTV. There is a complexity to his poetry that is unmatched by other slammers. He is a true poet living in a slam poet's body.

i protest

i protest how time moves
from baby to boy to man
i blink and
the people i know grow
wrinkles and white hair
i pucker to kiss and
children amused by stories
giggle at my feet
i hug a child and
i am called lolo
i protest the speed of my life
i want to kiss you
and live my life again.

turon

buddha used to preside over the store with incense drifting from the ceiling.
but now the crucified christ has come to spread his worldly charm all over.
food used to be bountiful, the product of an economy unsurpassed in raw materials.
but ever since christ came, the portions have been smaller, the meat less tender.

i did not mind the change in proprietors. after all how can you screw up pinoy food?
boil the chicken and pork in toyo and suka for an hour and you have adobo,
boil the rice in water and kanin appears. fry the pork in oil and lechon kawali pops out.
scoop the ube on the mixed nata de coco, langka and sweet beans and halo-halo is served.

wrap a banana with langka as if making lumpia, place into boiling sugar cooked
over medium high heat and turon the king of all merienda makes an appearance.
but christ in his holy charity prescribes that perhaps we should practice poverty
humility and some sort of piety so the proprietor of the store quartered the banana
and meekly placed it into the turon.

buddha was aghast at what his son christ's follower did. quarter a banana?
ridiculous. the saba costs the shine of FDR or ten lincolns, at most maybe a
washington coin. buddha cried when all the lovely friends he made through the
years stopped visiting the temple where christ practices piety.

slam poetry

i do not slam my poetry around
i'm afraid i do not have enough angst or anger
to summon the demons of alcohol, drugs or abuse
the worst my demons get is when i remember high school
i should have asked K to the dance floor or out for a walk
in UCLA's sculpture garden.

my parents never divorced each other though sometimes
i wonder if it would have been better if they did.
in america their lives were so intertwined by money that
petty jealousies would rear from something twenty years ago.
in the end though, my mother stayed in the hospital
as my father went through a series of chills and pills.

the closest my world came to an end was the death
of my mother. the sky was azurine blue with the hand of god
the wind gently kissed my ears and the sun was pure
the color of childhood milk. but worlds come to an end
and are reborn again if you choose to live your life.

slam fingers / slam feet do not materialize in the air
like cocaine fueling the economy. sometimes though when
the president wants a constitutional amendment to deprive
people of rights, my eye twitches, my fingers crack and
my head shakes at the stupidity of it all. but no, my fingers
do not point, my feet do not pace. my mind races and my heart
contorts at the absurdity. nothing else.

i am of age to a generation which never prized innocence because
it is only an illusion conjured up by ignorants and cowards. truth
comes in many forms and the more i and my generation see the
truth, the better of i and my generation are.

Simula

psst! hoy!

ako ay isang kolonyal
buong buhay nakatago
sa limlim ng siyudad.

lumaki at lumakas
mula sa hapag kainan
ng telebisyon at radyo.

marami akong mga kamay
na tumutubo mula sa aking
katawan. nakatago nga lang.

kung gusto mo naman ay
mata, mayroon din akong
pitong sa pikit ay marikit.

ang buhok ng karanasan
ay nagbigay kislap sa aking
nuong limang lipad ang tangka.

psst! hoy!

sa iyong sarili hanapin
ang kapatid ko.

Filipino Food Anthology Submission Guidelines

As expatriates, migrants, settlers in a world that
insists upon our Westernization, we lose so much. Our
language goes, economics necessitates the breakdown of
our family structures, and many of our cultural
foundations break down.

Increased urbanization has altered our living patterns
and our palettes. But what remains, unswervingly, are
our memories of food. Properly and lovingly prepared,
linked to rituals, a sense of community, geography.
Food brings us back to ourselves.

Submission guidelines:

-Up to 3 poems, short story, and/or other fictional
work.

-Each piece must make mention to or be inspired by at
least one Filipino dish. For example, green mango
shake would be considered a dish, but mangoes would
not.

