The Pandemic

Staying home, I'm swamped in my handicraft
Paintings, drawings, all fascinating art
Sumptuous meals, I baked and cooked
My proud dish, I posted in facebook
Puzzles in my newsfeed, I proudly answered each
Idly, I enjoyed K-Drama and Netflix.

But then outside, the world is in panic
People rant on their hungry stomachs
Sadly some leaders have turned their backs
Indeed in crisis, a man's true color is unveiled
Mother Earth is healing as global warming decreased
Yet people still suffer from their prolonged disease.

Soldiers, health workers and all frontliners bravely
Risk their lives to ensure our safety
Time in time, crisis proves how humanity
Prevails when we are willing to share
A little sacrifice and life can be spared
But to myself I looked guilty and ashamed.

Killing time as boredom strikes
A worse disease in disguise
Time passed, a stolen life unrecovered
As deadly as virus underestimated
The community may be in lockdown
But not the free limbs that can pound.

Meals I cook to my delight
For my hungry neighbors became my plight
Relief goods I pack, my new found craft
To serve my brother became my pact
Novels and movie marathon I shun
In Qur'an, I found Thy guidance.

This virus that steals life abruptly
Awakens the world that sleeps soundly
Time is short, if one can reflect
Perform one's ibadah sincerely and repent
When trials come, nobody's exempted
Weak or strong in faith, we are all tested.

If today I die, I am truly scared
Not to a virus but to my deeds I'm afraid
My sins I plead for forgiveness
His mercy I know is boundless
And I pray this pandemic be over
Only to Him do we trust and turn over.



- Penned April 10, 2020

TO MY LEARNERS

T - eaching you will always be

O - ne of the best experiences for me

M - emories I'll always keep

Y - ou're like my children I love so deep

L - essons, I wish you keep in hearts

E - very sermon, every spank that hurts

A - pain for me too if you but know

R - emember always that you must grow

N - ever give up, you'll make it through

E - ventually, though we may part

R - emember you'll always be in my heart

S - eeing you succeed shall be my delight

THANK YOU TEACHERS

T - hank you is all we can say

H - ow can we ever repay

A - mentor, a parent, a friend like you

N - ever tiring to guide us through

K - indness, compassion, your love so true

Y - ou're such a blessing

O - ne of a million things

U - nselfish, loving and so amazing

T - ouching our lives, you always care

E - ach patience you bear

A - ll the lessons you share

C - oaching us to be at our best

H - elping us to pass each test

E - mbedded within are lessons to ponder

R - embering and grateful will be these learners

S - uch a teacher like you worth more than a treasure

J.T. D.

J - ust unexpectedly,

A - man like you came

B - arely someone I knew

B - ravely asking for my hand

A - lot of questions linger

R - ushing my heart perplexed

T - o Allah I prayed

A - guidance to help me decide

N - ow I know why we're destined

G - etting to know you more

G - ot me love you even more

O - verlooking my flaws; you did

R - recognize the best in me

A - ccompany me through ups and downs

C - hallenges we face together

D - earest husband,

I - wanna let you know

B - lessed I am to be

A - half of your deen, your better-half

R - easons are endless

O - f why I love you dear

S - urely, madly, deeply I will

A - lways stay in love you with you

N - ow and until the Akhira

April 4, 2020

Sobre

Sa mga Maranao, ito'y sikat
Marangya man o salat
Bitbit anumang okasyon
Kasalan, lamay o graduation
Sabay sa'yong ikakamay
Yaring munting alay

Pagsapit ng Marso,
Aba'y sakit ng ulo
Si pinsan, kapitbahay, maging si bunso
Hinihintay ay regalo
Yaring sobre ay iabot
Ngiti'y langit ang naaabot

Sa kasalan, di madadaglat
Kung tawagin ay adat
Aba'y wag malilingat
Kay tito, tita, diko at ditse
Wag laktawan nire
Nang walang masabing ganire

Sa lamay hatid ay pakikiramay
Buong angkan handang dumamay
Laman ng sobre, di man sapat
Pakikiramay sa inyo'y tapat
Munting tulong sa pamilyang ulila
Dalamhati'y maibsan nawa

Isang libo o limang daan
Singkwenta o bente man
Di pinulot kung saan
Minsan pa nga'y inutang kung saan-saan
Tanggapin sana ng marubdob
Alay na kusang-loob

Gamitin sa anumang okasyon
Huwag lamang sa eleksyon,
Gawing bahagi ng tradisyon
Di ba't tayo'y maharlika
Maratabat ay sandata
Di susuko kanino mang banyaga

Bakit sa suhol, ika'y naging marupok?
Sa mga ninuno, ito'y kahihiyan
Aral ng Islam, huwag talikdan
Kahirapa'y munti lamang pagsubok
Ganid, iwaksi sa isipan
Prinsipyo, dignidad, kasarinlan
Kahit ilang sobre, di kayang tumbasan

Juxtaposition

Ambivalence
Apparently vague
Contradicting, contrasting, confusing
Embedded rhetorical ambiguity
Alluring, enigmatic puzzle
Irony


-Nov.10, 2019

Coffee

Addiction
Luscious black
Captivating, intoxicating, alluring
A swirled aroma
Stimulating, invigorating, unforgetting
My bitter-sweet
Coffee


-Nov.10, 2019