Al-jhamier Mosib

Nakauma su manuk sa utan
Inurukan nin si belsiyan
Da nin den mun ubagi
Taman sa mibpulugo si ngali

‘daw guna inya nakabpun?
mimbedtek sa katipu
midtuka sa padulat
a mimbumbul sa tagakal

midsalag den ku dama-palay
taman sa migkadakel
nasansala nin su palay
‘ndaw den si belsiyan?
nataring?
namagena, sangat den a nagilekan

Sinusup nin su leman na ped nin
leman ni belsiyan
takulab bu matag i nasama
niya den mambu i ganggula
kanu paganay,
da pun sin makauma
madidis pan si tuka
saguna a nakauma,
napumpul den sa subla.

Wild Chicken
English Translation

The wild chicken came,
It clocked Belsiyan without mercy,
Till blood stained the mouth.

Where did it come from?
Bearing Judas’ spur,
A beak of a betrayer,
Feathers of a deceiver.

Nested in the rice fields,
Breeding beneath the sun,
But the rice was damaged—
Wait, where is Belsiyan?
Missing,
Hid away, frightened. 

It ate the eggs of its own kind—
Belsiyan’s eggs,
Only empty shells remained. 

What madness is this?
Long ago,
It had not yet arrived,
Its beak still sharp and keen.
Now that it’s here,
The edge has grown dull and weak.

Aleah Sulaiman Bantas

Kagkalendem ko seka sa uman mabulig i mga palopalo sa balangan na kulay nu mga ulak.
Kagkalendem ko ged seka sa kapedsayog nu mga kayu sa bagel na sambel.
Di ko magaga u di ka gapagitung, gadtatanggit ko seka sa itungan ko
Apya endaw ako pebpawang tayan.
Apya kapedsagad nu mga babak, talangas endu tapuri sa benday ni ama,
Umengka mana kapok a penggantung i mga gabong sa pulo na langit.
Seka bu i gailay ko,
Umengka semagad sa itungan ko, gagkalendem ku,
I kapya na mata nengka, su lantik na pipilik nengka ka,

Seka bu i gadtareman sa magabi endu mapita—
Daren ped a gapangilay ko ka seka bu sa langun na makaukit sa lupa a pigkaselanan ko.

Ikaw sa lahat
Filipino Translation

Naiisip kita sa tuwing nagkukumpol ang mga paru-paro sa iba’t ibang uri ng mga bulaklak.
Naiisip kita lalo sa tuwing umiindayog ang mga puno sa simoy ng hangin.
Di ko maiwasang hindi alalahanin ka, dinadala ka ng isip ko.
Kahit saan magpunta, mahal.
Kahit sa tuwing dumadalaw ang mga palaka, tutubi’t tipaklong sa bukid ni ama,
Kapag ang mga ulap ay parang mga bulak na lumulutang sa itaas ng kalangitan.
Ikaw lang ang natatanaw ko,
Kapag dumadaan ka sa isipan ko, naaalala ko,
Ang ganda ng mga mata mo, ang hubog ng iyong pilik,

Ikaw lang ang gunita sa gabi at umaga—
Wala ng ibang hanap pa kundi ikaw sa lahat ng tumapak sa lupang tinubuan ko.

Ronaliza Manangat-Wagas

I
Jumaat lisag walu’ palabey ma pantan
Mata magtummu karuwa magloman
Atey takuddat sigak si baran
Kau na hati he’ ngamu, ni Tuhan!

II
Nganda’ tuwi ni mata hunit ni hinang
Dikayu’ pangaddatan hambey kabiyasahan
Danda lalla mag-anda’ ti magpandang
Atoa bey mandu’, tantu pangalangan.

III
Lai kow patokko’ minsan magduwa-ruwa
Talow ta jampa sa’ kinum papanda’
Kinuman nu ngalapal salama-lama
Patatak taindan ku ma pantan ya lowa.

IV
Sakadjap naan baran ‘mba tahati
Parasahan takissa pabidda’ pasiddi
Tangan tenne kok tuut lamma nuwi
“Love at first sight”tutu na dali’!

V
Puwas Isa takale ku suwara
Gitar nu mahilling TM Boys maka Den Bisa
Banan ongka’ nu malabey kabtangan kasilasa
In kau mehelo ma budjang bihing-luma’.

VI
Maghelo-helo kita kaangey-angeyhan
Boho’ kasi patumbu’ ma pangatayan
Kita tadikayu’ ma kahandak min Tuhan
Bang pin pamintadda pagkasi nilabayan.

VII
Masi taentom baning badju’ nu
Walna’maentom paluun nu ni aku
Lalla ma pantan palabey bey subu
Suratan patakka hambey taniyat ku.

VIII
Bang tallak na bulan aku ngamu’-ngamu’
Ma ta’ sapow dangan-dangan ni Iya maku:
“Dunya-Ahirat suratan ni patudju”
“Ullum-kamatey iya tasehe’ ku.” 

IX
Ma panagnaan asal bey tahati
Lasa magtoggol daa niparuli
Satsat baliyu ma atey kapali’
Piddi’ pagbutas ‘mbal pauli’.

