Epitaph

I come to visit you today
And lighted a candle for you
And noticed the epitaph
Where your name is curve into
A sudden emotion struck me
Which for long I have subdued
I just couldn’t believe it
That in there was really you.

All the while I thought
You’re still a part of us
That I just miss you
Everytime I go to class
But this epitaph shouts
A tablet of solid truth:
“Here lies the body of a father
Who left a lasting legacy
Grounded from the noble root.”

With this i turned my back
And hold tears from falling
And promised to come back
To where this epitaph is calling.

Love Pain

Has love ever be this painful?
I could have written an epic
to which I am the hero
of this love adventure I seek.

Has love ever be this painful?
I could have worn a veil
to hide myself from people
my refuge from the pain.

Has love ever be this painful?
I could have written a song
where the rhythm is slow
and the melody is strong.

Has love ever be this painful?
I could have danced in the rain
soak myself to its chillness
so they won’t see my tears.

Yes, love had been this painful
cause I have written a poem
to which I am uncertain
if ever it will ever sound a gong.

Sober

tonight I am a sober man
dancing to the music and wine
wishing that I was numbed
amidst these festivities and fun

I let the spirit if Bacchus seep
with every gulp of beer I drink
sending a moment of momentary bliss
to everyone I smile and wink

tonight I lose this game of love
to Aphrodite’s snare and trap
that even Cupid could not stop
me from falling to her jagged lap

and so I plead on Apollo’s lair
to lend me his chariot and take me away
to a place where Persephone arises
from the dark cold place of Hades

tonight I am a sober man
dancing to the music and wine
letting myself flow to festive fun
to where all of this began.

The Glory Departed

the hustling of leaves brings music to my ears
of dying note and hurdle of fears
as age pass by with every added years
I just looked up to the sky, my eyes in tears

while the sea billows I held fast to the oar
I held it steadfastly ‘til my eyes sore
inside me a feeling of loneliness so cold
that grows even colder with my sodden clothes

as the sun is setting, I fear the coming night
when the wind is chilly and the full moon alight
alive with no feelings to even reach out what’s in sight
afraid to lose from this darkness inside

oh, fill this cup that is half empty
I thirst for more of your eminence and glory
I dare not trust my wisdom and enmity
when the insignia of glory has departed from me

the hustling of leaves brings music to my ears
it carried me through my younger years
and my tears came running down my face
for glory had left me and my race.

*a personal tribute

photo credit: cmalcolmpowers.com

Fragile

What’s better than to end a day in shame. Like a wounded soldier in front of the Gods of Olympus. I feel awful, like I’m stripped naked in front of so many eyes. Two consecutive days of disgrace. For two days I felt like I’ve lost my honor and medallion. Now, I’m a wounded soldier left to be devoured by wolves. Worst, the devouring seemed to be endless and so is the pain I’m feeling. This is bad. Soon I’ll drift into my own world again. Which I usually do to regain strength. Wish this will be over soon...

Longings of a Tortured Soul

The night cries, pouring down tears
to the one abandoned
Sharing the burden too heavy to bear
weightless as it seemed.

The smiles and the laughter
Hides the agony and pain
As time goes yonder
Grows heavy as it gains.

The bed cushions the fragile skin
of a forlorn figure
Darkness basks his beauty within
no light could endure.

When daylight turns to dusk
The nocturne dance, and sing, and grin
But the dawn puts on the mask
And the masquerade begins.

Oh what glory is this when you are torn?
What grace is there yet to be born?
For darkness fades when light shines
And light is shun when darkness reigns.

The glamor that this face received
The trophies that this wisdom achieved
Makes no use to a tortured soul
When all there is have been unfold.

In The Calmness Of The Night

As I walk along the corridor
In the calmness of the night
Where lamps are equally scattered
To lit the hall but bright

There lies wooden cabinets
And debris of what was left
I can hear the sound of hammer
A rhythm familiar to self

I can hear the sound of chainsaw
As its blades cuts through the wood
I can hear the tinkling of the nails
As it drops from your hand

I can hear your crisp laughter
I can see your loving smile
I can hear your voice, talking
With peers and fellow, working

The place is full of your presence
That everywhere I look
I can see and hear you out there
But your hands I can never took

As I walk along the corridor
My tears started to fall
I miss you dad so much
And I can't help but to recall.

Loneliness

Like a bolt of lightning that crashes
Like a chain of thunder humming
Your word pierces and smashes
Inside a numbed heart, fumbling.

The dice have been thrown
I’m left on my own
The words have been said
Memories are left to mend.

You said it plainly like it was nothing
I smiled back as if you’re jesting
Then you left,
And inside me sadness slowly crept
What have I done?
Did I do something wrong?
These questions hovered
As I looked for answers.

Now, I’m alone again
trapped in the abyss of my storming emotions
left with questions that seems to have no solutions
which I have to face
on my own.

