kung bakit minsa'y pinapaslang ang pag-ibig

minsan ako'y kriminal.

sinisikil,
pinapaslang,
ibinuburol at
nililibing ko ang pag-ibig

sapagkat ang pag-ibig
minsa'y
makapangyarihan
dinudurog ang buong
pagkatao,
ang buong puso
sampu ng kaluluwa
ng umiibig.

tulad nitong bago kong
pag-ibig.

walang ibang sagot
kundi ang kamatayan
sapagkat
hindi sapat
na ika'y iniibig ko lamang
sapagkat
kailangang ako'y ibigin mo rin.

ngunit may iba kang mahal
hindi ako
kung kaya't bago mo malaman,
paalam

ngayong araw na ito'y
salarin ako
ng pag-ibig ko sa iyo

ibuburol ko ngayong gabi
at sana,
sana'y mailibing na rin
ng tuluyan.


*para sa bago kong pag-ibig, paalam.

a heart longing for its pair

[para kay tom e.]

this passing night
now finds its meaning from
a nearby heart
that is,
like me,
longs for its pair heart.

when it's over,
this night,
i will keep it inside my heart's
deeper corners
but not too deep

not in the
deepest corner

so that tomorrow
when the first ray of sun
touch my face,
i will hold it with my left palm
and kiss it before i sleep.

each night,
forever.

you kissed me first

you visited in my last night's dream,
and the other night too.

you reign again
in my night universe,
entering into me,
even in my slumber.

you who never wanted to admit
you feel too.

you,
who always,
always told me
it was just because
you taught
i might be
who you can,
who you may,
who you need.

but last night
in my dream,
it was you
who traveled through
the island of my body
that always
long for your hands

and it was you
who kissed me first.

just like the first time
we shared
a bed.