In the Darkness

17 February 2014

I have to sleep with cold snakes on my bed.
Let them cover me from my toe to head.
I have to sleep with them and fear no more.
Let them fill me from the outside to my core.

I have to dream and fly with the night crows.
Let them cover the day from high to low.
I have to fly with them and be one of them.
Let them fill me with wrath under my skin.

I have to crawl with spiders on the wall.
Let them cover me while I climb and fall.
I have to crawl with them in the cobwebs.
Let them fill me with silk like bloody red.

I have to hide in the dark like bats at the ceiling.
Let them cover me with wide and hairy wings.
I have to hide with them for I am a dark being.
Let them fill me with rage and amok feeling.

Who Am I To Complain

30 November 2013

I get annoyed with the colors on your cheeks
And the bloody wax that covers your lips.
But who am I to complain of what I supposed to seek?
You will never be the one that I am to keep.

I don’t want to look at you and mess my day
Because it is not I who should count your ways.
But who am I to complain, and what should I say?
You will never be the one because you will never stay.

I’m sorry to tell you what you’re not supposed to hear
And I shouldn’t be telling you what you can’t bear.
But who am I to complain of what I always fear?
You will never be the one who’s worth of my tears.

Luyag

29 November 2013

Kasaw-a basahon ukon pamati-an ang Hiligaynon
Apang tinguhaan ko guid agud ini matigayon.
May dyutay nga kabudlay apang kinahanglan buhaton.
Mapabutyag guid lang ining luyag nakon.

Malawig nga mga inadlaw nga pas-an pas-an
Ining kabug-at kag kabudlay sa akon dughan.
Luyag ko man ihambal asta lang sa mu-al.
Mga tinaga gapanghawid sa akon tilaukan.

Masapnot ang tagsa ka pagtikab sang bibig.
Ang akon kaundan hinali lang nanlamig.
Luyag ko isinggit apang indi kapangakig.
Mabudlay kay daw isa ako ka maranhig.

Bulubaliswa lang sa akon guinaligiran.
Ang katuyo guinapangayo ko na nga mabatyagan.
Kasaw-a tungod indi ako dali-dali matulugan.
Indi mapatihan bangod ang kape akon man guinlikawan.

Madamo na nga tigbato ang akon nakurit.
Maayo pa ang tiki nga sa kisame gakabit
Huni-huni gamay maski sa diin makasab-it.
Ako ya indi guihapon ka tulog maski ano kapilit.

Miserable na guid ako siguro sa amo ni nga ti-on.
Ayos lang maski hambalon mo pa ako nga tikalon.
Ini nga kamingaw indi ko guid sa imo pag-akuon.
Ikaw na bahala kung ano ang luyag mo panumdumon.

Napayuhom man ako samtang guinabasa ko ini.
Ang kahimtangan ko matuod man gali nga miserable.
Butigon ako kung hambalon ko ang rason indi babaye.
Kadlawan ko na lang bangod maano man ako abi?

Hambala na kung ano man ang luyag mo.
Wala guid problema maski ikumparar mo ako sa tarso.
Nalingaw man ako gani kag wala guid sang kaso.
Maayo pa tane antes ako magtulog ikaw nasugilanon ko.

Tarungon ko na maski kasaw-a guid man matuod.
Daw waslik puder ka kay ang kamingaw ko imo guintabog.
Pati ang akon animo gulpi lang nagtabog
Gani daw basa nga pisu ako kay indi na kapahambog.

Gakaubusan ako sang mga tigbato nga iwakal
Tungod sa babaye nga indi ko man maipabugal.
Pasaylo lang kay talaw ako magrisgo kag magsugal.
Sa pila ka adlaw kabay pa nga indi ko ini paghinulsulan.

This is Our Paradise

23 November 2013

I was born in the waters of the flood
Where the land is showered by blood.
I cried along with the wind of the typhoon
And shut I am in the eye of the thunderstorm.

I was born the the middle of an earthquake
Where volcanoes made my land shake.
I cried along with the people of the Philippines.
My country is a paradise and fires within.

I am born in paradise and many Filipinos too.
We are lucky to have what others wanted to.
I cried because most of us don’t care.
This is our paradise.
A place where others wanted to have a share.

Definitely

3 November 2013

A mighty knight with a shining armor.
Well, definitely it ain’t going to be me.
I’m just a man with a pencil, paper, and color.
In my canvas, a thousand images you will see.

A superhero with mask, cape and mystery.
Well, definitely it ain’t going to be me.
I’m just a man in jeans and my ragged tees.
In my gestures, you can’t tell what I can be.

I am what I am and nothing can change me.
Well, definitely this how it is going to be.
I am just a man with no disguises and mysteries.
This is the real me according to what you see.

I Have To For Me

2 November 2013

I have to close my eyes so I can see.
To see things what they supposed to be.
To witness what they do against me.
I have to close my eyes for me to see.

I have to zip my lips so I can speak.
To say the words that I can’t take.
To shout to the world that I am not weak.
I have to zip my lips for me to speak.

I have to cover my ears so I can hear.
To pay attention to what is unclear.
To listen to the noise of the world of fear.
I have to cover my ears for me to hear.

I have to stop my heart so I can feel.
To touch one’s soul made of steel.
To care to those hearts that need to heal.
I have to stop my heart for me to feel.

I • The Nascency

I – The Nascency

9 August 2013

It was a moonless night. Silent. Only the gliding sound of the wind across the field of rice can be heard. So silent that you can hear the wind brushing the leaves of the trees. But that silence was suddenly broken. Melissa cried for help. She was about to bear a child. Everybody was rushing to see her. Even the neighbors were bothered so they also came to see her.
Lucky for her that Yolanda was there during that time. She is the town’s midwife who happened to visit Melissa’s neighbor, Griselda. Yes, she was very lucky ’cause her husband Ruben was not there during that time. Yolanda asked Griselda to prepare hot water and sterilize the scissors. And so they helped Melissa give birth for her first-born child. It was very difficult for her. She cried like thunder that almost everyone in the barrio could hear her.
Everyone in the room paused. Smiles of success can be seen from everyone’s faces when the baby’s cry was heard. It was a boy.

Surely Slowly

13 July 2013

She moves so strange
as if we’re on a silent rage.
She talks so mean
but I know it’s not what she meant.
She disguises good
that she can’t be understood.
She is a book of mystery
and I need to know her slowly but surely.

–kenn abuji

What’s The Matter (With Me)

22 June 2013

It don’t matter if the sunshine will not be visible.
It don’t matter if the rain will never fall.
It don’t matter if the stars are so far away.
It don’t matter when the moon does not display.
It don’t matter if the road is winding and long.
It don’t matter if I’m weak and you’re strong.
It don’t matter how ugly I am when I cry.
It don’t matter and I don’t ask why.
It don’t matter if tears are in my eyes.
It don’t matter how you said goodbye.
It don’t matter how many times you break my heart.
It don’t matter how much I am hurt.
It don’t matter what I have to do.
It don’t matter what I am to you.
It don’t matter what it’s going to be.
What matters is what you are to me.

Just Like The Rain

31 May 2013

I can’t help myself, I can’t resist.
I can’t ignore, it persist.
I’m out of control, that is true.
I can’t avoid, I think of you.

See the rain? It pours heavily.
Just like you, you’re heavenly.
They’re from above, I cannot stop.
Just like me, I’m a crap.

Forgive me if I am like this.
You are someone I always miss.
Just like the rain, I cried.
It may not be visible, it’s inside.