-Included with the submission should be a recipe for
the referenced and inspiring dish(es). If all pieces
refer to only one dish, then one recipe may be
submitted. Author may choose which recipe to submit
if multiple dishes are mentioned in one piece.

Example: If all pieces refer to kare-kare, then one
recipe for kare-kare should be submitted. If the 3
pieces submitted refer separately to adobo, laing, and
kaldereta respectively, then a recipe for each of
these dishes should be included.

-Literary work may have been previously published.
However recipes may not have been previously
published.

-Author of literary work and recipe may be different.

-Author of literary work should have gotten permission
from recipe author for inclusion in anthology.

-Cover letter should include: short contributor's
bio(s), titles of pieces, list of recipe(s), and
contact info (name, address, and email or phone #)

Send cover letter with 2 copies of literary work and
recipes to:

The Filipino Food Anthology
c/o Barbara Reyes
1461 Alice Street #205
Oakland CA 94612

OR

Emailed in the body of the message (no attachments)
to:

pagkainbook@yahoo.com

DEADLINE: December 25, 2004

Do not send originals. Submissions will not be
returned. Questions may be sent to .

STUDY POETRY IN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN IRELAND
this summer with poets

NICK CARBO
DENISE DUHAMEL
CAMPBELL McGRATH

July 12th-August 12th 2004 (that's one whole month!)

Cost of trip $3395* (includes airfare, lodging at Trinity College dorms located in center of Dublin, and many other extras like literary tours, pub crawls, book of kels, etc. etc.)

Come join us in one of the most literary cities in the world. Land of Joyce, Wilde, Yeats, Beckett and many more.

Study the craft of Poetry with award winning poets at historic Trinity
College in the heart of Dublin.

The program offers both graduate and undergraduate credit and is open to anyone interested in learning how to write poetry.

Courses qualify for Teacher Re-certification.

You do not need to be enrolled in a college or University to participate.
  
* Price subject to change due to currency fluctuations March 1 deadline for applications. Only few spaces left, so hurry and sign up!

For more information follow link:

http://2studyabroad.com/default.htm

Any composers out there in California?

Obtained from the flips list:

The San Francisco Bay Chapter of the American Composers Forum announces individual grants of from $500 to $1500 as part of its SUBITO advancement grant program to composers in northern California.

SUBITO is designed to give an immediate financial boost to composers and performers of new music at a time when this help would have a significant career-enhancing effect. The application process is uncomplicated, and the peer review process is streamlined to provide quick turnaround.

WHO CAN APPLY? composers, performers, and sound artists who are strongly dedicated to their art, who show artistic merit, and who propose an excellent project.

Applications will be accepted from March 1 through September 1, 2004.

For application materials and further information, visit:

www.sfcomposersforum.org

Subject: asian american lit magazine

If youve ever been or have known an Asian-American person who loved to write in between practicing piano to the tick of his or her mothers kitchen timer and applying to medical school, we welcome you or your friend to consider submitting to Asian Americas new literary home, Mortons Toe.

MT is a literary magazine dedicated to supporting a new generation of talented Asian-American writers. Each issue will contain a short story oressay or body of poems or other creative literary work by one Asian-Americanwriter in a well-designed, easy to read, easy to carry format.

We are looking for submissions of previously unpublished material between 3000 and 8000 words or something substantial. We offer $100 and 10contributor copies upon publication.

The magazines website will also feature an interview of each writer we publish as well as other promotional material. In short, we're not interested in just putting out a magazine; we want to create a community to support emerging Asian-American literary talent.

If this sounds all right by you, click www.mortons-toe.com to submit or for more details.

