K r i t i ka

Ku ltu r a

LITERARY SECTION

FIVE POEMS

Michael M. Coroza
Department of Filipino
Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
mcoroza@ateneo.edu

About the author

Michael M. Coroza is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Filipino, School of Humanities, Ateneo
de Manila University. He has received numerous national and international awards for his poetry, essays, and short
stories for children. In 2007 he received from the Royal Family of Thailand the prestigious SEAWRITE or Southeast
Asia Writers Award. He holds a PhD in Filipino from the University of the Philippines and is constantly engaged in
language, literary, and cultural studies aside from creative writing and performing the kundiman and other vintage
Filipino songs. He is the newly elected Secretary General of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Writers Union
of the Philippines).

1)
Dalitiwan Dalitiwan1

Lagaslas mo ay eternal Your rustling: the eternal

Na pagkabasag ng kristal; Breaking of crystal;
Banyaga kong talampakan My alien feet
Ay naakit, nasugatan. Are seduced, bruised.

Sa daloy mo ay lumahok Into your stream

Ang tumagas kong himutok; Spill my resentment;
Sa pampang nang makaabot, As I reach your bank,
Ang dibdib ko’y nagkalumot. My heart gathers moss.

Translation by Marne L. Kilates

1
A place name in the town of Majayjay in the province of Laguna, actually a river, which combines, felicitously, the words dalit (a
Tagalog poetic form of lament) and iwan (which means to leave or abandon).

Kritika Kultura 16 (2011): 159-163 <http://kritikakultura.ateneo.net> 159

© Ateneo de Manila University
Coroza
Five Poems
2)
Palaging May Ulan
Palaging may ulan ang pamamaalam
Kaya binabaha ng lungkot ang lungsod
Ng panandaliang pagsasama’t lugod.
Huwag kang lilingon at baka malusaw
Na asin ang mithing pagbabagong-loob.
Palaging may ulan ang pamamaalam
Kaya binabaha ng lungkot ang lungsod.
Bangkay na lulutang ang panghihinayang
Ngayong nalunod na ang lahat ng pusok
At kuyom sa dibdib ang basang alabok.
Palaging may ulan ang pamamaalam
Kaya binabaha ng lungkod ang lungsod
Ng panandaliang pagsasama’t lugod.
Kritika Kultura 16 (2011): 159-163 <http://kritikakultura.ateneo.net>
© Ateneo de Manila University
It Rains Always
It rains always as farewells are bid
and so sadness floods this city
of fleeting unions and delight.
Do not look back for it may dissolve
like salt, this yearned for change-of-heart.
It rains always as farewells are bid
and so sadness floods this city.
Regret will float like a carcass
now that all passion has been drowned,
and a wet fistful of ash is clenched in the chest.
It rains always as farewells are bid
and so sadness floods this city
of fleeting unions and delight.
Translation by Mikael de Lara Co
160
Coroza
Five Poems

3)
Paslit Child

May paslit na pinapaslang natin There is a child that we slay

Sa isip, nilulula sa mga panaginip, In our minds, make dizzy with dreams,
Tinatagtag sa mga pagsisikap. Mula Jerk with our labors. From

Sa tore ng pananagumpay, inihuhulog The towers of our victories, we drop

Natin siya sa limot, ngunit hindi Him into oblivion, yet
Namamatay. Lingid sa atin ang kaniyang He does not die. We know not of his

Pamamahay sa kamalig ng malay, bumabalangkas Nostalgia for the storehouse of thought; he outlines
Ng mabibisang hakbang sa pagsalakay upang Effective schemes of attack to
Mabawi ang kaniyang teritoryo na mula Wrest his territory which since

Nang ating sakupin ay nawasak ang pagiging We conquered was stripped of

Payak at panatag. Sa sandaling naglilibang Simplicity and calm. In the moments we amuse
At nahihibang tayo, darating siyang Or drive ourselves to insanity, he arrives

Isang dambuhala. Walang kamuwangan A leviathan. Knowing nothing

Sa lupit at sákit, ibubuwal niya ang lahat Of cruelty and suffering, he topples all
Ng ating itinindig. Mapapabungisngis, That we have built. Snickering,

Aakalain niyang ang lahat ng nangyari He thinks everything

Ay laro, samantalang tayo ay walang A game, while motionless we are left
Katinag-tinag at nakatitig sa malayo. To stare at the distance.

