This Far

 I am grateful to have the strength

to reach out to your hand and hold it,

to power my legs and knees

while walking leisurely on the beach, sunset-lit.

 

I am thankful to have the clarity

of vision to still witness your smiles,

and with ears sensitive to your laughter

while the sea keeps coming back to our feet.

 

How I love our memory that goes a long way

back from where we began, and every now

and then ask if you still recall the feeling,

the thrill of confession!

 

Oh how we have come this far,

like a precious Chinese bowl with gold

in all its cracks.

To love you imperfectly

I may not be the best man
you have ever met

amidst the downpours
of your life's trials

because all I can offer is
to love you imperfectly.

I may not be your knight
in shining armor

come to slay the dragons
that trouble you

because all I can offer is
to love you imperfectly.

Your memories of me
maybe full of failings

but forgiveness is 
a sweet potion to my soul

because all I can offer is
to love you imperfectly.

The Things to Miss About You

How about the eyes that found me, and lingered
within the radius of my stare, locking eye to eye,
unembarrassed by the moment?

Or, how about the smile that dented your cheeks,
breaking out like a new day, teeth white as the sun?

What of the hands that served coffee brewed
on my table, the aroma sweet like your scent,
floating in the air, your hair close to me?

Or that glaze in your skin, when my fingers slide 
from your shoulder down to your fingers?

How about the warmth of your lips, 
lingering, swirling, sniffing, sipping, 
and I savoring them like fine wine?

Oh, your body so close to me,
I, selfishly consuming its heat!

(written for the occasion of our 37th wedding anniversary)

The Roots of my Next Poem

Will I find the poem from someone's eyes

the lines and words flashing bright,

but too quick to be held in my palms?

Will I receive it as a gift in the night

every line, every word, streaming in my dream-

I need to wake up and catch it pass by?

Will I find it in your hands as it held mine,

as I lead you inside a lover's room

to ignite the heart's imaginations?

Or is it the seed I buried in the ground,

that I need to nurture, word by word

line by line?

Para Tayong Mapulang Alak

Mayroong saya na masilip ang iyong tingin 

mula sa iyong mga mata na nagbabalik 

ng mga ala-alang noong una kang tanawin, 

mga sulyap na naghagis ng mga salitang di nabigkas.

May hiya na nahayag sa sabay na pagsulyap, 

mga pagkakamaling nagdala ng tuwa sa puso

na pilit na naglilihim, nguni't sa lakas ng tibok nito'y 

pinupunit ang dibdib.

Bakit pilit pa rin na inaabot ang mga kamay 

na gustong haplusin, mga brasong ayaw bitawan, 

hindi ka naman umaalis, narito lamang tahimik, 

at may pilyang ngiti sa kapiling.

Para tayong mga pulang alak na sa pagtanda 

ay lalong tumamis, na noong tangan na ang kopa 

at nasimsim ang kaniyang lasa, may pagsangayon 

na sasabihin, ito ang pinakamagaling!

Itago pa natin nang buong ingat ang mga ala-alang 

parang alak, hayaan pang lalong tumamis, at ilayo 

sa init ng mga pagaalinlangan, upang patuloy 

na magsanib ang mga ala-ala at ngiti.

We Were Like Red Wine

There is bliss to catch a glimpse
from those eyes bringing back memories
of the first day I saw you.

We would not let go of our false timing
in the turning of our heads,
bringing joy in my heart.

Why do I keep holding on to these hands,
when you are not going away,
with those eyes and smile?

We are like aging red wine
that has grown sweeter still, whose cup
is full of your glances and my memories.

Pasko sa Ilang, 1914

Walang pag-ibig sa ilang ng digmaan. 

Huwag magtanong, bakit ikaw ang papaslangin?

Tuliro lamang sila sa pagapuhap ng sagot.

Walang bituwin ngayon para gumabay,

Nguni't bawa't isa'y nahanap ang kapayapaan

sa ingay ng halakhak ng kaaway.

Hindi ka ngingiti sa salitang ito,

pumatay. Isang bala ang pumunit sa ala-ala

ng Paskong dumaan. Tapos na ang caroling.

Hinigop muli ang mga kawal palayo

sa kapayapaan, at sa mga pag-awit 

at mga pagbati ng kapaskuhan.

Ito na ba ang wakas? Sa isang bangkay 

ng kaaway, nasabi ng isa, nabati ko siya

kahapon ng 'Maligayang Pasko'.