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Mike L. Bigornia

Maagang Gabi
 


Sa labas ng bintana,
nakadikit sa salamin
ang himbing na mga kulisap.
Ang mga balingkinitang pino
ay rehas ng dalisdis.
Ang kaliligo't pinilakang bahay
ay pinalalabo ng gumagapang na hamog
na nakikiisa sa usok ng tsimniya.

Pinaaga ng biglang ulan
kangina ang gabi.
Maya-maya, masayang dadamba't aawit
ang mga putikang paa at botas
sa sahig ng malamlam na kantina.
Pagkat kahit umuungol pa ang langit
at paminsan-minsang nagpupukol
ng matalim na liwanag,
sangmilya na ang layo ng kidlat
na nagtaboy sa patpating aso
patungo sa ilalim ng punong alnus.

Nagbuntong-hininga ang lagarian.
Samantala, limang uhuging bata
na may balikat na panggatong
ang bumabagtas sa giniginaw na daan,
at gaya ng ulilang ibong
nasa kampanaryo ng kapilya
ay muli't muling nagpapagpag
ng basang pakpak.

Early Evening

     

 

At the window,

clinging to the other side of the glass pane,

the moths are fast asleep.

Beyond, the slim pines

stripe the slope like grilles.

A house, rinsed with silver,

fades in the creeping mist

now mingling with chimney smoke.

 

A sudden rain

hastened the evening.

In a moment, mud-caked feet and boots

will step lightly, as if with music,

into the dimly-lit canteen,

for while the sky might still grumble

and hurl its knives of light,

the storm that sent the scrawny mongrel

into the alnus’ shade has passed.

 

The sawmill gives a sigh.

Meanwhile, five sniveling urchins

shouldering bundles of kindling

traverse the cold-stricken path,

and like the lone bird

perched atop the belfry,

they flap, from time to time,

their dripping wings.

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Mike L. Birgornia was one of our finest poets. He was also a translator, editor and fictionist. He was a founding member of the GAT,

and chairman of Umpil, and managing editor at Phoenix Publishing. He was  a consistent

 winner of the Palancas and the National

Book Awards. He also received the

SEA Write Award from the King of Thailand. His books include Puntablangko, Prosang Itim, and the postumous Salida. 

He succumbed  to a heart attack at age 50.

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