By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

 

THE giants are devouring our mountains. Protect the Cordillera and Sierra Madre mountain ranges. No to logging. Revisit all mining permits, quarry permits and lands converted into subdivisions. Pass the National Land Use Act. Local government units (LGUs), pass a Municipal/Provincial Land Use Plan.

Kutsara

immakar su salim ed kapalandeyan
napnoy kakiewan, rosas ya balang,
maaro iran pugot tan maamon kaibaan
lanang iran unsasayaw ed silew na bulan
tan silew na kankanti, nen saman

antis kan simmabi

lapud say salim et nisipur ya unaakar
ed ambetel a marmol, agmo gabay ya idepak
iya ed ampetang a dalin, ta say nengneng mo, marutak
nepeg labat ya usaren nu walay iya-amot ton pilak
a balitok o arum niran walad dalem na pitek

naknam! akakutkot ka’y balitok, agka timmunda
mankukotkot ka ni, agni apanoý arum a bangam

kinutsaram su lupa na kapalandeyan
anggapo met la ray kiew tan rosas ya balang
ataktakot su pugot, immatap iray kaibaan
immamot iran amin ed silew na kankanti
tan silew na bulan
antakot irad limam, benben toy baleg a kutsara
pakanen tu lamet su sangim ya akalukas
tan maawang, amin untalus ed araldalem
ya pait, aga untutundan man-gigiling
na amin a gabay mon kanen

 

 Spoon

your feet walked through the mountains
full of trees, wild flowers
loving ogres and friendly elves
always dancing in the light of the moon
and the light of fireflies, once upon a time.

before you arrived

because your feet had always walked
on cold marble floors, you refuse to step
on warm rough soil, thinking it dirty
only of value when it hides a lot
of gold or other treasures, under the mud

bullseye! you found gold, you did not stop
you continued to dig, your other pots needed to be full

you spooned the face of the mountains
there are no more trees, or wild flowers
you scared the ogres away and made the elves shy
they hide, from the light of the fireflies
and the light of the moon
they are afraid of your hands, holding a spoon,
about to feed again, your mouth, gaping
and wide, everything going through the intestines
that never stops grinding, anything
that your mouth desires