Sincerely,

MT

PS. please direct any questions to
info@mortons-toe.com or
mijinlee519@yahoo.com

Ethnic Writer

This experience reinforced my belief about the racial politics of publishing. Prior to submitting, I had a hunch that the editor would choose the poem that was more “ethnic” over the poem that was contemporary and not culturally specific.... I knew that my work would be more appealing if I wrote race and culture in a way that added a gratuitous diversity to the collection of poems even if the poem was largely fabricated. Because I am an ethnic writer, I was expected to create ethnic work...
--Joel Tan, from his PINOYPOETICS essay excerpted in Jan. 7 blog entry

One of the preoccupations I have had recently is to analyze the poems which won the Palanca awards in the Philippines during the 1980's. That decade is so prominent because of the social and political upheaval which took place to dislodge and drive away a dictator. When people feel that dying to attain freedom is more important than living in metaphysical chains, dictators have no recourse but to leave.

Examining the poems, I can't help but notice that there are no references to Philippine mythology though there are adequate references to Greek mythology. It is interesting to note that some poets even sound British or American in their usage and choice of language. I have discussed before how Filipinos often subvert a dominant paradigm and transform it into something distinctly Filipino. However, in my readings of the Palanca poems, I do not detect said subversion.

I am sure that there many other writers who wrote during the 1980's poems that were more nationalistic or more centered on being Filipino. Their absence in the anthology can probably be explained through the hypothesis that these writers did not win in the competition. What does that say then for the judges of the Palanca award?

In writing, there are always choices. What I have found is that each individual writer makes a conscious decision about the nature of his writing. I have consciously decided to make poems which explore the colonizing influence of America and Spain in my Filipino psyche. The poet Eileen Tabios chooses to subvert the English language by being an avant-garde in poetics because the narrative form has been used in the colonization of the world.

It is interesting to note that Joel Tan is examining publication and the expectations on an ethnic writer. It almost seems like he is making conscious decision to compromise the art for the sake of publication. At least that is my take on it from the excerpt above.

Poetry by Pin@ys

These are poems as sent to the internet by Alberto Florentino.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luya
Anonimo

Ako ay nagtanim,
kapirasong luya,
tumubo ay gabi,
namunga ng mangga;
nang aking pitasin,
hinog na papaya;
bumagsak sa lupa—
magandang dalaga!

Tanaga
Anonimo

Katawan mong madudurog,
Uuuri't mabubulok,
Siyang sinusunod-sunod,
Hinihimas, iniirog.

Soliranin
Ang Tamuneneng Ko
Anonimo

Ang tamuneneng ko'y lumuha sa bundok,
Kasabay ang taghoy ng luha't himutok.
Luha'y naging dagat, along sumasalpok,
Ang tamuneneng ko'y sadyang napalaot.

Ako namang ito'y humanap ng daong
At kusang tumugpa sa gitna ng alon.
Natagpu-tagpuan: sigwa at daluyong,
Ang tamuneneng ko'y kung saan nataboy.

Mana isang araw, humampas ang hangin
Dini sa dibdib ko na nahihilahil.
Kaya pala gayon ay si tamuneneng
Nasa aking puso't doon humihimbing.

Hayo, mga sama, at ako'y tulungan
Sa dagat itawid itong kapalaran.
Kung tayo'y palaring dumating sa pampang,
Ang tamuneneng ko'y aking kalangitan.

Hala, gaod tayo, pagod ay tiisin,
Ang lahat ng hirap, pag-aralang bathin.
Palayu-layo man, kung ating ibigin,
Daig ang malapit na ayaw lakbayin.

Awiting-Bayan
Jocelyn ng Baliuag
Anonimo
I
Pinopoong sinta niring kaluluwa,
Nakakawangis mo'y mabangong sampaga;
Dalisay sa linis, dakila sa ganda,
Matimyas na bukal ng madlang ligaya.

Edeng masanghayang kinaluluklukan
Ng galak at tuwang katamis-tamisan;
Handa kang maningning na ang matunghaya'y
Masamyong bulaklak agad sumisikal.

