STANZAS OF STILLNESS: PRESENTING, SYRIA DEE

Poems by Syria Dee

Saranggola

Sa kinang nitong tag-araw,
lutang ang kulay kong pinatitingkad ng ulap.
Ngunit ang ganda’y sinusukat sa mas nakaaangat
Kaya iaakyat mo ako sa tayog.
Dahan-dahang palalayain ang pusod-
pising iluluwal ng iyong kamay.
Papailanlang ako sa langit—
sasabay sa lipad ng ibon at ulap
at hahagkan ko ang palad ng Diyos.

Ito na marahil ang rurok:
ang marahang paglapat ng pakpak sa hangin
alinsabay sa mahinhing pag-indak
ng pulsong hapit ng iyong posas.
Hahamunin ng pakpak ang igting ng pisi
at sasalunga sa daluyong ng kawalan.
Humigit at tumutol ka mang pusod
ay bibitaw ako’t bubulusok.

Aanhin pa ang paglipad
kung ang imahen mong kumakalinga
ay di na maaninag?


Holy Weak

You deny
that you carry me
like the world's burden
on your shoulder.
You, a brown Jesus lying
in my bed,
and all I can do
is pray.

A Fairy Tale

This dolly's eye went into the bucket
This dolly's eye dove into my tea
Your blackish hair smells burnt
You really make me happy

My door's locked again
Daddy's playing beat-mommy
Her screams are faint today
What? We have company?
A teeny-weeny Fairy!

Oh! Little fairy
Your light I envy
Your wand can grant you
Any wish you want

Oh! Little fairy
Your flight I envy
Your wings can take you
Anywhere you want

Now, come to me
I'm but a little girl
With wishes to make
Flights to take

Oh! Thank you!
Can I have your wand?
Can I have your wings?

Now, little fairy
With broken wand and broken wings
Do you dare to fly?
Do you dare to wish?

For little fairies and little girls
Are for fairy lands and fairy tales


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Syria Dee is the nom de plume of our new resident poet who also happens to be our newly minted Poetry Editor. She was a graduate of the prestigious national workshop for poets, LIRA, in 2005 and is currently working for Journals.