Liway ng Dapithapon, Lihim ng Bukang Liwayway

Marahil ilang beses nang dumungaw

Sa kaisipan, sa kapanatagan— Mga salitang nagpupumilit maghanap ng kahulugan. Alingawngaw. Pumapaimbabaw.

“Ano ang kalagayan ko bukas?”

“Kailan yaong ako ang nasa itaas?”

“Saan dadalhin ng oras?”

Siguro alam ko— hindi, sigurado.

Sa araw-araw mong paglayag sa dagat ng buhay, Binuo ang araw ng ligaya ng tanikalang balakid, Ngunit ito ka’t tumitindig, Nagsasagwan. Siyang tunay.

Subalit sa nagniningas na parolang paroroonan, Hindi naging madali ang kung anong kinalalagyan, Gayunpaman, ito ang karangyaan–Ang turo ng kasanayan.

Siguro hindi nga sigurado, Pero alam kong bukas ay ‘di selyado. Ang kapalaran. Ang kinabukasan. Ang pagdududa’y ‘wag ibunton, Sa oras na hindi pa natatanaw. Mas matakot ka kung hindi sumang-ayon ang galaw, Sa kabila ng pagsusumikap araw-araw. Hindi madaya ang tadhana, sinikil lamang tayo ng kapangyarihan.

Ni Patrick Joseph Panambo

Guhit Ni Cyen Esclanda

Debuho ng Pahina ni Darwin Escaro

By Berlineth Nymia Montes

The sharp tip of the clock’s hand is piercing my skin

Every tick tries to wake me up by inflicting pain I kept my eyes shut, feeling its tip as it deepens I don’t want to wake up yet knowing that the universe is just trying to get even

Locked in this asylum covered with fear and guilt–I find myself seeking comfort from the cadaver of our hopes and dreams

Caressing each part knowing that they all died with you I can hear people pulling me out of this place, but I’d rather rot here

Possessed with ghosts of our past and memories

People dear to me took me to different sermons and priests

Hoping to free me from my delusions of you coming back But my faith in my grief is stronger than any religion.

Everybody worries about how your departure changed me

But none saw how I was able to build a home out of it For sometimes, change doesn’t always bring sunshine and daisies

They just teach people to be comfortable with their miseries.