Friday, November 13, 2009

Makulay ang Gabi sa Maynila - isang tula na mas pinaganda

yeah, that last one i did sucked like..something that sucks. pano pa kaya yun tatanggapin sa lit folio?! kaya binago ko, mas maganda naman siguro ito.


MAKULAY ANG GABI SA MAYNILA
NI: geronimo martinez

akala natin, pagdating ng gabi
hudyat ng laganap na kadiliman
ngunit kung ika'y mapadaan sa Maynila
ang gabi doon, matingkad na pula

tila anino ng lumalagablab na apoy
na tumutupok sa kung saang ibayo
nagmistulang bahid ng sariwang dugo
umagos mula sa sugat ng langit

diretso lang ang tingin kaibigan
huwag lilingun-lingon habang naglalakad
sa lungsod, pati ang ilaw ay may anino
lahat ng bagay may tinatagong kulay


tignan mabuti lahat ng gumagalaw
kahit na ang mga sawimpalad sa tabi
kung mayroon ngang puting tupang nawawala
mayroon ding lobong nagbalat-kayong kawawa


tila nagpupumiglas sa bagot ng langit
matinkgkad at dilaw, kumukutitap na bituin
makikita mo ba ang kay-liwanag nilang ngiti,
sa likod ng usok na tila ulap at ulan sa paningin?


huwag dumako sa silong na madilim
kung saan kahit bughaw na dugo'y itim na rin
walang makaririnig o dudulog sa iyong pagsigaw
walang pintuang magbubukas-palad nang libre

dinig ang bawat yabag sa kulay abong eskinita
umaalingawngaw ang bawat tapak sa sementong sahig
maririnig kung biglang may nagmadali ng lakad
sasabay dito ang tibok ng iyong pag-aalanganin


bughaw,
(dug dug)
Pilipinas,
(dug dug)
pula,
(dug dug)
Maynila,
(tak, tak, tak)
dilaw,
(tak tak tak tak tak)
Pilipino,
(taktaktaktak...tak, tak tak)
puti,
(dug..)
ilaw
(dug...dug...)
gabi,
(......)
itim

tuwing naglalakad ka sa lungsod at nag-iisa
huwag ka matakot sa iyong hindi makita
mas mag-ingat sa mga kulay ng paligid
at sa mamang may patalim na sumusunod sa iyo.


Monday, October 26, 2009

my resignation letter

to my leader,

i present to you my formal letter of resignation from our group. this

is because of my belief that my lacking performance is a liability to the

group's quality of work, and undermines the ideals for which we stand.

i wouldn't want the group's integrity to suffer because of my

inability. I'd rather break my own pride than compromise everyone else's.

i always admired people like you from afar. you always achieved the

greatness i aspired for. i thought that for one shining moment, i could be like

you. i was proven wrong.

am i really worthy to take part in your great endeavors? i may never

know. I'd rather relieve myself of my sworn commitment than wait until you come

to despise me.

maybe, i could have learned to embody your greatness, but not in the

time and manner that you'd find useful.

farewell. at least, for a brief time, i called you my dear comrades. i

thank you for the chance, and for showing me the mistake that is my

presumptuousness.

perhaps, one day, in another time and place, we will meet again and be

friends...but only just...


-geronimo

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

now that i got this out of my chest...(reflections on a love lost)

About g...


The sky is always crying these days. I hate it. only cowards and those weak of

heart cry. the sky is a coward. it's weak. it makes me feel and remember things

i'd rather not.


category 4 typhoon Parma is hitting the country right now

people greatly exaggerated it's strength in a fit of panic.

they said it would be stronger than typhoon Xangsane, or Millenio as it is

locally known, which ripped the capital with its shearing winds back in 2006.


i remember that time...we were out of electricity at home. the dangerous part

was that we were also out of potable drinking water. my dad and i went around

the whole city trying to find a shop that sells distilled water. but all of

them were closed down because of the storm.it was then that i thought to ask my

then best friend g. i asked him if he knew any water stations around that

was still open. he answered graciously. and he told us of one around bf

village. it turns out, that shop was the only one for miles that still worked,

and dozens lined up for it. i wouldn't be exaggerating in saying that my friend

saved me, and my whole family that day. and i wasn't lacking in flooding him

with my dramatic gratitude.


