THE POET IN THE REVOLUTION

THE POET IN THE REVOLUTION

- Nonilon V. Queano/27November2010

 Translated by the the poet himself from his original Tagalog poem, "Ang Makata Sa Pakikibaka"

            “The guerilla is like a poet.”

                              -Jose Ma. Sison

         

          (Also partly inspired by Pia Montalban’s

          “Ang Umibig ng Makata.”)

Always the poet dwells in me.

Like the wind, she will blow gusts of poems

To quell the sun’s heat,

Even if for one instant.

I will gather her dreams of freedom and smell their fragrance,

Like sampagita or ilang-ilang blossoms,

To strengthen my faith,

While traversing forests and mountains.

The fierce rhythms of her verses will dictate

My bullet’s aim,

The music of her poems dissolve, like hot liquid,

The loneliness and weariness that come silently

Over plains and forests by day or night,

Her metaphors of struggle

Will be bullets for my gun,

And the fire of her love will burn in my heart

Every time I live with the masses

But if the poet should also be my lady love,

I would wish that she were beside me

Even for a brief moment,

So I can kiss, hold her.

Whisper to her that tomorrow when I leave

It would not be to depart,

No, I would not say goodbye,

Her poetry and my gun

Will always find each other.