3 Poems

Abdul Majiid K. Abdul Azis

Lake Dwellers

The lake glimmers like a mirror,
reflecting the sky, the clouds,
and the lives of the Maranao people.
Their homes, elevated on stilts,
resemble birds resting on reeds,
gently swaying on the water’s surface.

Children’s laughter fills the air
as they jump from wooden platforms,
splashing into the cool depths
where tales of the Sarimanok and the Hikayat come alive.
The women, with their skilled hands,
create intricate patterns that echo the lake’s shimmering beauty.

The men, adept fishermen,
cast their nets wide,
gathering the lake’s bounty to feed their families.
The lake serves as their lifeline,
a source of nourishment and inspiration.

As evening falls, the sky ignites with color,
and the lake becomes a canvas
painted in shades of orange and purple.
The Maranao gather on their balconies,
sharing stories and songs,
their voices harmonizing with the soft sound of the waves.

The lake stands as a quiet observer of their lives,
a timeless connection between the people and the water.

Lake and Mountain

Two brothers, born of the same mother,
ventured far from their family home.
One, captivated by the glistening water,
made his home by the lake, his heart aglow.

He beheld in its depths a tranquil life,
a wealth of fish and a fertile land.
He raised his house on stilts, out of sight,
a refuge amid the gentle rain.

The other, longing for the ancient trees,
the rustling leaves, the mountain breeze,
ascended higher, where the cool air frees
the spirit from the comforts of the lowlands.

He discovered peace in the vibrant green,
a hunter’s life, a freedom profound.
He built his home where the forest shines,
a life woven with nature’s dreams.

And so, the brothers chose their paths,
one by the lake, one in the mist.
The Maranao, blessed by the water’s grace,
the Higaunon, thriving in the mountain’s embrace.

Though fate had led them apart,
their shared lineage remains forever.
A bond unbroken, though hidden from view,
children of the same mother, at peace. 

Will Sarimanok Ever Grace Mindanao Again?

When will Sarimanok, with its vibrant wings,
bring its grace to this land, so weary and blue?
When will its cry, a sweet melody that sings,
quiet the guns and heal the streets anew?

Sarimanok, a legend, a mythical sight,
a symbol of freedom, shining ever bright.
Peace, a fragile bird, elusive and rare,
longs to take flight but finds itself ensnared.

By shadows of conflict and whispers of dread,
by the echoes of war that linger instead.
The people of Mindanao, with hearts so sincere,
yearn for the moment when peace will appear.

When Sarimanok lands, with fish in its beak,
a symbol of abundance for all souls to seek.
When harmony thrives and justice prevails,
and the song of peace forever entails.

Kappar-Kappar Palantung

Nathara M. Mugong 

For my brave little Thara

(Sinama-Simunul original poetry)

Mili ma jambatan,
nengge kami tallungan,
nakat kappar
tudju ni Sambuwangan.
Dasehean’ baanan aa sukudan:
mag usaha,
mag pasiyar,
saga mag tulak ni pangiskulan.

Pag soddop mata ullow,
putput atiyup, “Toot-Toot!”
sinyas kappar sekot na pasuhut.
Angalembe, anakkop, abehot;
lamud na galak maka susa,
pasal magokat na,
palakkat na min bihing bey katanaman.

Taabutan kami ma tangnga sallang tonga bahangi,
ni turul sahaya bulan maka mamahi.
Saga aa halam magtuli,
sakahaba kasangoman,
magsuli-suli.

Subu pabuka’, paanda kalibutan.
“Minga na kita bi tongod?”,
panilow ku ni pagbalik-balikan,
ni sussa ya baanan lahat talabayan,
si ngissa si Inah ya Bud Duwa Bullud,
patanna sekot ni pu’ Basilan.

Teybaliyu warta bilu,
maka tahik landu tallak
agon tapatandingan ku;
minsan aku minga-minga katudju,
tatau ku sigam tahun labey tahun masi takila ku.

Maingkan sallang landu lawak na
maka sollog palaran mbal niya hondongan na;
waktu maglabey,
ginisan kappar ma tahik iti magsulabey.
Sabannarna talow aku labbey,
ni gawi ku mba aku makasempey.

Pagtulak bey ni pagbeyaan
minaan ma jambatan mba na bey kabalikan.
Pandang mata ku na ya taytayan,
nunggu duwa alam.

Tiyup-tiyup baliyu,
ma kuwit ku patapu,
pangentoman bey tagna’ si lae pabayang ma aku.
Saddopan mata ullow maka timpu bey dahu,
dasali du ni kabayaan le’ ku.

 

A Small Boat Floating
English Translation

At the dock,
stood the three of us,
boarding a ship
bound for Zamboanga.
Among us were fortunate individuals:
some seeking livelihood,
others on vacation,
and those pursuing their education.