X
Kissa ta karuwa niya’ deyo’ jata’ na
Paglimbangan natas ‘mba taasa-asa
Pagbiddaan maka kasean daa ni kasusa
Tuhan nipatampal yana Sangat Kawasa.

XI
Suppu kalima tahun sapantun dansasaat
Heka talabayan hogot bey niyat
Sannang pagbeya’ ngangdol magtaat
Pasong waktu paglasa hunit nibakkat.

XII
Pantan saksi’ ma he’ ta maglasa
Sakahaba kow palabey si danda ma kusina
Lanyap ma pamikil pandu’ atoa
kita maghati bang mag-abut mata.

XIII
Ma pantan subu Jumaat panagnaan
Ma pantan tanda’ ma palabayan
Ma pantan palingi’ kow song ni kanan
Ma pantan lai nagna’ parsugpatan.

XIV
Ni Rabbul Alamin pagsarangsukul
Sabab ma Kau sukud kami tahatul
Kapagkila, lasa he’ Nu matanjak pinaturul
Suratan maglingan ma pantan magmakbul.

XV
Kaullum tantu niya’ tobtoban na
Kamatey magsak kita ma dunya
Hurul Eyn patapit nikau minda
Daa meya’ satsat entom nu si lasa.

Destiny on the Footbridge
(A poem to the Love of my Life)

Friday, eight O’clock you passed by the
footbridge
Eyes have touched bashful of each other
My heart astounded; I was delighted
You must be the answer to my prayer!

Looking directly in the eyes is tough
A manner not accustomed to that
Woman and man gazing at first meet
Elders have taught, a ban indeed.

You halted despite the vacillating thoughts
Though anxious yet a smile was forged
Your smile has spoken of forever
Your sight by the footbridge engraved to
remember.

At that very instant I was indiscernible
The feeling I had so special and rare
My hands were cold my knees went weak
This might be the “Love at first sight” I seek!

After Isha I could hear the voice
Your guitar sounded Den Bisa and TM Boys
The words of tenderness your songs conveyed
That you have liking of the maiden next door.

We fell in love for the first time
I was your first and you were mine
Joined together in His hands
Hopeful to love only once.

I still recall you were wearing yellow
The hue reminds me of your coming
The man by the footbridge that morning
I didn’t notice my fate unfolding.

When the moon is bright, I pray
Alone at the rooftop to the Lord I say:
“Grant my destiny in this world to the
hereafter”
“In life and death shall be my partner.”

Since the beginning I have understood
Love withstands when you heed no more
Spilled gossips the heart endures
Grief of parting has no cure.

Our tale has its ups and downs
Lasting marriage can fail- it’s bound
Do not fret of your disparity
Let God rule, The Almighty.

Fifteen years as though a moment
Gone through many trails, my intent held
tightly
Marriage is serene with trust and piety
With time, to shatter love won’t be easy.

The footbridge is the witness to our affection
Each time you pass the woman at the kitchen
The teaching of elders has been forgotten
When our eyes meet, everything makes sense.

At the footbridge Friday morning, the inception
At the footbridge seen in that direction
At the footbridge when you turned toward your
right
At the footbridge the knot has been tied.

To the Lord of the World the gratitude is due
Our fate was laid because of You
We crossed paths, the love You willed
At the footbridge, the call of destiny was sealed.

Life certainly has its ending
In this world we shall part by passing
Hoor ul Ein would come as inviting
Don’t be lured keep in mind your darling.

The sharing of my poem has to end
My love to you from the footbridge to the
afterlife
At the Straight Way we vowed to unite
If Allah wills! Our dream shall be fulfilled.

Johara D. Alangca-Azis    

Meranaw ako, and my language is Meranaw.
A tongue that’s born from the sparks of divine light,
A voice that whispers peace in every name,
Treasured in the hearts that seek quietness,
A tender strength, a lasting harmony,
The language of the mawngangen, seselaan, and kalilintad.

Meranaw ako, and my language is Meranaw.
A speech of compassion, beauty and grace,
A lingo that blooms with gentle arts,
Refined in manners, respectful in duty,
Touching souls and healing hearts,
The language of the bilangataw, matarintis, and bilantadi.

Meranaw ako, and my language is Meranaw.
The tongue of the contented and submissive,
A lingua that carries the strength of quiet resolve,
Careful in words, humble in intent,
Seeking to evolve, finding its ascent
The language of the masosoat, mawnoten, and masanggila.

Meranaw ako, and my language is Meranaw.
I call your hearts to guard and secure this gift,
To preserve this heritage, to the very end,
For in its words, our roots run deep,
A paninggalan for generations to keep,
A tradition we solemnly vow to defend.

Meranaw ako, and my language is Meranaw.
I urge your spirits to cherish and uphold this blessing,
Strengthen its origins, uphold its name,
Propagate it far beyond our land,
So others may come to understand,
And keep alive what we proclaim.

Meranaw ako, and my language is Meranaw.
Aya panginam aken, aya singanin aken, aya pangni aken—
My hope, my aspiration, my earnest prayer—
That Meranaw– my voice, my heritage- shall thrive eternally,
Safeguarded with love, care, and pride
So it endures, unbroken, widespread–
A beacon of my identity, an everlasting heritage for all to share.

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.