Pinananaligan niring aking dibdib
Na sa paglalayag sa dagat ng sakit
Di mo babayaang malunod sa hapis,
Sa pagkabagbag ko'y ikaw ang sasagip.
II
Ikaw ang lunas sa aking dalita,
Tanging magliligtas sa niluha-luha,
Bunying binibining sinukuang kusa
Niring katawang nangangayupapa.

Tanggapin ang aking wagas na pag-ibig,
Marubdob na ningas na taglay sa dibdib;
Sa buhay na ito'y walang nilalangit
Kundi ikaw lamang, ikaw niring isip.

At kawakasa'y ang kapamanhikan,
Tumbasan mo yaring pagsintang dalisay;
Alalahanin mong kung di kahabagan,
Iyong lalasunin ang aba kong buhay.
III
Sa tarik ng sinta, pagal na sa hirap,
Ang bunga ng nasa'y laging inaakyat;
Anyong padudulo'y biglang itinulak
Ng kapang-agaw ko sa sinta mo't liyag.

Ang idinilig ko'y luhang bumabatis,
Binakuran ko pa, masinsing pag-ibig;
Sa hardin ng sinta ako ang naglinis,
Saka nang mamunga'y iba ang nagkamit!

Adios, halamanang aking binakuran,
Hirap at dalita'y diyan ko kinamtan.
Kung kaya nga lamang di ko malimutan,
Palibhasa, Neneng, pinamuhunanan!

Mga Saknong Mula sa
Florante at Laura
Francisco (Balagtas) Baltazar

Pag-ibig anaki'y aking nakilala
Di-dapat palakhin ang bata sa saya,
At sa katuwaa'y kapag namihasa,
Kung lumaki'y walang hihinting ginhawa.
* * *
Sapagka't ang mundo'y bayan ng hinagpis,
Mamaya't sukat tibayan ang dibdib,
Lumaki sa tuwa'y walang pagtitiis,
Anong ilalaban sa dahas ng sakit?
* * *
Ang taong magawi sa ligaya't aliw,
Mahina ang puso't lubhang maramdamin,
Inaakala pa lamang ang hilahil
Na daratni'y di na matutuhang bathin.
* * *
Para ng halamang lumaki sa tubig,
Daho'y nalalanta munting di madilig,
Ikinaluluoy ang sandaling init,
Gayundin ang pusong sa tuwa'y maniig.
* * *
Munting kahirapa'y mamalakhing dala,
Dibdib palibhasa'y gawing magbata,
Ay bago sa mundo'y bawa't kisapmata,
Ang tao'y mayroong sukat ipagdusa.
* * *
Ang laki sa layaw karaniwa'y hubad
Sa bait at muni't sa hatol ay salat;
Masaklap na bunga ng maling paglingap,
Habag ng magulang sa irog na anak.
* * *
Sa taguring bunso't likong pagmamahal
Ang isinasama ng bata'y nunukal,
Ang iba'y marahil sa kapabayaan
Ng dapat magturong tamad na magulang.
* * *
Sa Tabi Ng Dagat
Ildefonso Santos

Marahang-marahang manaog ka, irog, at kata'y lalakad,
Maglulunoy katang payapang-payapa sa tabi ng dagat;
Di na kailangang sapnan pa ang paang binalat-sibuyas,
Ang daliring garing at sakong na waring kinuyom na rosas.

Manunulay kata, habang maaga pa, sa mga pilapil
Na nalalatagan ng damong may luha ng mga bituin;
Patiyad na tayo ay maghahabulang simbilis ng hangin,
Nguni't walang ingay, hanggang sa sumapit sa tiping buhangin.

Pagdating sa tubig, mapapaurong kang parang nangingimi,
Gaganyakin kita sa nangaroroong mga lamang-lati;
Doon ay may tahong, talaba't halaang kabigha-bighani,
Hindi kaya natin mapuno ang buslo bago tumanghali?

Pagdadapithapon, kata'y magbabalik sa pinanggalingan,
Sugatan ang paa at sunog ang balat sa sikat ng araw.
Talagang ganoon: sa dagat man, irog, ng pagmamahalan,
Lahat, pati puso, ay naaagnas ding marahang-marahan.