now a similar storm is raging...but my friend isn't there to help me

anymore...for some reason or another, we've grown apart. our relationship is as

stormy as the typhoon outside. uncertain, unexpected, no pause for sunlight.

all my requests for some time together are met with endless and obvious

excuses, if not unheard all together.


just recently i asked him if we could hang together, maybe play some badminton,

considering we haven't seen each other for months, with barely any contact in

between. i planned it three days in advance. and i texted him continuously

throughout that period, hoping for a reply that never came. my texts never lost

their gentleness regardless. the day before my planned date for a get-together,

he texted a lengthy reply. he lacked load the past few days he said, and

apologized for the late reply. that was all well...but then he said that he

couldn't come because he had a lot of schoolwork to catch up to. that

considering the week long suspension of classes. schoolwork. really. needless

to say, i was crushed. i knew there and then that it was an obvious excuse, an

intentional lie. of course, the message ended with him profusely apologizing.

just like in every text reply he ever sent me...messages i never erased from

my phone.


even then, i just replied.."oh..ok, it's alright." but obviously i wasn't.

silence met that last exchange between us.


tomorrow came, the date i was supposed to spend with him...i just recently knew

then that gi had a facebook account. i dared not add him as a friend, for fear

that he might see my emotional status posts on my profile. emotional status

posts that were almost always about my lamentation over our falling-out. which

constituted nearly all of my status posts. besides, there was that lingering

psychological effect on me...adding him up would only cause me to hurt inside,

i figured.


i asked a mutual friend of ours to check if he had actually been using his

account, just to check a suspicion of mine. i was proven correct. piles of

undone schoolwork amounted to a day spent using facebook and its myriad of

games and applications.


i heavily suspect that he's doing this intentionally, consciously distancing

himself from me. well, he has succeeded, because i let him, because it hurt me

too much thinking about asking him why. i loved him too much. to the point that

i could confidently tell even the Lord that now i know how it is to love as He

does, even if just a little bit. g was the only person i ever loved more than

a lover could ever love his fiance. and perhaps...he finally knew of my true

feelings for him, and thus began to sever our ties...


i actually wanted him to know. but i didn't want it to end... this badly. at

the least, i wanted to tell him of my love, then make amends and leave each

other in peace. but what's happening now is more subtle, yet a more potent

venomous sting. we never really broke ties. he keeps the illusion of friendship

while severing it ever so slowly. it keeps me in agony...and in a constant

state of longing and regret.


i should just tell him and get it over with. but i can't exactly find it easy

to do. g has been one of the biggest influences in my life. he taught me how

it was to love, and what love really meant, indirectly through the course of

our relationship. he changed me so much. he made my life better. he was that

boyhood best friend i was never privileged to have when i was younger. he

helped me grow and develop in such an important aspect of my life. i grew to

love him even more because of that...and probably that is why i can't help but

cling to him...or rather, to the memory of how we were happy together.

i try hard to stop being so emotional. i try hard to just break it all and move

on. but it's too hard for me right now. he made that much of an impact on me

that i can't just let go. it doesn't help that he lost my guitar, which he

borrowed from me 3 years previously. my parents are in a furor, telling me to

get it back. but i can't even tell them g lost it, for fear of the action

they will take. even now, i'm still protecting the only boy i ever loved. i

can't even be aggressive with him about it. i still take up the heart of

understanding and gentleness..while he shrugs it off as some easily forgotten

matter while profusely apologizing some more.

what he doesn't see is the matter of trust, that he so easily desecrated.


just recently, i went back to that water station that g told me about, the one

that saved my family. now, it's just a decrepit abandoned building.


remembering our loving bond back then, memories of him in the past, because of

the typhoon now is making me tear up inside. reflecting on how painful things

are right now, memories of him in the present...will forever haunt my every

footstep. i can never truly say that i lived my life without regrets.


all the while, the sky cries in the night.

ala-ala ng kahapon (mga ala-ala ng kaibigang minsan kong inibig)

alaala ng kahapon
by: geronimo martinez

PAUNANG TULA

sumisikat pa ba ang araw sa nakasimangot na labi?

