POEMS


ORIGINAL VERSES

Without going into details, I consider myself very fortunate in love for in few instances that I have loved deeply, the affection was reciprocated. My past relationships left mostly happy memories and I feel really blessed to have gone through the experience.

Here, I'm putting not only some of the verses and haikus I wrote (in blue text) but also the replies and similar compositions (in red text) of the recipient of those love notes (who, we mutually agreed, shall remain anonymous in the meantime because of the mildly sexual undertones of the verses). My apologies to non-Filipinos because some verses here are written in Pilipino. As a footnote, most of these were exchanged through text messaging usually after a date or a romantic tryst. We felt like Romeo and Juliet carrying cellphones... :)) Please don't miss to also read the "Original Love Poems" below. These original compositions were all written in year 2000.



ORIGINAL LOVE POEMS

This is actually a continuation of "Original Verses" but this time, you will find full-length poems which we wrote to each other. Again, my poems are in blue text while my partner's compositions are in red.

As in the exchange of verses, there is a story in each of these poems. The "fountain" poem, for instance, was written after a heart-to-heart talk sparked by a serious misunderstanding. We settled the issue at the front of the CCP Building where the fountain, I realized later, provided a poetic backdrop. The "sunset" poems were a result of a romantic afternoon spent watching the sunset in Manila Bay where we agreed that we'll each write a poem using sunset as the subject. The circumstances surrounding the other poems are self-evident.



SUCCESS

This poem which I first read from a magazine when I was still working in Atlas, is a personal favorite. It derives its beauty not only from its plain language and simple style, but also from the thought it conveys which I find very true. I've kept a copy of the poem in my wallet through these years, and I intend to make it my life's motto in the coming more years.

When my mother died, the poem's meaning acquired increased significance.  I realized from the large number of friends, colleagues, neighbors, and students who sincerely cared for her that when you're gone, what matters is not how much money you made in your lifetime. More satisfying I realized, is knowing how much fondly and lovingly you are remembered by those whose lives you've somehow touched.



PATH OF THE CALF

In my whole student life, there are two professors I admire most -- Dr. Meliton U. Ordillas, my professor in a number of Material Science & Engineering courses, and Dr. Benito Pacheco, my instructor in Advanced Engineering Mathematics.

This poem was given to me by Dr. Ordillas during one of our laboratory sessions in Scanning Electron Microscopy. Configuring and fine-tuning the settings of the 'vintage' electron-microscope was a delicate matter, so I thought of just remembering the old settings so I wouldn't have to bother with the arduous trial-and-error procedure for every run. Dr. Ordillas noticed this and after emphasizing that I have to learn how to set up the instrument on my own, gave me this poem as a lesson about the danger of trusting too much on precedents and conventions.

The poem tells about a trail unknowingly started by a calf. The path became a precedent and was also taken by other animals and men who passed along the way. After several years, it eventually become a city highway . The poem's message is similar to Robert Frost's popular "The Road Not Taken".



ODE ON A GRECIAN URN

I like a number of English classic poems but because they are usually required reading in high school literature, I will not post them here. I am making an exception of this one which is my favorite, however. I was introduced to this poem not during an English class, but by a book I borrowed from the Community Library when I was working in Atlas Mines. It's amazing how the poet was able to give life and story to the rather commonplace engravings on a vase. I especially like the thought and sound of the second stanza which starts with - "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter..."

The author, John Keats, died at a very young age (26) but he is nonetheless considered one of the greatest English poets. Historians say that no Greek vase has been found which corresponds to Keats's description in this poem. It is supposed to be based rather on his general recollection of various works of Greek art as found in the British Museum and as depicted in engravings.


Back to Top