Translation by Mikael de Lara Co

Kritika Kultura 16 (2011): 159-163 <http://kritikakultura.ateneo.net> 161

© Ateneo de Manila University
Coroza
Five Poems

4)
Magnanakaw Thief

Tulad ng nasusulat, dumarating Like what’s written, he comes

siyang ni walang pasabi without warning
kung kailan sinlalim ng gabi when, deep as the night,
ang ating kawalan we simply lose
ng pag-intindi. our guard.

Dilim siyang nakapaglalagos He is the darkness

sa lahat ng ating pasadyang barging, no matter how
pag-iingat, nakapaghahalungkat cautious we are,
sa bawat lingid na silid o sulok shuffling through
ng ating mga lugod at pag-iimbot. every secret nook and shelter
of our joys and loathing.
Ginigising tayo ng alinsangang
dulot ng kaniyang pangahas We’re startled where his warm
na hininga ngunit dagling breath dares,
naglalaho siya sa pagmulat but quickly he darts
ng ating pangamba. off even as our trembling
stirs, its eyes wide open.
Napapabalikwas ang ating
takot, at kahit bantulot, Our terror comes
hinahagilap natin ang ikinubling alive and quite fickle,
tapang, iniuumang saanman we fumble for the secret courage,
may hinalang kumaluskos. pointing it at every place
where conspiring noises stir.
Ngunit tulad ng dapat
asahan, tanging tagumpay niya But expect it,
ang ating nasusumpungan to meet his victory, at last,
sa pinto o bintanang on the door or window
kaniyang dinestrungka. through which he has broken.

Malaking puwang sa ating A gaping void he

loob ang iniiwang bakas leaves within
ng kaniyang pagdalaw sapagkat when he comes visiting,
tinatangay niya pati ang liwanag taking even the torch
sa palad nating binutas ng bagabag. that slips off our palm,
. all shot through with fear.

Translation by D. M. Reyes

Kritika Kultura 16 (2011): 159-163 <http://kritikakultura.ateneo.net> 162

© Ateneo de Manila University
Coroza
Five Poems

5) 5)
Matanda sa Bintana Old Man at the Window

Mahusay sa kulay ang kamay The hand that framed you

na nagkuwadro sa iyo, abuhing knew color—a grayish
anino na parang sinadyang shadow consecrated at will,
iadorno, lapat na lapat, sa pagitan placed well between
ng mga kapis na panarang babahagyang the nacre shutters, now parted
binuksan. Agaw-buhay ang araw a little. In your eyes, the sun
sa iyong mga mata, lusaw na ang ingay is fading while, down the street,
at gulo sa kalsada. Sayang at hindi ko the rush and din have slipped away. Too bad,
marinig ang ritmo na iyong tinitipa on the ledge your fingers tap
sa pasamano: marahill pananabik sa isang a rhythm I can’t hear: perhaps a longing for some
pagbabalik o pagkainip sa katuparan return or your sweet impatience, while
ng malaon nang panaginip. waiting for an old dream
to happen.
Sadyang mahusay ang kamay
na nagkuwadro sa iyo, napatigil Fine hands framed you;
ako at nagawang mapaglimi sa kabila despite my rush, I
ng aking pagmamadali. Kumakaway stopped and begun musing.
ang lumbay ng iyong mga kulay, Your pensive colors
yumayakap sa malay nang napakahigpit: Wave, clinging to my mind,
gumuguhit ng alinlangan sa aking noo, Etching doubts on my forehead,
nagtatatak ng takot sa aking anino. and against my own shadow,
impressing fear.
Dalubhasa ang kamay na nagkuwadro
sa iyo: nagbubukas ng bintana Masterful hands framed you,
ng kaluluwa, nakapagpapadungaw parting open the soul’s
ng pag-alaala. Nilulusaw ng pusyaw shutters, asking me to look out
ang aking kasibulan na ngayon and to strain. As you gaze on,
ay nakakuwadrong iyong pinagmamasdan. your fading colors shame
my youth, which stands
framed, as well.

Translation by D. M. Reyes

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© Ateneo de Manila University