Vanilla Pleasures

"We must strive to be like the moon.' An old man in Kabati repeated this sentence often... the adage served to remind people to always be on their best behavior and to be good to others. [S]he said that people complain when there is too much sun and it gets unbearably hot, and also when it rains too much or when it is cold. But, no one grumbles when the moon shines. Everyone becomes happy and appreciates the moon in their own special way. Children watch their shadows and play in its light, people gather at the square to tell stories and dance through the night. A lot of happy things happen when the moon shines. These are some of the reasons why we should want to be like the moon." Author: Ishmael Beah

Humiga ka Ika'y hapo at pagal na, kaibigan. Matagal na tayong umiiyak Nalalapit na ang gabi At ika'y matutulog na.

Di ko nais ituring kang parang mamahaling briliante, o bulaklak na nakasisilaw sa liwanag. Bagkus, mamahalin kita na may palihim na gigil, tila sikretong nais kong walang ibang makaalam. Iniibig kita tulad ng pagkahumaling sa isang tuod, kimkim ang lihim ng tagsibol; At sa bawat pagdapo ng iyong mga patak sa akin marahang pumapangibabaw ang maligamgam na alimuom. Minamahal kita nang di alintana ang mga paano, o kailan, o saan, Pangakong  walang kahambugan at pagalibugha: Ganito lamang ang paraan upang pag-ibig ay madama. Kapag tayong dalawa'y naging isa ang kamay mo sa dibdib ang kadaupang palad; at  pag-idlip ng mga mata ay  tungo sa iisang diwa. -Di Kita Kayang Mahalin halaw One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII ni Pablo Neruda pagsasalin  ni C.A. Abanco para kay M.A. Lauresta, Araw ng mga Puso, 2014

I was playing around with a translation. Hehehe.     Ako ang simula at wakas Ako ang sinasamba at kinamumuhian Ako ang puta at banal Ako ang asawa't dalisay Ako ang ina at ang ate Ako ang kandungan ng aking nanay Ako ang baog at maraming anak Ako ang kinasal at ang matandang dalaga Ako ang babaeng nanganak at ang birhen Ako ang ginhawa matapos manganak Ako ang ina at ama Ako ang kapatid ng aking asawa At siya ang tinakwil na anak Sambahin ninyo ako Sapagkat ako ang kalunus-lunos at ang dakila Awit kay Isis, ikatlo o ikaapat na daangtaon, sa pagsasaliksik ni Nag Hammadi Source here .

A cold breeze brushes my cheeks while a rain drops on my shoulder. City lights glare my travel as another work day is soon to arrive. I close my tired eyes and sink deep into the depths of myself, summoning, praying, heeding the riders of these chilly air. Sentient beings of the old times cursed to ride the chariots of winds till nothingness has become us all. "Bring him these cold warmth to rest his tired body to aid his weary soul and to calm his worried heart. He who is the keeper of my temporal shell. Beholder of my faith. The sanctuary of my sanity. I beg you to bestow him the peace to continue our journey even if only for a time."