These days

Seminal

Saan tayo nagsimula?

Paano tayo nagwakas?

Sino ba ang kumawala’t

Pag-suyo’y biglang lumipas? 

Sa isip at pusong bantad,

Tanong na di mahalaga;

Sagot ay di hinahanap– 

Dahilang bale-wala na.

phnom penh, 2008

copyright Michael P. De Guzman

Flashback 2

Catachreses

The dissonance

Of watching my feelings

Pull me apart at the seams

Delivers me to a new reality:

Eyes deaf, mouth blind,

Ears numb, skin mute,

Stumbling across the minefield

Of emotions I used to tread

With ease. Love is a place

I don’t have a map for.

manila, 1998

copyright Michael P. De Guzman 

Flashback

Ang Di Masabi

Ang mga salita mo’y

Bulaklak na kay-daling pumukaw

Sa tahimik kong damdamin.

Nagbabanguhang rosas,

Busilak na rosal, dalisay na

Sampaguita’t ylang-ylang.

Kapag nag-alay ka na

Ng pumpon ng salita, wala na

Akong lakas na tumanggi.

Kahit na marupok ang

Iyong pangako, kahit paulik-

Ulik itong kahulugan.

Hanggang minsan bumuhos

Ang ulan, at sa lakas ng hangin

Natangay bawat talulot,

Walang naiwan kundi mga tangkay.

maynila, 2003

copyright Michael P. De Guzman 

First impressions 02

Sleepless in South Africa

My eyes have gone tired

From looking at these beautiful,

Aloof men who seem indifferent

To my fervent adoration.

These visions who come

In varying shades of light and dark,

With high cheekbones and bottoms

Fill me with desire and frustration.

African gods must have cursed me

To do nothing but see, and never touch;

To indulge in olfaction, but not in tasting

Anything in its bounty of eye candy.

johannesburg, 2008

copyright Michael P. De Guzman

First impressions 01

Sa Changi Airport

Kapansin-pansin

Sa unang tingin:

Katahimikang

Di natagpuan

Sa ibang bansa.

Modernong tindig,

Sa ganda’y hitik

Ngunit mistulang

Kulang sa tuwa

Ng ibang bansa.

singapore, 2008

copyright Michael P. de Guzman