Wednesday, September 17, 2008

YELLOW BAMBOO




Nineteen hundred and eighty six

when you planted the bamboo.

Our learned neighbor said-

it will not grow

that little branch,

it does not fit here

it will come to naught

since our soil is sand

and our water is salty.

The plant will surely die

for in the whole of Olango Island

nobody can make it sprout.

I guess, perhaps-

you were hard headed

or you were in love

with the sway of the bamboo

everytime Amihan blows

and the bird sings.

One night, it was full moon

when you planted

that little branch.

You gave her water

that is not salty, but fresh.

You nurtured her,

you gave everything

to the yellow bamboo

and not long after

The leaves appeared,

the plant prospered

and danced to the tune

of the Habagat

and to the whisper

of this heart

that you left behind.

*Amihan- Northeast Moonsoon
*Habagat- Southwest Moonsoon
Poem is translated from Cebuano "Dalag ang Kawayan"