Tula ng Pag-Ibig

This poem was originally written for my fourth year high school Filipino class, but later edited to comply with the word count for UP Writers' Club's 100: The Hundreds Project. This was inspired by Jose Corazon de Jesus' Pag-ibig.


It surprised me so that this version was published on Feb 2012 and I regret not getting a copy just because some people were teasing me. The contributors are given 10% discount each copy and I believe there were limited copies. Peradventure one of you managed/manages to get a copy, please let me see!


Tula ng Pag-ibig

Ilang tula pa ba ang di nakakatha
Ng nagkakaisang damdaming makata?
Ilang tugma pa ba ang dapat isulat,
Kung buhay pag-ibig di nais i-ulat?

Maluluma lamang gunitang lumipas
Sa muling pagtahak sa lansangang gasgas;
Ngawit na kamay lalong mangangalay,
Kung uulitin lang pagsasalaysay.

Kanlungang handog kung ginhawa'y labis
Malamig na rehas kawangis;
Kinagisnang pugad: kulungan
Ng ibong paglipad ay 'di matutunan.

Tamis ng pagtingin katapat, pait
Pagkatinamaan ng panang malupit;
Sadyang sawimpalad, kawawa't nahangal
Iisang papel ang kayang itanghal.

Pintig ng damdamin ayaw isipin;
Makirot na sugat, ayaw sariwain;
Nagligtas na bisig, siya ring tumulak
Sa bangin nilaglag, kudlitang hamak.