Kagilagilalas Na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Juan de la Cruz
Jose Lacaba

Isang gabing madilim
puno ng pangambang sumakay sa bus
si Juan de la Cruz
pusturang-pustura
kahit walang laman ang bulsa
BAWAL MANIGARILYO BOSS
sabi ng konduktora
at minura
si Juan de la Cruz
Pusturang-pustura
kahit walang laman ang bulsa
nilakad ni Juan de la Cruz
ang buong Avenida
BAWAL PUMARADA
sabi ng kalsada
BAWAL UMIHI DITO

sabi ng bakod
kaya napagod
si Juan de la Cruz.
Nang abutan ng gutom
si Juan de la Cruz
tumapat sa Ma Mon Luk
inamoy ang mami siopao lumpia pansit
hanggang sa mabusog.
Nagdaan sa Sine Dalisay

tinitigan ang retrato ni Chichay
PASSES NOT HONORED TODAY
sabi ng takilyera
tawa nang tawa.
Dumalaw sa Congreso
si Juan de la Cruz
MAG-INGAT SA ASO
sabi ng deputado.
Nagtuloy sa Malakanyang
wala namang dalang kamanyang
KEEP OFF THE GRASS
sabi ng hardinero
sabi ng sundalo
kay Juan de la Cruz.
Nang dapuan ng libog

si Juan de la Cruz
namasyal sa Culiculi
at nahiga sa pusali
parang espadang bali-bali
YOUR CREDIT IS GOOD BUT WE NEED CASH
sabi ng bugaw
sabay higop ng sabaw.
Pusturang-pustura

kahit walang laman ang bulsa
naglibot sa Dewey
si Juan de la Cruz
PAN-AM BAYSIDE SAVOY THEY SATISFY
sabi ng neon.
Humikab ang dagat na parang leon
masarap sanang tumalon pero
BAWAL MAGTAPON NG BASURA
sabi ng alon.
Nagbalik sa Quiapo
si Juan de la Cruz

at medyo kinakabahan
IN GOD WE TRUST
sabi ng obispo
ALL OTHERS PAY CASH.
Nang wala nang malunok

si Juan de la Cruz

dala-dala'y gulok
gula-gulanit na ang damit
wala pa ring laman ang bulsa

umakyat
sa Arayat
at namayat
na si Juan de la Cruz
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
sabi ng PC
at sinisi
ang walanghiyang kabataan
kung bakit sinulsulan
ang isang tahimik na mamamayan
na tulad ni Juan de la Cruz.

============================

Ladino
Salamat Ng Walang Hangga
Fernando Bagongbanta

Salamat nang walang hanggan
Gracias se den sempiternas,

Sa nagpasilang ng tala
Al que hizo salir la estrella

Nakapagpanaw ng dilim
Que destierre las tinieblas

Sa lahat ng bayan natin.
De toda esta nuestra tierra.


Kauna-unahang gamit ng talinhaga?
Loob Ninyong Masilakbo
Felipe de Jesus

Loob ninyong masilakbo
Parang ningas alipato,
Sa alapaap ang tungo
Ay bago hamak na abo.


Kauna-unahang kilalang makatang Tagalog?
May Bagyo Ma't May Dilim
"Una Tagala Persona"

May bagyo ma't may dilim,
Ang ula'y titigisin,
Ako'y magpipilit din
Aking paglalakbayin,
Tuluyan kong hanapin
Diyos na Ama namin.


Kauna-unahang makatang Tagalog na nakilala sa tunay na pangalan?
Salamat Nang Walang Hoyang
Pedro Suarez Ossorio

Salamat nang walang hoyang
Sa iyo, Diyos kong maalam,
Nitong iyong awang mahal
Sa aming Katagalugan.

Ikaw, paraluman namin,
Ang sukat nga naming sundin
Hanggang di kami dumating
Sa lalawigang mahimbing.


