Sunday, January 13, 2008

some of my students' works

We've discussed a poem, The River Merchant's Wife: A letter by Li Po, Translated by Ezra Pound. For evaluation, I asked them to compose a reply to the letter in free verse form. Here...


Thorns of Yesterday


By the eye of the swirling eddies,

I live.

By the power of hindrances,

I exist.

By the why's and where fore’s,

I never doubted.

All these, I faced

For my tasks to be accomplished.


Years have passed

And time has come,

I’ve read your letter

And visualized your cries.

In course of time,

You were alone,

Seeking for help

But nobody listened.


You are there

And I am here,

Thinking about how much

I miss you.

Thinking about how fool I am

When I departed you.

Thinking how I will appreciate

The time we should have spent together.


By the time this letter

Reached you,

I might be

In the other world.

I might be

Near the throne of Grace.

I might be dead.


My dear,

For my last few words,

Let me offer you my soul.

‘til my very last breath,

I never looked back.

I was never put into temptation,

Temptation, that might create

A rope of sand.


Accept my biggest ‘thank you’,

And feel my wholehearted ‘I love you’.


Patrick M. Alfonzo

II- Dalton

The Sanctuary I Yearn

By: Carla Mae B. del Rosario

       II-Dalton

 

Remembering how fast life passed

Since the days of our youth and innocence

Until we were wedded and became unchaste

Everything was wholly about you and me.

 

We may not like the idea at all

But everything fell in place                                           

Without exchanging of words we survived

Without the love you started to cry.

 

Knowing that this is the life meant for me

I agreed and went afar

Leaving you gloomy and anxious

Doubting and without serenity.

 

Waiting for the time I can you my love

Being with you and nobody else

Filling all the time we wasted

Of course! wishing for that moment to come.

 

Lonely nights of boredom in this distant land

Staring blankly in the sky just thinking of you

Wondering what miracles life can offer

Perhaps, bring me closer into you.

 

I do not express my love the way you want me to

But trust me, everything was all for you

It may cause you cries and pains

But promise, it will all start to change.

 

As I come home from this tiring place

Wait for me if you must really care

Because I know that there’s still a spot in your heart

The spot of which I can call-my sanctuary.

___

11.jpgA Husband’s Letter

 

The flowers have bloomed before I know it.

I sit here, watching the current of the river

Carry me through

I reminisce the days when we play,

Out on the front gate

Oh those days, those days.

I could see you playing,

Pulling flowers and playing with blue plums.

When we got married,

You were too bashful to speak

And I often see your averted eyes and bent head.

You respected me.

 

I dragged my feet, going out.

Not wanting to be separated from you

I went on a journey to a river with swirling eddies.

I might die today, later , tomorrow

I don’t know if I’m going to return.

If I die, your memory will live with me forever.

 

 

Rizza B. Gonzaga

II-KEPLER
__

TO MY WIFE
by Julianne S. Cabodil

I lay upon the dirt
gasping for clean air.
Tears stung my eyes
with a strong force.
An uncontrollable sensation.
It was because
of our reminisced memories,
our remembered times.
It was beautifully painful,
my darling.

It touched me how much
you remembered those things.
But all the while,
hurting me.
I left you alone,
causing you to feel
loneliness
and pain.
I apologize.

My wife,
you may wonder
how my life is.
Everything seems so ridiculous.
This place is full of swindlers.
One tricked me
into selling the antique gold watch
your father gave me.
But do not worry,
I am safe.
Though,
not quite sure if I'd
be able to go home soon.

It is dangerous to go out
and travel.
I'm staying until the
road is safe again to
journey in.

My wife,
I ask you to be patient.
Just like I was when we were
first married.
I am coming back
for you.
For now,
a simple request.
Look after my heart,
my love,
for I've left it with you.

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