Poetry&Stuffby
MARNE KILATES
MARNE
S
KRIPTS
from
Antinostalgia & the Tokhang
Rhapsodies
from
Antinostalgia & the Tokhang
Rhapsodies
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
from
Antinostalgia & the Tokhang
Rhapsodies
Poems 2022
Poems 2022
Poems 2022
Poems 2022
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
From Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon
From Journeys, Junctions
(a collection of travel poems)
Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera
Mga Kulay ng Lumbay
The Colors of Sadness
(Translation by Marne Kilates)
Himala
Dumadaluyong ang mga salita
Inaanod ako sa daloy ng wika.
May isinasampa sa pampang ng dila,
Lunday na may lulang babasaging tula.
Laot ng hiwaga‘y tila walang hanggan,
Karatig ng langit ang tubig na bughaw.
Sa aking ulunan, halos abot-kamay
Ang sutlang bandila ng isang balangaw.
Subalit, ay, aba, ang kristal na tula,
Tulad ng balangaw, kaydaling mawala.
Malikmata yatang sindupok ng bula,
Kasisilay lamang, mamaya’y gunita.
Halina, hiwaga ng mga salita,
Nais kong malunod sa inyong himala!
Magic
Words are the surge of a tide,
In its swift current I am adrift.
It washes on the shore of the tongue
A dugout bearing a fragile poem.
This sea of mystery is without end:
Blue of water touches blue of sky.
Above I can reach for the rainbow,
A banner fluttering its silken hem.
But, oh, behold the fragile poem,
Like the rainbow how soon it is gone.
Flimsy as froth, it vanishes in a blink,
A memory no sooner than the glimpse.
Come, mystery and magic of words,
Drown me in your wonder.
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DR. BIEN, or simply Bien to his friends and colleagues, his old and young admirers, has been a longtime mentor and friend to many writers, especially among the 'socially committed' types. He is a literary historian and critic, scholar, writing authoritative textbooks on Philippine literature, a poet, and playwright and librettist for the popular and musical stage. He was named to the Order of National Artist (for Literature) in 2006.