Awiting-bayan
Sinong Tao Kaya...?
Anonimo
(Nilathala ni Jean Baptiste Mallat sa Les Philippines: Paris, 1846)

Sinong tao kaya sa sandaigdigan
Ang may dusa nitong aking kahirapan?
Di mo na nilingo't pinalungaylungay
Pagsinta sa iyong walang kaliluhan.

Signos at planetas, nangasaan kayo?
Ikaw, Kamatayan, ngayo'y sumaklolo.
Aanhin ko ang buhay sa panahong ito,
Wala ring halaga kung ang sinta'y lilo.

Maghintay-hintay ka, irog kong pumatay,
Itong pinatay mo kung pagbabalikan
Di ko naman wikang ako'y panangisan,
Ihatid mo lamang sa tabi ng hukay.


Tulang-bayan
Pakinggan Mo, Aking Bunso...
Anonimo

Pakinggan mo, aking bunso, itong mga sasabihin,
Na sa aking katandaa'y parang huling tagubilin:
Sa puso mo ay ingatan at sa diwa'y kandilihin,
Balang araw ay tutubo't para utang na singilin.

Sambahin mo't dakilain ang mataas na Bathala,
Ang pagsamba'y diligin mo sa muni't nang manariwa;
Ang sarili'y para mo ring pawawalan ng bahala
Kung ang Diyos ay hindi mo itanim sa puso't diwa.

Mahalin mo habang-buhay ang Bayan mo at ang lahi;
Oras-oras, sa kilos mo, ay itanim sa pangwari;
Ang paglimot sa Bayan mo, sa sarili'y pag-aglahi,
Pagwawaksi't pagwawaldas sa likas na mga ari.

Igalang mo't arugain ang nagkupkop na magulang;
Oras-oras ay dinggin mo ang palihim na awitan;
Kahit ka na naghihirap, kasaluhin sa dinulang,
Kahit mo na ikasawi, aliwin sa panambitan.

Bigyan mo ng karangala't dakilain ang sarili;
Sa tukso ng kamunduha'y hindi dapat mamarati;
Busabos ang di marunong sa sarili'y kumandili,
Isang hamak ang sa lusak ay masabing nahirati.

Sikapin mong lumigaya't tumahimik ang tahanan,
Maging pugad ng marilag at mapuring kapalaran;
Ang ligalig sa buhay mo ay dapat na paglabanan,
Kung labis man sa panata ay di bagay na tawaran.
Ako Ay Nagtanim
Anonimo

Ako ay nagtanim,
kapirasong luya,
tumubo ay gabi,
namunga ng mangga;
nang aking pitasin,
hinog na papaya;
bumagsak sa lupa:
magandang dalaga!


Mahal Na Binata
Anonimo

Mahal na binata
ay magdahan-dahan
ikaw nang paghipo
sa kanan kong kamay;
dulo ng daliri'y
kapag hinawakan,
buti pa'y kitlin mo
ang sariling buhay.


Mahal Na Ginoo
Anonimo

Mahal na ginoo, nagpupumilit ka,
Ako'y turuan mo ng sumar de cuenta;
Bituin sa langit, kung ilang hilera,
Ang tubig sa dagat, ilagay sa tasa.

Mahal na ginoo, nagpipilit ka rin,
Dahon ng aroma ay iyong hichuhin;
Pagka nahicho mo'y dalhin mo sa akin,
Ang hain mong sinta'y pilit tatanggapin.

Mahal na ginoo, huwag kang magpumilit
Umakyat sa kahoy na lubhang matinik;
Baro't salawal mo'y magkakampupunit,
Kung sa ganang akin, walang masasapit.


May Balak Ka Pala...
Anonimo

May balak ka palang
pumitas ng rosal,
di ka nagpunta
nang kapanahunan;

nang pumarito ka'y
lagas na ang tangkay,
buko ma'y wala na,
nasa iba nang kamay.

ibang bersiyon:

Ikaw at ikaw rin,
aking sinisisi,
may nais ka pala,
di ka nagsasabi,

ang nakakatulad,
bituin sa langit,
sisikat din lamang,
nagpahatinggabi.

