Two Poems
Original by German Villanueva Gervacio
Translated, from the Tagalog, by Antonette Ramos
Crayola
Crying inside
while glancing at the boxes
of eight to sixty-four crayons
my classmates
have just opened.
I am trying hard to brighten
the color of the fields, trees, mountains,
sun and flying birds
using frayed and broke-
n colors
handed down by my siblings.
Cried in secret.
That is my first art lesson.
Crayola
Nasa loob ang pagluha
habang pasulyap-sulyap sa kabubukas
na kahon ng wawaluhin hanggang
aanimnapu’t apating pangkorol
ng mga kaklase.
Pinipilit kong patingkarin
ang kulay ng palayan, puno, bundok,
araw at naglilipanang ibon
gamit ang pudpod at putol-
putol na pangkulay
na pamana ng mga kapatid.
Lumuha nang lihim.
Iyan ang una kong leksiyon sa sining.
Original by Joseph Fernandez
Translated, from the Tagalog, by Antonette Ramos
Bukayo
I’m savoring
this bukayo
Inay sent.
I’m nibbling
on the twelve pieces
to fill the fragments
of longing to go home.
Chewing too slowly.
Meagerly taking a bite
as I’m gradually consumed.
Is there something sweet
that can conquer
this world of solitude?
Bukayo
Ninanamnam ko
ang bukayong
padala ni Inay.
Pinapapak kala-kalahati
ang isang dosenang piraso
para punan ang tipak-tipak
na kagustuhang makauwi.
Dinadahan-dahan ang pagnguya.
Tinitipid ang bawat pagkagat
habang unti-unti akong nauubos.
May matamis bang makadadaig
sa daigdig ng pag-iisa?
Antonette Ramos has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing in Filipino from the University of the Philippines. She is a member of LIRA (Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo), an organization of poets writing in Filipino. For a living, she currently translates film subtitles. This is her first attempt at literary translation.
German Villanueva Gervacio is an award-winning writer and educator. He is the author of Hari Manawari, Si Tanya, ang Uwak na Gustong Pumuti, and 101 Bugtong na Hindi Alam ng Titser Mo. His other works have been included in numerous anthologies and journals in the Philippines. He currently works at the Department of Filipino, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology.
Joseph Fernandez is an emerging writer from the island of Patnanungan in Quezon Province. He earned fellowships in various writers’ workshops in the Philippines, including Palihang Rogelio Sicat, Palihang LIRA (Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo), where his poem featured above was penned, Palihang Rene O. Villanueva, and Caloocan Writers’ Workshop.