The dice have been thrown
I’m left on my own
The words have been said
Memories are left to mend.

My Father's Lullaby

Be not afraid father
I’ve seen you carry the world
Traveled the distance robust and bold
Be brave.

Be not afraid father
These pains are fleeting
As compared to life that is everlasting
Be brave.

Be not afraid father
Rest your tired body
And I will sleep with you with leaves of holly
Be brave.

Be not afraid father
I can see you’re a fighter
But for now you have to rest and lay your banner
Be brave.

Be not afraid father
I’m singing a lullaby
I will lull you to sleep ‘til you say goodbye.
Be brave.

Hush now my father. Be brave.

Ode to my Father

By this time I think you know
We have loved you of depth unknown.
With your days unheard and your time falter
Remember with our Father you are safe and sheltered.

If time won’t grant us moments we desire
We will live in the memory everybody admires
We will let our tears fall on that noble day
When you will wait for us in heaven with gay.

No words can express how much we love you
You have been our mentor, our friend our father
And I pray to God when you see the day coming
Be not afraid our dear Father is waiting.

Precious time you have shared with us
It will be cherished and surely it will last
To northern skies soon we will meet
Where summer is there and life is sweet.

Rest now my father and not be weary
I have shouldered the task and I’m willing to carry
Leave us in joy and in peace you will be
For gladly I will carry you dreams and legacy.

Wooden Chair

I’ve been sitting here in this wooden chair
Not knowing what time have come to pass
On to the walls I have blankly stared
No thoughts, no words my mind can cast.

Why in this wooden chair I do keep sitting
When most of the time I gain nothing
Ah, perhaps an answer that I’ve been looking
‘til eternity I will be searching.

In these string of thoughts can an answer be found?
In these sweet sadness will a trumpet sound?
With this direness that hunts like a hound
Will I be spared as I shout out loud.

Still on wooden chair, of sundry things I think
No words on paper, nor stains of ink
Be that as it may, this green valley I know
Will only be a dream ‘til my sun is low.

This wooden chair, splattered in green
Have sheltered me from tears that could’ve been
Shared with my joys and witnessed the pain
Carried me sturdily ‘til my strength regains.

Now as I sit on this wooden chair
It carried me through my moment of despair
As my mind wanders into nothingness
It slowly eases my pain and sadness

Sa Pag-ihip ng Hangin at Paglagas ng mga Dahon

Kasabay ng simo'y ng hangin at pagaspas ng mga dahon
Alaala ng nakaraang niluma ng panahon
Habang sa ugoy ng duya'y di umaahon
Muling sariwain ang matamis na kahapon.

Alaalang kay ganda, dulot saki'y ligaya
Isang gabi ng saya, oras ay 'di alintana
Bukang-liwayway sa bintana'y makikita
Nakaraang gabi pala'y isa na lamang gunita.

Parang kailan lang, mga buwan ay lumipas
Mga larawan mo'y nabubulok, naaagnas
Isang yugto sa buhay, 'di na muling magbubukas
Tulad ng mga dahong sa ihip ng hangi'y nalalagas.

Ngunit bakit kalungkutan ang sa akin ay hatid
Mga oras at sandali'y tila 'di mapapatid
Bawat kisap ng mata, luha ay 'di lingid
'pagkat ikaw pa rin ang tinitibok nitong dibdib.

Damdaming ito ba'y kailan magwawakas
Mga sugat na humilom, naiwa'y mga bakas
Akin pa bang aasahan, pangako ng bukas
At patuloy na kumapit sa mga salitang tila hiyas.

Little Lucy

Little Lucy knows that when her Daddy shows
He would bring her kisses that would make her face glow
Beautifully her dress on the pavement flow
As she plays with her Daddy in the field of snow.

Little Lucy knows that when her Daddy leaves
It would break her heart and everybody grieves
The days would be long, as if stolen by the thieves
But her Daddy goes home this very same eve.

Now Little Lucy's dad is ill and weak
He cannot go back to his workplace this week
On his bed he lays and in stillness he would squeak
To Little Lucy's ear "I love you" he would speak.

To her room she enters and in the corner she sits
The light is dim and silently she weeps
A sigh is heard and a little prayer seeps
Hoping her dad wakes after a very long sleep.

She looked to the sky, above floats the dark cloud
Strong wind blows as she puts on a shroud
Heavy rain drops making tiny rivers to the ground
As she leaves the place, where her Dad's memory surround.

The Unloved

night cries
rain falls
splitter splatter on the roof
flooding the earth
quenching its thirst
soothing the heart
that have once been a home
of long-kept emotions
of love and pain
of freedom and rejection
of fear and hope
of beauty and filth
as the rain ceases
drying up the heavens
leaving wet the grounds
so the heart dries
as it pours out the love
drowning into what's left of it
of the heart
of the unloved.