Mr. Art Dax is a new member of UPLI. He writes in the Philippines using English as his primary language for poetry. He then translates some of his poetry into Kapampangan, the native language of his home.
I’ve Murdered Someone
(Sonnet – Freestyle, ABBA rhyme)
Friends and townmates, I have something to confess
I’ve murdered someone not too long ago
I don’t recall if I cut him into pieces or with one single blow
I stabbed him through the heart and tossed him like a dress
Even with his breathing impaired and was about to die
I covered his mouth and choked him, he had no defense
my anger for him grew exeedingly intense
he had no right to live under this big blue sky
He wallowed on the floor just like a new born
His timidness made him an easy prey
He had no strength, no right to see another day
He had no courage he should not have been born
I killed the boy I once was
To become the man I am today
artDax
PRETTY MAE-LING
A beautiful orient flower is the pretty Mae-ling
Dainty and so delicate….ah! such a precious thing
When her petals open up, and when she is in bloom
You can smell her fragrance, that banishes the gloom
It is a flower that stands alone, in its own atmosphere
A rival of the ghost orchid, so very rare and dear
I am quite contented with her presence there afar
For she is such a rare beauty though as distant as a star
And when I find a sweetheart who makes me feel like a king
She’ll be like the orient flower the pretty Mae-ling
When she gives me loving praises and sings a song in spring
She’ll make me love her dearly as I do pretty Mae-ling
When she comes close to me and I feel her hands caressing
She’ll remind me of a flower the pretting Mae-ling
There are things that a poet, cannot say explain nor sing
Like the wonder of the orient, the pretty Mae-ling
Malagung Mae-ling
Sampagang malagu
tubu ya Alaya, ausan deng Mae-ling
tictacan ya banglu
sacdal ya dalise, wagas ya keng santing
Alben mong mibuklat
makule nang pisngi ibat pa keng bubut
samyu nang masampat
alang cayangganang macalako lungkut
Sampaga yang metung
Ala yang catumbas, tune pacamalan
Keng cayang tungatung
Alang maka tagkil keng tagle nang leguan
Bina cu catula
lalon keng marayu didinan keng pansin
dakila yang mutya
Deng sablang bulaklak, marayu yang batwin
Nung akit ke’ng sinta
gawan nacung ari keng suyu na’t lambing
E’ne mikeliwa
keng mutya aslagan, pelaguang Mae-ling
Neng babie no cacu
Caras ning tagsibul deng cantang manggising
Binit ing tula cu
at paganaca ne ing palsintang Mae-ling
Talnan nacu gamat
Mitmu ya keng lambis cacu yang casiping
Sauguli e maglambat
Paganaca ne ing malagung Mae-ling
Agyang ing poeta
Culang ya amanu keng timmias nang mairing
ning mabanglung Reyna
ning dane Aslagan, malagung Mae-ling
WHY DOES IT MAKE ME SENTIMENTAL
Why do I feel the sorrow
when people say goodbye
It leaves me broken hearted
and sometimes makes me cry
Why does it hurt me badly
when parting is in the air
Why can’t I shrug my shoulders
and show that I don’t care
Why does it bring back memories
of good old times and more
Why I can’t I be my same old self
the way I was before
Why I do I throw away my pride
and pray that they will stay
Why do I hope continuously
that they’ll be back someday
Why does it make me sentimental
Why does it hurt me so
When I know deep within my heart
That they’ll just have to go
O Bakit Manamdaman Cu
O bakit caplas na
ning pilubluban co, neng ating dadayu
pusu cu balbal ya
keng pamangulila, ing lua cu tutulu
O’bat casakit na
ning aklis at sunis ning tauling pamikit
layun cung magdusa
e ke agulutan ing magbabo pait
Bakit naman caya
kening panimanman alben ing milabas
mayumung alala
at e na misubli ing bie kung matimyas
O bakit ala na
ing cacung marine, agcat cong magdatun
Magbalik la sana
ya ing pangadi cu, e la pa man memun
Bakit manamdaman
ya ining salunan, o’t casakit rugo
cabang balu cu nang
e ra casalanan, cailangan lang maco