As the sun dipped below the horizon,
the ship’s horn blared, “Toot-toot!”
signaling its imminent departure.
There were waves, hugs, and the struggle of heavy luggage;
excitement mingled with worry,
the fear of separation,
of being adrift from familiar shores.

We reached midnight in the middle of the sea,
guided by the moonlight and stars.
Many could not sleep,
and the night was spent
exchanging stories.

Dawn broke, revealing the landscape.
“Where are we?”
I repeatedly asked,
curious about the islands we had passed.
Inah would recount the tale of Bud Duwa Bullud,
near the island of Basilan, where it stood.

The sky was blue,
And the water so clear,
I could almost see my reflection appear;
no matter where my journey may steer,
I would recognize them, year after year.

Yet, the ocean is vast,
with its ceaseless currents;
time had marched on,
with different ships traversing these waters.
Honestly, I am scared I might stray,
fearing that I will never reach my way.

The journey we once shared on this dock
would never be replicated.
My eyes beheld the bridge,
connecting two distinct realities.

The wind,
caressing my skin,
awakened a flood of memories within.
Sunsets and the days that have passed,
For both, I am yearning.

The Pulangui

Mohannad Daguit Ules

Oh Pulangui, as I watch and heed you go,
You’re slow, steady—and sure of your flow.
In both your banks, where two strangers meet,
Will there be a path, on the plains you cut deep?

Oh, what a lovely place to stay.
Where in the morn’ng, white Talong birds play.
And in the sunset, to watch your golden glare,
To the evening you mirror the stars’ flare.

And every day that the Pulangui flows,
In both its banks where two strangers go.
For each day the sun rolls—they meet, meet, then greet.
And so, the Pulangui banks shrink—now waterlilies grow.

Then the waterlilies join the Pulangui go,
Yielding to its flow—steady and sure of its flow.
And then flowers sprout from the waterlilies’ bud,
Oh, what a lovely place to grow.

And so, the Pulangui carves a path across two chests—
Forming deep valleys where no one had ever guessed.
Now two rivers formed, a two Pulangui joined—
Two with one direction, two with one flow.

Oh, what a lovely place to grow,
And watch every sunset as you steadily flow.
Oh Pulangui, what more could you offer?
What more will your bounties bring—
Nothing more, with your grandness though.

With each tide that cycle—ups and downs,
Or when floods of seasons’ crushing shores.
Oh Pulangui—you surely flow, you surely flow.
Even with your crumbling banks—you still flow, you still flow.

Oh, Pulangui your flow must endure.
Time may test your patience; tide may test your flow.
You must endure—’til the last sunrise’s grace,
Or ’til the last sunset, to you its last embrace—
You will still flow; you will still flow.

Laitan and Tarasul Sama Tabawan

Omarjan I. Jahuran

Laitan

mislang sobangan
ma kapu’an bihing timbang
sahaya bulawan kalangitan
aminta bangkal ma bilu ayan

hamiyu baliyu balat-daya
pajiyara pasiyum ma papa
maglimbay janggay saloka’
ma jambangan salama lama

Angalukis pitu’ walna’ biradali ma kagabunan
Patandaw ananding na si Matahari ni si Manisan
mamahi ma kulit tahik magkitaw kitaw ibuhan
Angalingan na gusung malanga anussi baran

ma tapiyan Laitan…

Laitan

Daybreak comes
On the island on the edge of the ocean
The golden rays in the skies
Paints orange in the blue space

The gusting of the offshore winds
gently kissing the cheeks
the coconuts swing their arms
in the garden of eternity

Seven colors marked by the rainbow in the clouds
The sun glances and looks at Manisan
The sparkle of a thousand stars on the surface of the sea
The high sand calls out now to cleanse

On the coast of Laitan…

 

Tarasul Sama Tabawan

Tinagna’an tarasul itu maka Bismillah
Ma on Tuhan Tunggal Sangat Kawasa
Kamemon pagpudji, sanglit, babarapa
Subay ya Allah muna-muna pinaheya.

Tarasul ku itu pinasaplag ni ka’am
Amahalayak, amasayu, amajantang;
Pasalan usulan lahat Halo Sukuran,
Lahat bay pagjanji’an maka bangsa Ira’an.

Pag addat ma bowahan Kambo’an
Iyana itu dakayu’ pangilahan kitam;
Mbal ka kaonan a’a lahat Tabawan,
Bang alam itu asal ma deyom pangatayan.

Min Pagtandan ni lahat e’ kambo’mbo’anta
Sampay pangosol hag Langgal maka Luma’ Maheya;
Pagjamu, Pagkambo’an maka Pagduwata,
Saga paljanji’an subay toongan tinuman e’ ta.