nagtago ang musmos sa anino ng limot at poot

larawan ng dalawang magkaibigan iniharap sa pader

naiwang nag-iisa ang litrato ng batang nagpapakatanda

may mukha na tila dinala ang sakit ng mundo

hinawi ng panahon ang puso ng katipan

sa pagsasaisip ng tama at maling pagsasama

walang anu-ano't pinigilang sikatan ng araw ang bulaklak

ang ulo'y tila nakabitay sa sariling tangkay

nawalan ng dating kulay at pagmamalaki


-------------------------------------------------------
COLOGNE

ang pabangong ito'y may sentimental na halaga sa akin. ito ang kauna-unahang

pabango na aking natanggap, at ito'y isang regalo mula sa isang kaibigan.

nagyari't sa panahon ding iyon nagsimula tayo magsama nang madalas, ginagawa

ang mga napakasayang bagay. sa mga pagkakataong iyon, lagi ko ginagamit ang

pabangong iyon tuwing ika'y kasama ko. at sa kalauna'y naiugnay ko sa iyo ang

mahalimuyak na amoy nito. matapos ang ating pagwalay sa piling ng isa't -isa,

hindi ko na muli ginamit ang pabangong iyon. ni minsan ay di ko na muling

ninais maamoy ang kanyang bango, sapagkat ipinaalala lamang nito ang ating

masayang pagsasama na hindi na muli mangyayari.

unique pa naman ng pagkabasa ko sa brand niya..."eww the toilet"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMO PUNK ROCK LOVE SONG


kung tutuusin, ayaw ko ng mga kantang tulad nito. maingay ang tingin ko sa mga

kantang ganito. kung gagamitan ng isip, ang babaw ng mga salita, walang

matalinong paghinuhang magagawa sa kanyang ma berso. hindi ko alam kung paano

ko pa nakilala ang napakababaw na kantang ito. kung di mo lang siguro ito

ipinamahal sa akin, kung di lang sana ako napamahal sa iyo, hindi sana...

nang panahon na iyong magsingtalik tayo ng dalawang magkasi, wala akong

masyadong kagustuhan sa napapanahong tugtugin. ipinakilala mo sa akin ang

kantang iyon, dahil ikinagigiliw mo ito. siguro nga'y iyon ang nauuso sa mga

batang tulad mo. nakakaaliw siyang pakinggan, ngunit mas naaaliw akong tignan

kang ngumiti nang malaki tuwing ito'y naririnig mo, kahit na nga ba'y tunkol sa

sawing pag-ibig na sinabayan ng electric guitars ang kanta.napamahal ako sa

kantang iyon dahil ika'y aking naalala tuwing ipinatutugtog ko ito. kahit

hanggang ngayon, kung saan halos estranghero na ang tingin natin sa isa't isa,

ipinapatugtog ko pa rin ang mababaw na emo na kantang iyon. at lagi akong

napapakunat ng noo at napapapikit ng mata sa pagdinig nito. sa mababaw na mga

bersong taglay nito, naririnig ko ang kwento ng aking sawing pag-ibig sa iyo.

nakakaawa na talaga ang isang tao kapag lahat na ng love song na kanyang

naririnig ay kaya na niyang i-relate sa kanyang sariling sawing pag-ibig.

basta ang sakin, theme song parin natin kahit kailan ay...."this guy's in love

with you pare!..."

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Makulay ang Gabi sa Maynila - isang tula

MAKULAY ANG GABI SA MAYNILA
NI: geronimo martinez

akala natin, pagdating ng gabi
hudyat ng laganap na kadiliman
ngunit tuwing ika'y nasa pusod ng inang bayan
ang gabi ay matinkad na pula

tila anino ng lumalagablab na apoy
na tumutupok sa kung saang ibayo
nagmistulang bahid ng sariwang dugo
umagos mula sa sugat ng langit

tama ang pangitain ni santa lucia
nakinig kaya ang taong bayan sa salita?
hindi mo kailangan ng armas sa digmaan
sapat na ang gutom, kadungisan, at kahirapan


tuyo ang puso at mapapakukunat ang noo
tuwing nakikita ang mga sawimpalad sa tabi
hindi mo alam kung sila'y puting tupa ng Ama
o kung tinatago ang pangil ng itim na lobo


