One million there were
Maybe less, maybe more
One million leeches deep
Lay bloody on the floor
The hero raised his sword
Glistening in the sun
He heeded the tonong’s* warnings
Thus the carnage begun
The battle raged on
By the bright, pristine lake
The leeches and their footsteps
Made the very earth quake
The hero knew
What the tonong had said
About the leeches and his brother
He who fell dead
But he had no time
To reflect and grieve
The leeches were coming
His weapon, ready to cleave
Indarapatra stood against the tide
His blood flowing through
The leeches gripped his skin
But he knew what to do
The tales were correct
About how to defeat
The leeches and their form
His blade must not meet
The fullness of the beast
Must not be split in twain
For if that occurs
Another will remain
So the hero slashed
But not in full
The leeches fell
And he felt the pull
The monster vanquished
His brother avenged
Thus ends our tale
Of the hero
The leeches
And the sweetness of revenge
——————————-
*Tonong is a general term for spirits – these spirits include Maranao ancestors.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the Omakaan description in How Maria Christina Got its Name. Adeva (1978) [in Damiana Eugenio’s Philippine Folk Literature Series: The Legends].
Omakaan illustration by Marko Mikhal Gomez Deposoy
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