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Teo T. Antonio

Teo Antono is one of the leading poets writing in Filipino.

He is at home in both metered verse and free verse and is a skilled practitioner of the poetic joust. His poetry is rich in folk wisdom as well as modern sensibilities. His many awards include the Palanca and National Book awards, SEA Write

as well as the Centennial Award of 1998, and the Gawad

Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas.

Binhi ng Ilang Salita

 ni Teo T. Antonio

 

 

               “From one world to the other

               What I say vanishes.

               I know that I am alive

               Between two parentheses.”

                                                                 —Octavio Paz

 

 

Dahil walang katiyakan ang búhay,

natitiyak kong mabubura o masusúnog,

ang iilang salitâng nailagda sa papel.

Nabubuhay ako sa binhi 

ng iilang salita’t katagang nilagyan

nila ng panaklong.

Ang makipagniig sa kawalang-hanggan

ay alamat lamang at tunay,

tunay na walang katiyakan.

Hindi ako nag-aalinlangan

sa dulo ng alinlangan;

kung ang binhi ng iilang salita’y 

matulad sa semilya ng isda.

Lumangoy sa mahabang ilog

at nakarating sa dagat.

Walang katiyakan kung makababalik

ang lumaking isda sa minulang ilog.

Nakidigma sa dahas ng alon

at sigwang naghatid sa kaniya

sa malayong pampang. Sinalubong

ng mga tao sa daungan na parang

isang nadakip na mandirigma;

ginilitan at inasnan,

ibinilad sa sikat ng araw. 

Pagkaraa’y pinagpistahan ng maraming 

labi’t dila ang lasa’t linamnam.

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Seed of a Few Words

               “From one world to the other

               What I say vanishes.

               I know that I am alive

               Between two parentheses.”

                                                                —Octavio Paz

 

 

Because nothing in life is certain,

I am sure the few words I’ve signed on paper

Will vanish without a trace or burn to a crisp.

I live on the seed sown

By a few words or syllables

They’ve enclosed in parentheses.

To engage with eternity

Is a myth and truly, it is

Truly without certainty.

I do not hesitate

After all hesitation is done;

If the seed of a few words

Might be compared to fish eggs.

They will swim the full river-length

To reach the ocean.

There is no assurance the grown fish

Can return to the original river.

He battled with the cruel waves

And the storm that beached him

In strange shores. The people gathered

To meet him at port as if he were

A captive warrior;

They sliced him up and salted him,

Dried him up in the sun.

After, a multitude of lips and tongues

Feasted on his flavors and tang.

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Walang Paa ang Pag-ibig

Walang paa ang pag-ibig,

Pero nalalakbay ang gubat at bundok.

Walang pakpak,

Pero nalilipad ang matayog

na panaginip at pananagutan.

Walang bituka,

Pero nadarama ang uhaw at gutom.

Walang bisig,

Pero kumikilos at nakikibaka

Laban sa pagduduhagi.

Walang ilong,

Pero nasasamyo ang halimuyak

Ng pag-asa at tagumpay.

Walang mata,

Pero nakakakita

Ng luwalhati sa kabiguan.

Walang tainga,

Pero nakaririnig ng pagdaing.

Walang utak,

Pero sinlawak ng dagat at papawirin.

Walang ngalan,

Pero sagisag na sinasambit,

Isinasapuso at isinasadiwa.

Walang katauhan,

Pero kalangkap ng lupa at katotohanan

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Love is Without Feet

Love is without feet

But it can traverse mountain and forest.

Without wings,

But it can soar toward a dream

And noble duty.

Without guts,

But it can thirst and starve.

Without arms,

But it can fight servitude.

Without a nose

But it can scent

Hope and victory.

Without eyes,

But it can look

Beyond defeat.

Without ears,

But can hear a cry.

Without a brain

But it is as wide as sky and sea.

Without a name,

But it is the word uttered,

Taken to heart, committed to memory.

Without a mortal body,

But joined to the earth and truth.

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(Translation: Marne Kilates)

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