huwag titigan ang mga bituin kung makasisilip
baka mabulag sa paparating na ilaw sa lupa
humaharurot na mga ilaw sayo'y magpapasalangit
ang dilaw ng bituin ay di nanggagaling sa dyip


ngunit huwag rin dumako sa silong na madilim
kung saan ang bughaw na anino'y itim na rin
walang makaririnig o dudulog sa iyong pagsigaw
harapin man ang saradong pintuan ng husgado


dinig ang bawat yabag sa kulay abong eskinita
umaalingawngaw ang bawat tapak sa sementong sahig
maririnig kung biglang may nagmadali ng lakad
sasaby dito ang tibok ng iyong pagaalanganin


sa mauulit, mag-ingat sa pagtawid ng kalsada
kung saka-sakaling papunta ka sa P.Faura
ang mga kulay ng Maynila'y huwag gaano alalahanin
baka ang holdaper sa likod mo'y di agad mapansin.


Monday, September 14, 2009

Tadzio - a poem inspired ny "death in venice" by thomas mann

Tadzio
by: geronimo martinez


tell me again of that fair youth
whose eyes reflect perfection divine
with but a glance i was enamored
by no less than an arrow from Eros' bow

such beauty, such captivating allures!
but to reach out and grab these far-flung stars
alive and shining in this wonderful boy
it would better me to rather seek death!

there is no evil nor perverse desire
only the spark of flaming passion
he gave life to an otherwise waning soul
tell me then if this is not the work of angels

my heart beats violently, my soul ablaze!
and yet this ideal being, i cannot touch
impossible to attain the sweet nectar of youth
leaving the seeker to gaze from a distance

what crueler fate, i ask you?
to be given a glimpse heaven through this boy
and yet be denied to taste the bliss it brings!
akin to a bittersweet tragedy fit for a sadist!

and i am left with nothing but thievery
stealing fleeting glances of his smile...
and for one moment in eternity, he glanced back
eyes meeting firstly, then a nervous boyish grin...

maybe...just maybe...i could...

yet the mistress is fickle to her slaves.



-inspired by Death in Venice by Thomas Mann




cge, dapat nag aaral aq for midterms...pero instead i write a gay poem...hmmm i need to sort out my priorities...

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

To the mother of my beloved (a cheesy poem)

the other day i saw my dear friend's mom from a distance. then this poem sparked to my head.

mother of my beloved
by: geronimo martinez

mother of my beloved, will you believe my next words?
do you find me trustworthy enough, and sincere as well?
indeed you have known me from my childhood until now
just as you raised and watched over my beloved.

mother of my dearest, please regard me with pity
i seek your understanding, and perhaps forgiveness
there is none i would dare assume would accept
what i tell you now, only you can heed

mother of my friend, please calm yourself now
do not fear my presumptuousness nor my seriousness
indeed it is i who should fear the most
for now i shall tell you, how I love your child so

mother of my lover, i beg your understanding
for only a mother's love can hope to comprehend
what my heart for so long has tried to show
that it shouts your son's name every day that i live

mother of my beloved, i implore you to anger not
i commit no injustice to your child nor to society
there is no perverse nor unclean intention to my will
i swear upon my life, it is the purest love i've given

why then, mother of my dearest, do i trouble you now?
why do i burden you with the truth i've tried to hide?
it is because of my fear that your son might sever ties
if he learns of my love, love that the world sees not

only your mother's love can see within me
that crying little boy who knew no true comaradary
to that lonely young man who's heart grew to love
that pure friendship your son willingly gave.

do you see now, mother of my friend?
this love for your child spurned new life for me
i've become a better man because of him
and that is why i can never love him enough

truly it is my greatest fear in life
that your son would shun me for my preference
that he would turn a cold shoulder to my pleas
that even our friendship would be left a memory

this is why i trouble you with my words, mother of my beloved
i cannot hope for him to understand what i feel
so i entrust to you this knowledge, that you may realize
how great my love is for your only son

had i not told you this, my secret will consume me
none has known of this, save for you
worry not, mother of my beloved, i will trouble you no further
tell him one day, that i loved him more than he could ever know.