Remembering 1986 People Power

 


Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo
(Jim Paredes)

Di na ko papayag mawala ka muli
Di na ko papayag na muling mabawi
Ating kalayaan kay tagal na nating mithi
Di na papayagang mabawi muli

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao
Kay sarap pala maging Pilipino
Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain
Kelan man di na paaalipin

Refrain:

Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarunungan
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat

Masdan ang nagaganap sa aming bayan
Nagkasama ang mahirap at mayaman
Kapit-bisig madre, pari at sundalo
Naging langit itong bahagi ng mundo

Huwag muling payagang umiral ang dilim
Tinig ng bawat tao'y bigyan ng pansin
Magkakapatid lahat sa Panginoon
Ito'y lagi nating tatandaan.

Valentine

Valentine

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or a kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Carol Ann Duffy

Valentine's Day in Alemanya
Thursday, 2008 February 14
Weather: Foggy as in Foggy
Not Love
but condensed milk in the air
Hubby still sleeps
We have a date
if the weather will permit
to see the film
Charlie Wilson's War
Nope, we are not getting
romantic because it is Valentine's Day
It is Film Day - on Thursday
movies are cheaper.
In the meantime
will look for another soul mate
who thinks Valentine's Day in Germany
is commercial as in commercial
but where in the world
do you find uncommercialized Valentine's Day
from chocolates to gift of special rates of tanning studios
so women get as commercial as you can
it is Valentine's Day
go back to the classics
coffee, tarts and cream
shopping, window shopping.

Return of Spring in February