beautiful eyes

it's peaceful night indeed
wake up joyful and overfed
tomorrow we hunt for big fish
broil, boil with yam and berries
we'll pick oysters, clams and eggs
we try to barter with the wigs

i would like to get one firestick
stone that bubbles to wash your feet
dust in a box that makes you sneeze
spirit in a bottle that makes you loud
hollowed stick to see far and wide
that would be tepeeful of pellets

i miss the walk by the river edge
the moonlit tryst deep in the forest
i'm always sorrounded by the braves
i'm forgetting what i'm born to live
i could call you to be in my tepee
but i'll be stripped and sent away

Lingayen

lingayen manelekak; bimmalanga ni so lupak
walara manayay manga-aro ed siak
agko inim-imano; sulatak ya sulat
anggano ano tan;no arum mankakakanat

inarap koy ketab kon daan
ta tampol takayon ebatan
ta piyan say liket yoymanandu
untan met ed maligligan bilayo

sakey ya agew anonotan ko
iliing ko ed kaluyagan
say maaron dilan nalilingwanan
piyan ipawil iray agew ya alibangan

salamat ta nanparungtal kayon undengel
ed saray ula-ula na agi yon taga betel
untan pa komon ta agkayo unsawa; mi-ambegya
mangaro; mituyaw ed kada pankanawnawa

can't be erased

watching ripples beneath the moon
tired, lonely sitting alone
heard gentle steps; smell of perfume
i know you're coming very soon

i felt the softness of your touch
the warmness of your loving hug
oh! my; am i missing so much
following those red-coated lads

howling fox, on the ridge by the tree
owl cooing to our shadow maybe
cool breeze brushes our faces as we kiss
into the night, in our minds, can't be erased

my gift for you

one night by the riverbanks
heard a thunder strike a tree
it did'nt burn but broke a twig
saw a men in red coat and a wig

we followed them; they have firesticks
chewing something; they always spit
they're drinking that make them loud
and stumble; buried their face in mud

their women are dressed like a tree
you can hide a deer beneath their hinee
so i pick one with flower on the chest
i want you to try; you'll look the best

...do you think i'll go back where the
red coats are?...not with my exploding arrow
or i'll barter my muskrat pellet...hehehe

i don't know

could it be love
so tender to touch
when threatened as such
pens get too sharp
cutting through the dark
to be awakened by a kiss
so lovingly as the whispers
into the midst of the night

would i sit in a corner
and mumble through
waiting for you
would i kiss my fingertips
thinking of the misteps
i always do; i don't know
but i could smile again
too much fuel for my pen

kurutin mo aking panaginip

simoy ng hangin aking naramdaman
yaring maririing halik nga naman
mga nakaraan aking sinilayan
akoy namangha; pumikit na lamang

mga kaluskos; awit ng mga ibon
sumasapi sa isip sadyang mahinahon
unti-unting nabubuo mga nagbabalik
mumunting gawa; pag-ibig kalakip

nakahinga ako ng di kalaliman
tumayo ako patungo sa karagatan
lulunurin ko ang aking kaisipan
sa lakas ng alon sa dalampasigan

nang maaninaw kita sa di kalayuan
andiyan ka pala;akoy pinagmamasdan
halos ako takasan ng lakas sa galak
namalayan ko na lang ikay akap-akap

a sweet smell can...

puppy with curled tail between legs
noisy, ruggedly clothe, playful kids
blooming girls of the wilderness
giggling; come to see the lovely dress

innocent fingers touch the fine silk
smelling it thinking it's dried milk
medicine woman raises her voice; curses
to soothe her anger i give her a purse

whispering sweeps the tribal land
everybody so scared to lay a hand
but when i produce a bottle of perfume
everybody, pushing each other to try it on

...hey don't drink that...that's the
tears of wild flowers

sa aking pag-iisa

mga bakas sa kabuhanginan
larawan ng mga nagdaan
pagsikat, pagsapit ng dilim
nanatiling wagas na lihim

sa bawat isa'y may minimithi
sa puso; laman ng labi
kung sakali man masawi
sa isip na lang itinatabi

kung minsan sadyang kinikimkim
bunga ng bibig ayaw patikim
mga luhang napatak sa panyong angkin
tanging nakasilid; dinadalaw ng tingin

what must you do?

why songs are so sad
people easily get mad
talking of what they have
love: not that much

pretend to be a health nut
talking what to eat; what not
i was looking at the chart
it doesn't make me smart

rejoice on clearance sale
call your friends and tell
carry more bags than groceries
even hide them in places

i'm in the mall watching you
while listening to a sad song
and overhearing people talk.

now i know

doubting since i was a kid
why honey left the crib
was it the endless tears
angels took her to rest

now i have my own to face
with kalamansi pondering memories
beds of garden to swallow my tears
no honey to pay for my bills

life is almost alright
no more thief of the night
but i wish a cuddle when cold
good for cardio, i was told

should i

i could imagine myself being there
pensive;deep inside a knot of fear
i'll be awed with love passing
an ultimate way of showing

my tears would surely fall
it happened many times before
i would slowly walk out the door
i would give somebody a call

should i tell stories and sob
should i pour whatever i have
mind if i talk a little bit longer
i'm consumed; i need a breather

makidangdanggay

nasagid kon sa tay nalailo a riknam
masigir ko ket ay apo ti guram
ladingitik la unay nadunggo
naiyan-anod laeng dagiti panonot ko

mamati ak ta kunam a dika napintas
ngem tay pusom ket awan kaing-ingas
tay rang-ay mabiit la a masarak
mangsarak ti magustuak; marigatanak

ading matarusak ta kunam
umay kala makipagayam
pakawanem man dagiti naisawang
kaslaak la agluglugnak a nuang

ni adda met gayam ti maladagam
aywanam ida;ayatem ida; sursurwam
tano agballigi da a kas kaniam
makitam idan to; agarubos ti luam

mandiyak pay agawid idiay naulpit nga away
ta maay-ayatanak piman a makidangdanggay
maliplipatak dagiti napalpalabas
mangmang-ngeg ko ti nalailo nga arasaas

only when i'm gone

i know it very well
i hang on to my will
tears of frustration
craving for passion

set yourself free
keep trying for me
for i'm so exhausted
overwhelmed, deflated

i manage to stay awake
so i won't stumble and break
love is cruel, unforgiving
never will rest; keep going

whatever you do,i know
it is all up to you.
make the best of it.
share love that is left