When everybody’s busy,
I slept.
When everybody’s seeking money,
I write poems.
When everybody’s taking care of their careers,
I’d like to be a monk.
When everybody’s busy,
I slept.
When everybody’s seeking money,
I write poems.
When everybody’s taking care of their careers,
I’d like to be a monk.
*English version of “Pagbalik.”
I went to my birthplace.
It is where I studied.
I went to the place where I came from.
Given life, I fly.
Bringing joy, I give birth.
Singing in happiness,
I bring hope.
Ang pasko ay araw-araw.
Bawat pag-ibig na isinisilang
sa bawat sandali ay pagsilang kay Kristo.
Ang betlehem ay nasa ating sinapupunan.
Sa munting sabsaban ang likha ay isinisilang.
Hayaan mo akong lumpiad
pagka’t ako’y may mga pakpak.
Hayaan mo akong humuni
pagka’t ito ang tinig ng aking lahi.
Hayaan mo akong umawit
pagka’t ako’y umiibig.
Ako ay nagkaroon ng maraming kamatayan sa buhay na ito.
At pinili ko ang mabuhay.
Ninais kong makilala ang kamatayan,
upang malaman lamang na ito rin ang buhay.
And I’ve made a choice to live.
I want to meet death, only to find it is also life.