by Germond Akome

DON’T TOUCH ME.
I DETEST THE WAY YOU MAKE MY SKIN
TINGLE EVERY TIME YOU BRUSH
AGAINST ME.
DON’T TALK TO ME.
I LOATHE THE VERY SOUND OF YOUR VOICE
THAT SEEMS TO CARESS ME
AND MAKE ME LONG FOR MORE.
DON’T LOOK AT ME.
I ABHOR YOUR GLANCE THAT MAKES
THE PAIN IN MY STOMACH ALL THE MORE
INTENSE.
DON’T GIVE ME ANYTHING.
EVEN THE SIMPLEST GIFT FORCES ME
TO YIELD MYSELF TO YOU.
STAY AWAY FROM ME.
I DON’T EVER WANT TO LOSE MY IDENTITY.

By DJ Saracin

…then we grew silent

I am still,
in monologue
with the silence
I’ve created to whisper
secrets to you.
With your hand in mine,
I shall speak to you
with a longing
that suffers the distance
in us.

I’ve grown deaf
to the echoes of my ranting.
I still listen.
Sometimes I think i hear you,
faintly.

There are moments when
I find you in my thoughts,
in places i’ve never been to,
then you speak to me
as though i’m lost.
I enjoy wandering in your daydreams…
if only longing
wasn’t such a far place.

In time
I shall head towards
this place
I remember you by,
where we never spoke,
nor touched.

…well, maybe we might have.
I can only see so little
without my words and yours.

By Jeric Cantos

Sa gabi, sa gabi, ika’y pinagpapawisan,
Nababagabag, mayroong pinagnanasahan.
Naghanap, naghanap, ngunit walang matagpuan,
Iyong paningin, ibinaling sa kadiliman.

Heto na, heto na, maari nang lasapin,
Tukso ng laman, maari nang abutin.
Sya na nga, sya na nga, nasa iyong harapan,
Ang tawag ng dugo, iyo bang pakikinggan?

Kay sarap, kay sarap, ligaya ng laman.
Sa wakas, ikaw rin ay mapagbibigyan.
Mapusok, Mapusok, ‘di mapipigilan,
‘Di pabibigo ang pangangailangan.

Lumabas, pumasok, walang inaalintana.
Umatras, sumulong, hanggang umapaw ang banga.
Napuno ang salop, walang ni anong babala,
Sumambulat sa wakas, ika’y napahilata.

Bata, batid mo ba ang mundong pinasok mo?
Ang bawat sarap ay may katumbas na presyo.
Malas ka pare, kapag ikaw ay nabisto,
Pangongopya sa M.P. katapat ay singko.

by Raeff

your hot breath wafted on my neck in the midst of a fitful slumber
I opened my eyes and saw the invisible nothing that had been here since…
the pain hurts so, not unlike acid burrowing too deep to take out
yet quite short of numbing me into deep peaceful unconsciousness

Hear me, O, moon goddess and take now my life.
Spare me, I beseech the, from this mortal strife.

teary-eyed i leaned back as fluid ice seeped into me as a glacier would
copper drops tainted what would have been clear rippling crystal
the metallic sting of the incision that had been mere seconds before
along with all my thoughts, my turmoil, now subside, now subdued

i long to see what changes you have been through after…
but i guess you would very much rather not have me nor have me know
as i fall into the dark and unexplored abyss of dreams, surging and ebbing
i wish i only knew, though i know i will not, where did you go,

now that I’m gone?

by Karl Diaz

And then I woke up.

It really was such a horrible nightmare that I’ve been having recently. I turned to my side and reassured myself that you are still there. Somehow, I can’t stop the nagging feeling that if I lose sight of you, there’s a chance I might lose you forever.
(more…)

by Cai

mahirap manganak ng tula
lalo pa’t walang binhi
ng kagalakan o kalungkutan
o kaya nama’y matinding sakit
na tumatagos sa kaibuturan

mahirap manganak ng tula
kung wala namang sinapupunang
kakanlong sa mga parikala’t talinghaga
walang magluluwal ng mga akda

mahirap manganak ng tula
kung walang kakagat sa bunga
ng matamis na tamod ng panulat

mahirap manganak ng tula
kung walang basbas ng kasal
ang manunulat at burador
walang lunsaran ng pagbabago

mahirap manganak ng tula
at pagtugma-tugmain ang mga salita

mahirap manganak ng tula…

By Jim Lerry C. Guiyab

Ika labing tatlo ng Hulyo dalawang libo’t lima. “Ano ba yan?” …yan ang aking natanong sa aking sarili habang naghihintay ng isang himala o pangitain sa gitna ng dagat ng mga tao na aking kasabay sa T.Sora. Wala talaga akong ideya kung saan ako pupunta sakay ng isang dyip upang makagawa ng isang ethnography.
(more…)