Hele, Hele, Tatis
Anonimo

Hele, hele, Tatis, hele, hele, Tacion,
Bendita tu eres, sabado ng hapon,
Binabati kita, di ka man nalingon,
Nagmamalaki ka, may panyo kang asul.

Ang panyo mong asul, dinagit ng lawin,
Dinala sa bundok, siyang pupugarin;
Di na maglalaon, ako'y bibili rin;
Luma na ang iyo, bago pa ang akin.


Di Baga Noong Una...?
Anonimo

Di baga noong una,
noong unang panahon,
ako ang anahaw
na pinandungpandong;
nang makakita ka
ng pulang payong,
pandung mong anahaw,
iyong itinapon.

Itinapon mo na,
iyo pang winaksi
at ang wika mo,
di na magsisilbi;
ano't nang masira,
payong mong binili,
nagsauli ka rin
sa pandung mong dati.


Sa Dalampasigan
Anonimo

Sa dalampasigan,
dagat ng Maynila,
Luneta ang tawag
ng mga Kastila;
doon nga binaril
ang kaawa-awa
nating Pilipino,
martir nitong lupa.

Naramay sa dusa
'yang ating tanggulan,
panganay na Burgos
at bunsong si Rizal;
sa inggit at takot
ng mga sukaban,
pinatay kahit walang
bahid kasalanan.


Halina, Halina
Anonimo

Halina, halina, kulasising itim,
Galing sa gubyernong padala ng matsing;
Kung maliligo ka bukas nang madilim,
Padadalhan kita ng gugong maitim.

Halina, halina, kulasising puti,
Galing sa simbahang padala ng pare;
Kung maliligo ka bukas nang tanghali,
Padadalhan kita ng gugong maputi.

Halina, halina, kulasising pula,
Galing sa simbahang padala ng kura;
Kung maliligo ka bukas ng umaga,
Padadalhan kita ng gugong mapula.


Mahal Na Ginoo
Anonimo

Mahal na ginoo,
akin pong tinanggap
ang iyong padalang
mapitagang sulat;
nang di paratangan
ng pagmamataas,
tutugunin ko po
ang inyong kalatas.

Nagtataka ako
sa kapangahasang
ang pagsinta ninyo'y
sa akin inialay,
gayong tanto ninyong
ako'y may magulang.

Dapat sangguniin
sa ganitong bagay.
hanggang dito ako'y
magpapasalamat
sa pagsintang handog
na di ko matanggap;
maniwala kayo,
ang tunay kong hangad,
Kayo po'y magkamit
ng magandang palad.


Kundiman
Jose Rizal

Tunay ngayong umid yaring dila't puso,
Sinta'y umiilag, tuwa'y lumalayo,
Bayan palibhasa'y lupig at sumuko
Sa kapabayaan ng nagturong puno.

Datapuwa't muling sisikat ang Araw,
Pilit maliligtas ang inaping Bayan;
Magbabalik mandin at muling iiral
Ang ngalang Tagalog sa sandaigdigan.

Ibubuhos namin ang dugo't babaha,
Matubos nga lamang ang sa amang lupa;
Hanggang di sumapit ang panahong tadhana,
Sinta'y tatahimik, tutulog ang nasa.


Buhay
Manuel Car. Santiago

Sagitsit ng tuwang nanulay sa ugat,
Aliping damdamin na nagpupumiglas,
Nang bigyan ng laya't bayaang umalpas,
Ang lugod ng puso'y dumaloy na katas.

Nagpikit ng mata ang antuking ilaw
At saka lumatag ang katahimikan;
Tulog na ang lahat, walang naglalamay
Kundi mga pusong tugma't magkaramay.

