Two Poems

[Poem]
Lupa’ Sūg, Hula’ Kalasahan 

by Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano

A view of Sulu/Photo by Gamson Jr. Mawallil Quijano

I

Dayng ha düwm pa ma adlaw
In manis mu sangat-dayaw
Misan hawnu makapanaw
Ipag bansag ku tuud kaw

II

Dagat makatahammul
Ista’ nanggiyul-giyul
Bungangkahuy nabuwabul
Tuhan namu’, magsukul

III

Hula’ sin tau mamura
Addat-tabiat maraya
Kiya lukis na ha sarsila
Makahaylan biya’ pālmata

IV

Libutun in pasisilan
Ikaw in bāyan buddiman
Tarasul kaw ampa daman
Lingkat mu bituun bulan

V

Biya’ ibārat kaw Ina’
Lasa mu kāmu’ salaksa’
Kabuhi’ misan malawa’
Kami bangman parihala’

 

Sūlū, My Beloved Homeland 

I

From dusk till dawn
Your charm is perfection
Wherever my feet take me
I shall be proud of thee

II

White sand beaches are captivating
Abundant of fishes
Overflowing exotic fruits
O Allaah, thank you

III

The land of the generous
Rich in culture and norms
For it is written in history
Like gems you are entrancing

IV

Roaming every municipality
Thou art an icon of honor, dignity
You are rhyme and poetry
Like moon and stars such exquisite beauty

V

A mother you seem to be
Your love for us is infinity
Even life will soon perish
So long we shall be safe.

 

Ina’

Ha waktu kaw piyamudlay
Limanguy ha matahay
Adlaw düwm in limabay
Kasigpitan nagla’say

Ha waktu kaw piyag anak
Hi tangis na hi ulak
In lasa kaymu anak
Misan baran masipak

Malamma na makasay
Liyasa kaw biya’ busay
Pa kabuhi’ kamatay
Tindugan kaw ha pantay

Limabay waktu masa
Ibut ayaw lupaha
Ulung kaymu timappa
Misan pa baran wayna

Sabab sin kasi kaymu
Iyayaran kaw maamu
Dayng ha ulan pa kāyu
Tiyatasan ha pasal mu

Sa’ mayta’ tiyungbasan
Sin sakit pangatayan
Luha’ sapantun ulan
Bāngaw di’ kakitaan

Anak daran tumtuma
Ina’ mu malawa’ da
Kamanisan sahaya
Sumadlup da biya’ süga

Hangkan kaymu jungjungun
Aku dayang lasahun
Bayhu’ ku pauyumun
Biya’ bulan damlag ha düwm

 

Ina’

English translation by Warina Sushil A. Jukuy

The moment you were conceived
Swim did I yet it’s dry
Days, nights passed by
Hardships brimmed up high

The moment you were born
I wept and screamed on
My love for you my son
Even my body shall be torn

Be am weak, be am strong
Like cascading falls is my affection
From this lifetime to my death
I shall defend you with resilience

Our momentous past together
I beg you not to ever forget
My mercy for you knows no limits
Even for myself nothing’s left

It’s because of my ardor for you
I oh so gently safeguard you
Come rain, come fire aflame
I shall withstand it all just for you

But why did you recompense
This heart with oh so much pain?
My tears kept falling like rain
Rainbow lost nowhere to be seen

My child, do remember
Soon your mother will be gone
Charm however lustrous
Shall at dusk set like sun

Thus, to you I implore
Love me oh my dear
Make my face smile so bright
Like full moon beaming at night!

 

 


 

[box]Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano of Sulu is a registered Radiologic Technologist who works in Doha, Qatar. He is a contributor in Mindanawon Abroad of MindaNews through a column “Tausug In Doha.” He has published essays, poems, photo stories, and tarasul (Tausug form of poetry) in MindaNews, Mindanao Examiner, The Zamboanga Post, Philippine Muslim Today, The Ranao Star, Mindanao Times, Edge Davao, Mindanao Today, and Mindanao Post. Three of his poems entitled “Magma”, “Twilight” and “Northern Lights” have been published in Poetry 365 by RDW World Publisher. He belongs to the Tulawie Clan of Sulu. He is one of the great-grandchildren of Mohammad Tulawie, one of the greatest Tausug Muslim pioneer educators who made the Tausugs realized the value of education during his time.

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