A Nipa Shack
a nipa shack
in all appearances of it
unwalled and
defloored
about to fall and kiss
the ground of
rotten hay and
wilting grass
stop and look at it
even for a short while
and it has a lot of stories
to tell
shocked
you will be
finding that from its nipa shingles
there is
this upsurge of emotions
bursting thoughts
restlessness moving to and from
beside the clouds just a tree
above it
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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A View Of A Narra Tree Whose Branches Are Cut
there it stands tall beside a nipa house
its branches all cut
the climbing lichen and moss shall soon die
at noonday
wilting and stiffening
mummified on an early summer
when all the fingers are cut off
and arms stripped of hands
how can man be a man?
how can a tree be without leaves and branches?
how can moss and lichens thrive on such a cruelty
the nipa house triumphs and someone inside laughs
the sharp axe and the long bolo serve the purpose of the author
of this murder.
I loathe. I make this protest poetry.
Man murders nature unpunished.
No kind of poesy saves. Words are useless.
Metaphors are dead.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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We Shall Return There Again
kini ang wala na nimo makita
gusto nimong ilubong
ang imong hulagway
this is what you have not seen
you want to bury
those images
diha sa likod sa balay nga nipa
sa kilid sa punoan sa nangka
nga wala na mamunga
sa layo dili na nimo
at the back of your house made of nipa shingles
beside the langka tree
which did not bear fruits
at the distance you cannot
kaayo maklaro ang usa ka iro
nga puti nga dunay puntik
nga itom sa iyang wala nga mata
gutom nangarol bahong
patay nga baki
anymore see clearly that dog
with a black make on its eye
hungry and sickly and smelling
like a rotten dead toad
wala na'y tawo kining balaya
hagbay ra namong gibiyaan
no one lives in this house anymore
it was long ago that they left
ang nagpabilin lamang
mao angmga handurawan
nga nagpunay og hinuktok
sa kilid sa bintana
nga hagbay rang nadugta
what is left here are only the memories
which are restless
by the side of the window
which was also rotten
gibitik ang iro
gihimong sumsuman
sa mga palaigit
the dog was trapped
made as viand
by the drunkards
ang lubi nga tigulang
wala gyoy mga pulak
the old coconut tree
did not bear fruits anymore
ang kabaw gikitlan
ug ilang gipaambitan
the buffalo was butchered
and they shared the loot
ang dalan nangliki na
gumikan sa dakong hulaw
the path cracks
because of the drought
kini ang dili mo
gusto nga mabati apan
sayod ko sa pag-abot
sa saktong panahon ato lang
gihapong balikan
this is the one that you
do not like to feel but i know
that the time will come
on that ripe moment
we shall return there again
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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The New Scary Thing About America
i am told
about the new scare
and i am scared
and you have to start moving on
somewhere
here back at home
with our nipa huts
and morning glory salads
less the winter
and the chill
we are waiting
welcome back
my old friend
the river is not as cold
as you think
and the trunks of the trees
are not as rotten
as you once wrote
the road back home
is not bumpy
anymore
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Autumn
You called up late
Said you wanted to talk
I was afraid
Cause you spoke so softly
You took my hand
Slowly started to cry
I can't understand
Why our season went by
Why do leaves fall down from the sky
Is the tree not strong enough
You turned away
Slowly opened the door
Said you could not stay
You couldn't take it no more
It started to rain
Tears kept falling from the sky
It did not stop the pain
It did not stop the pain
Why do leaves fall down from the sky
Is the tree not strong enough
Now I fall on the ground
It did not stop the pain
It did not stop the pain
Why do leaves fall down from the sky
Is the tree not strong enough
Why do leaves fall down from the sky
Is the tree not strong enough
Now I fall on the ground
Now I fall on the ground
It did not stop the pain
It did not stop the pain
Why do leaves fall down from the sky
Is the tree not strong enough
song performed by by Green Lizard from Identity
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Promise
she was alone
in that nipa shack
for her children
were gone
seeking their own
destinies
in the city
this was her farm
this muddy place
we met this morning
as i was taking my walk
passing by her
lonely place
she was there
and we talked
she was talking about
how her medicine
made her dizzy
and was asking for
herbs as
substitute
she died
an hour ago
before i came back
to bring
the banaba leaves
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Termination
the sea is gray
the tree on the river
bank is dead
the nipa roof
of a cottage is
blown by the
wind
there is no man
in this place
there is only the
murmur of the
sea breeze
as usual the sands
of course are silent as ever
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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A Description Of The Camera-poet
the little boy from the city takes a ride
on a cemented buffalo beside a nipa hut surrounded by
coconut palms on top of
greed grass
the little girl wants to share the ride just right before the
camera finally clicks
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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A Sort Of A Poem Upon Arriving At The Mountain Hut
where it is? the native points to the place
using his nose. It is just near he said while chewing his betel nut.
we pass three winding rivers
and five hills on footpaths with mud and grass as tall as us along the way.
we finally arrive at the foot of a hill
below it a nipa hut
there is no one there
i curl up and take my sleep
meanwhile the fog swallows everything
just us.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Life Is Simple
A house that contains all
in one room
is enough for the family of
three
there is no winter here
somehow
so the bamboo and
nipa shingles are enough
vegetables are grown
and goats and chickens
are raised here
there is a dog that waits by
the door
and some pigeons
to fill the empty skies
father plows the field
children gather the firewood
mother cooks the fish
and the chicken
life is simple
but somehow i who want it to be
exciting
adds a little sophistication
in the city
the neon lights blink to simulate
the stars
to give colors to rivers
seas shimmering
as though
there is fire forever
until
eternity
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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The Filipino Poem 3
The Filipino poem as written by Bimboy
A college student of the Ateneo de Davao
University taking up BS Chemistry on a
Cocofed scholarship grant:
The sun rises on the two hills in my barrio.
