Among the ruins, part 2

Napagtanto Sa Guho

Binuksan ko ang sarili

Nang kaloob-looban

Ay kanyang mapagmasdan

Ngunit wala ring nangyari.

Nanatili siyang bulag,

Bingi sa ‘king paghikbi,

Manhid sa aking hapdi

At umid sa pagpatawad.

Ibinigay ko ang lahat

Ng kanyang kailangan,

Pinunan ang kawalan

Ngunit lahat di’y lumipas.

Nagtira sana ng konti

Para sa kapakanan

Ng puso ko’t isipan

Ngunit ako’y nagkamali.

Binuksan ko ang sarili

Ibinigay ang lahat,

Naiwan akong hungkag

Kapiling nitong pighati.

kampong thom, 2008

copyright Michael P. De Guzman 

Among the ruins

Gone, Free

Did I fail you once again

I wish I knew what happened;

Thought we were doing just fine

I guess I mis-read your mind.

Did I fail myself again

Things feel the way they did then;

Thought this time will be better

But love’s still my cruel teacher.

This affair’s over again

Shouldn’t hurt like it did then;

You’re gone and I’m free again

Shouldn’t cry like I did then. 

When you left, I almost died,

But I’m all cried out this time;

Still I hold you in my arms

In my dreams, I have your heart.

You were my one addiction

My penance, my affliction,

Now you’re gone and I’m free

So why am I unhappy?

In time I will heal my soul

Learn from love, regain control

I hope to finally see

That we are not meant to be. 

kampong thom, 2008

copyright Michael P. De Guzman 

Give it to me

I started blogging in November 2006, with Friendster. I was inspired by J, a friend who blogs in her Friendster account up to this day. A few months I created another blog in blogspot but I eventually settled in i.ph, which I started using on May 2007.

On May 27, my 2 blogs in i.ph– The Zen Bitch Speaks  and Two-Tongued Poetry, are turning one year old. I have been extremely pleased at the feedback and support I have received from the (few) readers of these blogs. In return, I am giving something back.

As you, dear reader, may have noticed, each post in The Zen Bitch Speaks is named after songs. I have compiled 20 of these songs into a CD (cover pictured below). It’s called Life’s A Bitch! Music from the blog and I’m giving 6 copies of these CDs. Kind of like what Kris Aquino did in her CD, but minus the voice-over. I don’t want to send you to an irreversible coma with my boring monotone of a voice.

All you, dear reader, have to do to is to place a comment on this post, answering this question in 50 words or less. Please pardon the obvious self-indulgence in the question.

What do you like most about this blog (The Zen Bitch Speaks or Two-Tongued Poetry) and why?

You can comment in English and in Filipino. Please leave your email address after your comment. You have until midnight of May 31, 2008 to place your comments. The comments will be judged independently (meaning, not by me) in terms of clarity, verbal panache, and the ability to flatter the zen bitch immensely.

Winners will be announced on the first week of June, and will be contacted by email for their mailing addresses. I am prepared to send the CD anywhere in the world through registered mail.

To inspire you, dear, reader, please see the track listing of the CD below:

By the River Sae San I sat and wept, part 2

Tabing-Ilog

May lamig ang umaga

Ngunit di alintana;

Busog ang mata’t-isip

Sa aking namamasid.

Matiwasay ang ilog:

Tahimik gaya ng hamog

Na kalong ng bulaklak–

Tanaw sa paglalakad.

Ulan ay nagbabanta

Sa aking pag-iisa;

Ngunit hindi na takot

Sa pagbuhos ng unos.

Umagos man palayo

Ang dati niyang pagsuyo,

Tangayin man ng hangin

Ang tamis ng pagtingin,

Gaano man lumalim

Ang sugat ng damdamin,

Ako, tulad ng ilog,

Ay handa sa pagsubok.

Lahat ay lumilipas:

Araw, unos, at lumbay.

May kimkim na liwanag

Ang madilim na ulap.

steung treng, 2008

copyright Michael P. De Guzman 

By the River Sae San I sat and wept

River Musings

Sky pours water

Unto the earth’s face

Drop by drop.

Earth pours water

Into the river’s mouth

Wave after wave.

River takes water

Inside her bossom 

Until she bursts.

Life is borne by death

Within each gasp

Creature per creature. 

steung treng, 2008

copyright Michael P. De Guzman 

Four months later

Babala sa Sarili 

Kung muli kang makikita

Di ko alam ang gagawin;

Di alam ang madarama–

Sana’y di na lang mapansin.

Kung muling magkakaharap

Di alam ang sasabihin;

Baka mabuting umiwas

Nang makubli ang damdamin.

phnom penh, 2008

copyright Michael P. De Guzman 

Dedication

Phnom Penh is sinking

One day, I was told,

The wetlands will come back

And fill the land we stole

With brackish water

That throbs with life.

Having been built over

Sand and clay that shift with

The earth’s menstrual cycle,

This city will sink back

Into the ancient lake.

Maybe, only then

Will this city finally get rid of

The grime and bloodstains

That have tainted it

For thirty years or so.

Perhaps, in the end,

Like having precious ablutions,

Life under so much water

Does not necessarily

Amount to drowning.

for Lou & Joy

phnom penh, 2004

copyright Michael P. De Guzman