Malate, 1997

 Minsa'y di ko rin mawari't

Maipaliwanag

Kung bakit gaano man kalayo

Ang paggagalinga'y

Iisang lugar lamang

Magtitipon-tipon

Ang mga ligaw na kaluluwa


Samu't saring kaanyuhan

Iba't ibang kasarian

At kasiraan

Animo'y mga paru-parong

Paroo't parito

May tangan na brotsa

O kamera

Lapis o krayola


Minsa'y nais lamang

Tumugtog, Umindak

Sa himig ng katutubo

O di kaya'y trance

O techno

Tangina nyong mga jologs

Bawal kayo rito!


Minsan akong napadpad

Walang kamuwang-muwang

Nang may nagsindi ng insenso

Yun na ang hudyat

Na ang kasunod

Ay damo't tapey

Kakaibang halimuyak

Ang aking nalanghap

At sinimsim


Nanumbalik sa aking alaala

Ang mga panahong

Nanatili ako sa Baguio

Kakaibang init

Ang aking naramdaman

Panandali'y nakalimutan ko

Kung sino ako't ano

Tumigil ang mundo

At ang diwa ko ang siyang

Umiikot-ikot


Unti-unti

Ako'y umindak

Sa himig ng katutubo

Na parang nahaluan

Ng Jimi Hendrix

O di kaya'y Led Zep


Panandalia'y binitiwan ko

Ang kamera

At pumulot ng kubing

Na siyang kusang

Dumampi sa aking labi


Ako'y nanahimik

At tumipa

Habang ang lahat ay lango

Sa alak, sa chongkee

Cuba libre at Corona

Sa palo ng dhoumbek

Djembe at sithar

At tinig ni Grace Nono


Sige pa, Sammy!

Diin pa, Jose!

Birit pa, Nonoy!

Bagama't panandalian

Minsan ko nang naabot

Ang langit

Habang ang mga paa'y

Baon sa lupa


Minsan kong nasilayan

Ang mga bituing

Walang singningning

Sa kanyang mga mata


Ngunit ito'y isa na lamang

Alaala ng buhay

Ng isang romantikong

Hibang

Na di na muling mauulit

At di na muling mararanasan

Isang patay na kahapong

Nabubuhay na lamang

Sa kupas na larawan


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