The Art of Changemaking

It’s easy to misunderstand poetry as a traditional, outdated, or irrelevant art form. After all, who speaks or writes in verse nowadays, right?
Although I myself have enjoyed poetry ever since I was a little girl and have even enjoyed writing lines every now and then, it wasn’t until I read the book Lyrics by Sting [...]

To my husband, whom I married on 09.09.09…
On the date of our birthday, 01.23.10…
This would have been my wedding vow to you.

The Invitation
by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t [...]

Maaalala mo kaya
Ang pangalan
O mukha ko?
Ang pangalang nakita mo lang
Sa isang pahina sa dyaryo?

Maaalala mo kaya
Na habang ikaw ay
Nagtatrabaho
O namamasyal
O kumakain
O natutulog
Isang Lunes
Ako ay kinakaladkad,
Mukha’y nilalaslas
Dangal at puri’y niluluray
Magpakailanma’y ninanakawan
Ng buhay?

Maaalala mo kaya
Na hindi lamang ako
Isang numero
Sa listahan ng gobyerno–
Hindi lamang ako
Bahagi ng estadistika
Na pinag-uusapan ng
Buong mundo?

Ako’y isang ina
Na kailanma’y ‘di na
Mararamdaman
Ang yakap
Ng bunsong anak
Ang [...]

Poetry inspired by an art exhibit of
Julian Peter Arias | Jethro Jocson | Alex Gonzales | Jerome Jocson | Rondy Cabiles
WhiteWall Gallery, Bagtikan Street, Makati City

In the blankness of space
Man falls
He knows not
How
All he knows
Is the empty feeling
Of falling
And the fear
Of falling through the
Gaps
Of a broken net
Which Time
Has gnawed out.

Time
Space
Fear
Flight

Life
Is an unending
Cycle
Of falling
And flying
Lifting
And lying [...]

ANG DILAW NI TITA CORY (A poem by Niña Terol)

Musmos pa lang ako
Noong napansin ko
Ang mga kulay dilaw
Na laso at banderita
Na akala ko noo’y
Simbolo ng
Isang malaking piyesta
Sa kalye.
Natuwa ako no’n
Dahil walang pasok.
Nang kalaunan
Naintindihan ko
Na hindi pala nagpa-party
Ang mga tao
Sa kalye.
Inilalabas nila
Ang kanilang
Galit
Poot
At hinagpis,
At ang kulay na dilaw
Ay naging simbolo
Ng ating
LABAN
Para sa
Demokrasya.
Lalo kong nagustuhan
Ang dilaw.
Matingkad
Maliwanag
Nagbibigay-sigla.
Ngayong ako’y
Di [...]