March 21 was World Poetry Day. I envy everyone who was able to celebrate this wonderful occasion at the Ayala Gardens and heard the lit royalties (Krip Yuson, Nerisa Guevara, Mookie Katigbak, among many, many other brilliant poets) read their poems on stage. Wanted to come but Ayala is lightyears away from Bulacan, especially if one is just a week from her due date!
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Here’s one of the poems read during the event by Ramon Sunico. Found it through Eliza Victoria’s blog and was instantly awestruck by it! So heartfelt and so beautiful.
HUWAG KA SANANG MAGAGALIT
ni Ramon C. Sunico
Huwag ka sanang magagalit
kung sasabihin ko
na hanap-hanap ka
ng aking mga tula.
Huwag ka sanang maiilang
kung tuwing umuulan
isip-isip ko ang init
ng ating katawan.
Ngayon, butas lamang
sa langit ang lahat ng bituin,
Ngayon, sukatan lamang ang buwan
ng layo mo sa akin.
Anumang kuwento
ang simulan ko’y
sa iyo rin nauuwi.
Sa bawat aklat
na aking buklatin
naroroon ang iyong tingin
Alam ko:
may sarili kang tanong
na dapat sagutin;
may sarili kang misteryo
na dapat harapin.
Huwag magmadali: panahon ngayon
ng liwanag at sari-saring dilim;
Oras ng sugat at lamig
at ng paurong-sulong na pagpapaumanhin.
Ngunit Tess, mahal,
pinakamatalik kong kaibigan,
huwag ka sanang magagalit
huwag ka sanang maiilang
kung aking sasabihin
na tuwing humihinga ako
naaamoy kita,
na tuwing pumipikit ako,
ikaw ang nagiging umaga.
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Gretchen is a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and essayist from the Philippines, where she embraces life while managing bipolar disorder and ADHD. Her confessional pieces unpack the complexities of grief, healing, motherhood, love, and intersections, garnering recognition from the Greg Grummer Poetry Contest and Navigator's Travel Writing Competition.

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