Two poems by Allan Popa translated from Filipino by Mabi David and the author.
Aso
by Allan PopaHindi punyal hindi krusipiho ang hawak mo
nanggigigil na kinakaskas sa ilalim ng kaldero kahit
walang nasisimot kundi ang ngilong tinutugon
ng ungol sakal ng kadenang-asong nakatanikala sa iyo.
Anong pangangailangan pa ang nagpapalubay
sa iyong kapit upang haplusin siya sa noo, malupit
na kamay na malugod niyang inaabot upang basain
ng dila na minsang nahuling dumidila sa kanyang
ari: matalim mo siyang tinitigan upang pahiyain.
Hindi na niya makakayang harapin
ang iyong tingin. Sa iyo siya nakatingin.
Dog
by Allan PopaNeither crucifix nor knife
what you scrape against the pot’s bottom.
You scrape up nothing, not
a scrap off it, only a grating screech
to which the dog whines, choking at
the leash chained to you. Out of what need
would you loosen your grip to pet
its forehead? It licked your hand.
Once you caught it feverishly licking its own
sex and fixed on it, staring it into shame.
No more, you thought, could it stare
back at you. It stares back at you.
translated from Filipino by Mabi David & Allan Popa
Baboy
by Allan PopaMalalasap pagbigkas ng baboy kung bakit baboy
ang mababasaging alkansiyang hindi nagawang
mapabigat bagamat matabang-mataba sa iyong palad.
Pinakinggan mo ang pag-alog sa kahungkagan
ng iilang sensilyong naihulog sa mabintog na tiyan,
tiningala’t sinilip ang dilim sa napakakitid na butas.
Matatandaang ito ang gulang ng pagtuklas ng sarap
sa pagtuklap ng langib ng papahilom na sugat.
Nakapaglalaway, nakapangingiwi ng mga labi
ang pagsungkit, pagkupit ng pilak mula sa sarili
na mariing maikukuyom sa nangangati mong palad.
Malalasap pagbigkas ng baboy kung bakit baboy.
Pig
by Allan PopaSavor as you say the word pig, why
it is a pig, this coin bank
you cannot for all its size make heavy.
You listen as you jangle the handful inside
its hollow distended belly, the teats you tilt
to peer past the chink into the dark,
remembering when you first discovered
what pleasure picking on a scab gave you.
You bite your lip to hold the drool in.
You try to snatch at the shiny silver, picking
your own pockets for all that you can
hog, and savor why, as you say the word, pig.
translated from Filipino by Mabi David & Allan Popa