Bigaon

Tangkali

manong, kinang tangkaling
imo narakop it lapatik
pay makalolooy sa ida hihigtan.
osang beses, nopay ako nasimyatan
ka usang yuhang nakabitin
sa ida kayudong mata...

it tahapon, bag-o magsugbo ka adlaw,
ako nakita kinang tangkaling
nakatungtong sa rakong bato
roto sa Hipit.
Lanalanahon ka ragat
ka mga lambiyong ay nagyuyuksuhan!
nakatarok kinang tangkali;
pay sida baga'y nasasadyahan.

sus! yumupar it ragli, sumimplang
ag nakibot katong mga lambiyong
nak waya ka muang-muang.
pumaibabaw kinang tangkali
nakasukbit sa ida yuba
ka osang nagkikiliwkiliw
nak lambiyong...

re-in sida ni yupar?
ayamey nako, manong.
roto sa osang pugar  sa punta matagar
rutong pugar it ruhang
isiw nak nagkukupagkupag
sa kasadya!

manong, payupara kinang tangkali.
payupara! agor ka kalibutan
ay marunggan ka osang huni
it matam-is ag bug-os nak gugma!

my brother, the kingfisher that you caught
with a slingshot,
and now stringed,
seems so sad.
one time, i thought i saw
a teardrop from her eye.

yesterday, before sunset
i saw the kingfisher,
perched on a rock
in Hipit. it was a calm day
and the anchovies were dancing
with glee over the waveless span
of sea. the kingfisher eagle-eyed
savored her joy - alone.

sus!  in a split second she soared
and dove on the school of anchovy - they that
knew nothing. up, up and away the kingfisher
flew with a wiggling anchovy on her beck.!

where did she fly?
my borther, i know.
it's over there - at Matagar Point
where two nestlings flap
its wings with joy!

my brother, let the kingfisher fly!
let it fly!
so that the world can hear
the  sweet and pure chirping of love!

Picture
courtesy of Faigao Museum,
Banton, Romblon