Jamil Mabandis
(poetry in Maguindanaon with English translation by the author)
Singanin nu Pamusungan
Di pakapangimbenal su ginawa
Kanu taginepen a bimaba
Lu ebpun kanu mga gabun
A dinemegka kanu leka a ngala.
Sabap seka i ulak nu atay
A minetu sa limu
A nagumbus sa bulawan
A minunga sa sigay.
Sigay a ‘kena pakadulat
Ka sigay a malanat
A mana pasidaw
A pakatana ku ginawa.
Seka su inigkahanda nu Tuhan,
Singanin nu pamusungan.
A lu natun kanu pageletan
Nu taginepen endu tademan.
Na sa uman kutika
A pembalingan kanu itungan.
Sangat a di gapangimbenalan
A niya ka kanu adapan.
Sabap seka i katumanan
Nu langun a singanin
Nu nyaba pamusungan.
My Heart’s Desire
My own self can hardly believe
That a dream has descended
From the clouds
And found its rest in your name.
For you are the flower of the liver
Grown from kindness
Bearing fruit of gold
And sprouted with light.
A light that does not wound
But lingers gently
Like a lullaby
That quiets the restless heart.
You are what the Divine has destined,
The longing my heart once held
Now found somewhere
Between dream and memory.
And in every moment
My mind returns to this
A quiet disbelief
That you stand before me.
For you are the fulfillment
Of every dream
My heart has ever known.
Na u Mauma Su Gay
Na u mawma su gay
A itagak aku nengka
Na lu aku nengka
Itabun ku dedsan nu lagat.
Ka lu ku ba inipamula
Su langun nu tademan.
Endu kagagasan nu
Bagel su lidu nu ginawa.
Na u mawma su gay
A itagak ako nengka
Na lu aku nengka
Itabun ku kapedsedep nu senang.
Ka tu ba i kutika
A matana su sambel
A pakadtiyakap ku badan
A pakalimpang kanu ginawa.
Na u mawma su gay
A itagak aku nengka
Na lu aku nengka
Itabun ku limu nu magabi.
Ka lu ba su ulan-ulan
A sindaw nu pamikiran
Endu mailay ku su mga bitun
A nakakineg ku mga singanin.
Na u mawma su kutika
A dumadsang su ulan
Na pandaya ka saki
Ka endu di nilan gailay.
Su mga lu a minigis
Sa kaleges nu kaludan
A tanda nu lilini
A di den kambalingan
When the Day Comes
When the day comes
That you leave me
Leave me by the sea
On a quiet shore.
There I planted
All of our memories
So the waves can pass through
And slowly ease the weight in me.
When the day comes
That you leave me
Leave me
In the setting sun.
Because it will be the time
That the wind becomes gentle
That will care for my soul
And will entertain me.
When the day comes
That you leave me
Leave me
In the night.
Because the moon is there
That will enlighten my mind
So that I can see the stars
That listened to all of my wishes.
And when the time
The rain falls
Just let me
So, they can’t see.
My tears flowing
Falling as quickly as the far sea.
A sign of a love
That can never be brought back.
Unong
Nailay ku seka
Kanu masla a katri.
Bagiga. Bangalingkakep.
Nabulig su mga suled nengka
Kanu kaudtatan nu igan.
Bamagulyang.
Sabap sa nauma den
Su gay a ipegkagilek ku.
Gay a kapebpitas nengka sa laki.
Linemudsu sa kinabatya ku paraman
Sangat a lidu sa ginawa
A di masaupama.
Minigis su lu
Sa mana kaleges
Nu kaludan.
Linemengis.
Mana natagak a manuk
A bagu namitas.
Mana madsugat a mamayug
A di mataw medtas
Kanu lalan.
Nakatundug su kina ligu sa leka
Nu mga matana a lima.
Ugayd na ya ku da tika,
Na kinailay ku kanu
Maputi a ginis.
Ginis a ipegkalimbos kanu
Matenggaw a lawas nengka.
Ginis a dala suga nin.
Tanda nu kapedtangka nengka,
Taman sa taman.
Burial Shroud
I saw you
Upon the wide bed.
Lying still. Your hands gently clasped.
Your siblings gathered
At the end of the bed.
Weeping.
For the day had come
The day I feared the most.
The day you departed from me.
It began with the reading of the Holy Book.
My heart, overcome with a grief
Too deep to explain.
Tears fell
As swiftly as the rushing current
Of a distant river.
I cried aloud
Like newly hatched chick,
Left behind.
Like a little child
Who does not know yet
How to cross the road alone.
Then, came the bathing of your body
By the gentle hands.
But what I could not bear,
Was when I saw
The white cloth.
The cloth that would wrap
Your cold body.
A cloth without design.
The final mark of your leaving me
For a lifetime.