Kagabi, sa mumunting hilamos ng ulan
Muling nadama ang tawag ng puso

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Ngayon. Narito.
Nasaktan. Pagkakamali.
Kay tagal. Kailan?
Sino ako na ika'y paghintayin?
 
Isa pang pagkakataon.
Pagsusumamo. Pagbigyan.
Sana mayroong isa pa
'Pagkat alam mo.
At alam mo...

Na minahal kita
At mamahalin pa rin.
Magpahanggang ngayon
Ikaw ang ibig.
Kay tagal kong nawalay...
Kahit sa panaginip
Ika'y nasa aking piling
Doo'y di na muling nagkalayo.
'Di na muling mabubuhay
Kung 'di ka na masisilayan pa.

Nakaluhod. Humihiling.
Makasayaw kang muli.
Para sa'yo haharapin ko
Ni apoy ng impyerno.
Mahawakan lamang
Ang iyong mga kamay.

Iaalay ang lahat.
Para sa ating dal'wa.
Isusuko kahit ano.
Maliban lang
Ang pag-ibig ko sa'yo.
Dahil alam mo...

Na ibig ko
Ika'y manatili.
Kailangan ko
Na marinig sa'yo
Na ako'y minahal mo
At minamahal pa rin.
At ako'y patawarin
Sa tagal ng aking paglayo.

Maniwala. Pangako.
'Di ka na muling lilisanin pa.
Hawakan mo ang aking mga kamay
Dahil 'di na muling iiwan ka.

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It has been a very long time since I've updated my banana
leaf journal. I've been quite immersed building a small kayak,
and now it's almost done. I'm moving out--moving on, in my
life. On the other side of the shoreline, I heard it calling out to
me. I saw it lain out to sea one day after chasing Alice's
rabbit, about twenty full moons ago. It must have led me there
on purpose. I think the right time has arrived for another chapter
to unravel, whatever that might be. I've been here long enough
and many things have already happened. I hope that whatever
I learned about life and love has readied me for what lies ahead
of my journey...

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Hindi ako kasinggaling mo sa talinghaga
Heto pa nga ako't nauutal sa aking mga salita
Subalit ang utal man ay marunong ding manindigan
Mula sa isinisigaw ng kanyang nadarama
Hindi man kasing-makata tulad ng talumpati
Sincere naman kahit papaano…

Hindi ako marunong tumugtog ng gitara
Siguradong may paglalamayan kung susubukin ko
Subalit marunong naman akong humaplos ng luha
Upang maibsan ang problema na iyong dinadala
Hayaan mong ialay ko na lamang ang aking mga kamay
Kung kinakailangan mo ng magbibigay lakas ng loob

Wala akong ginintuang boses
Na sa iyo'y manghaharana
Sa tuwing sasapit ang takipsilim
Subalit kahit boses ko'y sintunado
Mayroon din akong maiaalay na himig
Himig ng mga katagang:
"Ako'y nasa tabi mo lamang at di kita iiwan
Sa bugso ng unos, sa buhos ng ulan."

Heto ako ngayo't nakatayo
Magmukhang timang ay 'di alintana
Hinihiling na mabalik sa iyong piling
Dahil hinahanap-hanap ka na
Ng aking mga yakap, ng aking mga sulyap
Sana'y marinig mo itong aking puso
Dalhin ng hangin ang aking panalangin
Patungo sa iyo, Aia.

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to you, who bothers me
tease my heart, your sweet words
and let the bees feast on it;
try as i may, none a distance too far--
far enough from you--my love

please stare not, your lovely gaze--
finds me nowhere, everywhere;
despite this agony, still--
can't help coming back to you

just a smile, your lips
and i'm down on my knees
your tender embrace, hands on mine
and i'm yours, once again
i can't fight it, i won't

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Her baby-face, porcelain delicate soft skin
Warm breath in a slow cacophony of heartbeat
Somewhat excited, anxiously waiting, a bit frustrated
Of love, life, or its slacken?

I may never know...

It was such a brief acquaintance, silent feelings
Stolen glances, words unspoken, hidden meanings
Funny awkwardness, silly thoughts, conceited
Unassuming, asking for something we don't know
Laid back, almost comfortably, half-dazed, wondering
Shoulders locked, pretty toes on gorgeous legs, again.
Inviting neckline, tracing her collarbone, velvety hair
Toned angles, glossed lips, defenseless arms 
My dark brown skin, strong veins, tough spirit
Her womanly hands, so effeminate, mesmerizing
And there's music...Music? A lover's dance?

Time passed by like a couple of mellow tracks
Right-turn, carefully, open eyes, hustle and bustle
She let her fingers run through her flowing hair,
and I -- enchanted still. Frozen in my seat. Damn it.
But I guess it's time for goodbyes. Sad, now, for real.
Left-turn, why I'm finding it hard to let go. Empty palms.
Stopped, and she had to be on her way. Open door.
She alighted slowly, uneasy quietness, sweet hesitation.
I couldn't make a sound, not a word left my mouth. Stupid.
I could only close the moment we shared -- now it's gone.
What's her name? I may never know. But my heart did.
She crossed the traffic, tall in her heels, poised, unfettered
Unknowing, enslaved heart, gladness despite, distanced
My eyes accompanied her 'til she was off to somewhere.

Laid back. Relived the while. Smiled. Wishful thinking. 
"Her baby-face, porcelain delicate soft skin
Warm breath in a slow cacophony of heartbeat
Somewhat excited, anxiously waiting, a bit frustrated
Of love, life, or its slacken?"

I may never know...

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Dahan-dahan tayong bumitaw
Dahan-dahan tayong gumalaw
Dahan-dahan tayo sa lahat
Dahan-dahan tayong mamulat
Dahan-dahan tayo...

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I wonder by my troth, what thou and I did 'til we loved?
Were we not weaned 'til then,
But sucked of country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the Seven Sleeper's den?

'Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be;
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desired and got,
'Twas but a dream of thee.

And now good-morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room in everywhere.

Let sea-discoverers to distant worlds have gone;
Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown;
Let us possess one world; each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eyes, thine in mine appears;
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where do we find two better hemispheres
Without sharp north, without declining west?

Whatever dies was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one
Or thou and I loved so alike
That none can slacken, none can die.-- John Donne 

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I want to dream you
a beautiful dream
I want to hold you
in the dark
it would seem
that no one sees me like you do
no one moves the way you move
and I can't see anything else
I want to take you now.
Honestly, you're killing me.

Champagne...

If I was stronger
I would take down the moon
We could hang it up
in the corner of your bedroom
and if at night you could not sleep
you could watch it shine
like counting sheep
and only I'll know where the moon has gone.

I want to take you now.

Honestly, you're killing me.

Sitting on the floor of a spinning room
the morning sun won't be coming too soon
It's the way you look in that dress
there's nothing I can taste that compares to you
and nothing I can say that's quite as true
as the gift you are. I confess...

That I... I...
I want to dream you
a beautiful dream.
I want to hold you
in the dark
it would seem
that no one sees me like you do
no one moves the way you move
and I can't see anything else...

And we're drinking
cheap champagne alone in my room
drinking
your name, you wear my favorite perfume
cheap champagne
the flowers in bloom
drinking your name
champagne.

And let me drown in you...
Tonight.

Speak my heart, July for Kings.
 
Thank you.

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...this tide turns towards you.