TANAGÀ

Share

Gipit

Kapag kawalang-wala,

Nandiyan mayâ’t mayâ;

Pagtanggap ng biyaya,

Wari mo’y nagsabula.

Sino?

Nang ihain ang dalág,

Nagsipasok ang lahat;

Ay, sinong maghuhugas?

Isa-isang lumabas.

Bugaw

Iyon bang batang-bata

At tiyak na sariwa?

O iyong dalubhasa

Ngunit medyo bilasa?

Hambog

Sakay ng kotseng lantad,

Pulang-pula’t matingkad,

Mamahali’t di huwad;

P’wede namang maglakad.

Kampanya

“‘Nay, mayro’ng politiko,

Gustong pumasok dito;”

“‘Nak, pinto’y ikandado,

Baka nakáwan tayo.”

 

Ang tanaga ay maiikling anyo ng katutubong tula na umiiral bago pa man ang pagdating ng mga Kastila sa Filipinas. Ito ay mayroong iisang saknong lamang na binubuo ng apat na taludtod, isahan o mono rimang tugmaan at may sukat na pipituhin ang bawat taludtod. Maiikli ito dahil ginagamit ito ng mga sinaunang katutubong Pilipino upangmadali ang pagkabisa ng pinapaksa o anumang bagay-bagay. Ang iba ay ginagamit bilang salawikain at bugtong.

Read More

Lines from My Nepal Notebook

A whiff of jasmine Rose petals scattering Mighty pines dancing Bamboos swaying, dipping, snapping back Sunflowers gazing at their namesake in giddy worship. A windy spring day in Godavari. (April, 2011)

A Portrait of My Father

Last night was your birthday Forgot to tell my cousin to light a candle on your grave. DID I LOVE YOU ENOUGH DID MY WORDS HURT YOU YOUR SHADOW STALKED ME I PROMISED THERE WILL BE NO TEARS I remember your...

The Arrangement of Falling Things

Along the walk to the InstituteThe Indian cork tree begins its silent shift.White, five-pointed stars rest on the pavement,not fallen, but arranged,as if the long night had paused hereto remember itself. Each blossom...

Making Believe

How long to carry on this pretense That, yes, I am now fine Making believe that you are just away on another Of your many leavings But how to walk In the shade of the trees And the...