you're the sky that i'll never reach

the moon whom i adore

the soft wind which makes me feel good

but you're the colored butterfly

that I can't catch...

 

you're the sun that melts my heart

the deep sea i long to explore

the crystal glass that was broken

and wounded my hand...

 

you're the rain that makes me blue

the thunder that prompts me to hide

the lightning that strikes my mind

the candle that burns me up inside

 

but you're the musician

i might never fully know

for you are as silent

as a guitar i can't beautifully strum,

the song i cannot memorize

the poem i can't finish writing

 

 

 

you are the sonnet

on a dusty paper --

stored on my rusty bin of letters

forever there --

but which i don't want to frequently re-open...

 

you are the subject

of this  art: crying....

you are the valve

of this mechanism: heart...

you are this body's never-ceasing

companion: shadow

 

you are the reason

i can't stop this poem

you are the million things

i see, hear, feel --

the pollutants that i breathe...

 

i wish one day

you'll be the good massage

i always want to receive

the aroma of coffee

 

that wakes me up in the morning

the bathrobe that i wear

before and after shower

my favorite sleeping pyjamas

i put on at night

and the other hand that i fold

in prayer....

 

- Puwing Manalo

nasan na nga ba? matagal ko ng hinahanap, marami na akong dapat isulat eh. nasa ilalaim kaya? sa ibabaw? sa gilid? hay! nasan na nga ba? bakit hindi ko makita? alam ko nandiyan lang siya, iniwan ko lang..bakit hindi ko makita? nauulyanin na ba ako? hay! tama kaya yung sabi nila? kapag hindi mo raw hinahanap, saka magpapakita ang isang bagay? tao? DIARY?! hay! nasan na nga ba? marami na akong dapat sabihin? marami ng dapat ilantad.... marami ng dapat ilabas... mga emosyong aking pinipigalan, mga pait at sakit na nais ko ng kalimutan.... nasan na nga ba? bakit hindi ko makita? nasan na ang diary ko?

masakit pala mauntog, hanggang ngayon pinipilit ko pa rin ibangon ang aking sarili sa pagkagulapay at hindi indahin ang bugbog ng sakit na aking nadarama.... masakit palang mauntog lalu na kapag inakala mong malambot naman ang mga nakapaligid sa iyo, at walang pagkakataon para madampi ang aking ulo sa matitigas na bagay kung meron man. masakit palang mauntog, kung minsan, hndi lang sakit na kumukurot waring pati sa utak...kung minsan, may kasama pang sugat...sugat na hindi mo alam kung kelan maghihilom.... sugat na napakalalim..kahit pa yata ilang ulit magpalit ang iyong balat, maiiwan at maaiwan pa rin ang peklat.

masakit palang mauntog... masakit pala.