Pagjamu ma gintana’an maka kapantayan
Iya na pagjamu ma entosan Pampang
Halaman Kassa Samin bang itu pinag-onan
Subay masi na pa’in nientom pinaghinang

Pagjamu tapiyan maka kagusungan Laitan
Halaman Salama-lama bang iya pinag-onan
Ina’an paatag entosan maka dundangan kambo’an
Paltanda’an sin pag-ongka’-ongka’an sigam

Pagjamu bohe’ deya subay du masi pinahalga’
Nionan itu Halaman Putli’ Dayang Sulga’;
Bohe’ binarakatan, bohe’ bay pamusaka’,
Bohe’ pamakosog baran, toolang maka laha’.

Pakaradja’an pagjamu, t’llu ng’llaw t’llum bahangi
Pagtagunggu’ llaw – sangom, alam paghali,
Mag igal saga kar’ndahan, kamatto’ahan, magsubli
Magtumbak, magkuntaw, bang nienda’ maka s’lli-s’lli

Bang angaliyu liyu na kulintangan maka tambul tinitikan,
Anuttu’ na agung, sulembat maka bab’nndil padongan;
Saga magtagunggu’ pabasag amal’kkas lisagan sigam,
Iya na pangalingan ma kauman e’ Tagunggu’an Tabawan.

Suwala tagunggu’an sinahawi saga magduduwata,
Sinagina pahadil baanan kar’ndahan maka botang matto’a;
Pareyo’ pasalidda saga umagad kambo’mbo’an maka aruwa,
Baanan katurunan katekkahan mag igal maka amissala

Magtumbak saga kal’llahan, Mag igal Kar’ndahan,
Ginisan Igalan paluwas ma luma’ pagduwatahan;
Igal kayab, Igal Bokko’, Igal Kamun, Igal kamatto’ahan,
Maglimbay maka maglenggang ma Igal Tabawan

Igal Tabawan nilimbayan isab ma pagkawinan ma kauman
Addat-pusaka’ bangsa asal pinaghinang’ bay min awal jaman
Min diki’-diki’ saga kaanakan sinangbay tin’ppak-t’ppakan;
Pina-igal ma pantan luba’-labi na bang damlag bulan.

Damlag bulan magsahaya ma ayan, ma kalangitan,
pagantung sali’ mbal pagantung ma deyo’-diyata alam;
Bang pinandang taentom na si Kumala’, si Arung, si Rayang,
Pabeya ma hamiyu baliyu suwala si Oto’ magleleng ma jambatan.

Aheka kahinangan kagara’an bang adamlag na bulan,
Saga Kamatto’ahan mag anom tepo, mag lege lege ma pantan;
Maggara magbeggong saga kasubulan maka kabudjangan,
Maglibutan ma sowang kaluma’an , Tabawan Night bang itu nionan.

Tarasul ku maitu na pinahanti’ pinahali saga dawdanakan
Jantang-jari paluwahan Sama Tabawan pinabantang ma ka’am;
Min lahat mata sobangan, lahat bay niatasan,lahat nibarakatan
lahat kambo’mbo’an, lahat pagtibawan, Iyana tunggal Tabawan.

Minsan magsulang-mangking labayan pagbakan, maingga-mainga ma dunya,
Magsurang saingsing saga kaanakan, ka’mpu-mpuhan maka saga panubu’ta;
Daa kinalipat paghinang ma lahat gin’llal e’ kamatto’ahan “Ponsot Dunya”,
Bohe’ sulga’ makaam, Salam Duwa’a, Salam Kasilasa.

Tarasul Sama Tabawan

Malong Weaver and Rock Garden

Jahara A. Solaiman

Malong Weaver

Her companions being
A backstrap loom,
Vibrant filaments of every hue,
The weaver
Conjures magically
The warp and weft
Handed down
Through the centuries.

From her deft fingers
And the back and forth
Of the strands,
Colors, textures,
Patterns, motifs,
Simple and intricate,
Spring forth.
Treasures come into being
Whether it be
A landap for a sultan,
Or the rare andon for a bai a labi,
Perhaps an ampik for everyday.

From dawn to dusk
Sitting at the weaving-frame
She basks in the mastery
Of  her craft.
The loom
Making the same music
Her forbears had played,
Her creations meant to stand
The test of time.
She weaves
The song of her people.

Rock Garden

My soul dwells in a place
So secure,
That if you hurl
Boulders of hatred,
Cobbles of insults,
Pebbles of spite,
These will just drop in vain,
On the grassy courtyard.
Like stray cannon balls.

Do come again
For the next round.
By that time,
You will not miss
Seeing that
Your debris of strife
Just made a beautiful rock garden
Out of the rubble.