You cannot find Papa and Mama there anymore
They always quarrel over their extramarital affairs
And the nipa hut is just too crowded for the two of them.
My sister had two sons but you cannot find them there
Because they live in another nipa hut on the other
Side of the river while the ricefields are dry and did not
Yield any harvest because of drought and the carabao
Is also not there in that scene because it died, butchered
And sold as meat to the hungry neighborhood.
The sun sets on the hills like a bunsen burner turned off.
The two hills protrude like two empty glass flasks turned upside down.
You cannot find me there I am here still writing this poem.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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4: 16 A.m.
the rain begins
to fall
on the nipa roof
of the house
soothing sounds
solemn song of the
humble house to
God
this early morning
as one reads silently
a Matin....
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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My house is small
My house is small
Cogon-roofed
And nipa walled.
Fenced by bamboo slats
Near the shore
The air is fresh
The breeze so cool
Shaded by a tree
And stars and moon
I sleep here alone
With nothing on
Hand
bare
I am a simple man
Barefoot and calm.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Rock The Shack
Ive been accused of everything
From tombuctu to old berlin
I need some armor for my flesh
I need to stop and take a rest
Ive been wide-eyed but couldnt see
I stand accused of being me
I believe in politics
I believe in everything
I believe this world of ours is giving me adrenaline
When I hear a baby cry
When I see an old man die
Thats just the way it is
Rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack
Rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack
Yeah thats the way it is
I took each day the way it came
I put my future out of frame
The signs were there for all to see
Like blue eyed mind to you and me
My head laid on my beating breast
I swear to you I pass the test
I walked one hundred thousand miles
And youre the judge whos been my trial
? ? ? my trial
I believe in politics
I believe in everything
I believe this world of ours is just a den of vice and sins
And even on the darkest night
We could reach for the light
And we could get it right
Get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right
Get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right
I believe in politics
I believe in everything
I believe this world of ours is giving me adrenaline
Ten thousand year ago
Crawling on the floor
Well get up jack
Its time to rock the shack
Rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack
Rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack, rock the shack
Its time to get up
song performed by by New Order
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Drunkenness
The rain dripping from this
Old nipa roof
Wakes me up from
This drunkenness.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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156
he rain dripping from this
Old nipa roof
Wakes me up from
This drunkenness.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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A Rural Scene
a line of carabaos grazing
on a newly harvested ricefield
behind an abandoned nipa hut
some wilted grass and dry leaves
shadows of hills and mountains
tall coconut trees and a footpath
two little boys holding each other's hands
bound for home on a late afternoon
sunset, red and orange, and then you
leave the place: your pain is subdued.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Grass
Laying on the grass my heart it flares like fire
The way you slap my face just fills me with desire
You play hard to get
cause youre teachers pet
But when the boats have gone
Well take a tumble excuse for a fumble
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
If you fancy we can buy an ice-cream cone
Your mate has gone she didnt want to be alone
I will pounce on you
Just us and the cuckoos
You are helpless now
Over and over we flatten the clover
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
It would shock you too the things we used to do on grass
Grass, grass.
Things we did on grass
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Grass
Laying on the grass my heart it flares like fire
The way you slap my face just fills me with desire
You play hard to get
cause youre teachers pet
But when the boats have gone
Well take a tumble excuse for a fumble
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
If you fancy we can buy an ice-cream cone
Your mate has gone she didnt want to be alone
I will pounce on you
Just us and the cuckoos
You are helpless now
Over and over we flatten the clover
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
It would shock you too the things we used to do on grass
Grass, grass.
Things we did on grass
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Mower's Song
My Mind was once the true survey
Of all these Medows fresh and gay;
And in the greenness of the Grass
Did see its Hopes as in a Glass;
When Juliana came, and she
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.
But these, while I with Sorrow pine,
Grew more luxuriant still and fine;
That not one Blade of Grass you spy'd,
But had a Flower on either side;
When Juliana came, and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.
Unthankful Meadows, could you so
A fellowship so true forego,
And in your gawdy May-games meet,
While I lay trodden under feet?
When Juliana came , and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.
But what you in Compassion ought,
Shall now by my Revenge be wrought:
And Flow'rs, and Grass, and I and all,
Will in one common Ruine fall.
For Juliana comes, and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.
And thus, ye Meadows, which have been
Companions of my thoughts more green,
Shall now the Heraldry become
With which I shall adorn my Tomb;
For Juliana comes, and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.
poem by Andrew Marvell
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in Marupay...
from here you can
see a number of villages
tonight
the wind howls
a gas lamp
inside the kitchen
of this
wooden house
nipa roof
continue
to give a little
bright
light
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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