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