If you can

from The Voice: Literature and Critical Theory Student's Union Journal 2020

by Literature and Critical Theory Student Union @University of Toronto

Lillith's Apology to Eve- Julia DaSilva

Jonathan Labao

Teach me the names of mga matandang dios The ones that were wiped by the Spaniards In the name of their dios verdadero

Teach me how to make sinigang and kaldareta Without measuring cups and hardcopy recipes So that it becomes more natural than breathing

Teach me to dance the tinikling To weave through the dancing bamboo As they drum and clap a song of resistance

Teach me to speak Tagalog So that I can tell you how With every sound that leaves my lips With every breath that enters my lungs And every word I don’t understand in your lullabies I want to cry

And it hurts so much more When hindi ko marunong mag sabihin an entire sentence Because the words slip from my mind

or maybe they were never there

If you can - Jonathan Labao

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Lillith's Apology to Eve- Julia DaSilva

IF YOU CAN

Jonathan Labao

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This article is from:

The Voice: Literature and Critical Theory Student's Union Journal 2020