Paano kita mamahalin?

Paano kita mamahalin?

Pilit kitang inaangkin, pilit ka namang hihilahin,

Akala ko ba'y malaya kitang yayakapin?

Maylikha ang nagpataw, hindi ka naman binibitaw,

Sabihin mo sa akin,

Ikaw ba'y tunay na nagtitiwala sa akin?

Paano kita mamahalin, sa paraang kaya ko?

Kaya kitang mahalin, tapat at buo,

Ngunit pag-ibig ko ba’y matatanggap mo?

Una pa lang kitang nakita, ako’y bihag mo na,

Sarili’y iginapos: hindi na kakawala,

Ngunit pagmamahal kong narito, nadarama mo ba?

Paano kita mamahalin, sa paraang kaya ko,

Kung kay dami rin ng iyong mga kasiphayo?

Minamahal kita, ipinagpalit ang iba,

Nang mangyaring pagmamahal ko, iyo ring sinta,

Tinuring una, tinalo ang iba,

Habang pagmamahal ko,

Tinutukoy ng iba’y wala.

Malaki raw ang entablado,

Para magsama, ikaw at ako,

Ngunit, ang sikip-sikip naman ng ginagalawan ko.

Malaya raw akong makakasayaw,

Ngunit ang musika, ang musika’y ‘di iisa!

Paano sasayaw sa musikang ‘di iisa,

Kung ang paa lamang ay dadal’wa?

Paano kita mamahalin, sa paraang kaya ko,

Kung sa lahat ng nagawa, ni isa hindi nakita?

Nilangoy ang dagat, binago ang alamat,

Wari’y damhin mo, wala nang saki’y tatapat.

Pagmamahal kong taglay, wagas at tunay.

Pagmamahal kong tangan, hindi ka naman pinabayaan.

Saktan man ng paulit-ulit,

Heto pa rin, sa iyo'y nakakabit,

Dugo'y ubos, puso'y lunos,

Ngunit pagmamahal sayo, hinding-hindi nauubos.

Paano kita mamahalin, sa paraang kaya ko,

Tinig ko’y dinggin, maliit man kung tutuusin,

Kailan ka nga ba tunay na magpapamahal sa akin?

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

Three

It's been three years since we first met.

Only now we have known our fate.

2011

Unwrapped, you shall be, as days start to unfold
Faint hearts, be ready for stories about to be told.


Take heart.

Starapple

The blinded cannot protect you,

The deaf cannot hear you,

No, they do not really know you,

All they know is themselves,

And that is the reflection they put on you,

And that is the echo they make to come from you.

To seem that they have seen what you want,

To seem that they have heard what you need.

Megaphone

In my silence, I am picked up,

Given voice that was not mine:

Yet I have made so loud,

Loud that it can clear chaos,

Create chaos.

Loud that it can break silence,

Make silence.

In my silence, I am picked up,

Given voice that was not mine:

Do I not have a voice?

Must I ask for one?

Silence

In silence, a lot can be said: a problem unresolved, a memory remembered, feelings left unrevealed, fear unexpressed, even reflections left to be forgotten. See, silence is more powerful than spoken words because silence knows no bounds. But then again, silence can be helpful. Sometimes, it can make one’s mind think clearly, it can make one think back and reflect on what’s really ahead. Sometimes, silence is all one needs.

Paper

Like the other ones, I too, am paper.

You fold me into a bird that can’t fly.

You roll me into a flute without tune.

You twist me into a branch without leaves.

I am paper.

As I get pulled on both sides, I am torn.

Though I keep it together, but even tape can’t do better.

I am bruised by your inking sword.

But with it I get a voice.

Every push and pull leaves an indelible scar.

But with it I feel alive.

To be crumpled and set aside,

Like the other ones, I too, am paper.

Disposable.

Forgettable.

Wrinkled.

Blemished.

I am paper. 

I will never be the same.