Halos nagpupuyos ang wagas na mithi,
Nang walang masayang na mga sandali;
Nagpapalumagak ang layong masidhi
Sa silid na kaban ng mga lunggati.

Bangkay na ang lugod matapos lumaya,
Patay na ang ningas ng kanilang nasa;
Kay tamis ng hirap, kay sarap ng luha,
Kasunod ng sigwa'y panahong payapa.

(Sa dibdib ng lupa ang punla'y tumubo
At ngayo'y hinog na ang bunga sa puno).


Metamorposis:
Mga Nota ng Isang Serenata sa
Kaibuturan ng Gabing-Disyembre
Virgilio Almario (Rio Alma)

Sinderelang Serenata, esmeralda at granate,
Di ka takas na sonata sa sepulkrong alas-dose;
Manapa, sa sinisera ng sandali ay impante
Kang gumigitaw, sakay-wari ng sagradong elepante.

Kapagkuwan, sumibol ka at sumayaw sa estante
Ng retina, at sa diwa ay nagsinsil ng brilyante.
Ngayo'y oras ng paglalang, habang titig ng bitui'y
Labahang inmakulada sa planeta at sa dilim

Ng lunggati-lalo't uhaw bawat letrang isapapel,
At lapida bawat bantas. Bombilya man ay kulimlim,
Makinilyang nanlalamig ay kandilang kalawangin
Sa ngiti mo, naliligo ng asido at pormalin.

Pintig-pantig ka sa gayon, Sinderelang Serenata,
Kaulayaw ko kung gabi'y makulubot na kubyerta
At ang buwang nakalente ay may uban na sa mata.
Eskalera ng estropa at imaheng largabista.

Ang handog mo; at sa tinig na may tanso ng trumpeta
Ang puso ko'y nilulunod sa posporo at bendita.
Esmeraldang pangitain at granateng kahel-anghel;
Rebelasyon-ebolusyo't rebolusyong inistensil

Sa taludtod; tsokolate at aromang butil-butil
Na umapaw sa pandiwa at pang-uring nagdidildil.
Sa piling mo, ang pagtula ay kemika ng hilahil
Habang ako'y pasa-limbo sa palanking hasmi't nikel.

Diwa ngayon, kahit sigsig ng rayuma't dinisyembre,
Metapora ng tagsibol ang kindat mong kinoryente;
Sa pag-usad ng sandali sa magrasang engranahe,
May minutong adarna ka at naroong maging tigre.
Nang linyang mabanghay ko'y naging kristong inespinghe.


Sa Poetry
Rolando S. Tinio

Sa poetry, you let things take shape,
Para bang nagpapatulo ng isperma sa tubig.
You start siyempre with memories,
'Yung medyo malagkit, kahit mais
Na mais: love lost, dead dreams,
Rotten silences, and all
Manner of mourning basta't murder.

Papatak 'yan sa papel, ano. Parang pait,
Kakagat ang typewriter keys.
You sit up like the mother of anxieties.
Worried na worried hanggang magsalakip
Ang odds and ends ng inamag mong pag-ibig.

Jigsaw puzzle. Kung minsan, everything fits.
Pero sige ang pasada ng images
Hanggang makuha perfectly ang trick.
At parang amateur magician kang bilib
Sa sleight-of-hand na pinapraktis:
Nagsilid ng hangin sa buslo, dumukot,
By golly, see what you've got---
Bouquet of African daisies,
Kabit-kabit na kerchief,
Kung suwerte pa, a couple of pigeons,
Huhulagpos, be-blend sa katernong horizon,
You can't say na kung saan hahapon.

The puwetics of tango

A friend took a workshop on poetry. The poet Eileen Tabios said that one should write a poem at least once about wine, tango, and ______. For this week, we will tackle the subject of tango. You can discuss the first time, the woman, the music, the beat, or the dancers and their faces. A poem about tango should be specific enough I think.

http://dmoz.org/Arts/Performing_Arts/Dance/Tango/

In case you need some research on the dance.