*Note this poem is in Tagalog
Ang mga mata niya’y tila kumikinang na impyerno
At nang ang dila niya’y magsalita, nabalot ito ng 30 pirasong pilak
Sinulasok ng usok ang aking sentido
Nakita ko ang usok sa kung ano ito
Nararapat lamang akong magpaalam
Nararapat lamang akong magalit
At ang aking panghihinayang
O Diyos, sana ibinigay ko na lang noon iyon
Ang mga yabag niya’y unti-unting nilisan ang pinto
Ito na kaya ang sagot na hinahanap ko?
Upang sumayaw ang mga salita ko sa pahina
Upang maibigay ang buong puso ko sa bawat letra
Ang silid ay umalingawngaw sa sigaw
Habang ibinibigay ko ang sagot ko
Masyadong mataas ang presyo
At hindi ko matatanggap ito
“Oo”
Dahil ang pahina ay ang aking buhay
Ang tinta ng aking dugo
Ang mga salita ng aking kaluluwa
At dito ako nagsusulat
Sa gitna ng takipsilim
Naghihintay na kalampagin ang kampana
Aangkinin nito ang premyo
Para lang mahanap
Ang wala
Dahil ang pahina ang aking canvas
Ang tinta ang aking dugo
At ang mga titik
Ang aking kaluluwa
Sa tuwing magniniig ang panulat at papel
Ibinibigay ko ang kapiraso ng aking sarili
Na alam kong hindi ko na mababawi
Ibinibigay ko ito nang libre
Sa mga matang naghahanap
Bilang isang sulyap sa aking pagkatao
Ibinibigay ko ito nang libre
Sa mga may nais
Upang ihiwalay ang tabing ng buhay
Hindi na nito makukuha ang premyo
Dahil nakuha mo na
— Ang huling akda ng makatang si “Jillian”
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English Version
Its eyes were a glistening inferno
And its tongue spoke, covered with 30 pieces of silver
The smoke choked my senses
The smoke made me see it for what it was
It deserved my goodbye
It deserved my anger
And my regret
I wish to God I gave it then
Its footsteps nearly left the door
Could this be the answer I was looking for
To make my words dance on the page
To make my heart pour into every letter
The room rang with screams
As I gave my answer
The price was too high
The price was unacceptable
“Yes”
For the page was my life
The ink my blood
The words my spirit
And here I write
In my twilight hours
Waiting to strike the bell
It would claim its prize
Only to find
Nothing
For the page is my canvas
And the ink my blood
And the letters
My soul
Each time the pen touched paper
I give a small part of myself
That I will never get back
I give it freely
To the eyes that seek
A glimpse into my being
I give it freely
To those that wish
To part the veil of life
It will never claim its prize
For you already have
-The last work of the poet “Jillian”
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*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Gabriela Baron
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Gabriela Baron
Inspired by ‘Landas de Diablo’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
The Devil (The Bargainer) Illustration by Jam Trinidad
FB: Jam-core
Watercolor by Yanna Gemora
FB: Yannami
