Illustration by Harold Legaspi 2023

Polyglot Tongue

pinag aralan niya ang sariling wika ng kanyang ina
with revolutionary spirit
ang Mother Earth ay may kakila kilabot na lagnat
volcanoes spew magma from the mantle
tumataas na ang temperatura ng Mother Earth
the trees are loose in their ground
nasusunog ang lupa

ang mga karagatan ay hindi mapakali
water thickens with sludge
dagat at asin
weathered boats
pagtulo ng langis sa dagat
beached whales
ang dagat ay umiiyak

ang usok ay umaabot sa kabundukan
we hide our breaths
de latang hangin
eagles are born wrong
isip mo ang sariwang hangin
too many cars
masyadong maraming eroplano

nagsusunog tayo ng gasolina para makarating sa buwan
oil to fuel machinery
ang mukha natin ay nasa apoy
a giant leap back(wards) to progress
bukas na apoy
deconstructing Mother Earth
nasusunog na kanta

nasusunog nasusunog

Fish

The first fish appeared during the
Cambrian period and looked more like worms.
Each fish jawless, unlike Jaws. Its mouth
a suction cup. Slick in the water although small.

Sludge oceans strong,
Flotsam and jetsam.
Eels electric like lightning.
The plus and minus of a battery.

If fish could wear ugg boots
They’d keep warmth at their fins.
Can you feel it?
Is it real?

Who says that fish only
come out at night? Do
they taste any different
canned or fried?

A fish is a fish.
Some of us are not fish.

Fish were here first.
Hit the books and you’ll see—
there are two types of creatures:
firstly fish, and lastly those who want
to be fish.